Map Thread XVIII
- Thread starter FesteringSpore
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True enough. Here is something that I don't exactly have a name for, however am especially proud because I drew all the borders without the use of basemaps other than the coastlines and such. Any geographical problems with borders (in regards to rivers and mountains especially. Particularly in India/Tibet/China/Manchuria) can be chalked to periodic map styles. The inspiration was a North America like map I drew in a school notebook. I wrote Francia, Angland and Iberia in there. It was not exactly North America but an analogous fantasy continent. I originally thought of drawing the shoreline from scratch but decided to use this blank basemap called water world showing an ice melt map. Since I was unwilling to try very hard on North America I decided to use the map as a source of logic. Since there is less ice, then the world is warmer. So I supposed there would be more/earlier colonization. This also creates a Siberian Empire that is pretty organised and stops(/delays) Russian expansion east. Germany as a USA analogue, Poland as a Russia/Austria-Hungary analogue, Hungary as basically Ukraine (especially in shape), an Templar Knights/Venice analogue, a Hanseatic South Sweden + a North Sweden that hates Finland (feelings mutual), a *Ottoman Empire that is not a caliphate with a nominal African vassal and a Khanate vassal, a Malawi that is supposed to be the Zulus. An English Raj in New Zealand (and also in its normal place (different companies)). And also a surviving Andalusia and Brittany (just noticed the typo in the map), a Basque wank and last but not least a coming Kirghiz wank with a Kirghiz Alexander/Genghis Khan/Timur/Napoleon that will rule Central Asia during his life (conquer Iran too) and bring Mongolia into the waiting arms of the Royal Siberian Company, Iran becoming liberated as a Karamanid puppet. Also the German monarchy in exile is in a small island in otl North Germany. My idea of a POD was that this great warming/melt down happened around the Sumerian era or before leading to all the flood myths. I do realize that makes this implausibly convergent but hey I am not that creative.
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Deleted member 105545
THE 'CRUSADER CONFEDERATION':
The States of Alexandria, Jerusalem, Lesser Armenia, Antioch, and Cyprus form the Confederation of the Engys Anatoli.
It was formed after the Eastern Roman Empire successfully conquered Jerusalem and Antioch from the rising Fatimid Dynasty. When Magnentius Macrembolitissus of Athina started the brutal 6 Years War against his brother in Constantinople, the Periochi of Ierousalim kai Antiocheia declared neutrality in the war. Trascallisseus Stauricius, the Archon of the Engys Anatoli, took this opportunity to build up the realm and demand more independent governance.
Over time, the Engys Anatoli drifted further and further apart from her mother in Constantinople. Catholic Holy Warriors are often sponsored by the Engys Anatoli, in return that they allow Orthodox settlers in the region. Alexandria was incorporated into the confederation this way.
The Religious makeup of the E.A. is 63% Orthodox, 18% Sunni, 5% Catholic, 4% Cathar, 3% Syriac, 2% Shia, 1% Zoroastrian, 1% Dharmic, and 3% other religions.
And you were gonna wait for the next thread to show this. This is great! It looks like a world where the ice caps melted in like 1600 and the world has moved on. 10/10 looks fantastic.
Just finished Game of Thrones and decided to whip something up real quick. May make a map of what I think the world past Essos looks like at a later date
An old project I decided to revisit: The Donana Civilization. Basically what if Atlantis was a Phoenician civilization started in OTL Donana, Spain. Full timeline here: https://www.deviantart.com/ynot1989/art/The-Donana-Civilization-803557943
Where did you get your Zoroastrians from? I believe Armenian Apostolics are included in the Orthodox, but I would expect at least some Samaritan, Jewish and Maronite presence. The Maronites do not appear to be included among the Catholics, for 5% looks too few...
How would the world look like, should 1444 demographic structre be translated into modern borders?
Well take a look:
A development map of EU4 according to modern borders.
The countries with the highest development (understand greatest population) are:
The grey areas are depicted as wastelands, and the lowest possible devepment was 3; therefore the most backward countries are depicted in orange. These include Central America, Paraguay, Pacific Islands, Iceland, Kuwait and some coastal countries in Africa.
The most developped countries in the world include the Netherlands. A highly developped zone in western Euroep stretches from Belgium through France and Italy into Austria; in Adia, the most developped nations are Brunei, Bangladesh, and Lebanon. In Africa, development is concentrated in the Great Lakes, in Mauritius (which however uninhabited
) and Guinea. In the Aemericas, it appears best to live in the Lesser Antilles or Belize, or if youre south of the Panaman Canal , go to Ecuador.
Taking a look at the continents, two in three people are living in Eurasia. Asia is home to 37% of the world population,Europe to 35%. They are followed by Africa with 12%. The New World ammounts not to even a fifth: North America with 10%, South America with 5% and Oceania with a mere 1%.
Above, we have a map of world religions, each showing the most common religion in the country. For a pie chart, here you go:
Or, grouping the denominations together, we get this:
Well take a look:
A development map of EU4 according to modern borders.
The countries with the highest development (understand greatest population) are:
- China 1504 (7,8% of total)
- Russia 1250(6,6% of tal)
- India 1208 (6,3% of total)
- USA 922 (4,8% of total)
- France 864 (4,5% of total)
The grey areas are depicted as wastelands, and the lowest possible devepment was 3; therefore the most backward countries are depicted in orange. These include Central America, Paraguay, Pacific Islands, Iceland, Kuwait and some coastal countries in Africa.
The most developped countries in the world include the Netherlands. A highly developped zone in western Euroep stretches from Belgium through France and Italy into Austria; in Adia, the most developped nations are Brunei, Bangladesh, and Lebanon. In Africa, development is concentrated in the Great Lakes, in Mauritius (which however uninhabited
) and Guinea. In the Aemericas, it appears best to live in the Lesser Antilles or Belize, or if youre south of the Panaman Canal , go to Ecuador.Taking a look at the continents, two in three people are living in Eurasia. Asia is home to 37% of the world population,Europe to 35%. They are followed by Africa with 12%. The New World ammounts not to even a fifth: North America with 10%, South America with 5% and Oceania with a mere 1%.
Above, we have a map of world religions, each showing the most common religion in the country. For a pie chart, here you go:
Or, grouping the denominations together, we get this:
Not on my computer right now but of course I can. When I get to my computer.
There you go this is the basemap I used. It has been some time since I've had this map.
Haven't posted on AH.com in a while. But my muse is coming back. And here's one of the end results, even if the original meme a bit old: my own Timeline 15. It can also be found here.
Apart from using a Pacific-based worlda base map, my take on it is a bit different. As the while this TL-15 still more or less fits the criteria, the aim here isn't utopia. But rather, a more plausible take on how a "better possible timeline" would be like. As the title puts it, it's "good enough."
With all that in mind, please note that this isn't meant to be an ideological screed or propaganda.
And those out of the way, I hope you enjoy!
(EDIT: Typo)
United States
Apart from using a Pacific-based worlda base map, my take on it is a bit different. As the while this TL-15 still more or less fits the criteria, the aim here isn't utopia. But rather, a more plausible take on how a "better possible timeline" would be like. As the title puts it, it's "good enough."
With all that in mind, please note that this isn't meant to be an ideological screed or propaganda.
And those out of the way, I hope you enjoy!
(EDIT: Typo)
--o--
Timeline 15: Not Utopia, but Good Enough
PoD: 1989
Timeline 15: Not Utopia, but Good Enough
PoD: 1989
Current Year: 2019
United States
- The United States' "victory" in the Cold War ushers in a wave of "end of history" triumphalism. But also a period of cultural tension as both moralistic elements from the Religious Right and the those on the Left seeking to popularize "political correctness" intensify their efforts to claim the future of American culture. This would have far-reaching consequences.
- During the lead-up to the 1992 elections, Bill Clinton is caught in a car accident. While he survives, this unwittingly propels his running mate Al Gore into the Democratic primaries and ultimately, becomes the 42nd President of the United States.
- While President Gore pushes for more environmentalist reforms in his professed efforts to combat global warming, he initially allows the general economic policies of the previous Bush administration to go relatively untouched, allowing him enough leverage to maintain some Republican support. Towards the end of his first term, he begins courting the aid of political activists, including those popularizing "political correctness," believing them to be the future.
- The second term of President Gore becomes one of the most divisive periods in American history, taking what's been called the "Great Culture War" to new heights. While it doesn't degenerate into widespread violence, despite hysterical talk of "civil war" at any moment, a growing number of younger Americans become more alienated not only by the culture warriors, who are increasingly seen as going too far. But also by those who claim to represent their interests. "Political correctness gone mad" becomes a popular phrase.
- Although John Kasich manages to win the 2000 elections, this proves to be a pyrrhic victory, and not just for the Republican establishment. The same backlash that brought down Gore soon encompasses the "moral guardians" and "Old Guard" from both political parties, who are seen as having betrayed the interests of the people. The successful capture of terrorists plotting to attack New York City in 2001 manages to earn momentary popularity, but not enough to secure another term.
- What start out as protests become a series of reforms and the appointment of more proactive politicians in Congress. One of the most notable developments is how a potential housing crisis is averted, helped by both competent regulation and the encouragement of private competition. The other being a comprehensive reform of America's immigration policies and social welfare programmes.
- Mirroring Ronald Reagan, Robert Redford wins the 2008 elections, not only becoming the 45th President of the United States. But also the first "independent" to sit in the White House, succeeding where Theodore Roosevelt failed. Amidst cultural reconciliation and a revitalized economy, his term comes to be referred to as the "New Great Awakening", though a greater push for revisiting the Monroe Doctrine leads to a mild withdrawal of American commitments.
- The 2020 elections are seen as open season between current President Peter Thiel, who has largely continued Redford's policies while encouraging greater emphasis on expanding American interests in space, and Democrat firebrand Bernie Sanders, whose efforts to "clean house" have made him one of the most popular figures in the American Left.
- The Charlottetown Accord still fails, but some elements manage to inspire further calls for reform. This has the unintended effect of giving even more weight to the Quebec Independence Referendum of 1995, the resounding "Yes" from which results in a brief period of political turmoil throughout Canada. At the end of the day, however, the separation is relatively uneventful thanks in part to US support. Quebec formally becomes independent in 2002 under Lucien Bouchard following a transition period, soon falling under American influence.
- Despite fears of Canada dissolving in the wake of Quebec's push for independence, an ambitious programme is launched by Prime Minister Preston Manning to sway the remaining provinces and territories into staying together. This pays off, resulting not only in myriad constitutional reforms. But also, as a consequence, a more concerted effort to grant greater recognition to the First Nations. Nunavut, in particular, is seen as the poster child of those developments, formally becoming a province in 2015.
- Although NAFTA, as originally conceived during the Reagan administration, is passed in 1995 amidst opposition, constant attempts to renegotiate and amend the agreement render it largely nonexistent by the early 2000s. It's not until the implementation of the Paul Act of 2009 that it's superseded altogether, replaced by the relatively informal North American Economic Community.
- Even with the loss of Soviet support, Cuba's Communist authorities manage to cling on to power into the 2000s, thanks in part of Fidel Castro allowing for limited reforms. His decision to provide greater if superficial liberties, however, backfires, resulting in various protests across the nation that are brutally put down. With support from the Redford administration, Cuban exiles in the US come to the aid of their beleaguered compatriots during the so-called "Blue Uprising" of 2011, which finally brings down the regime. The newly democratized country is once more under American influence, though this hasn't stopped Russia from trying to reassert old ties.
- Through a series of joint operations involving the DEA and CIA in the 1990s, as well as more intense dealings with Mexican officials, the "War on Drugs" leaves a more lasting impact. The decision to gradually legalize drugs in the 2000s, however, further weakens the cartels into irrelevance. Meanwhile, greater calls for reform in Mexico, especially in the wake of President Carlos Salinas' resignation in 1992, help bring the country back from the brink and usher a period of national renewal. Negative perceptions of drug lords and unpaid labor have long given way to a stable, thriving Latin American powerhouse.
- "Operation Just Cause" still results in the dictator Manuel Noriega being deposed in 1990 and a much friendlier regime in place. On the eleventh hour, however, President Bush attempts to broker for compromises regarding the Torrijos–Carter Treaties. This would be carried over by his successor. The Canal Compromise, in which the Canal Zone becomes a joint co-dominium between the US and Panama effective in 2000, comes to be seen as President Gore's least divisive achievement.
- The US takes an even more active stance in aiding Colombia in its struggle against with the myriad paramilitary groups and even the dreaded Medellin Cartel. By the time the last major FARC stronghold surrenders in 2005, the country is already on its way to recovery as one of the more dominant powers of Latin America. It's also openly at odds with Venezuela over who truly represents Simon Bolivar's legacy.
- Brazil undergoes several unstable administrations following the impeachment of Fernando Collor, many of which defined by corruption and scandal regardless of which political party is in power at any given time. The general public grows more nostalgic for the long-defunct Imperial era, leading to the rise of Dom Luiz of the House of Orléans-Braganza into the spotlight. With the restoration of the monarchy by plebiscite in 2007, the country is once again seeing prosperity.
- The 1992 coup in Venezuela is more successful, though Rafael Caldera and his Christian Democrats are brought to power in an attempt to maintain order. This fails, however, resulting in Hugo Chavez and his brand of Bolivarian Socialism assuming power in 1998. With the destabilization (and eventual downfall) of Fidel Castro's regime, the country becomes the last true openly Marxist state in the New World. Attracting not only Cuban Communists in exile but also a number of Party loyalists from the former Soviet Union hoping to find fresh opportunity.
- While the Cold War's end is felt here, this has not stopped the proxy battles and backroom diplomacy in the Andean states. The only difference is that it's now largely Venezuela-backed socialists against both US-supported political groups and the efforts of a resurgent Brazil to reassert continental prominence.
- The transition from military to civil democratic rule in Chile in 1990 goes fairly smoothly, though Augusto Pinochet's presence would hover over local politics for the rest of his days. The country remains a beacon of stability as a vital US ally, which would prove to be a boon for the Redford administration in helping resolve a civil war in Argentina during the upheavals of 2009-12.
- Although Argentina manages to weather through the economic crises and political unrest of the 1990s, irreconcilable rifts emerge not only between the Peronists and opposition, but also among the Peronists themselves. This boils over to a head following the impeachment of Nestor Kirchner in 2008, sparking a chain of events that plunge the country into a civil war. Fearing both the spread of such unrest and the potential threat posed by the Bolivarian Socialists, the US, its Latin American allies and Brazil mobilize to restore order. A coalition "Government of National Renewal," primarily comprised of nationalist and libertarian political parties, wins out. Though it would not be until the fall of the last Peronist stronghold in Rio Gallegos in 2012 that the real work could begin.
- Symbolic of the revolutions occurring across the crumbling Warsaw Pact, the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 not only marks the end of the Cold War. But also signifies the beginning of the end of East Germany, or at least the ruling Communist regime.
- Realizing the sheer extent of the necessary measures, however, it's decided by both sides that the transition, be it economic or sociopolitical, could not be rushed. Formal unification takes place in 1999, with the region still known for its heavy industry and regimented atmosphere. Though few have any love for the old days in light of what the Stasi did, some look to the Hohenzollerns as another kind of "Ostalgie" emerges that hearkens back to the days before either Fascists or Communists ruled.
- The end of the Cold War invigorates a sense of triumphalism among much of Continental establishment, not too unlike their American counterparts. Albeit with a tinge of hubris, as those endorsing the idea of an "ever closer union" find their chance to present a postnational and enlightened vision of Europe. The Maastricht Treaty presented in 1992, intended to reform the existing European Economic Community, is partially successful, however. The EEC, of which the United Kingdom remains part of, becomes an ineffectual "outer rim" until it merges with the European Free Trade Association in 2008. The remainder becomes the "European Union," though it proves too unpopular and unwieldy outside of Brussels, Strasbourg or the halls of academia.
- The introduction of the Euro in 1999, along with myriad attempts to further amend the foundational principles of the European Union, backfires. Growing division over the ambition vision of a single Continental market and political bloc further leads to dissent and discord among the member states. This soon leads to much more significant changes, being formally reformed into the Western European Community in the Treaty of Lisbon in 2011. Unlike the old EU, this is more of a blend between NATO and the original EEC, with a more pronounced nationalist veneer.
- Seeing the seeming ineffectual nature of the EU, various new alliances and blocs emerge in prominence across the Continent. The Scandinavian nations reaffirm their long-standing ties and reorganize the Nordic Council into the Nordic Union in 2005. Meanwhile, the Visegrád Group, formed by Poland, Hungary, Czechia and Slovakia in 1991, rejects EU membership in favor of becoming a counterweight to what would become the WEC. Austria, after decades of formal neutrality, joins the Visegrád Group in 2002, with the independent Republic of Slovenia entering in 2014.
- By the time Austria enters the Visegrád Group, nostalgia gains ground among the youth as Otto von Habsburg channels his former support for the failing EU in favor of rekindling memories of the old Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the process, this also leads to similar trends occurring in Poland, Hungary and Czechia, perceived by foreign observers as a gesture to recapture prestige lost at the end of World War 1 and buried by the Cold War. When the would-be Archduke dies in 2011, a movement emerges that calls for the restoration of the monarchy. Although Chancellor Michael Spindelegger promises an eventual plebiscite in 2015, the coming election sees Karl von Habsburg of the Austrian People's Party as the most likely candidate to win the Chancellorship.
- Yugoslavia still succumbs to secessionists and unrest with the collapse of the ruling Communist cliques. But while Slovenia and Croatia succeed with declaring independence, as a risky gambit to hold what's left together, Alexander II Karađorđević is made president in 1993. His efforts to ease ethnic and religious tensions prove more successful than his critics expected, setting the stage for the restoration of the monarchy in 2001. Since then, Yugoslavia has seen a period of order and stability it had not seen in a generation, with both Serbs and Bosniaks seeing an opportunity to assert themselves over the Balkans.
- After years of instability and a barely functional government, Italy finally experiences some semblance of order under Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in 1994. He barely manages to get his political allies in line while simultaneously contending with myriad economic issues. Nonetheless, he succeeds in spite of his eccentricities. But while the Italians are becoming more prominent in Continental affairs as part of the current WEC, they're increasingly becoming more divided over regional lines, with political parties like Lega Nord gaining even more power.
- The decision by Prime Minister John Major to submit to Conservative Party pressure not only leads to the United Kingdom not signing the Maastricht Treaty. But also sparks public debate over Britain's future, with many increasingly looking to the past for answers. In a move that is strongly pushed by Margaret Thatcher, a stronger pact between the UK and the former Dominions of Canada, Australia and New Zealand is proposed in 1998. The resulting "CANZUK Pact" established in the Treaty of Perth in 2004 now forms the bulk of a reinvigorated Commonwealth of Nations, with Queen Elizabeth II becoming the longest reigning monarch in the realm's history. Some, however, see it as the true return of the British Empire.
- With the Berlin Wall's fall, the days are numbered for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev's efforts to "preserve" the Soviet Union soon turn to making the imminent collapse of Communist rule as painless as possible. While these do not prevent a failed military coup, most of the constituent SSRs from declaring independence or the breakdown of the Soviet economy, such attempts nonetheless play a role in allowing the final fall of the USSR to pass by relatively peacefully. By the end of 1991, the Russian Federation is symbolically proclaimed.
- The newly democratized Russians are confronted with myriad challenges in the initial years, from rampant crime and corruption to the rise of oligarchs. In light of such challenges, President Boris Yeltsin is forced enact a much slower transition to a free market economy after generations of Communist rule, hoping to succeed where Gorbachev failed. This "Novy Glasnost" programme proves to be successful, thanks also in part to Yeltsin dropping his notorious drinking habit. Accusations of being too accommodating to the West, however, would haunt his final years in office.
- By the dawn of the 21st Century, Russia has seen an economic rise in its fortunes. Yeltsin's efforts to control the rampant antics of the oligarchs and stamp down corruption have made the burgeoning corporations into a more benevolent presence. By the 2010s, Russian investors become a rather common sight in various foreign markets.
- The election of Stanislav Govorukhin as Russia's second President in 2002 marks another turning point for the country. His term would see the reining in of the remaining oligarchs, most notably Gazprom, more expansive social reform and a more serious effort to retool the Commonwealth of Independent States as an appendage of Moscow. The Communist Party, though remaining a significance presence in the Duma, gradually loses its grip as nostalgia for the USSR gives way to more forward-looking optimism.
- Russian influence, which had seemingly dissipated with the fall of the Soviet Union, solidifies beyond the country's borders. President Govorukhin's initiatives are also responsible for the unification of much of the former Central Asian SSRs under Kazakhstan in 2004 as the Central Asian Federation. As well as the formal "reunification" of Belarus in 2007. By the 2010s, Russia's impact could be felt in regions as varied as the Middle East and even in US-backed Cuba.
- The exclaves of Kaliningrad Oblast and the Crimea remain firmly under Moscow's control even after the end of the USSR, with most Russians in the Ukraine having moved to the latter as a compromise. In a surprising move, however, President Govorukhin issues a decree in 2011 formally renaming Kaliningrad itself to Kyonigsberg, both as a gesture of good will and a way of honoring the memory of East Prussia.
- The 2020 elections are seen as a test for current President Mikhail Prokhorov, whose efforts to present Russia as a viable capitalist alternative to the US have met mixed results. Among the key contenders are the more conservative Sergey Baburin, an ambitious ex-KGB firebrand named Vladimir Putin and the controversial Vladimir Zhirinovsky. All of them, however, express similar views of restoring the Romanov dynasty, with many Russians seeing this as symbolic of finally putting the Soviet Union to rest.
- In an attempt to secure oil and distract from a deteriorating local economy, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait in 1990. This backfires in the form of "Operation: Desert Storm", which sees an American-led coalition brutally forcing the Iraqis back across the border. Hussein himself remains in power, however, until an unceremonious accident outside Baghdad in 2006. Although early propaganda blames various powers, from American collaborators to Israel's Mossad, it soon devolves into a power struggle as various Baathist cliques struggle for power over the country. Fearing the likelihood of US intervention or the potential spread of instability, the Russians discreetly support Qusay Hussein as Iraq's legitimate leader, in exchange for gradual reforms in favor of Moscow.
- The Intifada between the Israelis and Palestinians drags on until 1992, when both sides agree to hold a peace conference in Geneva, Switzerland. The so-called Geneva Accords would be the first step in formalizing a lasting solution, with the founding of not only the Palestinian Authority but also a joint Council. While this is initially a messy affair, it does force both Jews and Muslims to confront decades of tension. Eventually, President Shimon Peres signs the Treaty of Jerusalem in 2013, officially establishing the Levantine Union. Informally called "Israel-Palestine," it has become a beacon of stability in a historically chaotic corner of the world. With Lebanon joining in 2017.
- Saudi Arabia strains to maintain a balancing act between currying ties with the US and placating Islamist groups. Eventually, this "status quo" breaks down following the death of King Fahd Al Saud from a fatal stroke in 1995. While the oil helps keep the country relatively stable for about a decade, the US gradually weaning off from Middle Eastern sources amplify brewing tensions among myriad members of the Saudi royal family. The "Sudairi Seven" win out by 2009, with the coronation of King Salman and a growing preference for reform.
- Defiantly clinging onto its peculiar brand of Islamic socialism, Libya manages to weather through the end of the Cold War through ample oil reserves and the machinations of its supreme leader, Muammar Gaddafi. In a series of PR initiatives, the Jamahiriya becomes an indispensable bridge between Africa and the Arab world in an attempt to make itself too much of a risk for Western powers to intervene in. This works wonders for Gaddafi at first, but his death in 2015 is exploited by an increasingly powerful Egypt, having overthrown the dictatorial Hosni Mubarak in 2005. Still under a "People's Politburo," Libyans are seeing more liberties trickled down as Egyptian officials encourage "amendments" to Gaddafi's ideas.
- Under the nominally "reformist" Ayatollah Khamenei, the Islamic Republic of Iran spends much of the 1990s rebuilding a shattered economy and military. The changes promised by him and his supporters fail to materialize, further sowing dissent among the people. The deployment of the Revolutionary Guard Corps. in cracking down on a protest in Tehran in 2006 sparks what comes to be known as the Second Iranian Revolution. Aided by members of the Iranian exile community alongside discreet Western and Russian support, the myriad rebel forces overrun Khamenei's last holdouts in 2008. After much deliberation, Reza Pahlavi is crowned Shah of a secular Iran the following year, representing both a rekindling of the past and an embrace of the future.
- The Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989 sparks a chain of events the results in the collapse of the vestigial socialist regime in 1992. Although a radical offshoot of the mujaheddin, known as the Taliban, tries to usurp power from the provisional government in Kabul, it eventually falters without support from Pakistan and is finally defeated in 1997. Seeing the need for both unity and stability, the myriad clans and tribes of the country are unanimous in restoring Mohammed Zahir Shah as King in 2002.
- Responding to decades of corruption and slow growth Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao of India institutes myriad economic and social reforms following his election victory in 1991. While these go a long way in turning the country's fortunes around, they fail to fully resolve simmering tensions between not only Hindus and Muslims, but across Indian society. Through forging a coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1994, Rao and his colleagues in the Indian National Congress establish a new status quo that would allow India to assert itself by the 2010s as a major power in its own right.
- After periods of tension and open skirmishing, India and Pakistan eventually settle upon a rather begrudging compromise in a summit held in Oslo, Norway in 1997. The most notable agreement is Kashmir itself being made an independent, albeit neutral state, which is formally declared in 1999. Since then, it has come to be called the "Switzerland of the Subcontinent" for its relative calm. But it has also earned a reputation for being a hotbed for spies and black market deals.
- Ethiopia's Communist regime falters with the loss of Soviet aid, formally renouncing overt Marxist-Leninist policies in 1991. The revolutionaries retain a socialist system, however, sparking further unrest until another civil war erupts by 1996. It's not until the so-called Crown Council, backed by Egypt, Russia and the US, succeed in assuming power in 2002 that Ethiopians finally find peace. Under Emperor Zera Yacob Amha Selassie, the restored monarchy is considered a significant improvement by many, though some see it as Russia's primary foothold in Africa.
- Seeing the turmoil around them and the ineptitude of the African Union, the people of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania revive the idea of an East African Community over the 1990s. But it's the mutual experience of intervening in the Rwandan Civil War, in light of the perceived ineptitude of the UN Peacekeepers, that finally provides the impetus to formally establish the East African Federation in 1998. With Rwanda and Burundi joining in 2003 and 2012, the EAF has become an alternative model for other African states to follow and a bulwark against the Azanian threat from the south.
- The fall of Siad Barre's Communist regime in 1991 plunges Somalia into civil war, which rapidly degenerates into outright anarchy. While the UN's attempts to help restore order the failed state flounder in the 1990s, Somaliland emerges as an island of stability and functional democracy. Its recognition as a sovereign nation by the US under the Kasich administration proves to be a boon, ushering in a new era of prosperity. Meanwhile, the remaining Somali warlords are crushed by the Azanian-backed "League for Unity," which seizes power in 2013.
- Tense negotiations begin in 1990 between President Frederik Willem de Klerk's administration and the African National Congress over the future of South Africa, which includes the abolition of Apartheid. These soon break down, however, thanks in part to Nelson Mandela having an unfortunately timed stroke in 1991. Violent clashes between police, militant elements of the ANC and Whites caught in the middle intensify as it becomes clear that there's no clear resolution, despite de Klerk's formal renouncement of Apartheid itself. A terrorist attack in Johannesburg in 1994, which is blamed either on pro-Apartheid supremacists or ANC agents, leads to what comes to be called the Bloody Divorce and lasts until 1998.
- Later same year, the ANC storms Johannesburg and amidst the chaos declares the Azanian Union. Adopting Pan-African Socialism as its creed, the revolutionaries immediately begin exacting "retribution" against symbols of the old White-minority regime. While in a perverse mirror of the Great Trek, many Afrikaners and Blacks opposed to the ANC, along with elements of the SADF flee westward. The Free Union of South Africa is officially proclaimed in 1996, the former Cape Province split into an Africaner-dominant Volkstaat and a moderate, mixed Kaapstaat.
- In 1999, Azania's aligns itself with Muammar Gaddafi's African PR campaigns, which it uses to justify laying down the groundwork for its "African Forum." In reality, this proves to be a means with which Azania could bring likeminded regimes into its sphere of influence, notably Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe, and spread its brand of Pan-African Socialism. With American support, the FUSA and Namibia formalize their Cape Alliance into a proper political bloc in 2009 in response. Alongside the EAA, it has played a key role in thwarting further Azanian designs.
- To the surprise of others both in Africa and elsewhere, Botswana joins the Cape Alliance in 2016, finding more in common with Afrikaners than those increasingly seen as even worse than the old Apartheid regime. Even before then, the country has helped in welcoming Afrikaner refugees and rebuffing Azanian attempts to spread supremacist and Pan-African Socialist ideas.
- The immediate years following the 1986 People Power Revolution are a tumultuous time for the Philippines as President Corazon Aquino is left with myriad challenges. A failed coup by Col. Gregorio Honasan in 1989, however, proves to be a massive wake up call on living up to the promises made after the fall of Ferdinand Marcos. Despite the setbacks posed by both the 1990 Luzon Earthquake and the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991, the latter period of President Aquino's term is defined by a much more concerted effort to address corruption, resolve long-standing debts and restore investor confidence.
- The subsequent term of President Fidel Ramos sees not only a continuation of anti-corruption reforms but the launching of the "Philippines 2000" socio-economic programme. This soon evolves into an even more comprehensive initiative meant to invigorate rural communities and reduce poverty. Though not entirely successful, by the end of President Ramos' term in 1998, standards of living go up considerably with Filipinos joining the ranks of Asia's newly industrialized nations. Just in time for the country's centennial anniversary.
- While the country confronts the NPA in the fringes, which is finally dealt with in 2005, efforts are made to reach out to the myriad Moro rebels in Mindanao, such as the Moro National Liberation Front. Despite several false starts and the interference of Islamist militias like the Abu Sayyaf, a compromise is reached in a summit held in Singapore. In 2009, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region is formally established, granting special autonomy to the predominantly Catholic country's Muslim minority.
- By the time Miriam Defensor-Santiago is elected President in 2010, the Philippines has shaken off much of its old "Third World" reputation, with. With poverty and crime at lows unseen since the 1960s, and even its extensive Diaspora seen in a more prestigious light, Filipinos become more proactive in regional affairs. By leveraging long-standing ties with the US and encouraging greater cooperation among the myriad Southeast Asian countries, especially in light of the "Chinese problem," the country emerges as one of the prominent ASEAN powers by 2015.
- Suharto's "New Order" manages to hold firmly over Indonesia until 1994, when an otherwise "standard" crackdown of dissidents in Irian Jaya backfires, emboldening the Free Papua Movement to intensify its insurgency against the regime. This escalates into open war, forcing Suharto to deploy more forces to the now-rebellious region. These responses in turn amplify not only growing unrest among the country's burgeoning middle-class but also incite similar uprisings in East Timor, prompting growing calls for Australian and UN intervention. After myriad skirmishes and protests, the long-time autocrat is forced to resign in 1996, marking a new democratic era in Indonesian history.
- Following a plebiscite and a period of transition, Jacob Hendrik Prai is declared President of the West Papuan Republic in 2000. The following year, Xanana Gusmão is proclaimed President of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste. The two countries join the Philippines in being among the only majority Christian states in Asia, with both formally joining ASEAN despite Indonesian objections in 2016.
- In spite of myriad market reforms to bolster the economy, Vietnam is put to the test over the 1990s as it becomes directly affected by the "Chinese problem." With throngs streaming in from the crumbling People's Republic, unresolved tensions left over from the Vietnam War rapidly boil over that are helped along by Chinese dissidents among the refugees. Retired general Võ Nguyên Giáp is made Chairman of the Council of State in 1995 to address the mounting crisis, declaring martial law. After pressure from ASEAN and Chinese reformists, he voluntarily relinquishes power in 2007. Democratic elections are held, and with the raising of the old South Vietnamese flag, decades of Communist rule comes to a fairly quiet end.
- After a series of peace negotiations and conferences held in Paris, France, Cambodia finally begins a proper transition to democracy. This culminates in the restoration of the monarchy under King Norodom Sihanouk in 1993. It wouldn't until the last vestiges of the Khmer Rouge are defeated in 1996 that the nation's recovery picks up speed, eventually becoming of the fastest growing economies in ASEAN by the late 2000s.
- The fallout of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre proves far more extensive than the Chinese Communist Party realizes. Neither Jiang Zemin nor Deng Xiaoping anticipate the extent of the Western embargo, let alone the growing number of protests across the People's Republic of China. Efforts to stem dissent through purges and clampdowns fail as calls for reform grow louder than the propaganda. In 1992, a military coup staged by PLA and Party hardliners in Beijing sets off a chain of events euphemistically called the "Chinese problem." Within a few years, the leadership is decapitated and various warlords and CCP claimants emerge, sparking a growing outflow of refugees, including a number of reformers and dissidents.
- Amidst the chaos, the Dalai Lama seizes the opportunity and declares Tibet's independence in 1994, the country soon recognized by several nations. The Uyghurs of Xinjiang, meanwhile, overrun the remaining PLA outposts, establishing the Republic of East Turkestan in 1997. Although many Han Chinese are allowed to peacefully emigrate, it wouldn't be until 2014 that this independent Uyghur state is officially recognized.
- While UN Peacekeepers are called upon to help restore order, among the first to seize the initiative is Taiwan. In 1996, the Republic of China takes control over Fujian Province and Hainan. Then with the aid of local sympathizers and British forces deployed in Hong Kong, the Taiwanese proceed to establish stable footholds along the coast. Although the campaign is met in sections with open arms by some and intense resistance by others, ROC troops reach Nanjing and Shanghai by 2000, with President Lee Teng-hui proclaiming that Chiang Kai-shek's dream of returning to the Mainland is close to fulfillment.
- Most of the remaining warlords and PRC remnants surrender in 2002. The Kuomintang is appointed the transitional authority, which it uses to secure PLA military assets and restore order across the Mainland. With the last holdouts defeated, the Republic of China is formally reformed into the Chinese Federation in 2005, offering democratic freedoms and genuine change in the name of fulfilling Sun Yat Sen's lofty vision. Although the turmoil and devastation left behind by the collapse of the Party are estimated to take a generation to fully mend, China by the 2010s is once more becoming a major power in Asia.
- Taiwan, following a plebiscite in 2009, is granted independence following a compromise between the Mainland and Taiwanese branches of the KMT. Although still closely tied to the Chinese Federation, the island state is enjoying considerable prosperity, especially with its growing ties with Japan and the US. Meanwhile, with the end of the "temporary" provisions for delaying the handover of the relatively unscathed Portuguese Macao and British-ruled Hong Kong, plebiscites are held over their future. In 2011, both opt for being sovereign city-states not unlike Singapore, within a few years becoming major economic centers in their own right.
- What had been Northeast China initially serves as a relatively secure stronghold for those loyal to the CCP until PLA regiments in Shenyang mutiny in 1994. As warlords, loyalists and even opportunistic North Korean forces over the region, groups of Manchu and Han Chinese take up arms in defiance. Though it's not until Russian forces intervene to help restore order in 1998 and the first ROC forces make landfall in the Liaodong Peninsula that the tide finally turns. Now part of the Chinese Federation, the still recovering locals once more see themselves as "Manchurian."
- The Korean Peninsula sees both South and North Korea formally admitted into the UN in 1991 in light of improved diplomatic exchanges. South Korea itself continues to grow more democratic amidst greater liberalizations and economic growth. The death of Kim Il-Sung and the "Chinese problem," however, dramatically alter the situation. Without either the Soviet Union or the People's Republic of China, a struggling North Korea becomes increasingly unstable. Supreme Leader Kim Jong-il, in an act of either desperation or hubris, stages a surprise attack on the DMZ in 1997. This proves to be the beginning of the end.
- Despite fears of a bombardment of Seoul or nuclear retaliation, US and South Korean forces fiercely push back the botched invasion, with elements of the JSDF also sent to aid in the advance. Within months, Pyongyang itself falls and by 1998, the last bastions of the Supreme Leader are defeated. After almost 50 years, the Korean War ends in a clear victory for the South. Although a lengthy transition period is enacted to rebuild the devastated North and "deprogram" generations of Juche propaganda, President Moon Jae-in formally proclaims the unification of Korea in 2015 as a regional power.
- Although policies are enacted in response, they fail to prevent Japan's bubble economy from bursting by 1992, sparking what comes to be called the "Lost Decade." This becomes more of a misnomer, however, as Japanese businesses and economists enact myriad reforms that gradually lead to a pronounced recovery. Meanwhile, the "Chinese problem" and the deteriorating situation in the Korean Peninsula prompt a reinterpretation of Article 9 of the country's constitution, leading to the JSDF being deployed overseas for the first time since World War 2. This would go a long way into both reaffirming Japanese influence internationally and mending ties with its erstwhile rival.
- Following the ousting of Prime Minister Paul Keating in 1992, Australia is forced to confront an economic crisis and a seemingly uncertain future. Under the administration of John Hewson, however, the country manages to rebound faster than economists expected and set myriad social reforms into motion. All while swaying his countrymen to rekindle ties with the UK, envisioning themselves as a bridge between the old Commonwealth and nascent American superpower. Thus, Australians become among the first to sign onto the CANZUK Pact in 1998, with New Zealand joining soon after.
- In spite of the proverbial fallout from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, nuclear power proves to be more resilient than naysayers claim. President Gore's decision to promote nuclear as an alternative to fossil fuels, while controversial initially even among his supporters, plays a major part in undoing the stigma that had emerged in the US and elsewhere. Advances in efficiency, miniaturization and safety standards further bolster the appeal of the Atom, with breakthroughs towards fusion power being made by the late 2010s. The science fiction fancies of the 1950s no longer seem so far-fetched anymore.
- Alongside the resurgence of nuclear energy, natural gas begins taking precedence over conventional fossil fuels throughout the 1990s. Seen as a "cleaner" alternative, various companies seize the initiative and switch over, including a number of "Big Oil" firms. The Russians soon emerge as one of world's leading LNG exporters by 2006, equal only to the US. For OPEC member states, however, this dents their economic clout and ability to influence prices. While Middle Eastern nations are increasingly forced to either diversify or expand on their own natural gas reserves to stay competitive.
- The Gore administration's budget cuts to the space programme forces NASA to drop Reagan's ambitious schemes in favor of the International Space Station, whose first module is launched in 1998. Realizing the potential of asteroid mining, however, President Kasich and his successors not only grant the agency more resources but also encourage private sector initiatives, sparking a new space race. While the US and Russia remain the leading contenders, with President Thiel seeking to set up a permanent Lunar base, the Japanese and even the Chinese are not far behind.
- Although expensive, the (in)famous Concorde remains in use until 2010 as a prestigious service by both Air France and British Airways. The idea of supersonic travel proves enticing enough to inspire various companies to submit proposals for making such aircraft more affordable and efficient. It also spurs research into military applications, with the US Air Force developing successors to the venerable SR-71 Blackbird.
- Robotics and AI make tremendous strides in commercial, industrial, military and medical fields. But while automated systems become more commonplace, they open up ethical questions and issues over human labor, though fears of robots taking over jobs by the 2000s are tempered by both regulation and economic growth. Meanwhile, Japanese and American efforts to develop increasingly human-like machines is meeting acceptance from the public. The notion of such robots being friends if not equals rather than potential threats to the species becomes widespread.
- The Internet gains popularity in the 1990s, not only sparking a revolution in telecommunications. But also bringing about a boom in tech companies, particularly around Silicon Valley. While the so-called "Y2K Bug" fails to materialize, the "Dot-com Burst" in 2000 brings about the collapse of several firms, including an upstart called Google. Although slowing down the development of cyberspace and dispersing the survivors of the crash across the US, it also signifies a new period of decentralized networks and genuine competition. Social networking in particular remains a diffused and competitive industry.
- The "Great Culture War" that comes to define the 1990s in the US is mirrored in various parts of the Western world and beyond, leaving a lasting impact on both younger and older generations alike. Many come to view those who actively pushed said strife along with anything seen as "radical" or "politically correct" with skepticism at best, disdain at worst. On the other hand, political heterodoxy, alongside evolving forms of Left and Right largely derived from traditionalism, social democracy and libertarianism gain in popularity. Civil tolerance and American notions of free speech gain precedence as values worth upholding, whether in public or online. All to ensure that another culture war of such intensity doesn't happen again.
- With the end of the Cold War and the relatively gradual transition to more democratic systems, myriad strains of Communism come under intense scrutiny, if not discredited as the full extent of what happened behind the Red Curtain comes to light. Even with the fallout of the "Great Culture War" further eroding the perceived legitimacy of socialist ideals, some strains of Marxist-Leninist, Trotskyist and Maoist thought persist. These in turn play a major role in influencing Bolivarian and Pan-African Socialism, which are seen as the heirs to the Communists of old.
- A consequence of the turn away from the culture warriors is the widespread shift in environmentalism. The stigma attached to its most vocal activists and advocates, on top of their ill-fated patronage by President Gore, leads to the movement being dominated by a mix of heterodox academics, technocrats and businessmen. These latter-day "eco-warriors," whose views are about as varied as the Earth's fauna, generally see themselves less like saviors of the planet or secular clergymen. But rather as people simply doing their part in making life easier for their fellow men, which in turn bolsters the embrace for nuclear power, natural gas and research into cleaner technologies.
- Another change brought about by the "Great Culture War" and its aftermath can be found in race relations, especially in the US. Meanwhile, the heated racial protests and standoffs in cities like Los Angeles in the early 1990s prove to be a wake up call over the Darwinian excesses of identity politics, regardless of which side one's on. This leads not only to several supremacist organizations being discredited, whether Black, White, Native American or Hispanic. But also inspires the reforms that mark the Redford administration and the "New Great Awakening."
- Seeing the notion of hatred for the opposite gender or a war between the sexes as a vicious cycle, a number of feminists and men's rights advocates push for gender egalitarianism as an alternative. By the 2010s, this comes to be called "Gendalitarianism", which quickly comes to overshadow its opposition in part by lambasting the absurdity of the culture warriors. Coincidentally, without the spectre of identity politics, LGBT rights and acceptance become less of a controversial issue, with many coming to see them as just like everyone else.
- The Religious Right, in its myriad manifestations, experiences a decline in the West, momentarily bolstering the so-called "New Atheists" and advocacy for full secularism. By the early-mid 2000s, however, Christianity undergoes a renewal as the younger faithful seek to reclaim their beliefs from the moral guardians and fundamentalists who had previously claimed such vocal pedestals. Whether Catholic or Protestant, a humbler yet more dynamic religious landscape emerges to help prove the relevance of religion in the modern world. Similar trends begin occurring in Islam by the 2010s, led by reformist imams.
- The growing popularity of media outside of the Anglosphere, whether it's Japanese anime and manga, Russopop or the nascent video game industry in the Visegrád Group nations, gradually cultivates an entertainment landscape that had for the longest time been dominated by Hollywood. In response to these and rather embarrassing scandals from the Gore administration, American film studios are forced to be much more diverse and daring in their productions, even while adapting foreign works. The long-awaited prequels and sequels to Star Wars in particular are praised for incorporating such new influences while staying true to the original trilogy.
- Conventional television gradually loses ground to Internet video services by the 2000s. In an effort to stay relevant, TV networks across the West become more experimental or willing to broadcast more varied shows. One result of this is the proliferation of historical, science fiction and fantasy series, including renewed popularity for franchises like Star Trek. By the 2010s, however, many of such shows are readily available online, radically redefining TV forever.
- By the end of the 1990s, "political correctness" is seen as a common subject for parody and mockery. Similarly, grandstanding moralists and deluded radicals become fairly popular motifs for villains in fiction, joining the familiar "mainstays" of Nazis, Communists and Middle Eastern militants. Over time, however, such trends cultivate a more vibrant entertainment industry, as creators and producers find themselves free to produce what they want without risk of censor. The advent of Internet publishing and distribution, meanwhile, further weakens the grip held by Old Media and the publishing cliques, bringing even more life and competition across industries, from film to video games.
- The triumphalism from the Cold War's end is fleeting. While the US is the premier superpower, the dawn of the 21st Century sees the emergence of a more multi-polar world and with it, the return of great power politics. At the same time, however, the existence of what's informally called the "New Comintern" in Africa and Latin America has raised questions over whether the Cold War itself has truly been consigned to history. Nonetheless, even with the efforts made to contend with the latter-day rogues and Communists, the globe is seeing a period of relative peace.
- The collapse of the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China open up fears of unaccounted-for military assets, including nuclear warheads, winding up in the black market. Though such illegal arms dealing does take place in the early-mid 1990s, the Yeltsin administration's attempts to clamp down and reform Russia's armed forces proves more successful than the man himself anticipated. Meanwhile, many surviving PLA remnants are able to hold onto much of their armories long enough to surrender them to the ROC and later Chinese Federation, further mitigating concerns of any potential nuclear terrorist attacks.
- The noticeable trend of restoring monarchies that had fallen over the course of the 20th Century, or the 19th in Brazil's case, begins capturing the interest of political scientists and experts by the 2000s. Increasingly, the notion of kingdoms and principalities as outdated curiosities is being challenged, throwing not only decades of expectations of democratic republics being the most ideal form of government. But also the notion of there even being some "end of history" at all.
- A series of peacekeeping blunders and scandals tarnishes the perceived legitimacy of the United Nations. As more people notice the ineptitude and some of the less savory aspects of the organization, some begin questioning whether it even is relevant in the modern world. Nonetheless, after reforms and US-backed pressure, the UN remains a major international platform in which countries could peacefully resolve any issues. Though few really take its brand of "globalism" all that seriously.
- Globalization, mirroring the early 20th Century, is once more on the prime movers of the post-Cold War years. But while cultural exchanges and free trade have been beneficial, increasingly heated debates arise in late 1990s regarding the risks inherent in a "global village." Coupled with the failure of the European Union and breakdown of the old "status quo" establishment, especially in the US, globalization itself is redefined. This loose compromise proves flexible enough to work in a landscape of political blocs and renewed nationalism far more effectively than talk of a "borderless world."
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ST15RM
Banned
there is a 3 image per day limit here. just a heads up before the bear comes over. cool maps thoHow would the world look like, should 1444 demographic structre be translated into modern borders?
Well take a look:
View attachment 469242
A development map of EU4 according to modern borders.
The countries with the highest development (understand greatest population) are:
To know more of the world, lets take a look at another map, which I labelled as Development per capita, and shows us the average development of a province. The value of the colour divided by 10 is the number of the average develoipment per province.View attachment 469244
- China 1504 (7,8% of total)
- Russia 1250(6,6% of tal)
- India 1208 (6,3% of total)
- USA 922 (4,8% of total)
- France 864 (4,5% of total)
The grey areas are depicted as wastelands, and the lowest possible devepment was 3; therefore the most backward countries are depicted in orange. These include Central America, Paraguay, Pacific Islands, Iceland, Kuwait and some coastal countries in Africa.
The most developped countries in the world include the Netherlands. A highly developped zone in western Euroep stretches from Belgium through France and Italy into Austria; in Adia, the most developped nations are Brunei, Bangladesh, and Lebanon. In Africa, development is concentrated in the Great Lakes, in Mauritius (which however uninhabited
View attachment 469247
Taking a look at the continents, two in three people are living in Eurasia. Asia is home to 37% of the world population,Europe to 35%. They are followed by Africa with 12%. The New World ammounts not to even a fifth: North America with 10%, South America with 5% and Oceania with a mere 1%.
View attachment 469248
Above, we have a map of world religions, each showing the most common religion in the country. For a pie chart, here you go:
View attachment 469249
Or, grouping the denominations together, we get this:
View attachment 469250
Gian
Banned
Haven't posted on AH.com in a while. But my muse is coming back. And here's one of the end results, even if the original meme a bit old: my own Timeline 15. It can also be found here.
Apart from using a Pacific-based worlda base map, my take on it is a bit different. As the while this TL-15 still more or less fits the criteria, the aim here isn't utopia. But rather, a more plausible take on how a "better possible timeline" would be like. As the title puts it, it's "good enough."
With all that in mind, please note that this isn't meant to be an ideological screed or propaganda.
And those out of the way, I hope you enjoy!
--o--
Timeline 15: Not Utopia, but Good Enough
PoD: 1989
Current Year: 2019
United States
North America
- The United States' "victory" in the Cold War ushers in a wave of "end of history" triumphalism. But also a period of cultural tension as both moralistic elements from the Religious Right and the those on the Left seeking to popularize "political correctness" intensify their efforts to claim the future of American culture. This would have far-reaching consequences.
- During the lead-up to the 1992 elections, Bill Clinton is caught in a car accident. While he survives, this unwittingly propels his running mate Al Gore into the Democratic primaries and ultimately, becomes the 42nd President of the United States.
- While President Gore pushes for more environmentalist reforms in his professed efforts to combat global warming, he initially allows the general economic policies of the previous Bush administration to go relatively untouched, allowing him enough leverage to maintain some Republican support. Towards the end of his first term, he begins courting the aid of political activists, including those popularizing "political correctness," believing them to be the future.
- The second term of President Gore becomes one of the most divisive periods in American history, taking what's been called the "Great Culture War" to new heights. While it doesn't degenerate into widespread violence, despite hysterical talk of "civil war" at any moment, a growing number of younger Americans become more alienated not only by the culture warriors, who are increasingly seen as going too far. But also by those who claim to represent their interests. "Political correctness gone mad" becomes a popular phrase.
- Although John Kasich manages to win the 2000 elections, this proves to be a pyrrhic victory, and not just for the Republican establishment. The same backlash that brought down Gore soon encompasses the "moral guardians" and "Old Guard" from both political parties, who are seen as having betrayed the interests of the people. The successful capture of terrorists plotting to attack New York City in 2001 manages to earn momentary popularity, but not enough to secure another term.
- What start out as protests become a series of reforms and the appointment of more proactive politicians in Congress. One of the most notable developments is how a potential housing crisis is averted, helped by both competent regulation and the encouragement of private competition. The other being a comprehensive reform of America's immigration policies and social welfare programmes.
- Mirroring Ronald Reagan, Robert Redford wins the 2008 elections, not only becoming the 45th President of the United States. But also the first "independent" to sit in the White House, succeeding where Theodore Roosevelt failed. Amidst cultural reconciliation and a revitalized economy, his term comes to be referred to as the "New Great Awakening", though a greater push for revisiting the Monroe Doctrine leads to a mild withdrawal of American commitments.
- The 2020 elections are seen as open season between current President Peter Thiel, who has largely continued Redford's policies while encouraging greater emphasis on expanding American interests in space, and Democrat firebrand Bernie Sanders, whose efforts to "clean house" have made him one of the most popular figures in the American Left.
South America
- The Charlottetown Accord still fails, but some elements manage to inspire further calls for reform. This has the unintended effect of giving even more weight to the Quebec Independence Referendum of 1995, the resounding "Yes" from which results in a brief period of political turmoil throughout Canada. At the end of the day, however, the separation is relatively uneventful thanks in part to US support. Quebec formally becomes independent in 2002 under Lucien Bouchard following a transition period, soon falling under American influence.
- Despite fears of Canada dissolving in the wake of Quebec's push for independence, an ambitious programme is launched by Prime Minister Preston Manning to sway the remaining provinces and territories into staying together. This pays off, resulting not only in myriad constitutional reforms. But also, as a consequence, a more concerted effort to grant greater recognition to the First Nations. Nunavut, in particular, is seen as the poster child of those developments, formally becoming a province in 2015.
- Although NAFTA, as originally conceived during the Reagan administration, is passed in 1995 amidst opposition, constant attempts to renegotiate and amend the agreement render it largely nonexistent by the early 2000s. It's not until the implementation of the Paul Act of 2009 that it's superseded altogether, replaced by the relatively informal North American Economic Community.
- Even with the loss of Soviet support, Cuba's Communist authorities manage to cling on to power into the 2000s, thanks in part of Fidel Castro allowing for limited reforms. His decision to provide greater if superficial liberties, however, backfires, resulting in various protests across the nation that are brutally put down. With support from the Redford administration, Cuban exiles in the US come to the aid of their beleaguered compatriots during the so-called "Blue Uprising" of 2011, which finally brings down the regime. The newly democratized country is once more under American influence, though this hasn't stopped Russia from trying to reassert old ties.
- Through a series of joint operations involving the DEA and CIA in the 1990s, as well as more intense dealings with Mexican officials, the "War on Drugs" leaves a more lasting impact. The decision to gradually legalize drugs in the 2000s, however, further weakens the cartels into irrelevance. Meanwhile, greater calls for reform in Mexico, especially in the wake of President Carlos Salinas' resignation in 1992, help bring the country back from the brink and usher a period of national renewal. Negative perceptions of drug lords and unpaid labor have long given way to a stable, thriving Latin American powerhouse.
- "Operation Just Cause" still results in the dictator Manuel Noriega being deposed in 1990 and a much friendlier regime in place. On the eleventh hour, however, President Bush attempts to broker for compromises regarding the Torrijos–Carter Treaties. This would be carried over by his successor. The Canal Compromise, in which the Canal Zone becomes a joint co-dominium between the US and Panama effective in 2000, comes to be seen as President Gore's least divisive achievement.
Europe
- The US takes an even more active stance in aiding Colombia in its struggle against with the myriad paramilitary groups and even the dreaded Medellin Cartel. By the time the last major FARC stronghold surrenders in 2005, the country is already on its way to recovery as one of the more dominant powers of Latin America. It's also openly at odds with Venezuela over who truly represents Simon Bolivar's legacy.
- Brazil undergoes several unstable administrations following the impeachment of Fernando Collor, many of which defined by corruption and scandal regardless of which political party is in power at any given time. The general public grows more nostalgic for the long-defunct Imperial era, leading to the rise of Dom Luiz of the House of Orléans-Braganza into the spotlight. With the restoration of the monarchy by plebiscite in 2007, the country is once again seeing prosperity.
- The 1992 coup in Venezuela is more successful, though Rafael Caldera and his Christian Democrats are brought to power in an attempt to maintain order. This fails, however, resulting in Hugo Chavez and his brand of Bolivarian Socialism assuming power in 1998. With the destabilization (and eventual downfall) of Fidel Castro's regime, the country becomes the last true openly Marxist state in the New World. Attracting not only Cuban Communists in exile but also a number of Party loyalists from the former Soviet Union hoping to find fresh opportunity.
- While the Cold War's end is felt here, this has not stopped the proxy battles and backroom diplomacy in the Andean states. The only difference is that it's now largely Venezuela-backed socialists against both US-supported political groups and the efforts of a resurgent Brazil to reassert continental prominence.
- The transition from military to civil democratic rule in Chile in 1990 goes fairly smoothly, though Augusto Pinochet's presence would hover over local politics for the rest of his days. The country remains a beacon of stability as a vital US ally, which would prove to be a boon for the Redford administration in helping resolve a civil war in Argentina during the upheavals of 2009-12.
- Although Argentina manages to weather through the economic crises and political unrest of the 1990s, irreconcilable rifts emerge not only between the Peronists and opposition, but also among the Peronists themselves. This boils over to a head following the impeachment of Nestor Kirchner in 2008, sparking a chain of events that plunge the country into a civil war. Fearing both the spread of such unrest and the potential threat posed by the Bolivarian Socialists, the US, its Latin American allies and Brazil mobilize to restore order. A coalition "Government of National Renewal," primarily comprised of nationalist and libertarian political parties, wins out. Though it would not be until the fall of the last Peronist stronghold in Rio Gallegos in 2012 that the real work could begin.
Former Soviet Union
- Symbolic of the revolutions occurring across the crumbling Warsaw Pact, the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 not only marks the end of the Cold War. But also signifies the beginning of the end of East Germany, or at least the ruling Communist regime.
- Realizing the sheer extent of the necessary measures, however, it's decided by both sides that the transition, be it economic or sociopolitical, could not be rushed. Formal unification takes place in 1999, with the region still known for its heavy industry and regimented atmosphere. Though few have any love for the old days in light of what the Stasi did, some look to the Hohenzollerns as another kind of "Ostalgie" emerges that hearkens back to the days before either Fascists or Communists ruled.
- The end of the Cold War invigorates a sense of triumphalism among much of Continental establishment, not too unlike their American counterparts. Albeit with a tinge of hubris, as those endorsing the idea of an "ever closer union" find their chance to present a postnational and enlightened vision of Europe. The Maastricht Treaty presented in 1992, intended to reform the existing European Economic Community, is partially successful, however. The EEC, of which the United Kingdom remains part of, becomes an ineffectual "outer rim" until it merges with the European Free Trade Association in 2008. The remainder becomes the "European Union," though it proves too unpopular and unwieldy outside of Brussels, Strasbourg or the halls of academia.
- The introduction of the Euro in 1999, along with myriad attempts to further amend the foundational principles of the European Union, backfires. Growing division over the ambition vision of a single Continental market and political bloc further leads to dissent and discord among the member states. This soon leads to much more significant changes, being formally reformed into the Western European Community in the Treaty of Lisbon in 2011. Unlike the old EU, this is more of a blend between NATO and the original EEC, with a more pronounced nationalist veneer.
- Seeing the seeming ineffectual nature of the EU, various new alliances and blocs emerge in prominence across the Continent. The Scandinavian nations reaffirm their long-standing ties and reorganize the Nordic Council into the Nordic Union in 2005. Meanwhile, the Visegrád Group, formed by Poland, Hungary, Czechia and Slovakia in 1991, rejects EU membership in favor of becoming a counterweight to what would become the WEC. Austria, after decades of formal neutrality, joins the Visegrád Group in 2002, with the independent Republic of Slovenia entering in 2014.
- By the time Austria enters the Visegrád Group, nostalgia gains ground among the youth as Otto von Habsburg channels his former support for the failing EU in favor of rekindling memories of the old Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the process, this also leads to similar trends occurring in Poland, Hungary and Czechia, perceived by foreign observers as a gesture to recapture prestige lost at the end of World War 1 and buried by the Cold War. When the would-be Archduke dies in 2011, a movement emerges that calls for the restoration of the monarchy. Although Chancellor Michael Spindelegger promises an eventual plebiscite in 2015, the coming election sees Karl von Habsburg of the Austrian People's Party as the most likely candidate to win the Chancellorship.
- Yugoslavia still succumbs to secessionists and unrest with the collapse of the ruling Communist cliques. But while Slovenia and Croatia succeed with declaring independence, as a risky gambit to hold what's left together, Alexander II Karađorđević is made president in 1993. His efforts to ease ethnic and religious tensions prove more successful than his critics expected, setting the stage for the restoration of the monarchy in 2001. Since then, Yugoslavia has seen a period of order and stability it had not seen in a generation, with both Serbs and Bosniaks seeing an opportunity to assert themselves over the Balkans.
- After years of instability and a barely functional government, Italy finally experiences some semblance of order under Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in 1994. He barely manages to get his political allies in line while simultaneously contending with myriad economic issues. Nonetheless, he succeeds in spite of his eccentricities. But while the Italians are becoming more prominent in Continental affairs as part of the current WEC, they're increasingly becoming more divided over regional lines, with political parties like Lega Nord gaining even more power.
- The decision by Prime Minister John Major to submit to Conservative Party pressure not only leads to the United Kingdom not signing the Maastricht Treaty. But also sparks public debate over Britain's future, with many increasingly looking to the past for answers. In a move that is strongly pushed by Margaret Thatcher, a stronger pact between the UK and the former Dominions of Canada, Australia and New Zealand is proposed in 1998. The resulting "CANZUK Pact" established in the Treaty of Perth in 2004 now forms the bulk of a reinvigorated Commonwealth of Nations, with Queen Elizabeth II becoming the longest reigning monarch in the realm's history. Some, however, see it as the true return of the British Empire.
Middle East and India
- With the Berlin Wall's fall, the days are numbered for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev's efforts to "preserve" the Soviet Union soon turn to making the imminent collapse of Communist rule as painless as possible. While these do not prevent a failed military coup, most of the constituent SSRs from declaring independence or the breakdown of the Soviet economy, such attempts nonetheless play a role in allowing the final fall of the USSR to pass by relatively peacefully. By the end of 1991, the Russian Federation is symbolically proclaimed.
- The newly democratized Russians are confronted with myriad challenges in the initial years, from rampant crime and corruption to the rise of oligarchs. In light of such challenges, President Boris Yeltsin is forced enact a much slower transition to a free market economy after generations of Communist rule, hoping to succeed where Gorbachev failed. This "Novy Glasnost" programme proves to be successful, thanks also in part to Yeltsin dropping his notorious drinking habit. Accusations of being too accommodating to the West, however, would haunt his final years in office.
- By the dawn of the 21st Century, Russia has seen an economic rise in its fortunes. Yeltsin's efforts to control the rampant antics of the oligarchs and stamp down corruption have made the burgeoning corporations into a more benevolent presence. By the 2010s, Russian investors become a rather common sight in various foreign markets.
- The election of Stanislav Govorukhin as Russia's second President in 2002 marks another turning point for the country. His term would see the reining in of the remaining oligarchs, most notably Gazprom, more expansive social reform and a more serious effort to retool the Commonwealth of Independent States as an appendage of Moscow. The Communist Party, though remaining a significance presence in the Duma, gradually loses its grip as nostalgia for the USSR gives way to more forward-looking optimism.
- Russian influence, which had seemingly dissipated with the fall of the Soviet Union, solidifies beyond the country's borders. President Govorukhin's initiatives are also responsible for the unification of much of the former Central Asian SSRs under Kazakhstan in 2004 as the Central Asian Federation. As well as the formal "reunification" of Belarus in 2007. By the 2010s, Russia's impact could be felt in regions as varied as the Middle East and even in US-backed Cuba.
- The exclaves of Kaliningrad Oblast and the Crimea remain firmly under Moscow's control even after the end of the USSR, with most Russians in the Ukraine having moved to the latter as a compromise. In a surprising move, however, President Govorukhin issues a decree in 2011 formally renaming Kaliningrad itself to Kyonigsberg, both as a gesture of good will and a way of honoring the memory of East Prussia.
- The 2020 elections are seen as a test for current President Mikhail Prokhorov, whose efforts to present Russia as a viable capitalist alternative to the US have met mixed results. Among the key contenders are the more conservative Sergey Baburin, an ambitious ex-KGB firebrand named Vladimir Putin and the controversial Vladimir Zhirinovsky. All of them, however, express similar views of restoring the Romanov dynasty, with many Russians seeing this as symbolic of finally putting the Soviet Union to rest.
Africa
- In an attempt to secure oil and distract from a deteriorating local economy, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invades Kuwait in 1990. This backfires in the form of "Operation: Desert Storm", which sees an American-led coalition brutally forcing the Iraqis back across the border. Hussein himself remains in power, however, until an unceremonious accident outside Baghdad in 2006. Although early propaganda blames various powers, from American collaborators to Israel's Mossad, it soon devolves into a power struggle as various Baathist cliques struggle for power over the country. Fearing the likelihood of US intervention or the potential spread of instability, the Russians discreetly support Qusay Hussein as Iraq's legitimate leader, in exchange for gradual reforms in favor of Moscow.
- The Intifada between the Israelis and Palestinians drags on until 1992, when both sides agree to hold a peace conference in Geneva, Switzerland. The so-called Geneva Accords would be the first step in formalizing a lasting solution, with the founding of not only the Palestinian Authority but also a joint Council. While this is initially a messy affair, it does force both Jews and Muslims to confront decades of tension. Eventually, President Shimon Peres signs the Treaty of Jerusalem in 2013, officially establishing the Levantine Union. Informally called "Israel-Palestine," it has become a beacon of stability in a historically chaotic corner of the world. With Lebanon joining in 2017.
- Saudi Arabia strains to maintain a balancing act between currying ties with the US and placating Islamist groups. Eventually, this "status quo" breaks down following the death of King Fahd Al Saud from a fatal stroke in 1995. While the oil helps keep the country relatively stable for about a decade, the US gradually weaning off from Middle Eastern sources amplify brewing tensions among myriad members of the Saudi royal family. The "Sudairi Seven" win out by 2009, with the coronation of King Salman and a growing preference for reform.
- Defiantly clinging onto its peculiar brand of Islamic socialism, Libya manages to weather through the end of the Cold War through ample oil reserves and the machinations of its supreme leader, Muammar Gaddafi. In a series of PR initiatives, the Jamahiriya becomes an indispensable bridge between Africa and the Arab world in an attempt to make itself too much of a risk for Western powers to intervene in. This works wonders for Gaddafi at first, but his death in 2015 is exploited by an increasingly powerful Egypt, having overthrown the dictatorial Hosni Mubarak in 2005. Still under a "People's Politburo," Libyans are seeing more liberties trickled down as Egyptian officials encourage "amendments" to Gaddafi's ideas.
- Under the nominally "reformist" Ayatollah Khamenei, the Islamic Republic of Iran spends much of the 1990s rebuilding a shattered economy and military. The changes promised by him and his supporters fail to materialize, further sowing dissent among the people. The deployment of the Revolutionary Guard Corps. in cracking down on a protest in Tehran in 2006 sparks what comes to be known as the Second Iranian Revolution. Aided by members of the Iranian exile community alongside discreet Western and Russian support, the myriad rebel forces overrun Khamenei's last holdouts in 2008. After much deliberation, Reza Pahlavi is crowned Shah of a secular Iran the following year, representing both a rekindling of the past and an embrace of the future.
- The Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989 sparks a chain of events the results in the collapse of the vestigial socialist regime in 1992. Although a radical offshoot of the mujaheddin, known as the Taliban, tries to usurp power from the provisional government in Kabul, it eventually falters without support from Pakistan and is finally defeated in 1997. Seeing the need for both unity and stability, the myriad clans and tribes of the country are unanimous in restoring Mohammed Zahir Shah as King in 2002.
- Responding to decades of corruption and slow growth Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao of India institutes myriad economic and social reforms following his election victory in 1991. While these go a long way in turning the country's fortunes around, they fail to fully resolve simmering tensions between not only Hindus and Muslims, but across Indian society. Through forging a coalition with the Bharatiya Janata Party in 1994, Rao and his colleagues in the Indian National Congress establish a new status quo that would allow India to assert itself by the 2010s as a major power in its own right.
- After periods of tension and open skirmishing, India and Pakistan eventually settle upon a rather begrudging compromise in a summit held in Oslo, Norway in 1997. The most notable agreement is Kashmir itself being made an independent, albeit neutral state, which is formally declared in 1999. Since then, it has come to be called the "Switzerland of the Subcontinent" for its relative calm. But it has also earned a reputation for being a hotbed for spies and black market deals.
Philippines and Southeast Asia
- Ethiopia's Communist regime falters with the loss of Soviet aid, formally renouncing overt Marxist-Leninist policies in 1991. The revolutionaries retain a socialist system, however, sparking further unrest until another civil war erupts by 1996. It's not until the so-called Crown Council, backed by Egypt, Russia and the US, succeed in assuming power in 2002 that Ethiopians finally find peace. Under Emperor Zera Yacob Amha Selassie, the restored monarchy is considered a significant improvement by many, though some see it as Russia's primary foothold in Africa.
- Seeing the turmoil around them and the ineptitude of the African Union, the people of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania revive the idea of an East African Community over the 1990s. But it's the mutual experience of intervening in the Rwandan Civil War, in light of the perceived ineptitude of the UN Peacekeepers, that finally provides the impetus to formally establish the East African Federation in 1998. With Rwanda and Burundi joining in 2003 and 2012, the EAF has become an alternative model for other African states to follow and a bulwark against the Azanian threat from the south.
- The fall of Siad Barre's Communist regime in 1991 plunges Somalia into civil war, which rapidly degenerates into outright anarchy. While the UN's attempts to help restore order the failed state flounder in the 1990s, Somaliland emerges as an island of stability and functional democracy. Its recognition as a sovereign nation by the US under the Kasich administration proves to be a boon, ushering in a new era of prosperity. Meanwhile, the remaining Somali warlords are crushed by the Azanian-backed "League for Unity," which seizes power in 2013.
- Tense negotiations begin in 1990 between President Frederik Willem de Klerk's administration and the African National Congress over the future of South Africa, which includes the abolition of Apartheid. These soon break down, however, thanks in part to Nelson Mandela having an unfortunately timed stroke in 1991. Violent clashes between police, militant elements of the ANC and Whites caught in the middle intensify as it becomes clear that there's no clear resolution, despite de Klerk's formal renouncement of Apartheid itself. A terrorist attack in Johannesburg in 1994, which is blamed either on pro-Apartheid supremacists or ANC agents, leads to what comes to be called the Bloody Divorce and lasts until 1998.
- Later same year, the ANC storms Johannesburg and amidst the chaos declares the Azanian Union. Adopting Pan-African Socialism as its creed, the revolutionaries immediately begin exacting "retribution" against symbols of the old White-minority regime. While in a perverse mirror of the Great Trek, many Afrikaners and Blacks opposed to the ANC, along with elements of the SADF flee westward. The Free Union of South Africa is officially proclaimed in 1996, the former Cape Province split into an Africaner-dominant Volkstaat and a moderate, mixed Kaapstaat.
- In 1999, Azania's aligns itself with Muammar Gaddafi's African PR campaigns, which it uses to justify laying down the groundwork for its "African Forum." In reality, this proves to be a means with which Azania could bring likeminded regimes into its sphere of influence, notably Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe, and spread its brand of Pan-African Socialism. With American support, the FUSA and Namibia formalize their Cape Alliance into a proper political bloc in 2009 in response. Alongside the EAA, it has played a key role in thwarting further Azanian designs.
- To the surprise of others both in Africa and elsewhere, Botswana joins the Cape Alliance in 2016, finding more in common with Afrikaners than those increasingly seen as even worse than the old Apartheid regime. Even before then, the country has helped in welcoming Afrikaner refugees and rebuffing Azanian attempts to spread supremacist and Pan-African Socialist ideas.
East Asia and the Pacific
- The immediate years following the 1986 People Power Revolution are a tumultuous time for the Philippines as President Corazon Aquino is left with myriad challenges. A failed coup by Col. Gregorio Honasan in 1989, however, proves to be a massive wake up call on living up to the promises made after the fall of Ferdinand Marcos. Despite the setbacks posed by both the 1990 Luzon Earthquake and the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991, the latter period of President Aquino's term is defined by a much more concerted effort to address corruption, resolve long-standing debts and restore investor confidence.
- The subsequent term of President Fidel Ramos sees not only a continuation of anti-corruption reforms but the launching of the "Philippines 2000" socio-economic programme. This soon evolves into an even more comprehensive initiative meant to invigorate rural communities and reduce poverty. Though not entirely successful, by the end of President Ramos' term in 1998, standards of living go up considerably with Filipinos joining the ranks of Asia's newly industrialized nations. Just in time for the country's centennial anniversary.
- While the country confronts the NPA in the fringes, which is finally dealt with in 2005, efforts are made to reach out to the myriad Moro rebels in Mindanao, such as the Moro National Liberation Front. Despite several false starts and the interference of Islamist militias like the Abu Sayyaf, a compromise is reached in a summit held in Singapore. In 2009, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region is formally established, granting special autonomy to the predominantly Catholic country's Muslim minority.
- By the time Miriam Defensor-Santiago is elected President in 2010, the Philippines has shaken off much of its old "Third World" reputation, with. With poverty and crime at lows unseen since the 1960s, and even its extensive Diaspora seen in a more prestigious light, Filipinos become more proactive in regional affairs. By leveraging long-standing ties with the US and encouraging greater cooperation among the myriad Southeast Asian countries, especially in light of the "Chinese problem," the country emerges as one of the prominent ASEAN powers by 2015.
- Suharto's "New Order" manages to hold firmly over Indonesia until 1994, when an otherwise "standard" crackdown of dissidents in Irian Jaya backfires, emboldening the Free Papua Movement to intensify its insurgency against the regime. This escalates into open war, forcing Suharto to deploy more forces to the now-rebellious region. These responses in turn amplify not only growing unrest among the country's burgeoning middle-class but also incite similar uprisings in East Timor, prompting growing calls for Australian and UN intervention. After myriad skirmishes and protests, the long-time autocrat is forced to resign in 1996, marking a new democratic era in Indonesian history.
- Following a plebiscite and a period of transition, Jacob Hendrik Prai is declared President of the West Papuan Republic in 2000. The following year, Xanana Gusmão is proclaimed President of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste. The two countries join the Philippines in being among the only majority Christian states in Asia, with both formally joining ASEAN despite Indonesian objections in 2016.
- In spite of myriad market reforms to bolster the economy, Vietnam is put to the test over the 1990s as it becomes directly affected by the "Chinese problem." With throngs streaming in from the crumbling People's Republic, unresolved tensions left over from the Vietnam War rapidly boil over that are helped along by Chinese dissidents among the refugees. Retired general Võ Nguyên Giáp is made Chairman of the Council of State in 1995 to address the mounting crisis, declaring martial law. After pressure from ASEAN and Chinese reformists, he voluntarily relinquishes power in 2007. Democratic elections are held, and with the raising of the old South Vietnamese flag, decades of Communist rule comes to a fairly quiet end.
- After a series of peace negotiations and conferences held in Paris, France, Cambodia finally begins a proper transition to democracy. This culminates in the restoration of the monarchy under King Norodom Sihanouk in 1993. It wouldn't until the last vestiges of the Khmer Rouge are defeated in 1996 that the nation's recovery picks up speed, eventually becoming of the fastest growing economies in ASEAN by the late 2000s.
Science and Technology
- The fallout of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre proves far more extensive than the Chinese Communist Party realizes. Neither Jiang Zemin nor Deng Xiaoping anticipate the extent of the Western embargo, let alone the growing number of protests across the People's Republic of China. Efforts to stem dissent through purges and clampdowns fail as calls for reform grow louder than the propaganda. In 1992, a military coup staged by PLA and Party hardliners in Beijing sets off a chain of events euphemistically called the "Chinese problem." Within a few years, the leadership is decapitated and various warlords and CCP claimants emerge, sparking a growing outflow of refugees, including a number of reformers and dissidents.
- Amidst the chaos, the Dalai Lama seizes the opportunity and declares Tibet's independence in 1994, the country soon recognized by several nations. The Uyghurs of Xinjiang, meanwhile, overrun the remaining PLA outposts, establishing the Republic of East Turkestan in 1997. Although many Han Chinese are allowed to peacefully emigrate, it wouldn't be until 2014 that this independent Uyghur state is officially recognized.
- While UN Peacekeepers are called upon to help restore order, among the first to seize the initiative is Taiwan. In 1996, the Republic of China takes control over Fujian Province and Hainan. Then with the aid of local sympathizers and British forces deployed in Hong Kong, the Taiwanese proceed to establish stable footholds along the coast. Although the campaign is met in sections with open arms by some and intense resistance by others, ROC troops reach Nanjing and Shanghai by 2000, with President Lee Teng-hui proclaiming that Chiang Kai-shek's dream of returning to the Mainland is close to fulfillment.
- Most of the remaining warlords and PRC remnants surrender in 2002. The Kuomintang is appointed the transitional authority, which it uses to secure PLA military assets and restore order across the Mainland. With the last holdouts defeated, the Republic of China is formally reformed into the Chinese Federation in 2005, offering democratic freedoms and genuine change in the name of fulfilling Sun Yat Sen's lofty vision. Although the turmoil and devastation left behind by the collapse of the Party are estimated to take a generation to fully mend, China by the 2010s is once more becoming a major power in Asia.
- Taiwan, following a plebiscite in 2009, is granted independence following a compromise between the Mainland and Taiwanese branches of the KMT. Although still closely tied to the Chinese Federation, the island state is enjoying considerable prosperity, especially with its growing ties with Japan and the US. Meanwhile, with the end of the "temporary" provisions for delaying the handover of the relatively unscathed Portuguese Macao and British-ruled Hong Kong, plebiscites are held over their future. In 2011, both opt for being sovereign city-states not unlike Singapore, within a few years becoming major economic centers in their own right.
- What had been Northeast China initially serves as a relatively secure stronghold for those loyal to the CCP until PLA regiments in Shenyang mutiny in 1994. As warlords, loyalists and even opportunistic North Korean forces over the region, groups of Manchu and Han Chinese take up arms in defiance. Though it's not until Russian forces intervene to help restore order in 1998 and the first ROC forces make landfall in the Liaodong Peninsula that the tide finally turns. Now part of the Chinese Federation, the still recovering locals once more see themselves as "Manchurian."
- The Korean Peninsula sees both South and North Korea formally admitted into the UN in 1991 in light of improved diplomatic exchanges. South Korea itself continues to grow more democratic amidst greater liberalizations and economic growth. The death of Kim Il-Sung and the "Chinese problem," however, dramatically alter the situation. Without either the Soviet Union or the People's Republic of China, a struggling North Korea becomes increasingly unstable. Supreme Leader Kim Jong-il, in an act of either desperation or hubris, stages a surprise attack on the DMZ in 1997. This proves to be the beginning of the end.
- Despite fears of a bombardment of Seoul or nuclear retaliation, US and South Korean forces fiercely push back the botched invasion, with elements of the JSDF also sent to aid in the advance. Within months, Pyongyang itself falls and by 1998, the last bastions of the Supreme Leader are defeated. After almost 50 years, the Korean War ends in a clear victory for the South. Although a lengthy transition period is enacted to rebuild the devastated North and "deprogram" generations of Juche propaganda, President Moon Jae-in formally proclaims the unification of Korea in 2015 as a regional power.
- Although policies are enacted in response, they fail to prevent Japan's bubble economy from bursting by 1992, sparking what comes to be called the "Lost Decade." This becomes more of a misnomer, however, as Japanese businesses and economists enact myriad reforms that gradually lead to a pronounced recovery. Meanwhile, the "Chinese problem" and the deteriorating situation in the Korean Peninsula prompt a reinterpretation of Article 9 of the country's constitution, leading to the JSDF being deployed overseas for the first time since World War 2. This would go a long way into both reaffirming Japanese influence internationally and mending ties with its erstwhile rival.
- Following the ousting of Prime Minister Paul Keating in 1992, Australia is forced to confront an economic crisis and a seemingly uncertain future. Under the administration of John Hewson, however, the country manages to rebound faster than economists expected and set myriad social reforms into motion. All while swaying his countrymen to rekindle ties with the UK, envisioning themselves as a bridge between the old Commonwealth and nascent American superpower. Thus, Australians become among the first to sign onto the CANZUK Pact in 1998, with New Zealand joining soon after.
Society and Culture
- In spite of the proverbial fallout from the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, nuclear power proves to be more resilient than naysayers claim. President Gore's decision to promote nuclear as an alternative to fossil fuels, while controversial initially even among his supporters, plays a major part in undoing the stigma that had emerged in the US and elsewhere. Advances in efficiency, miniaturization and safety standards further bolster the appeal of the Atom, with breakthroughs towards fusion power being made by the late 2010s. The science fiction fancies of the 1950s no longer seem so far-fetched anymore.
- Alongside the resurgence of nuclear energy, natural gas begins taking precedence over conventional fossil fuels throughout the 1990s. Seen as a "cleaner" alternative, various companies seize the initiative and switch over, including a number of "Big Oil" firms. The Russians soon emerge as one of world's leading LNG exporters by 2006, equal only to the US. For OPEC member states, however, this dents their economic clout and ability to influence prices. While Middle Eastern nations are increasingly forced to either diversify or expand on their own natural gas reserves to stay competitive.
- The Gore administration's budget cuts to the space programme forces NASA to drop Reagan's ambitious schemes in favor of the International Space Station, whose first module is launched in 1998. Realizing the potential of asteroid mining, however, President Kasich and his successors not only grant the agency more resources but also encourage private sector initiatives, sparking a new space race. While the US and Russia remain the leading contenders, with President Thiel seeking to set up a permanent Lunar base, the Japanese and even the Chinese are not far behind.
- Although expensive, the (in)famous Concorde remains in use until 2010 as a prestigious service by both Air France and British Airways. The idea of supersonic travel proves enticing enough to inspire various companies to submit proposals for making such aircraft more affordable and efficient. It also spurs research into military applications, with the US Air Force developing successors to the venerable SR-71 Blackbird.
- Robotics and AI make tremendous strides in commercial, industrial, military and medical fields. But while automated systems become more commonplace, they open up ethical questions and issues over human labor, though fears of robots taking over jobs by the 2000s are tempered by both regulation and economic growth. Meanwhile, Japanese and American efforts to develop increasingly human-like machines is meeting acceptance from the public. The notion of such robots being friends if not equals rather than potential threats to the species becomes widespread.
- The Internet gains popularity in the 1990s, not only sparking a revolution in telecommunications. But also bringing about a boom in tech companies, particularly around Silicon Valley. While the so-called "Y2K Bug" fails to materialize, the "Dot-com Burst" in 2000 brings about the collapse of several firms, including an upstart called Google. Although slowing down the development of cyberspace and dispersing the survivors of the crash across the US, it also signifies a new period of decentralized networks and genuine competition. Social networking in particular remains a diffused and competitive industry.
Global Topics/Issues
- The "Great Culture War" that comes to define the 1990s in the US is mirrored in various parts of the Western world and beyond, leaving a lasting impact on both younger and older generations alike. Many come to view those who actively pushed said strife along with anything seen as "radical" or "politically correct" with skepticism at best, disdain at worst. On the other hand, political heterodoxy, alongside evolving forms of Left and Right largely derived from traditionalism, social democracy and libertarianism gain in popularity. Civil tolerance and American notions of free speech gain precedence as values worth upholding, whether in public or online. All to ensure that another culture war of such intensity doesn't happen again.
- With the end of the Cold War and the relatively gradual transition to more democratic systems, myriad strains of Communism come under intense scrutiny, if not discredited as the full extent of what happened behind the Red Curtain comes to light. Even with the fallout of the "Great Culture War" further eroding the perceived legitimacy of socialist ideals, some strains of Marxist-Leninist, Trotskyist and Maoist thought persist. These in turn play a major role in influencing Bolivarian and Pan-African Socialism, which are seen as the heirs to the Communists of old.
- A consequence of the turn away from the culture warriors is the widespread shift in environmentalism. The stigma attached to its most vocal activists and advocates, on top of their ill-fated patronage by President Gore, leads to the movement being dominated by a mix of heterodox academics, technocrats and businessmen. These latter-day "eco-warriors," whose views are about as varied as the Earth's fauna, generally see themselves less like saviors of the planet or secular clergymen. But rather as people simply doing their part in making life easier for their fellow men, which in turn bolsters the embrace for nuclear power, natural gas and research into cleaner technologies.
- Another change brought about by the "Great Culture War" and its aftermath can be found in race relations, especially in the US. Meanwhile, the heated racial protests and standoffs in cities like Los Angeles in the early 1990s prove to be a wake up call over the Darwinian excesses of identity politics, regardless of which side one's on. This leads not only to several supremacist organizations being discredited, whether Black, White, Native American or Hispanic. But also inspires the reforms that mark the Redford administration and the "New Great Awakening."
- Seeing the notion of hatred for the opposite gender or a war between the sexes as a vicious cycle, a number of feminists and men's rights advocates push for gender egalitarianism as an alternative. By the 2010s, this comes to be called "Gendalitarianism", which quickly comes to overshadow its opposition in part by lambasting the absurdity of the culture warriors. Coincidentally, without the spectre of identity politics, LGBT rights and acceptance become less of a controversial issue, with many coming to see them as just like everyone else.
- The Religious Right, in its myriad manifestations, experiences a decline in the West, momentarily bolstering the so-called "New Atheists" and advocacy for full secularism. By the early-mid 2000s, however, Christianity undergoes a renewal as the younger faithful seek to reclaim their beliefs from the moral guardians and fundamentalists who had previously claimed such vocal pedestals. Whether Catholic or Protestant, a humbler yet more dynamic religious landscape emerges to help prove the relevance of religion in the modern world. Similar trends begin occurring in Islam by the 2010s, led by reformist imams.
- The growing popularity of media outside of the Anglosphere, whether it's Japanese anime and manga, Russopop or the nascent video game industry in the Visegrád Group nations, gradually cultivates an entertainment landscape that had for the longest time been dominated by Hollywood. In response to these and rather embarrassing scandals from the Gore administration, American film studios are forced to be much more diverse and daring in their productions, even while adapting foreign works. The long-awaited prequels and sequels to Star Wars in particular are praised for incorporating such new influences while staying true to the original trilogy.
- Conventional television gradually loses ground to Internet video services by the 2000s. In an effort to stay relevant, TV networks across the West become more experimental or willing to broadcast more varied shows. One result of this is the proliferation of historical, science fiction and fantasy series, including renewed popularity for franchises like Star Trek. By the 2010s, however, many of such shows are readily available online, radically redefining TV forever.
- By the end of the 1990s, "political correctness" is seen as a common subject for parody and mockery. Similarly, grandstanding moralists and deluded radicals become fairly popular motifs for villains in fiction, joining the familiar "mainstays" of Nazis, Communists and Middle Eastern militants. Over time, however, such trends cultivate a more vibrant entertainment industry, as creators and producers find themselves free to produce what they want without risk of censor. The advent of Internet publishing and distribution, meanwhile, further weakens the grip held by Old Media and the publishing cliques, bringing even more life and competition across industries, from film to video games.
- The triumphalism from the Cold War's end is fleeting. While the US is the premier superpower, the dawn of the 21st Century sees the emergence of a more multi-polar world and with it, the return of great power politics. At the same time, however, the existence of what's informally called the "New Comintern" in Africa and Latin America has raised questions over whether the Cold War itself has truly been consigned to history. Nonetheless, even with the efforts made to contend with the latter-day rogues and Communists, the globe is seeing a period of relative peace.
- The collapse of the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China open up fears of unaccounted-for military assets, including nuclear warheads, winding up in the black market. Though such illegal arms dealing does take place in the early-mid 1990s, the Yeltsin administration's attempts to clamp down and reform Russia's armed forces proves more successful than the man himself anticipated. Meanwhile, many surviving PLA remnants are able to hold onto much of their armories long enough to surrender them to the ROC and later Chinese Federation, further mitigating concerns of any potential nuclear terrorist attacks.
- The noticeable trend of restoring monarchies that had fallen over the course of the 20th Century, or the 19th in Brazil's case, begins capturing the interest of political scientists and experts by the 2000s. Increasingly, the notion of kingdoms and principalities as outdated curiosities is being challenged, throwing not only decades of expectations of democratic republics being the most ideal form of government. But also the notion of there even being some "end of history" at all.
- A series of peacekeeping blunders and scandals tarnishes the perceived legitimacy of the United Nations. As more people notice the ineptitude and some of the less savory aspects of the organization, some begin questioning whether it even is relevant in the modern world. Nonetheless, after reforms and US-backed pressure, the UN remains a major international platform in which countries could peacefully resolve any issues. Though few really take its brand of "globalism" all that seriously.
- Globalization, mirroring the early 20th Century, is once more on the prime movers of the post-Cold War years. But while cultural exchanges and free trade have been beneficial, increasingly heated debates arise in late 1990s regarding the risks inherent in a "global village." Coupled with the failure of the European Union and breakdown of the old "status quo" establishment, especially in the US, globalization itself is redefined. This loose compromise proves flexible enough to work in a landscape of political blocs and renewed nationalism for more effectively than talk of a "borderless world."
I guess that's kind of a world I would like to live in (minus South Africa becoming a hellholle and the "New Comintern" still a thing.
I know about the rule, but we gotta address one problem (which might explain why Tomislav posted more than three images): Where is the rule? Like, where does it say you can only post three images a day? I'm seriously asking, because as of now people might never realize the rule exists.
I liked the detail covering all facets of the world and not having to squint to read. Keep up the excellent work.
As the saying goes, it ain't perfect. Even a "good" timeline is bound to have some unintended consequences, alas.
This all strikes me as unrealistic.
1. Political correctness as a phrase was brought out of obscurity in the 90's by conservatives attacking teaching styles and culture at universities. Before that, it was used within the left as a satirical, self-mocking term. It's always been something of a pejorative and I doubt you would see a movement trying to "popularize political correctness".
2. It's unclear how "encouragement of private competition" and "a comprehensive reform of America's immigration policies and social welfare programmes" do anything to stop the 2008 financial crisis. It was caused by fraud; by people consistently liquidating and repackaging assets to get a good credit rating on the repackaged deal and make it seem like a good investment.
3. It's unclear why Bay of Pigs 2.0 is at all successful, particularly since Cuban exiles are going to be pretty old as a group and unlikely to be combat ready. Also, Cubans fucking hated being under American influence, it was a sense of great national humiliation, why would they fight the government to go back to that?
4. It's unclear why Panama would suddenly just be okay with continued American control of the canal.
5. Why would eastern Europe develop "Ostalgie" for times before 1930? First, there would be very few living people around to champion the movement, and second, it was a time of massive tension, and national and ethnic strife in the region. Who's excited for that and how do they find enough in common to create a customs union?
6. It's not at all clear why Israel is okay with being part of a secular union state with Palestine and Lebanon.
Reading through, I can see this is going to be a long list if I continue in this fashion. These were some of the other highlights that jumped out at me:
India and Pakistan agreeing to an independent Kashmir. You need a reason for this to happen.
The PRC literally just collapsing in the face of Tiananmen Square.
The LA riots were in reaction to the acquittal of the officers in the Rodney King trial, not identity politics, and identity politics isn't the same as racial supremacy.
The conflict between feminism and MRA activists isn't a battle over gender supremacy, it's a battle for equality against reactionary chauvinism.
Identity politics isn't what's holding back LGBT+ equality.
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