The great powers before World War I were France, Britain, Russia, Austria (Austria-Hungary ) and Prussia.
The one that was the most powerful was Great Britain, and closely followed by France and Germany.
The weakest was Austria-Hungary.
To throw no one into the shade but we demand our own place in the sun implies that such a person or country has a position of favor or they have an advantage.
The allies were said to be that Britain, France, and Russia was said to have formed a kind of Triple Entente.
Also, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy were said to have included themselves in the Triple Alliance. Note that alliances were based on World War I and other reasons.
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