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| alternate_history:fh_cliches [2018/01/03 11:52] – petike | alternate_history:fh_cliches [2018/10/13 19:42] – [Past Future History clichés] max_sinister |
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| * **What it is:** China always seems to be just on the verge of becoming the next superpower. It usually also conquers Siberia despite its close alliance with Russia. | * **What it is:** China always seems to be just on the verge of becoming the next superpower. It usually also conquers Siberia despite its close alliance with Russia. |
| * **Why it won't happen:** It relies almost entirely on outdated Soviet equipment, doesn't possess a blue water navy, has no interest in colonialism and appears committed to purely economic empire-building. The word "superpower" is overused, but was originally coined to refer to countries capable of such massive power projection over the entire planet that they could defeat the second rank powers even on or near their home turf. This replaced the era of the "great powers" who, even in the case of Victorian Britain, were not capable of dominating other developed countries on their home turf. The US is a superpower not just because of nuclear weapons but because its air force, navy, and worldwide network of alliances and military bases allow it to deploy the full power of its military to most parts of the world. Thanks to Xi Jinping's massive strategic change to gain military allies and bases overseas, China gained... just a small 300-person naval support base in Djibouti, which, while a step in the way to gaining such capability, is still just one small base. | * **Why it won't happen:** It relies almost entirely on outdated Soviet equipment, doesn't possess a blue water navy, has no interest in colonialism and appears committed to purely economic empire-building. The word "superpower" is overused, but was originally coined to refer to countries capable of such massive power projection over the entire planet that they could defeat the second rank powers even on or near their home turf. This replaced the era of the "great powers" who, even in the case of Victorian Britain, were not capable of dominating other developed countries on their home turf. The US is a superpower not just because of nuclear weapons but because its air force, navy, and worldwide network of alliances and military bases allow it to deploy the full power of its military to most parts of the world. Thanks to Xi Jinping's massive strategic change to gain military allies and bases overseas, China gained... just a small 300-person naval support base in Djibouti, which, while a step in the way to gaining such capability, is still just one small base. |
| * **Current progress:** From the foundation of the PRC until 1 August 2017, the number of its overseas bases was zero. While, as mentioned baove, they opened up one base, and [[https://www.forbes.com/sites/ralphjennings/2017/10/10/china-is-most-likely-to-open-future-military-bases-in-these-3-countries/#36501d934006|are considering turning their existing Chinese-run ports in the Indian ocean into more naval bases]], it's still the beginner's stage of overseas power projection. | * **Current progress:** From the foundation of the PRC until 1 August 2017, the number of its overseas bases was zero. While, as mentioned above, they opened up one base, and [[https://www.forbes.com/sites/ralphjennings/2017/10/10/china-is-most-likely-to-open-future-military-bases-in-these-3-countries/#36501d934006|are considering turning their existing Chinese-run ports in the Indian ocean into more naval bases]], it's still the beginner's stage of overseas power projection. |
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| ===The United Evil Caliphate of Wherever It Is=== | ===The United Evil Caliphate of Wherever It Is=== |
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| ===GLAWWWWWWBUL WARRRMING=== | ===GLAWWWWWWBUL WARRRMING=== |
| * **What it is:** Forget the Maldives losing some land or Florida being flooded in a few decades; according to the FH subforum London will be submerged by next Tuesday. Typically used as an excuse for a superpower Canada when it gains all that unfrozen land. Not that we would blame anyone for a superpower Canada. | * **What it is:** Forget the Maledives losing some land or Florida being flooded in a few decades; according to the FH subforum London will be submerged by next Tuesday. Typically used as an excuse for a superpower Canada when it gains all that unfrozen land. Not that we would blame anyone for a superpower Canada. |
| * **Why it won't happen:** Sorry Al Gore, global warming won't happen that fast. | * **Why it won't happen:** Sorry Al Gore, global warming won't happen that fast. |
| * **Current progress:** In 2014 (are you noticing a pattern here?) some holes blew up in the Siberian tundra, where the methane levels were 100 times higher than normal, possibly signalling the start of the methane clathrate runaway process. Oh wait, I was supposed to write why it //wouldn't// happen? Um, well, the idea of "global warming" is a liberal conspiracy to distract from real issues, overtax hard-working Americans, spread Sharia law and promote the gay agenda. Somehow. | * **Current progress:** In 2014 (are you noticing a pattern here?) some holes blew up in the Siberian tundra, where the methane levels were 100 times higher than normal, possibly signalling the start of the methane clathrate runaway process. Oh wait, I was supposed to write why it //wouldn't// happen? Um, well, the idea of "global warming" is a liberal conspiracy to distract from real issues, overtax hard-working Americans, spread Sharia law and promote the gay agenda. Somehow. |
| === Cyberpunk Superpower Japan === | === Cyberpunk Superpower Japan === |
| * **What it is:** In the 1980s, Japan's GDP was predicted to eventually become greater than that of the US, and that the US would face a coming war with Japan. | * **What it is:** In the 1980s, Japan's GDP was predicted to eventually become greater than that of the US, and that the US would face a coming war with Japan. |
| * **What happened:** In the 1990s, Japan's economic bubble bursted, however some people still maintain that Japan WILL attack America with it's robotic hordes. Mainstream has instead moved towards a Postcyberpunk Superpower China (see above). | * **What happened:** In the 1990s, Japan's economic bubble burst, however some people still maintain that Japan WILL attack America with its robotic hordes. Mainstream has instead moved towards a Post-cyberpunk Superpower China (see above). |
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