alternatehistory.com

President Hawking's leadership was stone-walled at every opportunity by opportunistic liberals, progressives and more centrist conservatives. America's first Populist President never finished his first term of office, as he was shot twice in the head by a foreign assassin. Nobody was ever formally accused, and the assassin was never caught. Whomever it was, was very clever. Hawking's death in 2020 allowed for his presidency to fall in the hands of his Vice President, Lavern Hartell. Lavern Hartell was more moderate than his old boss, but was still a populist. Despite flagging poll numbers, Hartell secured his own term of office in 2020, allowing him to serve the fullness of his term into 2025. This was only caused by the complete collapse of the Democratic and Republican parties. The liberal and socialist factions had splintered off of the party and created the Farmer-Labor Party, reviving an old World War II/Early Post-War political faction that seemed to be set to usurp the Democrats. Both parties suffered the loss of moderate Conservatives, whom believed that in this new age, it was time to form their own party to have their voice heard.

And so, in 2020, Hartell secured re-election against Sebastian Braddock of Minnesota (Democratic), Mark Bullard of Texas (Conservative Alliance), Marvin Baird of Vermont (Republican), Alicia Joye Gibson of Louisiana (Democratic-Farmer-Labor). However, a scant four years later, the other parties bit back. After the Democrat and Republican remnants had merged together in 2021, and the Conservatives had merged with the Patriotic Movement (under the idea of pressuring them to move back to center by overwhelming their numbers, maybe), and Farmer-Labor had suffered a schism between the more moderate liberals and the die-hard leftists, the stage seemed right for the surge of Liberalism.

Thus, in 2024, the peppy young Congresswoman from Florida took her seat in the White House, scoring a landslide against her opponents for the Liberal Party that she helped create. Koharu Toyama, as of 2029, is the incumbent President of the United States, and was re-elected in 2028 with an even greater political mandate than in 2024. Populism had been discredited, if only for the moment. She has survived three assassination attempts since her inauguration.

The global bogeyman, and the oft-repeated internet conspiracy theory hotbed, many people believe Europe is responsible for lots of bad things that go on in the world. Populist terrorism, demonstrations, assassinations, et al.-- you name it, they're probably behind it. The institution of democracy has largely faded from memory in the EF by 2029, as it grows increasingly right-wing and one-party-stateish. Spain and Portugal's fascist machines have worked wonders in turning France more fascist, and the EF rails constantly against social degenerates, foreigners, and the denigration of European culture outside of Europe. There are entire generations of people whom have never gone to see the Eiffel Tower, as nobody dares to visit the EF, for fear of death or abduction by government agents.

One of the most liberal and free-loving democracies on Earth. Steve Jobs governed as General Secretary until his death in 2018, at which time he was succeeded by Catherine Poklonskaya as General Secretary. She is the first female leader of the Soviet Union, and has governed since Jobs' demise. She is currently 49 years old, and seems to have no signs of slowing down. After their annexation of the Baltic in 2009, riots are still common place, but the Livonian SSR and Lithuanian SSR are about 80% pacified, with some room for improvement.

China's history in the last 80 years has been one of fantastic ascendance. From a nation of peasant communists in 1949, to one of the few superpowerful nations of the world in 2029, China has blossomed and turned herself into a shining example of a nation worth emulating. While there are always flaws, China is at peace with itself, and content. The line of democratic transition did not stop, and the idea of democracy has blossomed full-tilt. Beijing is a clear, pristine city, and shines as an example of East Asian economy, progress and justice. Tokyo and Seoul are closely tied to Beijing, and the three major Asian nations have an unbelievable amount of clout. The Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere has taken shape, but in a different way than those Japanese conquerors of 90 years ago envisioned.