I do suspect when Kai-Shek passes on, we will see some potential schisms in the party and potentially having the polticial party split.
What sort of system is it and voting? First past the post?
沒有國民黨就沒有中國, Without the Kuomintang there would be no China, A Republic of China Story
- Thread starter CELTICEMPIRE
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What sort of system is it and voting? First past the post?
Even though most of the Left-Wing KMT Factions were decimated with Wang Jingwei's Faction being disgraced Pro-Japanese Collaborators, and later purges by Chiang Kai-Shek, I can foresee a resurgence of the Left-Wing KMT with political liberalization after Chiang Kai-Shek croaks.
That's certainly a possibility, as it remains to be seen if Chiang's successor (there are three people who are considered likely to succeed him) will be able to keep the various factions together.
It's a mix of FPTP and Proportional Representation.
There are a lot of people in the KMT feigning loyalty to Chiang after the coup attempt. In 1960 over 30% of the National Assembly voted against Chiang Kai-shek's reelection. A lot of them are gone, but the majority of them are still in the National Assembly.
Hello,
www.britannica.com
Is it possible that after Chiang Kai-Shek, events in the alternate Republic of China would parallel or follow closely the events in OTL, even up to the 2000s...
Taiwan - Successors, Politics, Economy
Taiwan - Successors, Politics, Economy: Upon Chiang Kai-shek’s death in April 1975, his vice president, Yen Chia-kan (Yen Jiagan), became president. Yen, however, was a caretaker president. Chiang’s eldest son, Chiang Ching-kuo (Jiang Jingguo), who headed the KMT and had a base of support in the...
www.britannica.com
A little bit. I'm not going to reveal who the successors to Chiang Kai-shek will be, but most of the people mentioned in that article will play a role in the TL. The biggest difference is that the KMT is ruling over most of the territory it claims. If every Taiwanese, Tibetan, Uygur, etc. didn't want to be part of China and all combined into one party, that party would win less than 10% of the vote. TTL any opposition party will need to be made up of patriotic Chinese in order to have any hope of defeating the KMT, so it won't look anything anything like the DPP.Hello,
Is it possible that after Chiang Kai-Shek, events in the alternate Republic of China would parallel or follow closely the events in OTL, even up to the 2000s...
Taiwan - Successors, Politics, Economy
Taiwan - Successors, Politics, Economy: Upon Chiang Kai-shek’s death in April 1975, his vice president, Yen Chia-kan (Yen Jiagan), became president. Yen, however, was a caretaker president. Chiang’s eldest son, Chiang Ching-kuo (Jiang Jingguo), who headed the KMT and had a base of support in the...
It doesn't rule or claim it. Shortly after WWII China and the USSR came to an agreement that China would stop claiming Mongolia in exchange for The Soviets not supporting the Communists in the Civil War. OTL the ROC abandoned the agreement after they fled to Taiwan, since the Soviets didn't uphold their end of the bargain. With the ROC controlling the mainland and on better terms with the USSR, they kept to the agreement.
四十六, John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the youngest elected President of the United States. He was also America’s first Roman Catholic President. His presidency represented a departure from his two Republican predecessors. He saw a greater role for the US government, both at home and abroad. Despite his more progressive political views, he was every bit as much of an anti-Communist as Robert Taft or William Knowland. His set out to be a transformative president, and in this he was successful. He presided over a pivotal era of American history, and those years might have gone very differently with someone else at the helm. All along the way, he faced opposition, both from Republicans and from members of his own party.
(John F. Kennedy)
Kennedy’s domestic agenda was one that was supported by mainstream of his party. His agenda was a mix of progressive domestic policy and tax cuts. Much of this was opposed by a minority in the Democratic Party, mostly from the South. Conservative Democrats joined forces with Republicans to block much of the president’s agenda. Kennedy claimed to be a supporter of civil rights, even if some doubted his sincerity. Most Republicans and Democrats agreed that Jim Crow laws were wrong, but a powerful minority within the Democratic Party, often called the Dixiecrats, blocked any civil rights bill that would bring meaningful change. The lack of progress on civil rights was causing trouble for Democrats, as Republicans won close to 40% of the black vote in the 1960 Presidential and 1962 midterm elections. One policy success for Kennedy was an increase in science funding and commitment to the space program. Part of this was in order to compete with the Soviet Union.
The US and USSR had reached a sort of détente in the 1950s, and the cold war kept from getting hot. Soviet expansion seemed to have been stopped as China, Iran, and Vietnam did not fall to Communism or Communist-adjacent ideologies. Isolationism had made a bit of a resurgence in the 1950s, but the events of the 1960s restrained that once dominant strain of American political thought. The Soviet Union was flexing its muscles abroad, and it seemed like America should do the same. In the Middle East, Iraq became a Soviet ally, while Egypt and Indonesia seemed to be leaning in that direction as well. To make matters worse, China was striking deals with Communist-friendly Indonesia.
There were also concerning developments closer to home. Under Kennedy’s predecessors, populist governments had come to power in places like Guatemala and Cuba. This was cause for some concern. Though Cuba was not a Communist country, it was on good terms with the Soviet Union. The 1960s saw full-blown Soviet-style Communist movements gain popularity in Latin America. Militant Communists took up arms against the Somoza regime in Nicaragua. The US sent both military and humanitarian aid to countries dealing with Communist insurgencies. Aid was given to Nicaragua, as well the newly independent Zaire. Even far away Laos was given aid. This helped make Laotians pro-American. America was sending them aid while China was causing collateral damage while hunting Communists. In Columbia, despite American aid, Communists rebels would gain ground. America sent military advisors in 1963 in response.
Some Democrats wanted to dump Lyndon Johnson from the ticket in 1964. In order to secure his place on the ticket, Johnson used his connections with Southern Senators to get parts of Kennedy’s agenda passed, mainly tax cuts and a watered-down civil rights bill. Kennedy would face minimal opposition at the 1964 Democratic Convention. On the Republican side, Senator Richard Nixon of California won the primaries easily. Pennsylvania Governor William Scranton was selected for his running mate. Nixon was a formidable opponent, but Kennedy emerged victorious, increasing his margins compared to 1960. Kennedy defeated Nixon 52.5%-46.7% in the popular vote, and 358-170-10 [1] in the Electoral College. Kennedy believed that this gave him a mandate.
(Richard Nixon)
Fortunately for Kennedy, Democrats not only kept control of both houses, they even expanded their majority. But the issue of obstruction from within the party remained. This is where Lyndon Johnson made himself handy again. Whether for personal moral reasons or because he was positioning himself for his presidential campaign in 1968, Lyndon Johnson completely committed himself to a comprehensive civil rights bill. He pulled some levers and a bill would be voted on. The Civil Rights Act of 1965 ended de jure segregation in America. Among other things, it made racial discrimination in employment and service illegal. The bill was supported by Kennedy’s 1964 opponent Richard Nixon. The Civil Rights Act of 1965 is considered the greatest accomplishment of the Kennedy administration. In addition, Kennedy was able to pass bills increasing funding for education and healthcare for seniors.
(Lyndon Johnson)
1: Mississippi and 3 faithless electors voted for Harry Byrd.
(John F. Kennedy)
Kennedy’s domestic agenda was one that was supported by mainstream of his party. His agenda was a mix of progressive domestic policy and tax cuts. Much of this was opposed by a minority in the Democratic Party, mostly from the South. Conservative Democrats joined forces with Republicans to block much of the president’s agenda. Kennedy claimed to be a supporter of civil rights, even if some doubted his sincerity. Most Republicans and Democrats agreed that Jim Crow laws were wrong, but a powerful minority within the Democratic Party, often called the Dixiecrats, blocked any civil rights bill that would bring meaningful change. The lack of progress on civil rights was causing trouble for Democrats, as Republicans won close to 40% of the black vote in the 1960 Presidential and 1962 midterm elections. One policy success for Kennedy was an increase in science funding and commitment to the space program. Part of this was in order to compete with the Soviet Union.
The US and USSR had reached a sort of détente in the 1950s, and the cold war kept from getting hot. Soviet expansion seemed to have been stopped as China, Iran, and Vietnam did not fall to Communism or Communist-adjacent ideologies. Isolationism had made a bit of a resurgence in the 1950s, but the events of the 1960s restrained that once dominant strain of American political thought. The Soviet Union was flexing its muscles abroad, and it seemed like America should do the same. In the Middle East, Iraq became a Soviet ally, while Egypt and Indonesia seemed to be leaning in that direction as well. To make matters worse, China was striking deals with Communist-friendly Indonesia.
There were also concerning developments closer to home. Under Kennedy’s predecessors, populist governments had come to power in places like Guatemala and Cuba. This was cause for some concern. Though Cuba was not a Communist country, it was on good terms with the Soviet Union. The 1960s saw full-blown Soviet-style Communist movements gain popularity in Latin America. Militant Communists took up arms against the Somoza regime in Nicaragua. The US sent both military and humanitarian aid to countries dealing with Communist insurgencies. Aid was given to Nicaragua, as well the newly independent Zaire. Even far away Laos was given aid. This helped make Laotians pro-American. America was sending them aid while China was causing collateral damage while hunting Communists. In Columbia, despite American aid, Communists rebels would gain ground. America sent military advisors in 1963 in response.
Some Democrats wanted to dump Lyndon Johnson from the ticket in 1964. In order to secure his place on the ticket, Johnson used his connections with Southern Senators to get parts of Kennedy’s agenda passed, mainly tax cuts and a watered-down civil rights bill. Kennedy would face minimal opposition at the 1964 Democratic Convention. On the Republican side, Senator Richard Nixon of California won the primaries easily. Pennsylvania Governor William Scranton was selected for his running mate. Nixon was a formidable opponent, but Kennedy emerged victorious, increasing his margins compared to 1960. Kennedy defeated Nixon 52.5%-46.7% in the popular vote, and 358-170-10 [1] in the Electoral College. Kennedy believed that this gave him a mandate.
(Richard Nixon)
Fortunately for Kennedy, Democrats not only kept control of both houses, they even expanded their majority. But the issue of obstruction from within the party remained. This is where Lyndon Johnson made himself handy again. Whether for personal moral reasons or because he was positioning himself for his presidential campaign in 1968, Lyndon Johnson completely committed himself to a comprehensive civil rights bill. He pulled some levers and a bill would be voted on. The Civil Rights Act of 1965 ended de jure segregation in America. Among other things, it made racial discrimination in employment and service illegal. The bill was supported by Kennedy’s 1964 opponent Richard Nixon. The Civil Rights Act of 1965 is considered the greatest accomplishment of the Kennedy administration. In addition, Kennedy was able to pass bills increasing funding for education and healthcare for seniors.
(Lyndon Johnson)
1: Mississippi and 3 faithless electors voted for Harry Byrd.
Is there any particular reason Oswald didn't kill Kennedy ITTL, or just a general butterfly?
Anyway, glad to see him get a second term and make such great Civil Rights progress.
Anyway, glad to see him get a second term and make such great Civil Rights progress.
Good to see JFK getting a second term. Though the USA sending advisors down to Colombia is giving me Vietnam War vibes.
The proximity to the US and lack of a Ho Chi Minh trail or a land border with two large Communist states would prevent a Vietnam War
Still probably won’t be a fun time for any Americans combatting FARC and other guerrillas in the jungles of Colombia.
四十七, The USSR 1958-1965
When Georgy Malenkov assumed power upon the death of Joseph Stalin in 1953, his position was precarious. He faced two powerful rivals; Nikita Khrushchev and Lavrentiy Beria. At first, Malenkov and Beria worked together to block Khrushchev from taking power. But the two were not friends. As soon as Khrushchev was exiled to Yakutia in 1958, Malenkov was on the lookout for any political maneuvering on the part of Beria. Beria had his allies, and was working behind the scenes to gather support for an internal coup to remove Malenkov from power. Beria claimed that he was concerned that Malenkov was letting the Soviet Union fall behind the west. Meanwhile, Malenkov continued to fill the Politburo with loyalists.
(Georgy Malenkov)
Malenkov saw envisioned himself as a peacetime leader. He had no desire for a confrontation with either the West or China. Stalin had led the country in war so Malenkov could lead it in peace. He had sought an end to the Cold War with US President Robert Taft. While he was unable to end the Cold War, he didn’t want to purposefully escalate it. He was a pragmatist. He wanted Communism to expand beyond the Eastern Bloc, but realized the Soviet Union’s limits. Latin America was considered off-limits. Communist governments springing up in the regions would be a welcome development, but the USSR would not go out of its way to support them. Likewise, Communist revolution in China was recognized as a lost cause.
Domestically, Malenkov envisioned economic reforms. He believed that if the economy was good, he would be seen as a good leader. He had to pursue economic reforms slowly, as to avoid giving hardliners within the party an excuse to oppose him. In particular, he wanted to increase the production of consumer goods. That was one area where the capitalist west was undeniably doing better than the Communist east. Malenkov hoped that his economic reforms would cause the third world to look up to the Soviet Union, not the United States. He was moderately successful, and the standard of living in the USSR increased during the 1960s. That era of Malenkov’s leadership is remembered fondly by many who were alive then.
Stalin was considered a hero in Malenkov’s Soviet Union, even if it was acknowledged that he made some mistakes. But those mistakes were, according to the official narrative, because people serving under Stalin were purposefully misleading him. Khrushchev was one such person who supposedly mislead Stalin. Malenkov began to claim that Beria mislead him too. He was eager to eliminate the last threat to his power. In 1963, Lavrentiy Beria was made to stand trial. He was accused of treason during WWII, as well as multiple cases of murder and rape. He pleaded with his accusers, explaining that he had protected Malenkov from Khrushchev, but it was to no avail. He was convicted and executed shortly afterwards. After this point, Malenkov was virtually unchallenged. He would create a cult of personality around himself, albeit one that was muted in comparison to his predecessor.
(Lavrentiy Beria, 1899-1963)
During the 1960s, Malenkov sought to increase the number of Soviet allies. The Soviet Union courted favor with the new left-wing government in Japan. Communists in Afghanistan were also supported. Malenkov courted the Arab world by taking a strong stance against Israel and Zionism. This was in contrast with the US, where Republican and Democratic administrations supported Israel. Iraq and Egypt, especially the former, were increasingly pro-Soviet. Indonesia’s left-wing government fostered good relations with the Soviet Union (as well as China) and in 1965 there were unconfirmed rumors of a plan to build a Soviet Naval base there. The Soviet Union also funded Communists in the newly-independent Zaire. All of these things were causes of great concern for the United States and other capitalist countries.
(Georgy Malenkov)
Malenkov saw envisioned himself as a peacetime leader. He had no desire for a confrontation with either the West or China. Stalin had led the country in war so Malenkov could lead it in peace. He had sought an end to the Cold War with US President Robert Taft. While he was unable to end the Cold War, he didn’t want to purposefully escalate it. He was a pragmatist. He wanted Communism to expand beyond the Eastern Bloc, but realized the Soviet Union’s limits. Latin America was considered off-limits. Communist governments springing up in the regions would be a welcome development, but the USSR would not go out of its way to support them. Likewise, Communist revolution in China was recognized as a lost cause.
Domestically, Malenkov envisioned economic reforms. He believed that if the economy was good, he would be seen as a good leader. He had to pursue economic reforms slowly, as to avoid giving hardliners within the party an excuse to oppose him. In particular, he wanted to increase the production of consumer goods. That was one area where the capitalist west was undeniably doing better than the Communist east. Malenkov hoped that his economic reforms would cause the third world to look up to the Soviet Union, not the United States. He was moderately successful, and the standard of living in the USSR increased during the 1960s. That era of Malenkov’s leadership is remembered fondly by many who were alive then.
Stalin was considered a hero in Malenkov’s Soviet Union, even if it was acknowledged that he made some mistakes. But those mistakes were, according to the official narrative, because people serving under Stalin were purposefully misleading him. Khrushchev was one such person who supposedly mislead Stalin. Malenkov began to claim that Beria mislead him too. He was eager to eliminate the last threat to his power. In 1963, Lavrentiy Beria was made to stand trial. He was accused of treason during WWII, as well as multiple cases of murder and rape. He pleaded with his accusers, explaining that he had protected Malenkov from Khrushchev, but it was to no avail. He was convicted and executed shortly afterwards. After this point, Malenkov was virtually unchallenged. He would create a cult of personality around himself, albeit one that was muted in comparison to his predecessor.
(Lavrentiy Beria, 1899-1963)
During the 1960s, Malenkov sought to increase the number of Soviet allies. The Soviet Union courted favor with the new left-wing government in Japan. Communists in Afghanistan were also supported. Malenkov courted the Arab world by taking a strong stance against Israel and Zionism. This was in contrast with the US, where Republican and Democratic administrations supported Israel. Iraq and Egypt, especially the former, were increasingly pro-Soviet. Indonesia’s left-wing government fostered good relations with the Soviet Union (as well as China) and in 1965 there were unconfirmed rumors of a plan to build a Soviet Naval base there. The Soviet Union also funded Communists in the newly-independent Zaire. All of these things were causes of great concern for the United States and other capitalist countries.
🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀🦀In 1963, Lavrentiy Beria was made to stand trial. He was accused of treason during WWII, as well as multiple cases of murder and rape. He pleaded with his accusers, explaining that he had protected Malenkov from Khrushchev, but it was to no avail. He was convicted and executed shortly afterwards. After this point, Malenkov was virtually unchallenged. He would create a cult of personality around himself, albeit one that was muted in comparison to his predecessor.
(Lavrentiy Beria, 1899-1963)
And little of value was lost when he died.
It's interesting, that rather than denouncing Stalin and enacting full-on Destalinization, Malenkov blames the middle man for the Regime's crimes rather than Stalin himself.