Cold War between Liberal Democracies and Conservative Monarchies?

Is this scenario possible?

Russia compromises with Japan instead of fighting them and as a result the Tsar doesn’t have to deal with riots and the weakening of his regime. Franz Joseph dies before Franz Ferdinand, and with Ferdinand’s pro-Russia views along with a Bjorko style incident results in an eventually restoration of the League of Emperors.

Now, Germany and Austria-Hungary had voting rights that were widespread by the times standards. It’s not like they were that Conservative or not at all Democratic. But they still do have powerful Monarchs and militaries who can act as a Conservative forces in their countries.

Could we then get a scenario where the vote is expanded in the US, Britain, and France like in the OTL while Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia are relatively effective at maintaining the power of their Monarchs and keeping the franchise restricted (restrictions on women, age restrictions, extra votes for favored groups, poll taxes, civics tests, etc).

As the US likely gradually increases its role in the world as it realizes its strength, the League of Emperors has ensured a large degree of peace in Europe with their sheer strength. But with America becoming stronger, it becomes more interested in Europe. America prefers Britain and France to Germany/AH/Russia because Britain and France are more similar to America politically and socially, but isn’t heavily involved yet.

The US, UK, AH, France, and Germany aren’t that different for a while, but eventually some kind of counter culture movement hits the West. The US, Britain, and France are effected similarly to the OTL. But the Monarchies, militaries, and restricted franchise enable Germany and Austria-Hungary to emerge with only minor changes (with their establishments more or less winning their culture war but still having some changes). Russia proves different enough to barely be effected, at least in the short term.

Following this, the US, Britain, and France have large changes in their political and social identities while Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia are largely horrified by what they have seen. To the ruling class of the League of Emperors, they view the US/UK/France as effectively governed by mob rule, traitors to traditional Western Civilization, anti-Christian, and against the family unit. The US, UK, and France view the LoE’s, well, the same way modern Westerners would typically view Traditionalist Monarchies places in the developed world: Backwards, repressed, violation of the will of voters, governed by tyrants, etc...

So with that, the US, UK, and France are on one side while Germany, Russia, and Austria-Hungary are on the other with formalized alliances before long. They often compete for influence in colonies, former colonies China, Latin America, etc... Generally not revolving around economic systems in this Cold War.


Is this plausible? Any thoughts?
 
The forces of liberalism and social democracy were too strong in Germany and Austria-Hungary, I think.


Alternatively...

The Ottomans stay neutral in WWI and the Bulgarians join the Entente, in exchange for Russia bullying Serbia into ceding a slice of Macedonia, Romania ceding Southern Dobruja, Bulgaria being allowed to bully Greece into ceding Kavala. Albania is divided between Serbia and Greece post-war. Romania joins the Entente early in exchange for the promise of Transylvania. Greece joins the war in 1915 in exchange for a promise of Cyprus (OTL offer IIRC). The effect of all of this is Austria gets knocked out quite early and the CPs are defeated by 1916.

Russia annexes Galicia-Lodomeria, Posen, Bukovina, West Prussia, Upper Silesia, and puts its western border on the Oder River. East Prussia is carved off as a small Kingdom with a Hohenzollern King after Germany proclaims itself a Republic. Poland proceeds to be carved off into its own Kingdom in Personal Union with Russia.

Czechoslovakia gets a Romanov King. Greater Serbia and Bulgaria are allied with Russia. Romania is aware that it must follow Russia's rules... or else. Horthy seeks a Romanov King for Hungary on the condition that such a King converts to Catholicism. The Russian-led monarchist east bloc of Russia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia is established.

Russia probably pals up with Mussolini's Italy. I can see Russia befriending Imperial Japan as well (or opposing them, it's a toss-up). Selassie's Ethiopia seems like a good target for relationship building. Russia probably would become a patron of Arab Nationalism as well, if only to screw the Ottomans.


Meanwhile in the west, Briande and Stresemann succeed in establishing their idea for a European Union which is comprised of France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Saarland, and Austria. The British do not join this union, seeing the empire as where they'll be associated with primarily, but they are in favor of it diplomatically as a check upon Russia (and so long as they don't get any ideas about Ireland joining...).


The first butting of heads between the two sides is the Spanish Civil War. Russia takes the side of the reactionary nationalists, whereas the European Union take the opposite side.
 
. . . but eventually some kind of counter culture movement hits the West. The US, Britain, and France are effected similarly to the OTL. But the Monarchies, militaries, and restricted franchise enable Germany and Austria-Hungary to emerge with only minor changes (with their establishments more or less winning their culture war but still having some changes). Russia proves different enough to barely be effected, at least in the short term. . .
Might music be a big part of this counterculture,

similar to Rock-n-Roll in the 1960s and Hip Hop in the 80s?
 
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You need to stop the rise of social democracy and the SPD in Germany During the Empire. Delaying reforms ist possible, but rolling back,reducing voting rights and so on would create heavy resistance from German social democrats and liberals.
The German Empire was a militaristic monarchy, but it wasn't backwards. Ob the federal lewel, every male had the right
to vote for the parliament since 1871 (different voting rights existed at the state Level).

How and why would Germany remain isolated from cultural and political movements from Western Europe?

In Otl large scale leftist and liberal protests occured in the 60ies against the conservative society of Germany after WW2.
 
Is this scenario possible?

Russia compromises with Japan instead of fighting them and as a result the Tsar doesn’t have to deal with riots and the weakening of his regime. Franz Joseph dies before Franz Ferdinand, and with Ferdinand’s pro-Russia views along with a Bjorko style incident results in an eventually restoration of the League of Emperors.

Now, Germany and Austria-Hungary had voting rights that were widespread by the times standards. It’s not like they were that Conservative or not at all Democratic. But they still do have powerful Monarchs and militaries who can act as a Conservative forces in their countries.

Could we then get a scenario where the vote is expanded in the US, Britain, and France like in the OTL while Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia are relatively effective at maintaining the power of their Monarchs and keeping the franchise restricted (restrictions on women, age restrictions, extra votes for favored groups, poll taxes, civics tests, etc).

As the US likely gradually increases its role in the world as it realizes its strength, the League of Emperors has ensured a large degree of peace in Europe with their sheer strength. But with America becoming stronger, it becomes more interested in Europe. America prefers Britain and France to Germany/AH/Russia because Britain and France are more similar to America politically and socially, but isn’t heavily involved yet.

The US, UK, AH, France, and Germany aren’t that different for a while, but eventually some kind of counter culture movement hits the West. The US, Britain, and France are effected similarly to the OTL. But the Monarchies, militaries, and restricted franchise enable Germany and Austria-Hungary to emerge with only minor changes (with their establishments more or less winning their culture war but still having some changes). Russia proves different enough to barely be effected, at least in the short term.

Following this, the US, Britain, and France have large changes in their political and social identities while Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia are largely horrified by what they have seen. To the ruling class of the League of Emperors, they view the US/UK/France as effectively governed by mob rule, traitors to traditional Western Civilization, anti-Christian, and against the family unit. The US, UK, and France view the LoE’s, well, the same way modern Westerners would typically view Traditionalist Monarchies places in the developed world: Backwards, repressed, violation of the will of voters, governed by tyrants, etc...

So with that, the US, UK, and France are on one side while Germany, Russia, and Austria-Hungary are on the other with formalized alliances before long. They often compete for influence in colonies, former colonies China, Latin America, etc... Generally not revolving around economic systems in this Cold War.


Is this plausible? Any thoughts?
Secular Ultra-Nationalists and separatists would also oppose Conservative Monarchism.
 
Japan had a similar constitution to Germany so no reason Germany couldn't go *fascist in an alt-20s or 30s under the Kaisserreich.
 
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