International and cultural perception of the United States without WW1?

How would other countries view the United States in a 1900s without a Great War? How would opinions vary between people, class, and nations? How would the European powers who stay strong view them? Ideas or thoughts?

My opinion is that America would be viewed as a very capitalist nation by some which leads to positive and negative ideas about it. Some would say the United States has more social mobility and less restrictions of individual freedoms while others think it goes to far with it. Negative ideas would involve seeing America as a nation full of greedy, unruly, and thuggish people while positives would be a land of freedom and opportunity. I see some upper class Europeans imagining and depicting the United States as a nation full of crooked businessmen, gangsters, and cowboys. Maybe the United States start to be considered not fully European culturally by themselves and Europe in a similar fashion to Russia or Latin America but probably more like Russia where they fall into some middle ground.
 
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I'm not sure how much your description differs from OTL perceptions! :p All of those ideas seem to represent American stereotypes, though perhaps that last one might be a little less voiced than the others.

But maybe you mean the degree to which Americans are seen that way changes?

Trying to think of some ways being neutral might change perceptions...I can only think of some abandoned perceptions that might stick around a lot longer. No cause to be taken seriously as a military power, for one thing. Upstarts who are not quite ready for prime time, so to speak.

Another big OTL accusation that's likely to stick is cultural imperialism. Hollywood's going to dominate no matter who wins WWI. But it might stick a little harder ITTL.
 
I am more addressing the degree of it. I think these perceptions will be greatly intensified. I think the world wars and events relating to it help rain in the more rowdy elements of American society at the time. The government also became more centralized and had more ability to deal with crime and poverty. Without the war the mafia and gangsters of old could last much longer and be even bigger. Gangster shooting each other constantly doesn’t look good to observing people. Europeans will probably be observing the rest of the world more without worrying about the issues related to the world wars. Being officially neutral in most things might increase the greedy capitalist stereotype especially if they are selling weapons to everyone. Even conservative Europeans attitudes regarding honor, duty, traditionalism, and order will view American capitalism and society with distaste. Additionally, America would lack some of their more modern stereotype. They could be viewed as anti-colonial(at least in name or public opinion) by many people under European rule especially if relations with some European powers get less friendly and they more openly support independent movements. America prefer independent nations it can exploit economically over direct colonies that can be regulated by a empire. This makes America look more anti-colonial compared to Europe by many. Hollywood would still be big and probably biggest but they might have good competition from Berlin, Paris, or some other European city without the war. The Hollywood codes or censorship might not even come in place or be seriously water down so they don’t have to worry about foreign movies out doing them. Regarding being viewed as Europeans, American might experience a period of rejection or lessening of European ties and roots if things worsen with Europe. Maybe like Latin America but probably more like Russia. They and others see them as kind of European but not fully. America starts seeing Europe as a threat to them and their hegemony over the Western Hemisphere in a similar way as the Soviets feared the west attacking them.
 
Without Woodrow Wilson's 14 points to settle the peace after WW1, Europe does not "blame" America as much for difficulties that emerged after the War.
 
Come to think of it, I have heard it theorized that WWI is a major reason for gangster-type criminals gaining so much sway in American society, so it's possible that might change. A generation of men with combat training and too many surplus weapons with too little social mobility, etc. etc. But it's not something I've ever seriously researched and might just be a myth and plot point on Boardwalk Empire. Perhaps others with some evidence can weigh in.

Anyway, if it is true, the gangster might not be an American stereotype after all.

I think it's smart to look at how colonialism links in with European capitalism. The myth of "giving back" that paternalistic Europeans can lean on will probably be touted as a major difference between their economic model and America's. Doesn't matter if it's preposterous, it's believable and it sells! So if anything this might be a new golden age for Europeans cooperating to keep colonialism going.

Hollywood dominated over Paris even though Paris was on the winning side IOTL. Whether it's Berlin or Paris, both get squashed as long as the war takes a similar toll on their native industries. The POD is just too late to stop that from happening (though ending Hollywood dominance with further butterflies or is definitely possible).
 
When I said the United States perception without ww1 I met the war didn’t happen at all

Ah, whoops, sorry. Yeah, I was under the impression the war happened as per OTL.

If there's no war then you're right, Hollywood doesn't achieve that kind of dominance. But gangsters seem even less likely without so many surplus Tommy guns laying around.
 
Ah, whoops, sorry. Yeah, I was under the impression the war happened as per OTL.

If there's no war then you're right, Hollywood doesn't achieve that kind of dominance. But gangsters seem even less likely without so many surplus Tommy guns laying around.
America is still making good money selling guns and weapons to countries across the world so they will probably be making a lot of them. I imagine gun access still being there.
 
When I said the United States perception without ww1 I met the war didn’t happen at all
I assumed there was no war at all. Without Wilson's points, the perception of American interference in European politics would be less. Over the years, I have seen many posts on this forum by Europeans who thought Wilson's points did more harm than good.
 
Come to think of it, I have heard it theorized that WWI is a major reason for gangster-type criminals gaining so much sway in American society, so it's possible that might change. A generation of men with combat training and too many surplus weapons with too little social mobility, etc. etc. But it's not something I've ever seriously researched and might just be a myth and plot point on Boardwalk Empire. Perhaps others with some evidence can weigh in.

Anyway, if it is true, the gangster might not be an American stereotype after all.

I think it's smart to look at how colonialism links in with European capitalism. The myth of "giving back" that paternalistic Europeans can lean on will probably be touted as a major difference between their economic model and America's. Doesn't matter if it's preposterous, it's believable and it sells! So if anything this might be a new golden age for Europeans cooperating to keep colonialism going.

Hollywood dominated over Paris even though Paris was on the winning side IOTL. Whether it's Berlin or Paris, both get squashed as long as the war takes a similar toll on their native industries. The POD is just too late to stop that from happening (though ending Hollywood dominance with further butterflies or is definitely possible).
The war didn’t happen in this thread. Conflict is avoided somehow. Gangsters or something like them will still probably get big especially if prohibition happens(might not without war). A democratic America going to have a higher crime rate and less of a safety net in most cases compared to Europe. America in 1914 isn’t even far removed from the Wild West era. Many places still suffer from incompetent, small, or corrupt local law enforcement. Mobs and groups down south carried out acts of violence without punishment and law involvement. Even workers took up arms and fought against businesses they didn’t like. Poverty is still high in many places. America is a natural breeding ground for something like the gangster coming into existence especially when elements of American culture often romanticized people like them.
 
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