Umm, I tried to justify it. Okay, it didn't work out, and that's what I'm working on here. This doesn't have to be ASB.
Exactly, especially since I subscribe to the minamalist definition of Fascism. What's that? Basically, the only requirements for fascism are ultranationalism, and a dream of national rebirth. That's it. So a national populist movement in the USA easily could've been Fascist.
As for Japan being lightly democratic, Russia needs to beat them in the Russo-Japan war in a way that discredits militarism. That might be pretty hard, but certainly isn't ASB.
Hmm. If you combine those two together...
One could get an earlier Communist revolt(from casualities in Europe getting worse earlier,) and the Central Powers able to focus on France early, which dooms it.
Yes, and also, we've just created a more plausible Kaissreich timeline, sort of.
Why? If Germany takes France, they can't hold it. The population would never tolerate it. If the Socialists play their cards right, they can push Germany out while uniting the populace behind them.
Not sure what would happen to Italy or the UK in this scenario though.
As for the Great Depression, again, Japan's militarism has been discredited. Hence, the military won't as powerful of a political force, and won't be able to do the stuff it did in OTL. How it responds to the Great Depression will be interesting to ponder though.
Although, here's something interesting. Before the military takeover, the(I think) Prime Minister of Japan was actually handling it quite well, doing Keynesian style spending with military equipment. When he stopped it in order to avoid excess deficit, the military killed him(or someone close to him, can't remember exactly what occurred with that.) Perhaps we could see Japan taking the Keynesian route, similar to the USA did in OTL?
Wait, are we going with that Japan loses Russo-Japanese War route? If so, I'll think about it.As for the Great Depression, again, Japan's militarism has been discredited. Hence, the military won't as powerful of a political force, and won't be able to do the stuff it did in OTL. How it responds to the Great Depression will be interesting to ponder though.
No, Inukai Tsuyoshi was assassinated because he opposed the military's expansionist plans in China. He had been continuing the "Keynesian" style of inflating the economy, which had crashed again when Hamaguchi Osachi's administration went back to the gold standard.Although, here's something interesting. Before the military takeover, the(I think) Prime Minister of Japan was actually handling it quite well, doing Keynesian style spending with military equipment. When he stopped it in order to avoid excess deficit, the military killed him(or someone close to him, can't remember exactly what occurred with that.) Perhaps we could see Japan taking the Keynesian route, similar to the USA did in OTL?