Very perceptive as usual, Jaenera.
We already see how Japan is taking a different path from 'ultra-militarist-rampage': it's nibbling around the edges, seeking relatively small ways to expand its power (viz, by taking Indochina). This is still the era of colonialism, after all; there is absolutely no contradiction between being a democracy and being an aggressive imperialist, especially in the Third World, and Japan is an honourary member of the Western club.
Japan, as of right now, has not got especially good relations with Germany and Italy- they were just at war, after all. That said, they're in Europe, Japan's in Asia, and they have no real conflicting interests beyond the Anglo-Japanese Alliance (which isn't exactly a binding blood pact). No Nazis/Italian Fascists removes that particular ideological influence on Japan, which will further hamper the growth of militarised culture. The Prussian model (
as distinct from the Nazi model), is still perfectly normal. Civilians have their sphere, the army theirs, and while the relationship isn't free of conflict, the two aren't chomping at the bit to fight for influence.
Events in Russia... we'll have to see. Depends on how well the Bolsheviks do ITTL. But I agree that Tsar Michael (who yes, does retain real power- the only difference between him and Nicholas is that he rules
competently by the grace of God) would be more pro-Japanese. An Anglo-Russo-Japanese alliance would certainly be a force to be reckoned with (and a nightmare for China). Speaking of which, the 21 Demands went full steam ahead ITTL.
I'm afraid it's too early for me to say anything about the Cold War, but a monarchist/republican split seems eminently reasonable.
Wish fulfillment on my part?
In all seriousness, it's likely that a more conservative Europe would not seek to amend one of the most conservative institutions in the world, the Church. No need to "open the windows to the modern world" when the 'modern world' looks a lot like it did 50 years ago.
I suppose. I'm not too keen on parallelism for its own sake-- but you are right in that, since TTL lacks a Holocaust, Antisemitism would sadly be more prevalent.
Thank you very much indeed! This is the sort of comment that makes a writer's day. I'm glad you've enjoyed the TL thus far.
Yes, I really wanted to convey the moral equivalency between the CPs and the rest of the world ITTL (as indeed in OTL). Not much else needs to be said, really; you phrased it better than I could.
Thank you all for reading and commenting.