I'm curious, whats the status of anti-colonialism in ITTL compared to OTL? What powers IITL if any would support anti-colonialist uprisings?
The Union Forever: A TL
- Thread starter Mac Gregor
- Start date
Labor Unions are pretty close to OTL. As of 1960 they are formidable but are losing power as manufacturing jobs move to other nations.
Anti-colonialism is really starting to pick up steam in the TL following the war in India. Practically all European states including Russia are pro-colonialism. The U.S. maintains an anti-colonial stance but doesn't promote violent uprisings. Despite having colonies itself, Japan is adamant about rolling back European colonialism. India is also very hostile to colonialism for obvious reasons.
Seems pretty similar to OTL for the most part, I'd imagine(only IOTL, Northern Democrats tended to be more liberal, and Southern Republicans were usually pretty moderate on social issues, IIRC).
And Anderson seems like a nice fellow; here's hoping that he can start to turn the Democratic Party away from it's socially reactionary branches(and that the Republican Party doesn't get hijacked by the same!).....a "Northern Strategy", perhaps?
American currently has four remaining territories. American Guiana is pretty much chillin at this point with forestry, fishing, and tourism being the biggest industries. There is also a naval station at Lincoln (formally Cayenne). There are no calls for statehood yet as the territory's population is around 36,000. Micronesia, Polynesia, and Samoa are doing well with population increasing and tourism beginning to boom but statehood is still several years away. And yes some nations (I'm looking at you Japan) label the U.S. a hypocrite for maintaining an anti-colonial stance while having these territories.
Last edited:
Seems pretty similar to OTL for the most part, I'd imagine(only IOTL, Northern Democrats tended to be more liberal, and Southern Republicans were usually pretty moderate on social issues, IIRC).
And Anderson seems like a nice fellow; here's hoping that he can start to turn the Democratic Party away from it's socially reactionary branches(and that the Republican Party doesn't get hijacked by the same!).....a "Northern Strategy", perhaps?
In not sure how similar the parties are to OTL. African Americans remain steadfastly Republican. And the Republicans are the more isolationist party. Both parties have social conservative elements but the Democrats retain a stronger pro-segregation element.
They should set a population quota, like the Northwest Ordinance, wherein a territory could petition for statehood.
1960: Foreign Developments
1960
Foreign Developments
First successful heart transplant
January 7, 1960
Paris, France
On January 7, the first successful heart transplant occurred in Paris, France. The patient Rodolph Sauveterre would live for 11 months following the operation.
In March, the Indonesian Congress Party (ICP) is founded in Batavia by a union of several pro-independence groups.[1] The Empire of Japan became the first foreign government to formally voice its support for the ICP four months later. Under its charismatic leader Slamet Wahyu, the ICP would within a year become the largest and best organized independence organization in the Dutch East Indies. While Dutch colonial authorities had allowed greater native political participation in recent years the swift rise of the ICP worried many that armed conflict might soon erupt.
On May 22 at 3:10pm local the largest earthquake yet recorded rocked southern Chile. Known as the Great Chilean Earthquake it measured a 9.5 before overwhelming the sensors. Centered on the town of Valdivia, the earthquake killed an estimated 5,900 people and caused billions of dollars’ worth of damage. Fortunately many of the member states of the League of American Republics donated aid to help Chile recover, a process that would take years.
Fulfilling a promise made during the conflict in India that the United Kingdom’s relationships to the dominions would be reevaluated after the war, Prime Minister Baxter held an imperial conference in London in July. After much negotiating, a document styled as the Comprehensive Charter of the Commonwealth (CCC) was drafted. The charter would in effect divide the British Empire into a three tier system. At the top would be fully independent states then consisting of the UK, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, and South Africa.[2] While in control of their own domestic and foreign policies they would still be connected by “fraternal and historical bonds” and were to interact with each other as equals. The second tier would consist of dominions with domestic autonomy but have their foreign affairs controlled by London such as Madras, Ceylon, and Burma. The third tier contained the remaining non self-governing territories. The charter made calls for elevating “those territories capable of responsible self-government” to dominion status “as soon as reasonably possible” as well as establishing representative assemblies in the more developed colonies. Other stipulations of the charter included regularly scheduled commonwealth conferences, the elimination of nearly all remaining trade barriers, and a pledge to assist one another if attacked by a foreign power. Following the conference the CCC was sent to the respective legislatures for ratification with a request that its fate be decided in 18 months’ time.
In September, the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich announced the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction. Many hoped that further study would permit nuclear fission to be used as a power source. Unknown at the time Chancellor Kruger, fresh off his reelection victory, instructed the German military to begin investigating whether this new technology could be used as a weapon.
Throughout late summer and autumn a series of border clashes occurred between the newly independent countries of the Indian Republic and the State of Islamic Bengal over the exact location of their ill-defined border. While causalities were relatively low, Bengali leader Mohammad Hamid used the tensions as an excuse to cement near absolute power over his small country.
Flag of the State of Islamic Bengal
[1] Batavia is the colonial capital of the Dutch East Indies and the former name for the modern city of Jakarta.
[2] In exchange for its support during the war in India, South Africa was granted full control of its foreign affairs starting in 1961.
Last edited:
I like the precedent this sets.
This one, not so much. But it is pretty inevitable.
I hope things go well in the Dutch East Indies.
Very nice update, as usual!
Another very well done update.
As do I.
I agree. Hopefully nuclear weapons wont ever be used in war ITTL. The good news is that without a Second World War, research on nuclear weapons is obviously slower, so by the present days, only a few countries may have them, and still I imagine their stockpiles will be quite small.
Very interesting re-organizing of Britain's dominions and Empire. I imagine by the present some colonies will be given independence or made dominions. Some could be incorporated, but it dosent seem likely after the mess in India. Speaking of which, I have a feeling that the Netherlands will incorporate Indonesia into her Kingdom by the present day.
As do I.
I agree. Hopefully nuclear weapons wont ever be used in war ITTL. The good news is that without a Second World War, research on nuclear weapons is obviously slower, so by the present days, only a few countries may have them, and still I imagine their stockpiles will be quite small.
Very interesting re-organizing of Britain's dominions and Empire. I imagine by the present some colonies will be given independence or made dominions. Some could be incorporated, but it dosent seem likely after the mess in India. Speaking of which, I have a feeling that the Netherlands will incorporate Indonesia into her Kingdom by the present day.
At this point...how can I put this...this TL is getting into a lull. I don't mean it's bad...it's frankly one of the best I've read and one of my favorites. I know we just got off of a catastrophic war in India, and looming nationalist uprisings in Indonesia, but things seem to be pretty quiet. Maybe I'm expecting the world to be once again plunged into conflict because Russia wants to expand into China or something like that.
At least I can take solace in upcoming space exploration attempts.
Keep it up!
At least I can take solace in upcoming space exploration attempts.
Keep it up!
At this point...how can I put this...this TL is getting into a lull. I don't mean it's bad...it's frankly one of the best I've read and one of my favorites. I know we just got off of a catastrophic war in India, and looming nationalist uprisings in Indonesia, but things seem to be pretty quiet. Maybe I'm expecting the world to be once again plunged into conflict because Russia wants to expand into China or something like that.
At least I can take solace in upcoming space exploration attempts.
Keep it up!
Winning the peace is quieter than winning the wars...
Another very well done update.
As do I.
I agree. Hopefully nuclear weapons wont ever be used in war ITTL. The good news is that without a Second World War, research on nuclear weapons is obviously slower, so by the present days, only a few countries may have them, and still I imagine their stockpiles will be quite small.
Very interesting re-organizing of Britain's dominions and Empire. I imagine by the present some colonies will be given independence or made dominions. Some could be incorporated, but it dosent seem likely after the mess in India. Speaking of which, I have a feeling that the Netherlands will incorporate Indonesia into her Kingdom by the present day.
Thanks gentlemen.
At this point...how can I put this...this TL is getting into a lull. I don't mean it's bad...it's frankly one of the best I've read and one of my favorites. I know we just got off of a catastrophic war in India, and looming nationalist uprisings in Indonesia, but things seem to be pretty quiet. Maybe I'm expecting the world to be once again plunged into conflict because Russia wants to expand into China or something like that.
At least I can take solace in upcoming space exploration attempts.
Keep it up!
Indeed, the 60's are going to be a more peaceful time than the 50's but conflict will still happen. What are some future confrontations that y'all could see occurring?
The Japanese are adamant about getting Western influence out of the Pacific. They are already sending funds to support the ICP.
Speaking of Japan I was wondering what the TL's term should be for Japan's Kobushi party's ideology? Keep in mind that it largely resembles OTL fascism but with and strong anti-western/colonial slant?