What if Austria-Hungary still existed?

Would it be possible for Austria-hungary to have somehow survived to the modern day? How would that have affected world history? In this thread I would like to discuss some possibilities about how it may have occurred, along with the general plausibility of such a scenario.
 

BlondieBC

Banned
Yes, if A-H avoids WW1 or wins WW1. Changing the outcome of this war plus 100 years of history means A-H could be almost anything by now.
 
Would it be possible for Austria-hungary to have somehow survived to the modern day?
Yes, any number of circumstances could allow it.

How would that have affected world history?
Well that depends on how exactly they survive. Winning or avoiding WWI is basically a blank cheque for a TL's author to write whatever they like. One where the CP still lose but there's still a large Habsburg state in central europe would be interesting, as the balkanization of the former Habsburg economy really opened the flood gates for German economic domination of the region durring OTL's interwar years. Having an economic/military power to the south would really screw with Hitler's diplomacy (should he still come to power).
 
With Balkanisation happening across Europe over the last century in various forms, I think you'd be able to extend Austria-Hungary's lifespan, but not indefinitely. That sort of state is bound to divide itself eventually, and I think with the breakup of the USSR, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, Austria-Hungary would eventually become two or more individual states.
 
With Balkanisation happening across Europe over the last century in various forms, I think you'd be able to extend Austria-Hungary's lifespan, but not indefinitely. That sort of state is bound to divide itself eventually, and I think with the breakup of the USSR, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia, Austria-Hungary would eventually become two or more individual states.

Nationalism flourishes when existing structures fail. But the existing structures don't have to fail.

fasquardon
 
The borders may change, but the idea that flowed around a lot was that of federalism. The political division of the empire between Hungary, Austria, and now others would be interesting to work out. Considering that Otto von Hapsburg, a proponent of European Union, would most likely be the long reigning Emperor, it is possible the empire could continue.
 
If they achieve definitive first world living standards, maintain the strength of their army, don’t hassle their people too much, and avoid disastrous wars, I don’t see why they would have to fail.
 
Only ways are that there is not WW1 or CPs win that early. Then it could reform itself peacefully. But even then it is unsure that the empire can survive. There is multiple different minorities so it would be difficult. Its influence in Europe would be bit more difficult question when it depends how A-H would survive.
 
Means this:


viktor-orban.jpg
 
Balkanisation only happens to nuclear powers if they allow it to happen, by 1940 i'd guess everyone and their grandmother in Europe has nukes.
 
How? Increase the federalism in Cisleithania (spinning off a Bohemian Diet in Prag is the bare minimum) and seriously reforming Hungary if not breaking off the minority areas outright.

Result? Depends on how much democratization and social mobility undercuts any pushes from the diehard Blood&Soil crowd, but if one needs at least some votes outside of their linguistic/ethnic background the more toxic crackpots we have seen gaining power in the 20th-21st centuries get marginalized.
 
What's Kylo Ren on the left got to do with it :p
If you want it in Star Wars terms... Kurz is Anakin Skywalker, young, inexperienced but exceptionally good what what he does. But somehow he's gotten into the hands of the old, dark lord of politics, HC Strache, who guides his hand from the background to achieve his evil ends.
 
This might be interesting when it comes time for World War II granted that still happens. A growing National Socialist presence in Austro-Hungarian politics causes a rift between the the Monarchists and those for Union with Germany. You might even end up with the Hungarian side of the nation siding with the Emperor out of fear of Nazi racial policy while the Austrian side of the nation gets caught up in the Germanic Nationalism side of things. Perhaps there's a referendum on annexation in Greater Germany but it fails thanks to the Magyar and Slavic votes. This leads to a Civil War the Emperor fleeing to Budapest as Vienna is in flames. The German Army intervenes on behalf of the pro-annexation group. Mussolini concerned that Hitler will use this as an excuse to seize German speaking areas of Italy enters the War on the anti-annexation side. The Second World War erupting over this instead of War with Poland.
 
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