WI : Kaiser und König Rodolf von Hapsburg

Franz-Josef had a heir, between 1858 and 1889, a progressive heir who was frustrated to see his conservative father refusing a federal Empire, siding with Germany and disdains the workers.

On the contrary, his son was denouncing the worker's misery, supporting a France-Russia-Austria alliance, and fighting against the privileges of the church and the nobility under pseudonyms in austrian newspapers.

OTL he met a terrible fate, but if his father (whom he despised) dies sooner in an accident or something like that, what would happen ?
 
Assuming German unification goes as OTL, Britain immediately allies itself with Germany, to preserve the balance of power. Assuming a Great War still happens ITTL it would probably be Britain-Germany-Italy vs France-Austria-Russia. The Allies (British side) would try to get as many minor states on their side as they can to offset their massive manpower disadvantage.

Of course, the Franco-Austro-Russian alliance could never happen, because Austria and Russia will inevitably clash in the Balkans and Germany would do a lot to avoid being surrounded in every direction.
 
Austria-Hungary might has better survival chances but it not be still easy. Hungarians are still going oppose any reforms and speciality any federalisation and autonomy for other ethnic groups.
 
I think that it should be noted that having progressive ideas alone does not mean that you have the ability to bring about such change. Without the appropriate political skills,ideas will remain ideas, possibly worse if you try to implement them.
 
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