[TGLS]

Originally Posted by PTTG

The Cold War, therefore, was far less efficiently funded than it was in OTL; most military planners assumed that there would be a conventional war fought in the Antarctic, possibly in the aftermath of an atomic exchange in the

There still has to be large numbers of Soviet troops in Eastern Europe, otherwise the the Warsaw Pact will simply implode. The people weren't big fans of their governments, and sometimes the Soviet armies were the only things holding them up.

Originally Posted by PTTG

There clearly were some large shifts. China went isolation isn't and

When? Some options and effects (consider each as including the next:
Early 50s) United Korea (assuming Korean war went as scheduled)
Early to Mid 60s) Less support to Vietcong, possibly surviving South Vietnam (unlikely)
Late 60s to mid 70s: No Border War with Vietnam
General: Impact of Sino-Soviet split generally lessened. Fewer rival Communist parties struggling against each other around the world. Probably less coverage of the Tiananmen Square protests, less influence by the Tiananmen protesters on European protesters.

Originally Posted by PTTG

Germany was reunited on schedule, but the details were substantially different.

Hm. Given what followed a slowdown in economic growth in East Germany (which was only inflamed further by crumbling infrastructure and other failures), I think it's fair to say that it might be more chaotic than the historical outcome. Or perhaps the economic uncertainties revitalize the Communist states, and reunification results in a weird hybrid economy.