I'd call PRI Mexico a fair analogy - albeit with a few more crackdowns on political opponents.
Tibet is (for now) free! And a grim Buddhist theocracy.
re: the Chikatilo loyalists - hey, if we've learned anything from the news, people will stick by their leader in the midst of all sorts of things. The Soviet Civil War is what caused the nuclear taboo in the ATL.
the GOP: By 2016 there's a two-party system in the US again, now that we've had enough time post-Jones/post-Haig. Maybe something kludgy, like economic liberals and social conservatives in the same party, and the reverse...
RER: I'm a actual historian at this point!