Quote:
Originally Posted by Astromancer
It would be country by country. The USA would have widespread tech. Nations like France or Britain would be cutting edge in town and prefer the tech to stay out of the countryside. Some nations like Japan or the German client states in what was Russia would want to keep the countryside archaic.
It would be about political goals.
By the way, a WWI free planet could have a USA were socialism is still popular. WWI and the Russian revolution were very bad for socialism in the USA. In this world the USA might even have a viable Labor Party.
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USA would still have backward areas, like Appalachia - but the East Coast, Midwest, and maybe California would see more advanced tech. Also possibly parts of the Gulf Coast, as it's closer to super-science deposits in Yucatan (a 'Texan astronium man' archetype could develop, like the Texan oil man IRL).
I hadn't thought about socialism's fate without WWI and Russian Revolution. It would probably still be a popular alternative, but one that's never really been tested. And it would still have the 'workers of the world unite' international appeal, without Moscow demanding fealty or WWI dividing socialist movements.
Moscow would still be known - with St. Petersburg gone, it would be the biggest Russian city. Imperial Germany would try to reduce its importance, as it would likely be the center of anti-German Russian activity.
Interestingly, there would still be Russian emigres in the West, particularly America, but instead of deposed nobility, it would be nationalist & socialist agitators.