What if there was no enlightenment?

aspie3000

Banned
In the 18th century the enlightenment simply does not happen. I really can't think of a reason why it doesn't happen, the philosophers who put the ideas forward OTL simply do not do it in this timeline, and if the ideas are ever put forward they aren't
taken seriously.

How would history be different, would the USA be a kingdom? Would ideals that arose from mass politics like fascism and communism ever exist? How would borders be different etc?
 

scholar

Banned
How would history be different, would the USA be a kingdom? Would ideals that arose from mass politics like fascism and communism ever exist? How would borders be different etc?
If it still revolted? Almost certainly. Oligarchical dictatorship is a distinct possibility as well, but less likely. Maybe Holland 2.0.

Fascism would not exist. Fascism is a Frankenstein's monster of socialism and radical nationalism with a heavy dose of worship for martial conquest.

Communism would also not exist. Communism is a radical form of liberal socialism when interpreted through a radical historical paradigm based on class consciousness, class conflict, and a very specific idea of the capital industrial revolution.

There would be fewer borders, for the most part. It is unlikely that empires would attempt to build themselves along national lines, and instead you would see more multicultural empires - though still with preference towards court language and culture.
 
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