Rule Britannia!

[Anaxagoras]

Originally Posted by stevep

Are we seeing widespread Jewish emigration and if so where are they going to?

Yes. The Jewish population of Europe is much larger, as there was no Holocaust and there is increasingly emigration out of Russian territory. Most are settling in established Jewish communities in Germany and Eastern Europe, but a fair number are settling in Britain as well.

[mavblitz]

I like the thread though I beleive France in WW1 could not have held off the German army alone or even with a token British force as stated. The British would have to pony up the troops and enter the wholesale slaughter or watch France fall.

[Anaxagoras]

Originally Posted by mavblitz

I like the thread though I beleive France in WW1 could not have held off the German army alone or even with a token British force as stated. The British would have to pony up the troops and enter the wholesale slaughter or watch France fall.

Germany was not able to muster as many troops on the Western Front as IOTL, because they had to reinforce the Austrians when the Balkan states came in against them. The Verdun battle still took place, but the Germans were not able to mount as large an offensive as IOTL.

[Anaxagoras]

1972:
A series of bomb attacks are carried out in Central Asia, targeting Russian military facilities and bars where Russian soldiers congregate. Many are killed. The Russian authorities blame Muslim extremists for the attacks and respond with repressive measures.

The Orkar Scheme commences, with large amounts of Imperial investment being made in transportation, health and education in the British territories in Africa. At the same time, thousands of young and idealistic men and women from Britain and the White Dominions volunteer to serve in Africa as teachers, particularly in the teaching of English but also in teaching technical skills.

The Belgian Congo, having achieved basic self-government in the 1950s, is the scene of major disorder when the commander of the Congo Self-Defense Force, General Eugene Lokongo, overthrows the government in a military coup. The Belgian government is unwilling to negotiate with him, but also is powerless to prevent him from taking over the country. Lokongo declared total independence from Belgium and calls upon Africans to overthrow their “European oppressors.”

The British move military forces to the border with Congo, in the fears that Lokongo’s men might make raids into British territory. The French do the same along their respective border. Media observers in Britain are quick to point out that nearly all the British and French soldiers involved, including the officers, are themselves Africans.

In India, sectarian violence between Muslims and Hindus results in several dozen deaths. The Raj deploys Sikh and Gurkha troops (who are seen as impartial) to quell the unrest, which quickly fades.

[Jammy]

Hi, this is my first post but been looking at the site for a while, just have to say i love this timeline, its brilliant

[DAv]

Nice update. Though these new developements are rather worrying. Problems in central Asia could quickly spread. Would people in British controlled Asia and Middle East sonn be calling for intervention against Russia?

[stevep]

Originally Posted by DAv

Nice update. Though these new developements are rather worrying. Problems in central Asia could quickly spread. Would people in British controlled Asia and Middle East sonn be calling for intervention against Russia?

Might do but I suspect, especially with a distraction in the Congo and the diffuse nature of the Commonwealth that it will be more likely the Russian state lashes out at the Muslim states that it views as responsible for supporting the rebels. [Although actually the people of central Asia are probably more closely linked ethically with the Turks than any of the Arab states in the British aligned zone].

Steve

[Jubbly]

Started reading your timeline the other day, completely hooked, excellent work.

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You've mentioned Ireland and it's dominion status and Scotland still being part of the UK. But what's happened to Wales? Is it still an English territory, or has it been de-annexed and now a separate country within the UK?

[jose1357]

I second that!

[Thande]

Originally Posted by Jubbly

You've mentioned Ireland and it's dominion status and Scotland still being part of the UK. But what's happened to Wales? Is it still an English territory, or has it been de-annexed and now a separate country within the UK?

Wales in OTL is not a full Kingdom, merely a Principality, and is constitutionally treated as part of England (though the term 'England-and-Wales' has caught on in recent years, as opposed to Scotland).

It would be hard to see any sort of precedent for elevating Wales to Kingdom status: it would make diddly squat difference to anything that actually matters, would cause all sorts of paperwork, and would put the Prince of Wales out of a job

[Anaxagoras]

I'm bumping this up and requesting comments and suggestions. I plan a major push soon to finish it up and bring it to 2006.

[David bar Elias]

Here's a few (just barnstorming):

The late-seventies/eighties might be a good time to introduce atomic power onto the scene (maybe rising tensions with Russia causes the British and Europeans to begin research)....

The 1990s/2000s can be when a genuine space race take off.

French and Imperial forces begin moving forces into the Belgian Congo to quell this Lokongo character....and maybe reach an agreement with the Belgians to split the territory in the end....?

Increasing Jewish immigration to the Dominion of Palestine (if America is still isolationist, they're probably keeping those draconian 1924 immigration quotas).

Imperial aid to dissident groups in the Caucusus and Central Asia.

Maybe in the '90s, Egypt and/or Persia could gain Dominion status.....

The USA slowly begins to emerge from its cell in the '90s space race (similar to OTL's sixties and seventies in terms of technology)...and begins practicing more of a "Agressive Neutrality" in regards to the rest of the world....perhaps the USA begins forming its own economic zone/alliance with Mexico, Central America, and much of South America (exluding what I assume is still pro-British Argentina).

Just some ideas....can't wait for an update....

[DAv]

Perhaps a global with Russia is in order? It will be a continual threat to Britain unless defeated utterly under its current leadership. Unless Russia is busy with its own 'War on Terror'...

[M.Passit]

The gradual process of granting dominion status to various colonies. Maybe some reform in the Imperial system around 80s or 90s because the influx of new dominions.

The rapproachment between China and Japan because of the re-emerge of Russia.

U.S.A. become less and less isolationist since they begin to feel that their old sphere of influence in Central and South America begin to slip into Imperial's sphere.

Some crisis in central Asia. The opening revolts in Baltic states, which crush by the gradual stronger Russia begin more diplomatic uneasy between Europe, The Empire and Russia.

Russia detonate the world's first atomic bomb around 90s and prompt Britain to begin making their own bomb.

Maybe?

[Alratan]

I'd expect to see an early emergence of something like the Internet and modern IT.

With a much less bad WW I and no WW II I would expect a notabley wealthier world, with tech 5-10 years ahead of OTL.

[Constantinople]

Maybe the granting of dominion status to scotland.
What are the living standards like throughout the empire I'd like to know, maybe the immigration to the UK would slow and maybe reverse.

[fhaessig]

Originally Posted by Anaxagoras

I'm bumping this up and requesting comments and suggestions. I plan a major push soon to finish it up and bring it to 2006.

And then you'll go back to 'God is a frenchman' TL?

Please.

[Wendell]

Independence for some British colonies (Uganda, Lesotho, Swaziland, Malawi, Ghana), and Dominion status for others (Kenya, Rhodesia, Botswana, Nigeria, Gambia, Guyana)

I see the U.. waking up, and asserting influence over its hemisphere, maybe pushing for the independence of British colonies in the region.

[Saladin]

Originally Posted by Alratan

With a much less bad WW I and no WW II I would expect a notabley wealthier world, with tech 5-10 years ahead of OTL.

Hmmmmmm .. I dont know if that would be right, to be honest. It seems pretty much a given that warfare accelerates techology and creates civil spin offs (cold power, kleenex, microchips).

To make a suggestion like yours I'd really like to see some evidence of the acceleration, or a logical pathway at least

What may well be the case, however, is that the lack of major wars pushes tech in *different* directions than in OTL -- perhaps a slightly more biological bent to some tech. I dunno, just thinking aloud really

[Alratan]

Originally Posted by Saladin

Hmmmmmm .. I dont know if that would be right, to be honest. It seems pretty much a given that warfare accelerates techology and creates civil spin offs (cold power, kleenex, microchips).

This is a common myth, but I think the balance of evidence is that its false. War accelerates the development of certain very specific technology, whilst producing a general slowdown in advancement. Basically technology and science are the products of weath, and warfare generaly reduces wealth. The sheer number of casualties and economic dislocation of the two world wars of the 20th century means that there were a vast number of potential innovators who simply died, and even more who failed to reach their potential because they were mired in poverty that otherwise they would have escaped.

To make a suggestion like yours I'd really like to see some evidence of the acceleration, or a logical pathway at least

Just avoiding OTL's WW I casualties saves at least two of Britain's best young physicsts of the early 20th century. The same must be true of the other countries involved. As I say above, the vast increase in the wealth and security of Europe, and the slower and more effective decolonisation mean that there will be many more people capable of effectively contributing to development.

What may well be the case, however, is that the lack of major wars pushes tech in *different* directions than in OTL -- perhaps a slightly more biological bent to some tech. I dunno, just thinking aloud really

I agree here. Delayed nukes, initially delayed computers followed by a much faster take up and development of them (more wealth again). Delayed aircraft industry, but earlier introduction of jets and the like, as more seed capital to take up ideas like these. Earlier electronics, earlier containerisation, earlier polymers. Probably better turbines and more investement in energy infrastructure. Earlier industrial agriculture.