A concept I've been working on for a while I informally call the Superstate Deathmatch timeline.
The PoD is that in the aftermath of WW1 the German and Hungarian revolutions are mostly successful and are able to link up with the Russians. This kicks off a new round of conflict against the beleaguered Entente until mutual exhaustion forces both sides to agree to a ceasefire. As the Communist states merge together a wave of supranational consolidations is kicked off. Jump ahead a few decades and the world is caught in a Mexican standoff between several mutually hostile and suspicious superstates. Everyone know that a war is coming but no one is sure who will fire first.
List of Superstates
Red: Union of Workers Soviets. A unitary Council Communist State straddling much of Eurasia. It's capital is Warsaw, chosen due to its central location and to distance the new polity from being seen as a continuation of the Russian, German and/or Austro-Hungarian Empires. A revolutionary society committed to world revolution and ruthless critique of all existing society, the Union is a haven for radicals and dissidents across the world struggling against capitalism, imperialism and antiquated bigotries everywhere. Although nominally anti-nationalist and committed to the emancipation and empowerment of all workers many from the smaller nations and ethnicities claim that the Union privileges the larger nations at their expense and is de facto German chauvinist. Of course a lot of those people also complain about the influence of Jews, so make of that what you will.
Orange: The Federal Social Democratic Peoples Republic of Scandinavia. During the postwar revolutionary upheavals Scandinavia saw its own share of uprisings, though ultimately more moderate leadership won out, despite the victory of the Reds in the Finnish civil war. Lead by the Social Democrats, with some limited support from Liberals and Communists, the nations of Scandinavia united under the banner of radical Social Democracy. Although they pursue a policy of armed neutrality they are one of the few states with a positive relationship with the Soviets, with a large part of their economy based on being the middle man in their international trade with the vast majority of Soviet imports and exports going through them with a generous markup.
Gold: Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Coalition. A Confederation formed through the merger of the Republic of China, the Japanese Empire and the Russian Far-Eastern Republic. In China the Zhili Clique are able to defeat their Fengtian rivals and unite the forces of the Beiyang government under their banner. After this they turned their attention south and crushed the Soviet aligned KMT, with British and European assistance. In the post-unification power struggles Yan Xishan eventually rises to power as the undisputed leader of the Republic. In Japan, the loss of influence in China following the defeat of the Fengtian and rising instability at home eventually leads to a clique of Pan-Asian nationalists inspired by the writings of Ikki Kita launching a coup. Embracing an eclectic mixture of socialism, ultranationalism, Pan-Asianism and militarism the Japanese Empire, and their rump Russian client state, enter into closer relations with the Republic of China, eventually merging their polities together into the Co-Prosperity Coalition. As their first test of strength, and to deliver on their Asian liberation rhetoric, they declare war on the Europeans, after securing a secret non-aggression pact with Britain, with the support of Siam. Whilst they are able to overrun Indochina and Macao attempts to invade Indochina are ultimately thwarted and a Britain would broker a peace treaty soon after. In the aftermath the European Confederacy would undergo reforms to strengthen its military and political position and a rift would begin to grow between them and the British.
Dark Blue: European Confederation. Formed in response to the threat of the Soviets, the Confederation sought to combine the power and resources of the European bourgeois states and their colonies for the purpose of mutual defense and hopefully pushing back the red tide. Though nominally liberal, half of the Confederation Senate is appointed by member states, several of whom are Fascistic or otherwise authoritarian regimes, whilst the criteria for who participates in elections is often restricted to exclude the vast majority of colonised and poor people within their borders, resulting in militarists and the far-right being significantly over-represented in the Confederation's institutions. Despite the widespread nationalistic sentiment within its members the Confederation has been increasingly centralising and usurping the sovereignty of its members, with many suspecting that it will soon drop the pretenses of Confederation and embrace full Federalism.
Blue: The North American Technate. Incredibly blursed.
Pink: British Imperial Federation. In order to maintain their position and sovereignty the British Empire heavily embraced Imperial Integration and Federalism. Although initially very close to the European Confederation, with many political leaders such as Churchill advocating for membership, relations would start to deteriorate over econnomic and geopolitical tensions. This would culminate in the British refusing to intervene during the Indochina War reasoning that in any war with the Soviets the Europeans would be on their side regardless of what they think but maintaining good terms with the East Asians was vital to securing their position in India, and with it their sovereignty. Although nominally a Liberal Democracy the current PM is Oswald Moseley, so make of that what you will.
Dark Green: Hashemite Empire of Arabia. With the Soviet threat looming and their calls for the liberation of oppressed and colonised peoples the British and French ultimately decided to scrap the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the Balfour Declaration and honor the promises to the Hashemites in the hope of establishing a strong anti-Communist power in the region. The Hashemite Empire would continue to grow in power and influence extending their control over much of the Arabian Peninsula, annexing Khuzestan and Iranian Kurdistan following the partition or Iran and even securing parts of Anatolia as a defensive buffer following the defeat of the Turks in the Greco-Ottoman War.
Light Green: Brazilian Integral State. With all the craziness going on Brazil ends up slipping into Intrgralism and is starting to mobilise for war, but no one is entirely sure against whom.
Light Blue: South American Federal Republic. Formed through British pressure from the unification of Chile and Argentina to provide a strong regional ally they can rely on in the Americas following the rise of the Technate, the South American Federal Republic was able to quickly absorb Paraguay and Uruguay following swift military campaigns. Whilst officially a liberal democracy in practice power rests in the hands of an oligarchy of military leaders and British economic interests, though many among the lower classes are beginning to resent the current status quo.
Yellow: Andean Peoples Union. With everything happening the remaining countries of Latin America banded together to form a united front against outside aggression. With a nationalist ideology heavily embracing their native heritages and a rising siege mentality the Andean Peoples Union is preparing to dig in and fight for its own survival. One of the few states to have positive relations with the Soviets who are their main patron in terms of military and economic aid.
Purple: The Empire of Ethiopia. Playing the rising tensions between the British and Europeans against each other the Ethiopians have been able to survive, and even thrive, despite the upheavals and dangers that plague the current day. They maintain close relations with the Hashemites and East Asians and many suspect that should a war between Britain and Europe break out they will side with the British with the aim of reclaiming Eritrea.
The PoD is that in the aftermath of WW1 the German and Hungarian revolutions are mostly successful and are able to link up with the Russians. This kicks off a new round of conflict against the beleaguered Entente until mutual exhaustion forces both sides to agree to a ceasefire. As the Communist states merge together a wave of supranational consolidations is kicked off. Jump ahead a few decades and the world is caught in a Mexican standoff between several mutually hostile and suspicious superstates. Everyone know that a war is coming but no one is sure who will fire first.
List of Superstates
Red: Union of Workers Soviets. A unitary Council Communist State straddling much of Eurasia. It's capital is Warsaw, chosen due to its central location and to distance the new polity from being seen as a continuation of the Russian, German and/or Austro-Hungarian Empires. A revolutionary society committed to world revolution and ruthless critique of all existing society, the Union is a haven for radicals and dissidents across the world struggling against capitalism, imperialism and antiquated bigotries everywhere. Although nominally anti-nationalist and committed to the emancipation and empowerment of all workers many from the smaller nations and ethnicities claim that the Union privileges the larger nations at their expense and is de facto German chauvinist. Of course a lot of those people also complain about the influence of Jews, so make of that what you will.
Orange: The Federal Social Democratic Peoples Republic of Scandinavia. During the postwar revolutionary upheavals Scandinavia saw its own share of uprisings, though ultimately more moderate leadership won out, despite the victory of the Reds in the Finnish civil war. Lead by the Social Democrats, with some limited support from Liberals and Communists, the nations of Scandinavia united under the banner of radical Social Democracy. Although they pursue a policy of armed neutrality they are one of the few states with a positive relationship with the Soviets, with a large part of their economy based on being the middle man in their international trade with the vast majority of Soviet imports and exports going through them with a generous markup.
Gold: Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Coalition. A Confederation formed through the merger of the Republic of China, the Japanese Empire and the Russian Far-Eastern Republic. In China the Zhili Clique are able to defeat their Fengtian rivals and unite the forces of the Beiyang government under their banner. After this they turned their attention south and crushed the Soviet aligned KMT, with British and European assistance. In the post-unification power struggles Yan Xishan eventually rises to power as the undisputed leader of the Republic. In Japan, the loss of influence in China following the defeat of the Fengtian and rising instability at home eventually leads to a clique of Pan-Asian nationalists inspired by the writings of Ikki Kita launching a coup. Embracing an eclectic mixture of socialism, ultranationalism, Pan-Asianism and militarism the Japanese Empire, and their rump Russian client state, enter into closer relations with the Republic of China, eventually merging their polities together into the Co-Prosperity Coalition. As their first test of strength, and to deliver on their Asian liberation rhetoric, they declare war on the Europeans, after securing a secret non-aggression pact with Britain, with the support of Siam. Whilst they are able to overrun Indochina and Macao attempts to invade Indochina are ultimately thwarted and a Britain would broker a peace treaty soon after. In the aftermath the European Confederacy would undergo reforms to strengthen its military and political position and a rift would begin to grow between them and the British.
Dark Blue: European Confederation. Formed in response to the threat of the Soviets, the Confederation sought to combine the power and resources of the European bourgeois states and their colonies for the purpose of mutual defense and hopefully pushing back the red tide. Though nominally liberal, half of the Confederation Senate is appointed by member states, several of whom are Fascistic or otherwise authoritarian regimes, whilst the criteria for who participates in elections is often restricted to exclude the vast majority of colonised and poor people within their borders, resulting in militarists and the far-right being significantly over-represented in the Confederation's institutions. Despite the widespread nationalistic sentiment within its members the Confederation has been increasingly centralising and usurping the sovereignty of its members, with many suspecting that it will soon drop the pretenses of Confederation and embrace full Federalism.
Blue: The North American Technate. Incredibly blursed.
Pink: British Imperial Federation. In order to maintain their position and sovereignty the British Empire heavily embraced Imperial Integration and Federalism. Although initially very close to the European Confederation, with many political leaders such as Churchill advocating for membership, relations would start to deteriorate over econnomic and geopolitical tensions. This would culminate in the British refusing to intervene during the Indochina War reasoning that in any war with the Soviets the Europeans would be on their side regardless of what they think but maintaining good terms with the East Asians was vital to securing their position in India, and with it their sovereignty. Although nominally a Liberal Democracy the current PM is Oswald Moseley, so make of that what you will.
Dark Green: Hashemite Empire of Arabia. With the Soviet threat looming and their calls for the liberation of oppressed and colonised peoples the British and French ultimately decided to scrap the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the Balfour Declaration and honor the promises to the Hashemites in the hope of establishing a strong anti-Communist power in the region. The Hashemite Empire would continue to grow in power and influence extending their control over much of the Arabian Peninsula, annexing Khuzestan and Iranian Kurdistan following the partition or Iran and even securing parts of Anatolia as a defensive buffer following the defeat of the Turks in the Greco-Ottoman War.
Light Green: Brazilian Integral State. With all the craziness going on Brazil ends up slipping into Intrgralism and is starting to mobilise for war, but no one is entirely sure against whom.
Light Blue: South American Federal Republic. Formed through British pressure from the unification of Chile and Argentina to provide a strong regional ally they can rely on in the Americas following the rise of the Technate, the South American Federal Republic was able to quickly absorb Paraguay and Uruguay following swift military campaigns. Whilst officially a liberal democracy in practice power rests in the hands of an oligarchy of military leaders and British economic interests, though many among the lower classes are beginning to resent the current status quo.
Yellow: Andean Peoples Union. With everything happening the remaining countries of Latin America banded together to form a united front against outside aggression. With a nationalist ideology heavily embracing their native heritages and a rising siege mentality the Andean Peoples Union is preparing to dig in and fight for its own survival. One of the few states to have positive relations with the Soviets who are their main patron in terms of military and economic aid.
Purple: The Empire of Ethiopia. Playing the rising tensions between the British and Europeans against each other the Ethiopians have been able to survive, and even thrive, despite the upheavals and dangers that plague the current day. They maintain close relations with the Hashemites and East Asians and many suspect that should a war between Britain and Europe break out they will side with the British with the aim of reclaiming Eritrea.