Challenge: Spanish-speaking/Spanish-led superpower

This came, oddly enough, from looking at an old copy of the "Mortadelo Y Filemon" [1] comic from the 70s (I lived in Spain from some years as a child). The secret agents clearly inhabit a Spain which has more international weight than OTL, sending agents on secret missions all over the world, with its own space program, etc. (even if the streets all seem to be cobbled). :)

So, inspired by my fond memories of this comic - with PODs after the US becomes independent, create by the 1970s a Spanish-speaking superpower or perhaps an alliance that counts collectively as a superpower, led by a Spanish-speaking state. So what would be the least unlikely case? Mighty Mexico? Super-Peru? A unified Iberia with south Italy and other bits thrown in? (Spanish-Bourbon wank, I guess. :p ) A Spanish Empire that at least partly survives as some sort of federation?

thoughts?

Bruce



[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mort_&_Phil
 
This came, oddly enough, from looking at an old copy of the "Mortadelo Y Filemon" [1] comic from the 70s (I lived in Spain from some years as a child). The secret agents clearly inhabit a Spain which has more international weight than OTL, sending agents on secret missions all over the world, with its own space program, etc. (even if the streets all seem to be cobbled). :)

So, inspired by my fond memories of this comic - with PODs after the US becomes independent, create by the 1970s a Spanish-speaking superpower or perhaps an alliance that counts collectively as a superpower, led by a Spanish-speaking state. So what would be the least unlikely case? Mighty Mexico? Super-Peru? A unified Iberia with south Italy and other bits thrown in? (Spanish-Bourbon wank, I guess. :p ) A Spanish Empire that at least partly survives as some sort of federation?

thoughts?

Bruce



[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mort_&_Phil

There are a number of Mexicanwanks TL on this board that have Mexico replace the USA as the dominant regional power in Latin America. Have the USA stay isolationist, while have Mexico take on European challenges, and Mexico will become a world power.

On the other hand, have Brazil participate in the Scramble for Africa.
 
Could we have a Spain that stays of the Napoleonic Wars and improves the situation with it's colonies, or are we talking about Spanish speaking states outside of Spain. Also Brazil wouldn't count on the basis of being a Portuguese speaking state would it.
 
Could we have a Spain that stays of the Napoleonic Wars and improves the situation with it's colonies, or are we talking about Spanish speaking states outside of Spain. Also Brazil wouldn't count on the basis of being a Portuguese speaking state would it.

Either of the first two. And Brazil would indeed not count.

(Superpower Mexico frankly needs explanation: it's not just something that could happen as easily as not. Mexico didn't have the disastrous 19th century it did OTL because Punxsutawney Phil didn't see his shadow in 1800 of our world).

Bruce
 
Could we have a Spain that stays of the Napoleonic Wars and improves the situation with it's colonies, or are we talking about Spanish speaking states outside of Spain. Also Brazil wouldn't count on the basis of being a Portuguese speaking state would it.
Well, this would be the obvious choice. We still need to keep Ferdinand VII out of the throne. Basically, i think any scenario without him would be a vast improvement for Spain, possibly managing to keep part of the American territories which would eventually be considered equals to the rest Spain (like the 1812 constitution stated). Also because it was the internal troubled situation that kept Spain from sending peninsular troops to help the loyalists in America.

Still, why Spain? Same as Britain gave its superpower legacy to the US, Spain could have given it to former colony.

My candidate would be a superpower Argentina. They began the XXth century in an excellent health, being one of the first economies of the world. The political instability brought by the great depression broke their flight. At this juncture they could have still opted to a super-power-ish status.

Another chance would be the Peronism. To be precise, the way the peronism ended. If this could be fixed, we could be looking at Argentina having a nearly hegemonic role in latin america.

Something that could have been good would be if the whole viceroyalty of the River of Silver could have kept some internal cohesion. I know the Brits just couldn't help themselves, but how likely is that Montevideo remained part of Argentina?
 
I think "Mort & Phil" (named Clever & Smart in Germany) doesn´t work as a example for a spanish superpower. A running gag is always, that the TIA runs on a shoestring budget and in the 1990th Spain is clearly part of an EU ruled by Helmut Kohl with a iron fist. Maybe it would work more with Spain as a power on the level like Britain and France, fall from glory after 1945, but still tries to prove his international relevanz.
 
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