World Map - 1977 (Alt)
worlda version of 1977's world map. Hoping I got the new East Africa borders right.
The Footprint of Mussolini - TL
Then no South Africa it is apparently.
Yup, Ciano is definitely looking like he's going to be TTL's Gorbachev here, he chooses to end Fascism and return to multi-party democracy for a time. Meanwhile, now I can't unsee Quasimodo for China now, dangit...
There's a lot to consider here. So first I'll just focus on American matters.
Sadly I do not think Brooke will get a second term. The surge for the Freedom Party in congress seems to confirm the White majority is not comfortable with the current state of affairs. So my guess is either he runs and we get another Freedomite president; or he stuns the world by not running in his own right, declaring he'd rather see a moderate white republican in the White House than the most Progressive Freedom Party candidate.
Either way though I think the 80s will see the party system get shaken up. Many young voters will be disillusioned with the GOP after the scandals of Nixon and JFK, and in general want more than the centrist party is willing to offer beyond speeches. And with the ed of the Red Menace idea a rebirth of the openly leftist politics, that have been on the margin since Wallace, with the left of the Republicans walking out and getting supported by young voters.
But while the GOP takes knocks the shift hits harder for the Freedom Party. The advent of Christian Socialism as a credible force to the mainstream begins to undercut their support among working class whites. Firstly by offering "Christian morality" in politics without the perceived prioritizing of the South by the FP winning over voters in the wider US. And even in the South poor whites who feel undervalued by the wealthy Freedomite elite. It also appeals to Christian youth as well who are more cynical of the Freedom Parties record on racism and Fascism.
So with the Solid South breaking and the FP retreating headlong from the wider country throughout the 80s the 90s sees the party come to its end. Under Thurmond's leadership the Freedom Party merges with the diminished Republicans for an antiSocialist platform. One pundit calls the Freedomites kneekling to the GOP as the Second Appomattox as the Dixiecrats surrender to the Party of Lincoln.
Sadly I do not think Brooke will get a second term. The surge for the Freedom Party in congress seems to confirm the White majority is not comfortable with the current state of affairs. So my guess is either he runs and we get another Freedomite president; or he stuns the world by not running in his own right, declaring he'd rather see a moderate white republican in the White House than the most Progressive Freedom Party candidate.
Either way though I think the 80s will see the party system get shaken up. Many young voters will be disillusioned with the GOP after the scandals of Nixon and JFK, and in general want more than the centrist party is willing to offer beyond speeches. And with the ed of the Red Menace idea a rebirth of the openly leftist politics, that have been on the margin since Wallace, with the left of the Republicans walking out and getting supported by young voters.
But while the GOP takes knocks the shift hits harder for the Freedom Party. The advent of Christian Socialism as a credible force to the mainstream begins to undercut their support among working class whites. Firstly by offering "Christian morality" in politics without the perceived prioritizing of the South by the FP winning over voters in the wider US. And even in the South poor whites who feel undervalued by the wealthy Freedomite elite. It also appeals to Christian youth as well who are more cynical of the Freedom Parties record on racism and Fascism.
So with the Solid South breaking and the FP retreating headlong from the wider country throughout the 80s the 90s sees the party come to its end. Under Thurmond's leadership the Freedom Party merges with the diminished Republicans for an antiSocialist platform. One pundit calls the Freedomites kneekling to the GOP as the Second Appomattox as the Dixiecrats surrender to the Party of Lincoln.
Damn, how akward border Ethiopia has. Ethiopians were now so badly humiliated that just wondering was fighting for independence worth of that. And just wondering that if Somalia gets independnce how it will feel about border. In other hand it has Ogaden but lost some other Somali regions.
Even inOTL the Aral Sea hadn't lost much area at all by 1977. This shows it pretty well:
Wayne did win an Oscar for The Searchers ITTL. After the purge of Left Wing talent after Wallace, Hollywood was desperate to promote people associated with the Right. For the same reason, Reagan is a successful film star in his own right.
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First of all, awesome update. The prison conversation was especially well done in my opinion.
Out of curiosity, just how tense/fortified will the border between Ethiopia and Italian Eritrea/ Somalia be? No trade relations in the immediate postwar climate makes perfect sense, but having that state of affairs lasting into the modern day? That's a tall order. The younger generation of Abyssinia will gradually forget the carnage of the war and will want to do business with their richer Italian neighbors to gain wealth - regardless of past grievances.
Assuming the Ethiopian government enforces their embargo, I can imagine young traders and merchants from both sides smuggling goods between the two national regions after decades past in blatant violation of the law. At the very least, dummy trade companies owned by Ethiopian and Italian business interests based in nearby nations like the EAF will make fortunes without the Ethiopian government seeing a penny in tax revenue.
I'm not trying to be argumentative, but I am seeing potential issues with Ethiopia's long term national goals here. This actually could be an interesting plot point for the epilogue where modern Ethiopia has an important election on whether to finally normalize relations with Italy or not after 40 years of sanctions.
Overall, this makes for a surprisingly gripping plot which is pretty rare in AH.com. I'm going to be sad when this finally ends.
Out of curiosity, just how tense/fortified will the border between Ethiopia and Italian Eritrea/ Somalia be? No trade relations in the immediate postwar climate makes perfect sense, but having that state of affairs lasting into the modern day? That's a tall order. The younger generation of Abyssinia will gradually forget the carnage of the war and will want to do business with their richer Italian neighbors to gain wealth - regardless of past grievances.
Assuming the Ethiopian government enforces their embargo, I can imagine young traders and merchants from both sides smuggling goods between the two national regions after decades past in blatant violation of the law. At the very least, dummy trade companies owned by Ethiopian and Italian business interests based in nearby nations like the EAF will make fortunes without the Ethiopian government seeing a penny in tax revenue.
I'm not trying to be argumentative, but I am seeing potential issues with Ethiopia's long term national goals here. This actually could be an interesting plot point for the epilogue where modern Ethiopia has an important election on whether to finally normalize relations with Italy or not after 40 years of sanctions.
Overall, this makes for a surprisingly gripping plot which is pretty rare in AH.com. I'm going to be sad when this finally ends.
While Ethiopia may moderate in the 90s and 00s I do not see them trading with Italy anytime soon. Now there will be smuggling and trading by third parties with Eritrea/Somalia but nothing official. I see India and some of the Asian Tigers moving into the country to access the continent.
It is indeed irrational altough understandable that Ethiopia refuses trade with great power which has regions on the area. There is of course other countries but still that is pretty irrational. But emperor probably manage enforce that and there might be so effective propaganda that even they who are born in 1990's are affected.
The 70% is a reduction from the 90% + it was at the end of the war. The 30% are often aspiring, young entrepreneurs who care more about money than history. There is a lucrative smuggling trade but Ethiopia still uses it as moral leverage against Italy - which is why it is still in effect. It also provides a convenient rally-around-the-flag symbol that everyone in the country agrees on, whatever your opinions on the Monarchy.
The thought of Hess having to listen to Suslov’s insane ramblings as cellmates makes me laugh.
Suslov had to be mentally in very bad condition when even Hess noticed that he wasn't OK. Just wondering was Suslov suffering from dementia. It would explain his behave.
It's mentioned that he snapped because he failed really fucking hard.
I smell the makings of a great sitcom.
Fantastic chapter there @Sorairo - this is a seriously good, gripping timeline. I will be sorry to see it go.
I hope you can give a some pop culture updates before the end though.
Q to board- if the left and centre-left rising again in America, what name would they use as I cannot see ‘Democrats’ making a comeback due to baggage.
I hope you can give a some pop culture updates before the end though.
Q to board- if the left and centre-left rising again in America, what name would they use as I cannot see ‘Democrats’ making a comeback due to baggage.
Uh? No.
IOTL, Italy planned to eventually reach that point, but there were not settlers enough.
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