A.H.C.: U.S.A. decline, U.S.S.R. reforms

I was trying to envision a Soviet victory in the Cold War, and the following (broad) scenario came to mind:

With a post-WWII P.O.D. (or a pre-WWII P.O.D. that avoids any major pre-1945 butterflies), the U.S.A. needs to somehow not only alienate their allies, but find themselves hampered with significant internal strife. Simultaneously, the U.S.S.R. needs to reform itself to avoid becoming the economic dumpster fire it evolved into O.T.L.

Thus, we have a world where a healthier U.S.S.R. is able to at least exert more "soft power" than the U.S.A. (and possibly more "hard power" as well even if it doesn't actually flex it very often). Thus, while the U.S.A. become a sort of pariah state, the Soviet Union is viewed as something of a "gentle giant" by the rest of the world.

I know very little about the Soviet economy, but in terms of the United States, perhaps some ill-conceived military adventurism combined with an authoritarian crack-down on civil unrest at home could help us meet that half of the challenge?
 

Pax

Banned
Maybe have Nixon be crazy enough to try some kind of coup d'état, fail horribly, but cause a massive wave of distrust towards the government in general and presidency in particular. Have this coupled with eight years of someone like Carter (a worse 70s stagflation would also help), and you'd be on the right path I think. IIRC Nixon toyed with the idea during the Watergate scandal.
 
The first half is imaginable, but the second one? If you find a way, you might want to apply for Maduro's job, since you can do it better than him.

There is one German AH where East Germany discovers a load of gold under their territory, enough to take over the west. But when it runs out...
 
That's impossible. There was NO POSSIBLE reforms, that would've helped USSR to avoid crash

If China figured it out after Mao fucked up the Cultural Revolution, the USSR could feasibly hold things together better if there’s a hair of glasnost and perestroika after Stalin buys the farm, or whatever the Communist equivalent of buyin the farm is...collectivizing the agriculture of something.

Also, if race relations go to shit in the 60s and the youth end up disaffected (picture an entire generation of buttoned-up hippies who can’t stomach society and go into business for themselves and care nothing for patriotism, the military or community beyond what they can walk to in 15 minutes, combined with a hell of a lot of pissed-off black folks who go full-on well-regulated militia against America and the country is in deep shit.)
 
Donald Trump was born forty years before

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This requires for a very heavy PoD... I'm thinking that it should begin at around WWI-era. May be a following list of PoDs - all of which are independent to each other (probably), but in combination, they may have a chance to do what you want to have
  • A WWI-era US that even more capitalistic - what I mean is that the US government supply even more material to both sides of the war (and discreetly talk about it to the citizens) at a price they deem reasonable. In addition, the US would join the war later (even after a line cruiser of theirs had been sunk), and kept trading with both sides of the war.
  • A somewhat delayed/mitigated Great Depression, and a much faster recovery rate after, giving the US proof that they were "better"
  • The Japanese (preferably) delayed their strike on Pearl Harbour, giving US time (and the excuse) to keep the trade with the Axis power going on
  • After WW2, an important US politician commented that the Europeans were weaklings, requiring US boys to do their job - and demanded compensation
  • Stalin (or any high-rank official of USSR) studied and saw the prospect of applying certain regulations in the capitalist system. It may not be much at first, but it would (hopefully) widen over the year
  • After WW2, make US even more racist, pointing out the treacherous dinks and gooks, or cowardice negros. In the southern states, KKK could operate freely (they had to hide the curtail their extremism in the north)
  • A more aggressive approach to contain communism, especially in SEA, saying things equivalent to "I'm white, so I'm right. And I'm saying communism is bull shit, so you must change your government. Or else." - Meanwhile, the USSR would just silently ship aid (medical, food and the like, not weapon, or not yet)
  • US start suppressing on hippies movements - "Either you work for your country, or you are just a piece of trash". If this one is in 60s era, may be (hopefully) the Soviet has started some privatisation in non-critical sectors (under watchful eye of the security, of course)
  • Some shit going down hill fast in Vietnam - think public broadcast of the populace openly show their respect and admiration to the Vietcong, mostly because those people were not the arrogant US personnel. A crash and run would work there.
  • During Prague Spring (1968) and Hungary Uprising (1956), may be the USSR would (try to) talk first. While the talks were likely to fail, at least it show the world that USSR was only brutal when they had no other option.
 
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