For a moment, assume that, for whatever reason, the Soviet Union collapses in 1945, in the aftermath of the end of the war (take your own pick as to why--US and UK fight it out with the USSR, toppling the government after some misunderstanding on the front; the nation as a whole simply collapses as a result of a harsher war and an over extension of its resources, etc.). How does the rest of the 20th Century turn out without a Cold War?
A few questions for discussion--
1. What kind of government is set up in post-Soviet Russia? How do the Allies strengthen and maintain that government, etc.? Is Russia occupied, divided between US, UK, French, etc. zones?
2. How would this effect the Chinese Civil War? Will the CPC be able to hold its ground in China without Soviet aid? If so, would the Allies be more willing to commit troops to keep the KMT in power in China?
3. How does economic development and decolonization proceed? Does an alternate Cold War breakout between the United States and United Kingdom over de-colonization? Or is there generally peace among the world's powers?
4. How does the United Nations develop without the pressures of the Cold War? For that matter, does man make it a goal to go into space, or to the Moon?
5. How are the various' nation's domestic politics altered? I assume that the Republicans will remain isolationist in the United States without a clear external threat, while the Democrats will probably continue on as the party of humanitarian intervention. What about the Tories and Labour? How will politics develop in post-Soviet Russia?
A few questions for discussion--
1. What kind of government is set up in post-Soviet Russia? How do the Allies strengthen and maintain that government, etc.? Is Russia occupied, divided between US, UK, French, etc. zones?
2. How would this effect the Chinese Civil War? Will the CPC be able to hold its ground in China without Soviet aid? If so, would the Allies be more willing to commit troops to keep the KMT in power in China?
3. How does economic development and decolonization proceed? Does an alternate Cold War breakout between the United States and United Kingdom over de-colonization? Or is there generally peace among the world's powers?
4. How does the United Nations develop without the pressures of the Cold War? For that matter, does man make it a goal to go into space, or to the Moon?
5. How are the various' nation's domestic politics altered? I assume that the Republicans will remain isolationist in the United States without a clear external threat, while the Democrats will probably continue on as the party of humanitarian intervention. What about the Tories and Labour? How will politics develop in post-Soviet Russia?