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I have seen many people on this site speculate and daydream about how an Ottoman Empire that avoided collapse would have become a global superpower once it starts exploiting its oil deposits (sadly I have not seen any timelines on the subject but that’s another matter). It is also often speculated that the continued existence of the Ottoman Caliph would have unified the Islamic world and help quell such things as radical Islam.

But it occurred to me that if the Ottoman Empire were to become a 20th century superpower, surely it would start excreting influence and messing around with weaker nations just like all other superpowers have done. This tends not to endear the nations being messed with to the superpower in question. Additionally, the superpower’s competitors would be quick to spread and propagate any truths, half-truths and outright lies that tarnish the reputation of their main rival.

And since Ottomans would be associated with Islam and the Caliphate, would their rise in power bring about earlier and more widespread Islamophobia? Something similar to OTL Yellow Perils and Red Scares? Do you think there would have been the same kind of anti-Islamic rhetoric that’s hollered by today’s bigots – just a lot earlier, state-sponsored and turned up to eleven :eek:?

And what if the superpower Ottoman Empire were to end up in a “Cold War” with a western nation? Would Joseph McCarthy be on the prowl for “Closet Mahommedans” instead of “Communist Infiltrators” :p?

What are your thoughts?
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