Well there we have it. The One Party State ends with not a roar, nor a whimper, but with a sigh it is dissolved civilly. Really in Italy I think this could be a victory for Fascism, they stood down with dignity and the lack of prosecution implies they were not erroneous in their actions like the Nazis and Communists. I expect their heirs in the democratic era will spin it as the need having simply passed, rather than a deep inherent wrongness in the system.
The hardest sell for me was that with Fascism's great success until Ethiopia went sour the Blackshirts would degrade so much. I'd have thought with things going sour they would if anything had more rigorous standards put on them for high alert and such under Balbo with only Ciano relaxing them.
Bravo for Juan Carlos, the people and king of Portugal, and the Pope for the mostly peaceful transition across Iberia and the African colonies. While Portugal seems to have further troubles ahead, the greatest danger seems behind them.
Croatia surprised me, a far better outcome than I had hoped.
Austria, it seems a majority have no faith in independence or the republic. Like Slovakia ITTL I am guessing foreign domination and homegrown tyrants have soutred many people to the notions. Still it seems to be anyone's game among the three factions.
Now future predictions!:
I think the RA is going to split soon. With China leaving and forming its own Beijing Bloc. Not to preserver Fascism but to lead both 'a calm and orderly march to democracy' and continue to see to it the sovereignty and interests of its members are well guarded. Basically China is doing it more to steal the throne from Italy by appealing to RA members who hate and fear Berlinguer.
Those who would join the Beijing Bloc I think would be: Turkey, wary of quick reform and the possibility of being coerced into giving up territory or its puppet statres. Also still seeking to build influence in Central Asia. Iran, regime is still popular with its recent successes and likewise wants to preserve and grow its influence. Biafara, wants to preserve some degree of OPEP and security against any renegotiation. Thailand, regime fears democracy and being under influence of India/Burma. Luba Kingdom, wanting to preserve its dictatorial power. Kingdom of Saba, the royal family looking for a new patron and fearing the socialist pm. And of course they drag along their puppet states. And South Africa, which is radicalizing.
The RA lead by Berlinguer I think will retain: Lebannon, wanting to normalize relationships but looking more to the US now with its friends there and disliking Berlinguer personally. Making democratic reforms, while also stacking the deck. Bulgaria, which in exchange for staying on gets to set its own pace in reforms with no pressure from Berlinguer. North Egypt: The Coptic Church a reluctant ruler at first and now offered a civil way of exit. And Rhodesia, with Smith haggling over the pace of reform but accepting it will be coming sooner than later; he hopes Rhodesia can follow Italy's example of a peaceful turnover.
Italy being usurped by China as leader of a major bloc, the rump RA being viewed as more a relic than ever now, is a hit to the new administration. The next comes with an SA backed coup attempt against Smith. While Smith's regime survives, SA is threatened to back down by Beijing, which also expels them from the BB. Ching-Kuo steals any thunder from Berlinguer by his stunning the world at denouncing the coup attempt and leading his bloc into imposing sanctions on SA; also gets points for leading a non Euro/Western Centric alliance system and his standing up to SA's actions give the world 'permission' to see him as more than just another Fascist.
And so we have a bittersweet end. Berlinguer rules for a time but a perceived decline in Italy makes even people who still respect him as the leader of liberation doubt him as PM. And so his and the party's star wanes with a new, often younger, breed of Fascists making themselves known as the old guard retire officially; and the centrists start to assert themselves too. While Berlinguers relatively short term somewhat disappoints him he is publicly not bitter about it as his goal was a government accountable to the people, and that includes him "Italy is done with Duces, and it is for the best."
Will we get a listing on the fates of the Fascist leadership after the fall and what happens to them?
The hardest sell for me was that with Fascism's great success until Ethiopia went sour the Blackshirts would degrade so much. I'd have thought with things going sour they would if anything had more rigorous standards put on them for high alert and such under Balbo with only Ciano relaxing them.
Bravo for Juan Carlos, the people and king of Portugal, and the Pope for the mostly peaceful transition across Iberia and the African colonies. While Portugal seems to have further troubles ahead, the greatest danger seems behind them.
Croatia surprised me, a far better outcome than I had hoped.
Austria, it seems a majority have no faith in independence or the republic. Like Slovakia ITTL I am guessing foreign domination and homegrown tyrants have soutred many people to the notions. Still it seems to be anyone's game among the three factions.
Now future predictions!:
I think the RA is going to split soon. With China leaving and forming its own Beijing Bloc. Not to preserver Fascism but to lead both 'a calm and orderly march to democracy' and continue to see to it the sovereignty and interests of its members are well guarded. Basically China is doing it more to steal the throne from Italy by appealing to RA members who hate and fear Berlinguer.
Those who would join the Beijing Bloc I think would be: Turkey, wary of quick reform and the possibility of being coerced into giving up territory or its puppet statres. Also still seeking to build influence in Central Asia. Iran, regime is still popular with its recent successes and likewise wants to preserve and grow its influence. Biafara, wants to preserve some degree of OPEP and security against any renegotiation. Thailand, regime fears democracy and being under influence of India/Burma. Luba Kingdom, wanting to preserve its dictatorial power. Kingdom of Saba, the royal family looking for a new patron and fearing the socialist pm. And of course they drag along their puppet states. And South Africa, which is radicalizing.
The RA lead by Berlinguer I think will retain: Lebannon, wanting to normalize relationships but looking more to the US now with its friends there and disliking Berlinguer personally. Making democratic reforms, while also stacking the deck. Bulgaria, which in exchange for staying on gets to set its own pace in reforms with no pressure from Berlinguer. North Egypt: The Coptic Church a reluctant ruler at first and now offered a civil way of exit. And Rhodesia, with Smith haggling over the pace of reform but accepting it will be coming sooner than later; he hopes Rhodesia can follow Italy's example of a peaceful turnover.
Italy being usurped by China as leader of a major bloc, the rump RA being viewed as more a relic than ever now, is a hit to the new administration. The next comes with an SA backed coup attempt against Smith. While Smith's regime survives, SA is threatened to back down by Beijing, which also expels them from the BB. Ching-Kuo steals any thunder from Berlinguer by his stunning the world at denouncing the coup attempt and leading his bloc into imposing sanctions on SA; also gets points for leading a non Euro/Western Centric alliance system and his standing up to SA's actions give the world 'permission' to see him as more than just another Fascist.
And so we have a bittersweet end. Berlinguer rules for a time but a perceived decline in Italy makes even people who still respect him as the leader of liberation doubt him as PM. And so his and the party's star wanes with a new, often younger, breed of Fascists making themselves known as the old guard retire officially; and the centrists start to assert themselves too. While Berlinguers relatively short term somewhat disappoints him he is publicly not bitter about it as his goal was a government accountable to the people, and that includes him "Italy is done with Duces, and it is for the best."
Will we get a listing on the fates of the Fascist leadership after the fall and what happens to them?
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