Most chaotic 1980s possible?

wasp_

wasp_

The 1980s is remembered at least as a for its contributions to pop culture, which included the debut of MTV and relative détente when compared to the turbulence of the 60s/70s. However, what would it have taken for the decade to descend into widespread Chaos, with the possible earlier breakup of the Soviet Union engulfing Western Europe and the United States.

If possible could the POD be limited to 1930s/40s at the earliest.
 

The History Man

The following scenarios could be triggers:-

USA
  • President Reagan authorises the following military interventions:-
    • Nicaragua, in order to overthrow the Sandinista government;
    • An Operation Linebacker-type operation against Hezbollah in the Bekaa Valley in retaliation for the killing of US Marines in Beirut; and
    • Military strikes against Iran.
Soviet Union
  • Grigoriy Romanov becomes Secretary-General of the Communist Party rather than Mikhail Gorbachev. No Glasnost or Perestroika, more ongoing support for revolutionary movements and rogue states and START I and II less likely to be signed.
  • Possible alliance with Iran.
United Kingdom

Either
  • Defeat in the Falklands War is followed by Labour winning the General Election in 1983 or 1984. Left-wing of Labour Party ousts existing leader within six months and Tony Benn becomes Prime Minister on a radical platform of nationalising banks and key industries, removing the independent nuclear deterrent, pulling the UK out of NATO, leaving the EEC and handing over Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland.
Or
  • The IRA succeeds in assassinating Margaret Thatcher and a significant part of her Cabinet at the Conservative Party Conference in 1984.
Europe
  • The military coup in Spain in 1981 is successful.
  • The United Kingdom leaves the EEC (see above for description of scenario).
  • The Red Army Faction (Germany) and the Red Brigades (Italy) remain active.
  • Lech Walesa is assassinated.
  • The Soviet Union brutally puts down protests in Warsaw Pact countries in 1989.
Middle East
  • US military intervention following terrorist incidents (Achille Lauro, Beirut bombing). See above.
  • Iran enters into alliance with the Soviet Union and joins invasion of Afghanistan with aim or annexing Herat province.
Central Asia
  • Following the Golden Temple massacre, Sikh soldiers in the Indian Army mutiny and join the battle for an independent Khalistan.
Far East
  • A second Vietnam War breaks out, this time between China and Vietnam.
 
Gabingston

Gabingston

Nuclear war in 1983 would be the easy answer, whether because of the false alarm incident or Able Archer spiraling into an actual war.
 
Michel Van

Michel Van

Belgium
Beginn of 1980s Belgium had almost national bankruptcy
Do internal conflict between Walloons and Flemish, spending went true roof in 1970s
Lucky for them new Government of Flemish politician could turn the time

But wat if not and Belgium had total national bankruptcy ?
follow by hyperinflation, bank crisis, economic recession, mass unemployment etc.
under those circumstance a civil war between Walloons and Flemish or forced dissolving of Belgium is realistic option.
 

SomeGuyOnline

John Hinckley's assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan succeeds, and Vice President Bush becomes president. Then the Iran-Contra scandal occurs under Bush's presidency and he resigns or is impeached.
 

Tripwire

Gabingston said:
Nuclear war in 1983 would be the easy answer, whether because of the false alarm incident or Able Archer spiraling into an actual war.
Click to expand...

Yeah, something like a false missile detection event or an accidental shootdown of a Soviet airplane could have made Able Archer go nuclear.

I think most other nuclear false alarm events wouldn’t have resulted in war because leaders on both sides would be aware of the possibility of false alarms and would want better confirmation before actually launching a retaliatory nuclear response, but a false alarm at that particular moment could have been the coincidence that ended civilization.
 

John Waters

Banned
The TL "The gentleman from Maryland" puts an interesting spin on it - Reagan is assassinated and his successor is a closeted homosexual who is outed later, sounds pretty chaotic to me(it doesn't go in depth into the rest of the world sadly, though I imagine it's a shitshow)
 
THE KINGFISH

THE KINGFISH

Gabingston said:
Nuclear war in 1983 would be the easy answer, whether because of the false alarm incident or Able Archer spiraling into an actual war.
Click to expand...
Honestly, instead of a nuclear war, I’d rather have either Three Mile Island become worse than Chernobyl or Chernobyl itself being way worse. Either one of these combined would destabilize both superpowers and result in a massive power vacuum opening up. Cue massive refuge crises, the global economy going down the toilet, massive civil wars in the third world from two of the largest agricultural exporters being crippled by radiation, and other nasty effects.
 
Gabingston

Gabingston

THE KINGFISH said:
Honestly, instead of a nuclear war, I’d rather have either Three Mile Island become worse than Chernobyl or Chernobyl itself being way worse. Either one of these combined would destabilize both superpowers and result in a massive power vacuum opening up. Cue massive refuge crises, the global economy going down the toilet, massive civil wars in the third world from two of the largest agricultural exporters being crippled by radiation, and other nasty effects.
Click to expand...
Did you watch the new AlternateHistoryHub video on Chernobyl?
 

CaptainCalvert

How about the neoliberals are a bit more extreme Randists and privatise all state functions?
Government is now by bidding for franchises in what were constituencies [1], the civil service is run by organisations like Serco and Group 4, the army by France. Water, rail, electricity, police,health, education and other essential services are sold at firesales to the highest bidder and completely unregulated [2].
I keep thinking of how it would turn out, but all the actual examples I can think of a) suck really badly and b) draw too much on current politics, so I'll skip those.

[1]the House of Lords has effectivey been for sale since Lloyd George sold peerages, so no change there.
[2] Regulation. is so Big Governent, don't you know?
 
THE KINGFISH

THE KINGFISH

CaptainCalvert said:
How about the neoliberals are a bit more extreme Randists and privatise all state functions?
Government is now by bidding for franchises in what were constituencies [1], the civil service is run by organisations like Serco and Group 4, the army by France. Water, rail, electricity, police,health, education and other essential services are sold at firesales to the highest bidder and completely unregulated [2].
I keep thinking of how it would turn out, but all the actual examples I can think of a) suck really badly and b) draw too much on current politics, so I'll skip those.

[1]the House of Lords has effectivey been for sale since Lloyd George sold peerages, so no change there.
[2] Regulation. is so Big Governent, don't you know?
Click to expand...
Wonders why capitalism has basically imploded since nobody has any disposable income
 

omnidirectional

Dukakis wins in 84, Moral Majority movement attempts a Handmaids Tale style takeover without Reagan's patronage.

East Germany tries to hold on during the collapse of the USSR and goes full Juche.
 
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Giant Man Eating Rabbits

Giant Man Eating Rabbits

Banned
The History Man said:
USA
  • President Reagan authorises the following military interventions:-
    • Nicaragua, in order to overthrow the Sandinista government;
    • An Operation Linebacker-type operation against Hezbollah in the Bekaa Valley in retaliation for the killing of US Marines in Beirut; and
    • Military strikes against Iran
Click to expand...

Now I would've loved to see that!, Reagan going full on Verminthrax! That would've set the cat amongst the pigeons

The History Man said:
Either
  • Defeat in the Falklands War is followed by Labour winning the General Election in 1983 or 1984. Left-wing of Labour Party ousts existing leader within six months and Tony Benn becomes Prime Minister on a radical platform of nationalising banks and key industries, removing the independent nuclear deterrent, pulling the UK out of NATO, leaving the EEC and handing over Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland.
Click to expand...

That's a very good possibility if the Falklands goes badly!
 
the Imperium of Canada

the Imperium of Canada

The 1980 Damascus Titan missile explosion incident somehow actually results in a detonation leading to the immediant deaths of tens of thousands and winds spreading radioactive material across the Great Plains.
 

The Banker

The History Man said:
The following scenarios could be triggers:-

USA
  • President Reagan authorises the following military interventions:-
    • Nicaragua, in order to overthrow the Sandinista government;
    • An Operation Linebacker-type operation against Hezbollah in the Bekaa Valley in retaliation for the killing of US Marines in Beirut; and
    • Military strikes against Iran.
Soviet Union
  • Grigoriy Romanov becomes Secretary-General of the Communist Party rather than Mikhail Gorbachev. No Glasnost or Perestroika, more ongoing support for revolutionary movements and rogue states and START I and II less likely to be signed.
  • Possible alliance with Iran.
United Kingdom

Either
  • Defeat in the Falklands War is followed by Labour winning the General Election in 1983 or 1984. Left-wing of Labour Party ousts existing leader within six months and Tony Benn becomes Prime Minister on a radical platform of nationalising banks and key industries, removing the independent nuclear deterrent, pulling the UK out of NATO, leaving the EEC and handing over Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland.
Or
  • The IRA succeeds in assassinating Margaret Thatcher and a significant part of her Cabinet at the Conservative Party Conference in 1984.
Europe
  • The military coup in Spain in 1981 is successful.
  • The United Kingdom leaves the EEC (see above for description of scenario).
  • The Red Army Faction (Germany) and the Red Brigades (Italy) remain active.
  • Lech Walesa is assassinated.
  • The Soviet Union brutally puts down protests in Warsaw Pact countries in 1989.
Middle East
  • US military intervention following terrorist incidents (Achille Lauro, Beirut bombing). See above.
  • Iran enters into alliance with the Soviet Union and joins invasion of Afghanistan with aim or annexing Herat province.
Central Asia
  • Following the Golden Temple massacre, Sikh soldiers in the Indian Army mutiny and join the battle for an independent Khalistan.
Far East
  • A second Vietnam War breaks out, this time between China and Vietnam.
Click to expand...
can you pls pls pls pls pls make a 'Most chaotic 1970s possible'
 

Declan

PW Botha of South Africa is assassinated in mid-80s. The country implodes a shortwhile later as a result.

Reagan, aghast at the prospect of having to pick between the ANC and the Apartheid government, has Mangosuthu Buthelezi swiflty and discreetly flown to Washington. In a personal meeting, Reagan begs Buthelezi to renounce non-violence and to take up arms amidst the chaos to create a new side, with promises of lavish support. He agrees. So the war is a three way war: the ANC vs Buthelezi's forces vs the Apartheid government, each at the other's throats . The West backs Buthelezi while communist countries support the ANC. Nonaligned African countries give to both.

The South African war causes friction in the US' other alliances when it is revealed that a few of the anti-communist Latin American dictatorships are covertly supporting the Apartheid government. The possibility of US arms being smuggled draws Washington's ire and forces a re-examination of America's relations with those countries.
 
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