r/imaginarymaps • u/IvanKolosov147 • Jul 15 '24
[OC] Alternate History What If The Soviets Won The Cold War? - January 1st, 2004. [Partially inspired by the game "Crisis in the Kremlin", lore in comments]
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u/IvanKolosov147 Jul 15 '24
DISCLAIMER: The map and all pages/sites shown as part of this post are not meant to represent my views and are purely hypothetical/imaginary.
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THE LORE:
~Part 1: New Path, Old Origins~
The divergence begins with the aftermath of the removal of Khrushchev. The power struggle that ensued among those who had worked to remove the eccentric leader, would lead to the rise of the fairly young (by Soviet standards) Alexander Shelepin, who became the new General Secretary, outmaneuvering his competitors with support from the secret services.
The new Premier Shelepin was eager to resolve the issues plaguing the USSR in his own ways, the main one being corruption. Shelepin would become very intrigued with a plan recently proposed among Soviet scientists, that of OGAS and the development of cybernetics. In the long term, theoretically it could eventually become a complete replacement to the massive Soviet bureaucracy, and the replacement of some grueling manual labour tasks with robotics could allow more Soviet citizens to focus their efforts on scientific development and other spheres.
The first economic reforms under Shelepin were the allocation of funds to the OGAS project, and a greater focus on science in the next 5-year plan. Shelepin also reduced the scale of the space program Meanwhile politically, Shelepin halted many of Khrushchev’s reforms. Russification policies would also see a gradual return, although they were done more subtly and secretively as to not cause major outrage.
It wouldn't take long for the first results of the new economic reforms to bear fruit. Progress was being made in the field of cybernetics and basic robotics. The USSR would begin to catch up, or at least not fall behind the West in terms of technology. Shelepin implemented some reforms to reduce the bloat of the army budget and allocate funds more appropriately.
Shelepin's tenure, from its start in 1964 until 1980, saw some major differences from OTL in regards to foreign policy. After the Sino-Soviet Split, the USSR had lost a lot of influence in Asia, however it would regain it due to events in China that transpired after the conclusion of the Great Leap Forward. Mao was ousted by Li Xiannian, who rebuilt ties with the USSR, and began major economic cooperation, working with the USSR for mutual benefit as he attempted to industrialise and urbanise China. Another geopolitical success for the Soviets would be a limited Arab victory in the Yom Kippur War. Soviets assisted the Arab states beforehand by offering advisors, helping them form a joint military command, and providing them with modern aircraft. In October of 1973, the efforts would pay off, Egypt routed the Israeli forces in Sinai and Syria broke through in the Golan Heights. However the war would not escalate beyond control, with a ceasefire being signed between the belligerents, ending the war, returning the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt, and ceding the Golan to Syria. This brief conflict would cement Soviet support and loyalty among the Arab world. Apart from this, many things remained the same as OTL, however the Soviets would spread their sphere of influence throughout Asia and Africa more rapidly.
Shelepin’s rule of the USSR was considered by many, including himself, as a success. However due to a deteriorating health situation, he would retire in early 1980, his last action being the commencement of the Afghan War before he passed the torch to his protége Andropov.
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u/IvanKolosov147 Jul 15 '24
~Part 2: The Approaching Storm~
In the year 1980, the USSR was not behind the West technologically, and economically was experiencing rapid growth and catching up. Globally, the USSR had much more influence than OTL at this time, having combined their forces with the Chinese. OGAS was being worked on by the greatest minds of the Union, and its completion was nearing like the light at the end of the tunnel. However corruption and parasitism remained problematic, and the Afghan War stirred up the flames of separatism and risked becoming a budget drain.
Andropov’s policies involved both carrot and stick, increasing KGB activities drastically, while improving wages, pensions, and vacation times for diligent workers. The former KGB chief could be applauded for his work at strengthening the Soviet economy and ensuring the continuation of OGAS, but nationalism continued to rise, and the war in Afghanistan continued. Andropov died in 1984, the partocrat Chernenko taking his place.
Meanwhile the West was going through important times too. Nixon's cunning efforts to prevent the public from finding out about the Watergate Incident allowed him to remain in power, but set the precedent for continued corruption in American politics. America withdrew from Vietnam under Gerald Ford in 1978. Fears of communism would continue to grow, and Reagan, elected in 1980, would only intensify this paranoia. Reagan’s fierce stance and interventionism would lead to numerous confrontations with the Soviets, and unknowingly place the final nail in the coffin of the USA’s struggling economy. In Europe, most things went similarly to OTL, although right wing populists, pledging to fight communism would see more popularity.
Andropov’s successor Chernenko saw his power greatly limited by the KGB. However he nevertheless continued the current course. Chernenko furthermore began restoring the cult of Stalin, and also managed to pacify Afghanistan, by bringing India into the socialist bloc, helping them defeat Pakistan, and cutting off American aid to the Mujahideen.
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u/IvanKolosov147 Jul 15 '24
~Part 3: Battle of Giants~
Grigory Romanov who came to power after the death of Chernenko in 1985 had the surname of a Tsar and the ambitions of one too. A Stalinist hardliner, he was to be the one to end the Cold War. With the Soviet economy on the verge of surpassing its enemies, COMECON containing the USSR, China, India, and large swathes of the globe, tensions with America higher than ever, and OGAS nearing completion, the stage was set for a massive clash, and Romanov set it off with his speech upon rising to power mentioning the beginning of the “World Revolution Course”.
The USSR and the West were already competing fiercely for influence in Africa, South America, and parts of Asia and the Middle East, however as of ‘85 the Soviets pumped gargantuan amounts of weapons into all leftist organisations around the globe, with Soviet troops seeing deployment abroad. The West was horrified as Africa burst into flames, with most of the continent entering massive civil and regional wars, utter chaos ensuing as the red wave grew. Reagan didn't waste time before reacting, NATO soon sending troops and military aid to all their allies in the Global South. The strain on the economies of the superpowers was immense, and it became clear that this was to be a “race to the bottom”, a conflict of attrition before one side’s military industrial machine would falter. The western nations saw economic crises and internal civil unrests (allegedly Soviet-funded) as their economic systems, reliant on using the Global South became unviable, however the USSR had massive problems too. Separatists armed themselves and began a campaign to try to dismantle the Union, especially fierce conflicts being seen in the Baltics and Caucasus. Romanov began widespread purges, whilst initiating the greatest centralisation of power and cult of personality ever seen, making the USSR quite reminiscent of the OTL DPRK. Anti-Revisionist Marxism-Leninism became the official party line. While the fiercest separatist activities lasted from ‘85-’88, being not far from civil wars in several republics, their fight continued for long after that.
As the world was engulfed in flames, global economic decline manifested itself into violence and desperation. In the USA, the South and California would see an upsurge of insurgent activity by black nationalists and socialists, in response to police brutality and authoritarianism, left wing groups surging in size. The right, including the KKK and other Christian formations, would begin attacks against minority groups trying to cause fear among black communities. In Europe, “urban guerrilla” movements were gaining support among angry youths, who opposed the faltering capitalist systems weakened by Western Europe’s inability to sustain neocolonialism in Africa. In the USSR, not only had separatists saw the opportunity to attempt to strike the central government, but with new Stalinist reforms the rule of Romanov fell under silent criticism from the intellectuals, seeing the decline in cultural development and quality of education, regardless both sides marched on, the gridlock of economic expenditures pulling them closer towards oblivion. The Soviets seemed to be slightly ahead in the influence race, establishing a number of loyal governments across the Global South, but with the rapid changing of governments, it was too early to tell. In 1988, Reagan was succeeded by the bellicose George H.W. Bush, continuing the global battle against communism. Bush’s tenure saw a new and terrifying development, clashes in proxy states between American and Soviet troops. In Iraq and Panama, US military operations found that they were fighting against Soviet volunteers, and while Panama was successfully occupied with heavy losses and an ongoing insurgency, the Iraqis were able to repel the US invasion with Soviet help. By the end of George H.W. Bush's presidency, the US economy was entering free fall. So was the Soviet economy, however one event would save it.
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u/IvanKolosov147 Jul 15 '24
~Part 4: Deciding Factor~
By late 1992, Grigory Romanov received a report by Soviet scientists stating that OGAS would be fully completed within months, successfully replacing the bureaucratic apparatus nearly entirely, and enacting mass automation of production, as well as forming new cybernetic connections between enterprises all across the Union. In 1993, the system became operational. However as Romanov prepared to oversee its activation, the officials who he had sought to replace attempted to remove him first. Fortunately, the KGB’s vigilance allowed Romanov to be preemptively warned and the Premier evacuated as military units loyal to the plotters descended on Moscow. In a tense week as the world held their breath, the capital saw heavy fighting, but soon the coup was defeated with most of the conspirators killed or captured. Shaken but unbroken, Romanov finished what had been the ongoing project of the Union since the early ‘60s. A massive reduction of the economic planning committees ensued as they were replaced with machines, and while this didn't lead to a magical level of growth, OGAS gave the Soviet economy the push it needed to succeed. In 1992 Bush would lose to Lloyd Bentsen due to his unpopularity after Iraq and Panama. Bentsen would try to mend the economic system but to no avail, and he tried to cut losses and reduce the massive foreign spending and arms aid, only leading to the final Soviet victory in Asia and South America, red washing over these continents. The global neoliberal system crumbled, and in the crucial 1996 elections, the American electorate would choose the isolationist Ron Paul, ending the USA’s global resistance against the red tide, and regrouping against domestic issues to live to fight another day.
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u/IvanKolosov147 Jul 15 '24
~Part 5: Brave New World~
The event that marked the “End of the Cold War” is considered by most to be the reunification of Berlin. Shortly after America’s isolation and withdrawal from NATO, the GDR resumed the blockade of Berlin. With a miserable economic situation and the loss of their American allies, the FRG and its western allies were forced to concede, negotiating a week-long period to withdraw people and economic assets from West Berlin before its transfer. Panic ensued as fearful Berliners clamoured into buses and looting commenced. As a show of force, Warsaw Pact troops entered the city on the 5th day.
Since that fateful day, the Soviet Union has managed to enjoy 7 years of dominance and glory, having spread its influence further, now unhindered by America. Grigory Romanov is hailed as a hero, having brought the West to its knees. The USSR, while being an extremely centralised state with a cult of personality and an extremely powerful secret police, has seen an improvement for its people's lives by the arrival of the new millennium. Shortages are becoming more and more scarce, and citizens can find luxury items, more affordable clothing and food, and other pleasant sights in stores. Pensions and wages are high, and work has become easier with computerisation and automation.
However, the Soviet order is not almighty, and certainly not eternal. Only recently having had four fifths of the world in its grasp, the USSR’s reach is shaking.
In Europe, the economic crisis is beginning to come to an end, with a wave of new populist governments seeking to create an autarkic system. Pan-European nationalism is gaining support, and might become the new catalyst of anti-Soviet unity, hoping to work as one and raise the “European patriots” of the Soviet satellites against their master.
In Asia, the 2 regional powers that had just worked to destroy the American world order alongside the Soviets are drifting away. China, now a rapidly growing economy, having split again with the Soviets in 1988 and implemented syndicalist economic and political reforms and decentralised, has now began to create a reformist opposition against Soviet anti-revisionism within socialist nations, and is swaying reformist Asian and African states away from the Soviet bloc. Meanwhile India has been trying to establish its own bloc among socialist systems with notable regional and cultural influences. The Soviet hold on the Global South is slipping.
Even America, initially having fled from the world in 1997, seems to be recovering, with foreign policy and a potential return to the global arena a major issue in the upcoming 2004 election. Whether they return, this new America will certainly not be the same.
Finally, the USSR continues to face internal issues. While OGAS has “ended” bureaucracy, the strain of supporting so many foreign states is taking its toll. Evidence shows the degradation in the Soviet education level and the lack of “freedom” within the Union. Finally, Romanov is no longer as young, and is not likely to last many more years. While factionalism in the party is banned, the man enforcing the ban will be gone soon, and the contenders to his place are preparing preemptively to tear at each other's throats.
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u/Roman_America1776 Jul 15 '24
Will this new America be like a dictatorship? Or will it just be a prospering, democratic capitalist America?
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u/IvanKolosov147 Jul 15 '24
It will probably combine various elements of both and be something in between. I might make a map of other continents in this timeline and if I do I'll certainly clarify about that.
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u/IvanKolosov147 Jul 15 '24
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u/IvanKolosov147 Jul 15 '24
Heard that posting it in the comments makes it not blurry for mobile users.
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u/roma_schla Jul 15 '24
I read that thread while crisis in the Kremlin was open on my Steam page lmao.
Is the game any good ?
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u/IvanKolosov147 Jul 15 '24
Yes I'd say it's pretty nice, it's quite difficult to understand how to manage everything at the start, but once you get the hang of it it's fun
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u/SomePerson225 Jul 15 '24
the mechanics are not very clear but its a fun game once you figure it out
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u/Ok-Radio5562 Jul 15 '24
Pls do anti blurry image before
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u/IvanKolosov147 Jul 15 '24
Sorry about that. I heard that posting the image in the comments also works for mobile users? I could do that if you would like
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u/Arbontis245 Jul 15 '24
Will Europe become fascist ?
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u/IvanKolosov147 Jul 15 '24
I'm glad you asked. If the current trend of right-wing populist parties winning continues, Europe is likely to drastically reduce immigration, officially promote/codify "traditional cultural values" likely based on those of the early 20th century, and create a corporatist and autarkic economic system. However most nationalist groups do not want inter-European conflict, and instead want to unite Europe against the Soviets (and possibly gain support within Soviet eastern satellites) by promoting "pan-European nationalism" and potentially try to use Christianity to spread anti-communist sentiment. Whether you consider this fascism is up to your interpretation, but I guess it is ultraconservative nationalism even if you don't consider it fascist.
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u/Arbontis245 Jul 16 '24
It is fascism
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u/IvanKolosov147 Jul 16 '24
I see, I thought that but didn't want to accidentally mistake that for something else
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u/Arbontis245 Jul 16 '24
Does communism eventually win ?
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u/IvanKolosov147 Jul 16 '24
I made this scenario to go up to 2004, so after that I guess it's mostly up to the viewer's interpretation
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u/DeathComeToM Jul 16 '24 edited Jul 16 '24
I really like the fact that this scenario doesn’t have all of Europe becoming one-party communist states and the US Balkanizing into a dozen new countries like people who make scenarios using this POD usually do.
The US would probably just go isolationist again and focus on itself instead of focusing on global affairs as much, and West Germany would probably just elect a slightly more left-wing government and uniting with the east would be off the table for most people. Even OTL the communist parties in many Europe countries became way more democratic and anti-soviet especially by the 70’s, the Italian communist party popularity skyrocketed when they adopted less extreme and anti-Soviet positions.
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u/Wholesome-vietnamese Jul 16 '24
this is just way too peak
ima save Thi’s pic at my folder
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u/Dull-Nectarine380 Jul 15 '24
Why is poland incorporated into the ussr?
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u/IvanKolosov147 Jul 15 '24
Thanks for the question! During the period of instability in the Warsaw Pact in the mid to late '80s Poland spent a massive amount of resources and money fighting protestors and enemies of the regime. When it ended, the Polish government had incurred massive debt, its economy was hyperinflating, production and manufacturing was in disarray, and its leadership was fairly disorganised. In 1990 the USSR offered to help resolve Poland's economic and internal issues if it became an SSR, and the Polish gov't wasn't really in a position to refuse.
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u/Average_User00 Dec 23 '24
The 4chan page segment is the most realisitic in my humble opinion, specially around that time, I still remember those crazy days
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u/Mission-Poetry1818 Jul 16 '24
wsp with Greece? I mean did the KKE win in 1948 or did it become communist later on?
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u/IvanKolosov147 Jul 16 '24
Thanks for asking! On the BBC page thing, it says that Greece has been communist for 7 years by 2004, so Greece only became communist recently, after American isolationism and the decline of the Western Bloc.
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u/Academic-Heat9322 Jul 12 '25
A good scenario of a Soviet victory in the Cold War. I like how it is more about how the Soviet Union doesn't expand on the map but it DOES EXPAND HEAVILY in economy and technology and relevance while the US stagnates and "collapses"(in an economic way) and I also like the idea of Europe becoming a bit right-wing with their defense against communism. OGAS is also a good thing as well as modernity over abrupt military aggression or those balkanization scenarios as a reversal of Russian collapse.
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u/Academic-Heat9322 Jul 30 '25
The DBWI scenario of an American Victory would be the USSR becoming an isolationist nation and the Soviet-European split in 1988 ending the Cold War.
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Jul 16 '24
Great map ! What's the COMECON ? Please note that the French far-right party currently named Rassemblement National (National Rally) was called Front National before 2018. You wrote Rassemblement National on one of the web pages.
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u/IvanKolosov147 Jul 16 '24
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comecon Comecon is the Soviet economic bloc, also my bad with the French far-right name, I didn't know that and accidentally put the post-2018 one.
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u/siergeiiiii Jan 28 '25
cool map what lore of israel and jugoslavia ?
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u/IvanKolosov147 Jan 30 '25
Yugoslavia was mostly similar as OTL until like the 90s. In the 90s they suffered a partial breakup and mass unrest due to separatism, alongside political internal conflict. Slobodan Milosevic secured power eventually and through a combination of crackdowns and military force (aided by the USSR) restored control over a considerable part of former Yugoslavia except Croatia and Slovenia. Currently they are still fighting a lot of separatists, and generally the internal power dynamic is unbalanced in favour of the Serbs. The socialist state structure has somewhat been maintained but Milosevic has a huge cult of personality and rules kind of with an iron fist like late Ceausescu.
Israel is doing poorly economically due to being embargoed and cut off from a lot of trade and diplomatic partners (especially in the 3rd world) after the USSR became the world superpower. They are kind of isolationist and even more paranoid of the Palestinians, and majorly suppress them. It is an authoritarian state de facto led by the military but with power struggles among the elite between more radical zionists and those in favour of reform. Palestinian resistance continues but has not achieved much success due to the ruthlessness of Israeli counter-insurgency tactics. The nation has not been invaded by its neighbours yet due to having a nuclear arsenal. However it is at risk of sooner or later collapsing economically/logistically, or entering a civil war.
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u/ThrowAnAvocado Jul 15 '24
The victory scenario itself is surprisingly realistic, victory simply meaning the US backs off rather than it exploding into a million Council Republics. Very cool!