AHC: Circlejerk - Everyonewank!

What it says on the tin. What's a realistic series of PODs that lead to a world-wank after 1900 and leading to an alternative 2010?

Basically I'm asking WI you have a TL in which there's Ameriwank, Britwank, and etc., all happening at the same time? :D

Obviously, this means no Hitlerwank, Stalinwank, etc, simply because world-domination by evil powers tends to hamper world progress. But that doesn't mean that you still can't have multiple empires come to a zenith circa the same period, or that you can't have conflict, war, depression, regression, and all around nastiness, etc. As long as at the end of the day, things are looking on the up-and-up. The late colonial/imperial period just before WWI is the closest I think the world ever came to such a thing.

Lets be realistic about this though (or as realistic as possible). Sudden Ethiopian modernization and industrialization is going to change a lot of stuff (not just Italy!). Even things happening exactly the same way they did IOTL could have drastically different results around the globe in the context of this TL.

One more thing; by wank I don't just mean greatest territorial expansion possible. I also means that this TL is stable, and prosperous. Ie, the common man is enjoying a better lifestyle, which is sustainable, than he would be IOTL. Not only is he living higher on the horse, he's safer, or as safe, as he would be in IOTL.

I'm also willing to entertain PODs that technically happen prior to 1900, but whose full affect wouldn't be felt until 1900 and beyond. So, a different Fashoda Incident, Boxer Rebellion (or none at all!), or America not annexing the territory of Hawai'i would all technically be prior to 1900, but for the purposes of this TL are de facto post-1900 events.'
 
Well, I think it'd take more than that to really get at what I'm going for. Again, this is a circlejerk :cool: So it needs to be everyone wanking at once.
 
What it says on the tin. What's a realistic series of PODs that lead to a world-wank after 1900 and leading to an alternative 2010?

Basically I'm asking WI you have a TL in which there's Ameriwank, Britwank, and etc., all happening at the same time? :D

Obviously, this means no Hitlerwank, Stalinwank, etc, simply because world-domination by evil powers tends to hamper world progress. But that doesn't mean that you still can't have multiple empires come to a zenith circa the same period, or that you can't have conflict, war, depression, regression, and all around nastiness, etc. As long as at the end of the day, things are looking on the up-and-up. The late colonial/imperial period just before WWI is the closest I think the world ever came to such a thing.

Lets be realistic about this though (or as realistic as possible). Sudden Ethiopian modernization and industrialization is going to change a lot of stuff (not just Italy!). Even things happening exactly the same way they did IOTL could have drastically different results around the globe in the context of this TL.

One more thing; by wank I don't just mean greatest territorial expansion possible. I also means that this TL is stable, and prosperous. Ie, the common man is enjoying a better lifestyle, which is sustainable, than he would be IOTL. Not only is he living higher on the horse, he's safer, or as safe, as he would be in IOTL.

I'm also willing to entertain PODs that technically happen prior to 1900, but whose full affect wouldn't be felt until 1900 and beyond. So, a different Fashoda Incident, Boxer Rebellion (or none at all!), or America not annexing the territory of Hawai'i would all technically be prior to 1900, but for the purposes of this TL are de facto post-1900 events.'

Try:


  • No World Wars
  • Socialist Movement merges with Liberalism to create a sort of "Social Democratic" movement that attempts to seek the betterment of all by renouncing acts of great cruelty and insisting on human rights for all.
  • Industrial Giants recognize that Trade Barriers are actually harming more than helping, and that immigration also promotes economic growth. Such impulses lead to the wealthy to become wealthier as well.
  • Military Spending, the less useful and most wasteful form of government spending, shrinks away as world trade enshrines world peace.
  • AIDS dies out harmlessly in the wilds of Africa
  • The World pushes education, specialization, and investment in infrastructure to incredible levels.
  • The Limits of Earth itself are surpassed on these foundations. Space Transit is at first a modern wonder, but leads to increasing economic opportunity as parts of the Solar System become desirable places for economic gain--this is only possible because a heavy focus on education and technology results in toys that wouldn't exist for decades. By 2010, this Alternate Earth is around 40 years ahead of our own, building budding colonies on the Moon and sending robotic probes throughout the asteroid belt, Mercury, Mars and Ganymede on the hunt for more interesting things to find.
  • Advanced Technology, Stronger Human Rights Tradition, Higher Specialization and Education, longer and better designed GDP growth entrenched by powerful strengthening of infrastructure to reduce overall costs--Global GDP Per Capita larger than the modern USA? Even if that's not the case, advances in robotics, medical care, transportation and consumer goods probably at least make the comparatively poor in their world in better shape than an Average US Citizen.
That's what comes to mind--a highly boring but good world.
 
In 1940, Winston Churchill proposed a "Franco-British Union" with the faltering France. It would keep the two nations largely autonomous, but with a join foreign, defense, and economic policy. As OTL, De Gaulle supports the proposal. However, unlike OTL, Petain decides to accept, seeing it as the only way to avoid a forced armistice.

As a result, France, not existing as a separate entity, never surrenders. The British prepare a Dunkirk evacuation much earlier, evacuating far more soldiers and supplies. Much of the French navy stays intact. Hitler is never able to keep control over France, even less so than OTL. While there is still no shortage of collaborators, Hitler is unable to build nearly as effective Atlantic Wall in France, and sabotaged air fields limit the scope of the Battle of Britain to around 80% OTL levels. The Pacific War goes on largely as OTL, but is slowed down by smaller amounts of British support.

Finally, in mid-1943, a massive American and Anglo-French force lands on the beaches of Normandy. While the American contribution isn't as large as it was OTL, the D-Day assault makes massive gains into France. In early August, Paris is liberated. In July 1944, V-E day is celebrated as Anglo-French forces occupy Berlin. Germany, Austria, and Czechia are occupied by Western forces, while the Soviet Union establishes puppet governments in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. While a puppet government is formed in Yugoslavia, it is quickly thrown off. Albania, having not been a battleground during the war, will eventually lean towards a social democracy and becomes part of the Yugoslav sphere. East Prussia is absorbed into Poland, and the Soviet Union gains territory from Finland after the Winter War.

Shortly after, the Soviet Union declares war on Japan. With Russian forces occupying Hokkaido and rapid island hopping by the Americans, Anglo-French, and Commonwealth forces, Japan surrenders in early 1945. The Soviet Union gains the Kuriles and Sakhalin, and occupies Hokkaido. America occupies Honshu and several smaller islands, while the Anglo-French occupy Kyushu and Shikoku.

EUROPE 1945
1945.png



In the following years, Anglo-France reaches a large question regarding its colonies. Many of the African colonies have poor infrastructure, and are backwards and impoverished. India is clamoring for freedom. It begins pouring money into the colonies, attempting to integrate them into the worldwide community. The nation changes its name from the "Anglo-French Empire" to the "Commonwealth of Nations" to reflect its more benevolent attitude towards the colonies. India is let go, peacefully. Despite discussion of a partition, it is ultimately decided against, and the Republic of India is released in one peace.

America, meanwhile, focuses on a policy of containment towards the Soviet Union and communism. Having not spent quite as much money and lives in WW2, and a smaller Eastern bloc than OTL, the Marshall Plan is somewhat larger than historically. However, since France and Britain don't require as much rebuilding as OTL, a large portion of that aid is sent to the Republic of China and Asia in general. Meanwhile, Russia focuses on modernizing Eastern Europe industry in retaliation to a stronger Western Europe, cutting aid to Mao.

With a larger Anglo-French hegemony over Western Europe, they declare a "European Economic Community," or EEC in 1949. The Low Countries and occupied central Europe (Germany, Austria, Czechia) quickly join. In the years following, Italy, Norway, and Denmark all join as well. Turkey and Greece become junior members, largely the focus of economic aid but without the rights of a full member. Despite a charter focusing on economic aid, the alliance largely focuses on a cooperative defensive strategy. To help counter the Anglo-French super power, America forms an alliance, the Toronto Treaty Organization, (TTO) with several former Anglo-French colonies: Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Mexico joins as an observer, but is uncommitted. The Soviet Union creates a Warsaw Pact with its puppets in 1953.

The ultimate result of the Marshall Plan in Asia is a narrow victory of the Republic of China in 1952. Although Communist guerrillas remain in rural areas for decades, and terrorism is one of the main concerns of the KMT, Chiang Kai-Shek manages to occupy and control most of the urban regions of China. It quickly joins the TTO.

This leads to an era of peace. With vast amounts of money being pumped into third world infrastructure, it becomes difficult for the Soviet Union to spread Communism globally. Communist uprisings in Korea and Anglo-French Indochina are quickly squashed with the aid of the Republic of China. Korea joins the TTO and focuses on modernization, soon becoming a first world country.

Fearing a loss of relevance, the USSR liberalizes over the years. By the late-80s, it's Communist in name only, and is largely a social democracy (although still one-party). After demands for independence in Central Asia and the Caucasus, the USSR reforms. It forms a new nation, the Eastern European Federation. The EEF, like the Anglo-French Union, retains large autonomy for the constituent republics. Poland leaves the Warsaw Pact, ultimately joining the EEC in 2002. The Caucusus (including Ichkeria) and Central Asia break away from the former USSR and enjoy full independence. Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Slovakia, after decades of friendship with Soviet Union, join the EEF.

In 2005, after years of closer relations, the EEC reforms, and becomes the "European Union." Following the Anglo-French and EEF model, it is essentially one state with largely autonomous constituent nations.

In 2010, there are five main Great Powers. In order of strength: the EU (containing most of Western/Central Europe, Greece, Turkey, and much of the European colonial legacy in Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia), the EEF (containing Eastern Europe and Russia, and with very close relations with Yugoslavia and Albania), the USA (which generally leads the TTO bloc in global affairs... if the political weight of the TTO is considered, many believe it to surpass the EEF), China, and India. Of the five, the EU, EEF, and India are liberal social democracies. The USA is a centrist democracy, while the Republic of China is right-wing. Each of them have greater economic prosperity than OTL due to greater focus on infrastructure and international relations. Many OTL poor nations (especially Commonwealth nations) have much better infrastructure and wealth than OTL, although they still are not prosperous compared to the rest of the world. Only Latin America hasn't experienced the benefits of the greater globalization and liberalization of this TL.


Yes, I know this is a lot of ASB. I just wanted to write a fun little story. :)
 
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