> The truth thing is, these cities will never become major powers again Nobody claimed the opposite? Who exactly are you arguing with on this? But I will argu

> The truth thing is, these cities will never become major powers again Nobody claimed the opposite? Who exactly are you arguing with on this? But I will argue that France and England are still major powers. France is core to the EU and pretty much controls it together with Germany. England is a power politically, but perhaps not economically. Its cultural exports are huge too. Power changed, but the power holders remain the same.