The United Kingdom post-WWII would be a much better comparison, since well it's more recent and the UK and USA share more history, culture, and context. I tend

The United Kingdom post-WWII would be a much better comparison, since well it's more recent and the UK and USA share more history, culture, and context. I tend to side with the viewpoint that the lessening role of international leadership by the USA is more due to our internal infighting and lack of resolve as a few recent Economist articles suggested. That also fits with the UK's shift in status as an international power post WWII as well. However, even with that type of shift, leadership in tech industries and other fields won't disappear from the US that quickly if at all.