In the opinion of Kim Richard Nossal of Queen's University in Canada, " generally this term was used to signify a political community that occupied a continental-sized landmass, had a sizable population ( relative at least to other major powers ); a superordinate economic capacity, including ample indigenous supplies of food and natural resources; enjoyed a high degree of non-dependence on international intercourse; and, most importantly, had a well-developed nuclear capacity ( eventually normally defined as second strike capability ) ."
