As are plenty of Caribbean and Pacific islands IOTL. This idea that the colonies need to be corralled into blocs before attaining dominion status isn't really founded in reality beyond a couple of attempts in the 1960s.
The Union Forever: A TL
- Thread starter Mac Gregor
- Start date
As are plenty of Caribbean and Pacific islands IOTL. This idea that the colonies need to be corralled into blocs before attaining dominion status isn't really founded in reality beyond a couple of attempts in the 1960s.
1983: Foreign and Domestic Developments
Hey everyone, while 1983 was dominated by the civil wars in Spain and Portugal here is a quick look at some other developments around the world. Cheers!
1983
Domestic and Foreign Developments
Domestic and Foreign Developments
During 1983, the Union of Gulf Emirates and East Africa became fully independent nations. East Africa opted to remain inside the British Commonwealth. The UGE decided to pursue a different path, although it continued to maintain strong security ties with Britain.
In the spring, Janssen Computing Machines (JCM) unveiled the JCM Nebula-83 a revolutionary home computer. Deemed to be far more user friendly and capable than previous modules, the Nebula-83 would become the bestselling home computer to date. Although this success further cemented JCM as the leader in computer technology rival firms such as Vantage Industries and the German owned Dimendberg Corporation would mount effective challenges to JCM as the decade wore on.
Per the agreement made during the 1977 Cape Town Conference, Hong Kong and Macau were formally handed over to the Technate of China by the end of 1983. While the critically overstretched Kingdom of Portugal had much bigger concerns, many in the United Kingdom sought to renegotiate the deal made with China in order to retain Hong Kong. In the end, neither Chinese Chief Executive Heng nor British Prime Minister Bates-Morgan wished to spend any political capital to revise the arrangement.
The 1983 World’s Fair was held in the South African capital of Willemstad, the first time an African Nation hosted a World’s Fair. Newly elected Prime Minister Thomas Xingwana of the center right Citizen Bond party and King Edward VIII presided over the opening ceremonies.
On July 24, the German government under Chancellor von Ritter announced that it would mediate a peace settlement between Belgium and three of the four largest Congolese rebel factions. The delegates began meeting in Vienna in August. While no treaty had been reached by the end of the year, domestic pressure in Europe and a series of rebel reverses pushed both sides to arrive at a workable solution.
In September, a Technocratic government under Muzammel Sayem came to power in Bengal with the clear backing of Peking. The formation of the Technate of Bengal came after years of political deadlock and violent street clashes since Chinese forces liberated the region in 1978. Ultimately, it was money and weapons from China that allowed the Technocrats to defeat the Islamic nationalists loyal to former ruler Mohammad Hamid and the various democratic factions.
On Christmas day, Harper News Network (HNN) debuted becoming the second 24-hour cable news network. Harper Media Incorporated, HNN’s parent company and the owner of the magazine Harper’s Weekly, sought to compete with Andre Brooks’ immensely profitable World News Corporation (WNC).
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Cool update; go technocrats!
So is the Nebula-83 like our Macintosh or is it still behind, like maybe our Commodore 64?
Interested to see how the Congo turns out. How do the 4 rebel factions wish to set up the resulting country?
So is the Nebula-83 like our Macintosh or is it still behind, like maybe our Commodore 64?
Interested to see how the Congo turns out. How do the 4 rebel factions wish to set up the resulting country?
Great to see the Congolese War finally end. Can't wait to see what the new Congolese nation-state will look like, what with all of those rebel factions.
Great to see South Africa in the spotlight as well!
Looks like Technocracy is marching on in Asia. What do the countries neighboring China and the other Technocratic countries (Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, India, the Philippines, IEF etc.) think about all this? I could see some politicians in any one of those countries warning against the "technocratic menace". Of course they'll warn against the technocrats for different reasons, be it they see them as against democracy, freedom, liberalism, conservatism, religion, traditionalism etc. Depends on whatever the politician's ideology is when you get down do it.
Lastly, will an official Technocratic Block be formed?
Great to see South Africa in the spotlight as well!
Looks like Technocracy is marching on in Asia. What do the countries neighboring China and the other Technocratic countries (Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, India, the Philippines, IEF etc.) think about all this? I could see some politicians in any one of those countries warning against the "technocratic menace". Of course they'll warn against the technocrats for different reasons, be it they see them as against democracy, freedom, liberalism, conservatism, religion, traditionalism etc. Depends on whatever the politician's ideology is when you get down do it.
Lastly, will an official Technocratic Block be formed?
Surely, leastly some proxy wars. It is bit odd that technocratism has spread so peacefully.
And I have some suspection that Congo will hasn't easy even it gains independence.
Did said mercenaries commit war crimes in the Pacific War in addition to in Iberia?
Yes, another year update!
Glad to see that you've picked this up again.
The Nebula is probably a little behind our Macintosh but it does use a graphic interphase.
Depends on the period on whether the Technate of China treats its citizens better than OTL's PRC. Certainly better than Mao. ITTL 1984 is probably a slightly worse than the PRC currently. Sadly, China is under no obligation to preserve Hong Kong's separate governmental structure like in OTL. ITTL it will be ruled like all the rest of China's cities.
People are starting to get very worried about the rapid spread of Chinese backed Technocracy, and yes a Technocratic block will soon be formed. Thailand, Burma, Tibet, Uyghurstan, and Mongolia view the Technocrats as a major threat due to their proximity. The IEF is very worried about the Chinese stirring up unrest in Manchuria. European nations and the Americas have been slow to see the threat posed by China due to them having fought on the same side during the recent war. This is quickly changing however especially since the fall of Bengal which demonstrated blatant Technocratic aggression.
The Japanese mercenaries were originally wanted for war crimes committed during the Asia-Pacific War. They have now also committed war crimes in Spain and Portugal.
Iberian Crisis: 1984
The Iberian Crisis
“The Year of Blood”
1984
“The Year of Blood”
1984
Portugal
In what proved to be a slow plodding campaign of urban fighting, Portuguese forces loyal to King Manuel III retook the cities of Porto and Braga after ferocious street-to-street combat that lasted for months. The rebel forces of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Portugal became increasingly fractious as the Communist League and the Front for Democracy accused each other of sabotaging the war effort. By December, Prince Fernando was preparing for the final assault on heavily defended Lisbon. Unfortunately for the Royalists, pro-Republican guerrillas still roamed the countryside making it difficult for Prince Fernando to concentrate his forces.
Spain
As in Portugal, 1984 proved to be the bloodiest year of the conflict. For the Royalists, German equipment including assault rifles, vehicles, and helicopters allowed them to retake Leon in February. However, this would prove to be the high water mark for the Monarchists. In the spring, the Republicans mounted a large offensive in the center of the country capturing Avila, Zamora, and Salamanca effectively splitting the country in two. In September, an attempt by the Monarchists to push the Republicans back ended in failure thanks in part to Franco-Italian supplied MC-9 anti-cataphract missiles. Rebel guerrillas continued to gain strength and by the end of the year had made communication and resupply extremely difficult for the Royalists. The rebels even managed to regain Valencia after fierce fighting that left much of the historic city destroyed.
While the war ebbed and flowed in Spain, arguably the key turning point of the conflict occurred in Africa. In October, Sultan Yusef II of Morocco made a deal with the rebel government in Madrid. In exchange for entering the war against the Royalists, all Spanish territory in North Africa would be ceded to Morocco including Tangiers, Cueta, Melilla, and Spanish Sahara. The Canary Islands would remain Spanish. While some in the Provisional Republican government disapproved, most including Vito Rolando Vazquez, now the leading rebel general, approved under the conditions that Sultan Yusef keep the agreement secret and guarantee not to molest the Spanish inhabitants. On October 17, the Moroccan Army struck. Already depleted due to requirements in Iberia, the garrisons fell within 72 hours. In the south, Spanish Sahara was secured a few days later. In Seville, the Royalist government was furious labeling the Moroccans as “Moorish mercenaries” at the beck and call of the rebels. While King Juan IV tried to play off the setback as ultimately inconsequential, the seizure of Spain’s North African territories had some very tangible results. Tangiers was not only an important Royalist shipping center but housed several military depots and currency reserves crucial for the war effort. Monarchist efforts to retaliate proved futile and cost Seville a number of its dwindle supply of aircraft. In a very tense exchange, Germany’s Mediterranean squadron threatened to shell Moroccan positions until a joint Franco-Italian naval demonstration made Berlin stand down.
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The Portuguese Royalists appear to be gaining the upper hand, albeit at a snail's pace thanks to Republican guerrillas. After the war is over, will the king introduce some kind of reforms to keep tensions from boiling over again? And of their remaining overseas possessions, what will they end up retaining?
On the other hand, that Spanish Republican agreement with Morocco was probably one of the last nails in the coffin for the Royalists. Some quick thinking on the part of France and Italy for getting the Germans to back down, too. Will this have any repercussions later on?
On the other hand, that Spanish Republican agreement with Morocco was probably one of the last nails in the coffin for the Royalists. Some quick thinking on the part of France and Italy for getting the Germans to back down, too. Will this have any repercussions later on?
Regroup
Spain would be a good place for the Portuguese republicans to hide and regroup.
Spain would be a good place for the Portuguese republicans to hide and regroup.
Well Morocco will probably have their hands full fighting a Spanish insurgency for years to come. What an odd twist in this TL. I like it.
The Monarchy losing integral parts of the country will cost them some legitimacy.
The Monarchy losing integral parts of the country will cost them some legitimacy.