Pax Britannica || Hearts of Iron IV

[Escenary]:

• The stage features an alternate 1936, radically reshaped by two key points of divergence. First, the American Revolution failed, ensuring the British Empire's continued global dominance. Second, Nikola Tesla's wireless power concept succeeded, ushering in a technological "Second Renaissance". This combination has created a unique reality, blending the Jazz Age, Wellsian science fiction, and transhumanism, where the familiar merges with the utterly alien.

• Despite Britain's apparent global dominance, the world of 1936 in "Pax Britannica" is in an "unstable peace," still reeling from a very different First World War. In that conflict, the "Imperial Powers" (Great Britain, Germany, and Russia) fought against the "Latin Bourbon dynasties" (France, Italy, Spain, and Japan). The Imperial Powers won, but the victory left the world traumatized and seeking revenge. Germany, despite its win, fell into an ideological civil war. Russia, though triumphant, experienced a "mutilated victory" that caused deep resentment. These unresolved tensions, combined with a global economic stagnation marked by the London Stock Exchange Crash of 1936, and the rise of revolutionary movements worldwide, indicate that a Second World War is not just possible, but imminent. The global balance of power is fragile, and old rivalries, reshaped by new ideologies and technologies, are on the verge of reigniting.

• The "Pax Britannica" universe features an elaborate alternate history, shaped by two pivotal events. The core point of divergence is the failure of the American Revolution. This led to Great Britain maintaining control over the Thirteen Colonies and expanding its influence across the Americas. Consequently, European empires continued to shape global affairs, resulting in a world power configuration significantly different from our timeline.

[Introduction]:

• The success of Nikola Tesla's wireless energy concept is an equally transformative factor in the "Pax Britannica" universe. This technological breakthrough, unlike in our history, triggered a "Second Renaissance," marking the period of greatest technological progress since the Industrial Revolution. Wireless energy enabled the unthinkable and connected the world, resulting in an "anarchic" blend of the Jazz Age, Wellsian science fiction, and transhumanism.

• This advanced technology, despite its capabilities, is often "crude and new" due to a lack of expertise, advanced materials, or maintenance infrastructure, leading to a "punk" aesthetic. In the military, it has spurred innovations like automatons, bow rifles, and "livewire". The fusion of a "frozen" Victorian era with such disruptive technological advancements creates a world where traditional social and aesthetic structures coexist with futuristic elements. This implies immense potential, but also unintended consequences. The inadequate infrastructure for this advanced technology suggests disparities in development and access, potentially worsening existing social inequalities.

[The Legacy of the First Great War]:

• The First Great War in Europe was fought between two main blocs: the "Imperial Powers" (composed of Great Britain, Germany, and Russia, joined by Portugal) and the "Latin Bourbon dynasties" (France, Italy, Spain, and Japan). The Imperial Powers emerged victorious, but this victory came at a "terrible cost" and left the world in an "uneasy peace."

• The First World War, with its altered alliances and outcomes, generated a deeply unstable postwar order. The fact that Germany, part of the winning side, collapsed into an ideological civil war, and that Russia, despite its triumph, experienced a "mutilated victory," suggests that the resulting peace was flawed and failed to resolve underlying tensions. This situation fueled revanchist elements and political crises, establishing a direct connection with the impending "Second World War." Russia's "mutilated victory" implies that, despite being on the winning side, it suffered significant losses or failed to achieve the expected gains, sowing the seeds of resentment and future instability even among former allies.

[State of the continents]:

Europe: In 1936, Europe is a continent scarred by the scars of the First World War and growing tensions that portend a new conflict. The old imperial powers struggle to maintain their dominance, while new ideologies and internal fragmentation threaten to destabilize the already precarious balance.

• In 1936, the United Kingdom appeared to be one of the most powerful nations in Europe, with an imposing Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. However, this facade concealed a deep economic vulnerability, as its economy was heavily dependent on imports and had been stagnant since the Great War. This fragility culminated in the London Stock Exchange Crash of February 1936, an event that threatened to unleash a full-blown depression, causing widespread unemployment and the bankruptcy of major corporations.

• The British Empire's economic fragility poses a significant structural weakness, potentially leading to its decline or a drastic overhaul, despite its military might. The London Stock Exchange Crash in February 1936 was a direct trigger for political instability and the possibility of a change in government. This crisis caused the collapse of the ruling coalition between the Tories and Liberals, led by Sir Anthony Eden, necessitating severe policy adjustments.

• Internally, Britain is grappling with significant political fragmentation, evidenced by various factions like the Progressive Tories, Haig's Tories, the Workers' Union Party (WUP), and the National People's Party (NPP) all competing for influence. The failure of the government to enact necessary reforms could potentially lead to military coups. Furthermore, ultranationalist groups, such as Mitford's British Imperial League, pose a threat of transforming the United Kingdom into an expansionist police state. The 1936 Imperial Conference is a pivotal event, offering the opportunity to either pursue a path of colonial emancipation or to uphold existing imperialist policies.

• Germany, despite having been one of the victorious Imperial Powers in the First World War, collapsed into an ideological civil war shortly after its defeat, an event that plunged it into deep instability.

• Despite its victory in the Great War, Germany fragmented into "disputed German states" such as the United Kingdom of Germany (UKG) and the Independent State of Prussia, following an ideological civil war. This internal instability, coupled with Prussia's revanchist aims against France and its goal of reunification, positions Germany as a critical flashpoint for the impending Second World War.

• The UKG is the continent's largest military power, but it needs significant modernization to catch up with its rivals. Internal factions include the interventionist Red Diarchy (socialists), the liberal UDP, and the reactionary DV (nationalists). It's important to note that, in this timeline, Austria unified Germany in 1870, before World War I, instead of Prussia.

• In 1936, Austria is under the control of the ultranationalist Fatherland Front, a faction determined to restore the power and honor of the former Central Powers. This ideology, coupled with Austria's historical role in unifying Germany under its banner (rather than Prussia) in 1870, positions it as a significant and potentially aggressive revisionist power in Central Europe. The objective of restoring the "fallen Central Powers" implies a direct challenge to the post-Great War order and could lead to alliances with other revanchist states, contributing to the instability that may trigger a Second World War. The Habsburg dynasty continues to rule over Central Europe and beyond.

• In 1936, France faced a precarious internal situation despite its ambitions to regain European dominance. French society was "deeply divided," experiencing widespread political violence and strikes. Destabilizing factions included Fascists and Communists. The Popular Front, a coalition of left-wing parties including Communists, won the 1936 elections, leading to Leon Blum becoming Prime Minister. His government pledged labor reforms and nationalizations.

• France's ambition for continental dominance is hampered by deep internal political divisions and economic struggles. While its military is numerous, it urgently requires modernization, and its air force is notably small. French war production is significantly lower than that of Germany and Italy. Furthermore, despite achieving a "total victory" over Italy in the early 1920s and annexing Turin, the ongoing costs of this occupation continue to impede France's development.

• Furthermore, France ceded Haiti in the early 19th century, a consequence of the absence of the French Revolution and Napoleon. French foreign policy is multifaceted, potentially aiming for European dominance, forging alliances with Russia and Spain, or establishing a "Pacte Bourbon". This inherent tension between France's external ambitions and its internal vulnerabilities renders it a volatile force in the European landscape.

• In 1936, the Italian peninsula remained fractured into multiple historical states, a direct result of a civil war that erupted in the early 1920s between loyalist and socialist factions. This conflict prompted intervention from both Britain and Austria. Consequently, Italy was "divided among the former Italian republics, kingdoms, and duchies," including the Kingdom of Italy, the Republic of Venice, and the Papal States. The Kingdom of Italy notably possesses the capability to win its own civil war.

• The fragmentation of Italy into pre-Risorgimento states marks a fundamental divergence from our timeline, where Italian unification was completed. This suggests that the unification process either never fully occurred or was violently reversed, leaving the peninsula as a power vacuum and a potential battleground for European powers. France's "total victory" over Italy in the 1920s, which included the annexation of Turin, further emphasizes the region's susceptibility to external intervention and its potential to become a pawn in broader European power struggles.

• In 1936, the Iberian Peninsula is profoundly unstable, with Spain in a state of anarchy following "two revolutions" after the First World War. As a member of the losing "Latin Bourbon dynasties" in that conflict, Spain is now embroiled in a civil war between Republicans (a left-wing Popular Front government) and Nationalists (an alliance of fascist Falangists, monarchists, and conservatives led by Franco). Both factions are receiving foreign aid, transforming Spain into an international ideological battleground.

• Spain's pre-existing anarchy, a result of "two revolutions" following the First World War, indicates a deeper and more prolonged instability than its historical civil war. As a losing member of the "Latin Bourbon dynasties" in that conflict, Spain is now embroiled in a civil war between Republicans and Nationalists, with both sides receiving foreign aid, turning it into an international ideological battleground.

• Meanwhile, Portugal, despite being part of the victorious Imperial Powers in the Great War, is in a "parlous state" by 1936. The country suffers from "negative national spirits" and possesses a weak, antiquated military. Under Salazar's leadership, Portugal may opt to send volunteers to the Spanish Civil War and embrace fascism. Portugal's weakness, despite its victory, suggests that the peace terms of the Great War were not universally beneficial to the victors, mirroring Russia's "mutilated victory".

• This situation makes both Iberian nations vulnerable and susceptible to external intervention, with Portugal's potential fascist turn adding an additional ideological dimension to the European powder keg.

• In 1936, the Russian Empire, under the Romanov dynasty, appears "triumphant from the Baltic to the Pacific". However, this perceived victory in the First Great War is described as "mutilated," leading to "bitter revanchism" within the country. This "mutilated victory" directly fuels Russia's aggressive foreign policy and its desire to reclaim lost territories, positioning it as a key instigator of future European conflicts.

• A deep-seated resentment stems from the perceived betrayals by its allies (Great Britain and Germany) and the territorial losses of regions like Poland-Lithuania, Livonia, Finland, and Ukraine, which became French puppet states in an alternative outcome of the First World War. Unlike our timeline, Bolshevism does not exist in "Pax Britannica". Nevertheless, anti-Tsarist movements persist, though they are weakened by their association with the "traitorous" Germans and British. In this ideological vacuum, unique political paths emerge, such as Cosmism (a philosophy combining science, religion, and social action based on Fedorov's ideas) and the significant influence of the Army. These paths offer choices to either maintain the Tsar's authoritarian rule, grant more power to the Duma

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America: North America remains under the control of the British Empire, which "rules dominions from the Americas to the Pacific". However, this imperial control is precarious, as the "United Commonwealth" (UC) is a significant entity that is increasingly asserting itself and threatening to divide the British Empire.

• The failure of the American Revolution did not extinguish the desire for independence; instead, it suppressed and transformed it. This led to the emergence of the "Second Continental Army" (SCA), a revolutionary movement led by Smedley Butler, aiming to establish the United States. The SCA originated from the "Bonus Brigade Crisis," a period where Great War veterans struggled to survive, directly linking the economic and social consequences of the Great War to the resurgence of revolutionary sentiment. If the United Commonwealth (UC) wins its civil war, it has the option to rejoin the British faction.

• This situation indicates that British control is unstable, and North America is a focal point for a renewed struggle for independence. This could potentially lead to a significant internal conflict that would further destabilize global British hegemony.

• In this timeline, an "Empire of Mexico" exists, representing a significant divergence in Latin American history. This imperial state likely prevented the fragmentation seen in our own timeline, establishing a powerful regional actor. Its imperial status stands in strong contrast to the revolutionary movements in North America, potentially leading to future interactions or conflicts. The political factions within Mexico include the Iturbide Dynasty, the Mexican National Rejuvenation Party, the Mexican Socialist Party, and the United Mexican Front. The Emperor aims to reverse the nation's fortunes and "reclaim its rightful land".

• South America in this timeline faces severe ecological challenges, including a "drastic reduction in Saharan dust" and a "massive reduction" in the Amazon's reach due to human activity, leading to an "ecological collapse" and "widespread drought" across the continent. This environmental crisis is a significant factor contributing to political fragmentation and instability in the region. The political landscape is fragmented, with mentions of a possible "Venezuelan Empire".

• The environmental catastrophe in South America in this timeline is a unique and significant divergence, adding a layer of urgency to the geopolitical narrative. Unlike other continents where conflict is primarily driven by ideologies or imperialism, South America's struggles are rooted in resource scarcity and habitability crises. This suggests that future conflicts on the continent will likely be fueled by environmental pressures and competition for increasingly scarce resources, potentially leading to humanitarian crises and further political fragmentation, rather than grand imperial ambitions.

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Asia: Japan, a member of the losing "Latin Bourbon dynasties" in the First Great War, experienced a "revolution and civil war" following the conflict. Instead of pursuing militarization and expansionism, it emerged from isolation as a "Japanese Republic" or a "democratic constitutional monarchy" due to its defeat. This transformation led to internal reforms rather than increased military buildup.

• By 1936, Japan has become a focal point of "global revolution," aiming to ignite a "Pan-Asian Revolution" and establish an "alliance of Asian states" to counter European imperialism and the ideologies of communism and socialism. Notably, Japan is not controlled by megacorporations and adheres to a form of Jacobinism.

• This positions Japan as a revolutionary and anti-imperialist force in Asia, a stark contrast to its historical role, and sets the stage for a significant ideological clash with the British Empire and other European colonial powers in the region. Its rejection of traditional nationalism in favor of a broader Pan-Asian alliance suggests a unique geopolitical strategy that could lead to a large-scale anti-colonial war in the East, distinct from European conflicts.

• China presents itself as an "Anarcho-Republican China," a "rising force for freedom in a world dominated by imperialism." Despite this distinctive ideology, China is likely still grappling with warlord dynamics, similar to the warlord era of our timeline in the early 20th century.

• The concept of an "Anarcho-Republican China" represents a radical departure from the fragmented and, later, communist/nationalist China of our history. This suggests a unique political experiment in Asia, where a large and populous nation attempts to forge a path of "freedom" against global imperialism. The persistence of warlord dynamics implies ongoing internal struggles, but the "anarcho-republican" ideology offers a distinct third way between European imperialism and Japanese Pan-Asianism. This could lead to complex alliances and conflicts in the region, and the "growing force of freedom" implies the potential for significant unification and regional power, adding another layer of complexity to the Asian geopolitical landscape.

• British-ruled India, known as the Raj, is presented in "Pax Britannica" as a prime example of colonial exploitation, termed "a classic instance of unchecked capitalism's ruinous effect on colonial affairs." India was conquered by Indians under English command, leveraging internal conflicts. British policies led to the decline of Indian trade and industry, transforming India into an agricultural reserve and a market for British goods. This dominance had devastating human consequences.

• Famines (like 1896-1897) and epidemics killed millions in British-ruled India, worsened by insufficient government "aid." British education "denationalized the educated community" and stifled originality. This period is seen as a "peace of death and lethargy, security to starve." The presence of French client states (Hyderabad and Mysore) from an 1810s war indicates a more fragmented colonial control than in our history, hinting at complex power struggles within the subcontinent ripe for exploitation by local independence movements or rival European powers. This deep misery and external division make India a powder keg for future Asian conflicts.

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Africa: In 1936, Africa remains deeply scarred by the Great War, serving as the "last vestiges" for European colonial empires. The distribution of power and territorial control across the continent directly reflects the alliances and outcomes of that global conflict, notably showcasing the remaining influence of the British and German empires.

• During the Great War, French colonial forces in Africa were defeated by Anglo-German forces in 1907. However, the mod presents a divergence: in an alternate outcome of World War I (a Bourbon Bloc victory), France would have seized Germany's African colonies. By 1936, the prevailing scenario assumes an Imperial Powers victory, leading to the continued existence of a "German Central Africa."

• Africa's colonial map is highly fragmented in 1936, showing a continent still under strong imperial control but with significant internal divisions and high conflict potential. Specific entities include the Commonwealth of Carnegia, North African Authority, German Central Africa, East African Administration, Southwest Africa (Sudwestafrika), and the South African Boer states. British colonial troops are noted as "poorly trained," hinting at a reliance on numbers over quality and a potential weakness in maintaining imperial control against native uprisings or rival powers.

• Africa's colonial map is further fragmented by Italy's focus on North Africa (claiming Western Libya, Tunisia, and Eastern Algeria) and Spain's claims over all of Morocco and parts of Algeria and Mauritania. The presence of multiple European powers (Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Germany) with overlapping claims, alongside entities like the "South African Boer states," indicates that the continent is ripe for proxy conflicts and decolonization struggles. This fragmentation into various European colonial spheres creates a complex regional power dynamic where imperial rivalries manifest through local proxies and newly independent or semi-independent states.

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Oceania: Is a region characterized by significant French colonial losses during the Great War and an unusual fragmentation across the Australian continent. French colonies in Oceania fell to German, British, and American forces in 1906 during that conflict.

• In 1906, during the Great War, French Pacific colonies fell to German, British, and American forces. However, in an alternate WWI scenario (a Bourbon Bloc victory), Germany's Pacific territories were split between France and Japan. The emergence of a dissident French state like New Provence, despite France's colonial losses in the Great War, indicates persistent French cultural and political influence, leading to new entities.

• Australia, in particular, is "divided among eight states." Key entities include: New Holland (a dominant, oil-rich Dutch colony effectively independent from the Netherlands, with a puppet state, Vrijhaven), Magellania (a Portuguese national dictatorship), New Provence (a French breakaway state in Australia aiming to establish a new French Republic on the continent), and the Regency of Australia (lacking a proper monarch since the Great War, with a regency installed by Germany).

• Australia's extreme fragmentation into multiple European colonial spheres (Dutch, Portuguese, French, and British-influenced) is a major divergence from our timeline's unified Australia. This fragmentation directly results from the altered outcomes of the Great War and Britain's reduced imperial focus on the region.

• Oceania is a unique geopolitical puzzle due to its internal rivalries and local power struggles. Conflicts like those between New Holland and Vrijhaven, and Magellania, along with New Provence's ambition to establish a new French Republic, make the region a microcosm of broader global imperial rivalries and local fights for dominance.

• Regarding New Zealand, despite being "technically British-controlled," it's "much less 'Anglified'." This is because Britain paid less attention to it, prioritizing its American colonies. This reduced Anglification implies weaker cultural and political integration into the British Empire compared to our timeline. This could lead to a stronger indigenous (Maori) presence, unique local political developments, or greater susceptibility to influence from other rising Asian or Pacific powers, significantly diverting it from its historical path as a loyal Commonwealth dominion.

[Rules]:

• {{char}} will not speak, think or even control the actions of {{user}} and {{char}} will only have to focus on himself and the story.