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Description
Something that's been sitting on the to do list, and I figured it would be good to get some brainstorming going. WW1.5 goes for the 2014 = 1914 route, but Mr.J suggests in these two posts that the early 21st century is more like the 18th century. So, in the spirit of WW1.5, let's take that to its (il)logical conclusion and see what the world is like two hundred years in the future, their analogue of the early 20th century. Unfortunately, this will be my only map for a while, since I've run through my backlog of completed work.

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The 21st century saw a shift of global power back to the East. After a series of economic crises and unwinnable wars in the Middle East and North Africa, the United States retreated from world affairs; the giant went back to sleep, its society becoming more insular. The European Union, which once showed such promise for progress, stagnated and weakened during the latter half of the 21st century and through most of the 22nd. Throughout the West, a pseudo-Luddite sentiment arose, seeing technological progress as destabilizing to society and ultimately unnecessary for the maintenance of Western dominance. Western space programs shriveled up and disappeared, even as an Eastern space race began.

Meanwhile. the East rose. India and China competed for new markets in Africa and the Middle East, while colonizing near-Earth orbit, the Moon, and beyond. Dynamic new technology transformed the Eastern economies. Increased automation, seen as a threat in the West, increased living standards in the East and allowed the Eastern powers to outproduce its competitors. The East did have its share of violence. The first offworld war, the Lunar War, was fought between India and China in the 2050s. Luna declared independence from India in 2076, and the Chinese Revolution of 2089 shook the world, bringing almost the entire world into 25 years of war and destroying the Russian Federation.

The new ideology of technocracy and its war with the old republics would define the 22nd century. In 2130, the People's Republic of China was replaced once again by a technocratic government. Elements of technocracy became part of the Indian government, which became fearful of technocratic revolution within its own borders. Technocracies became the most popular form of government offworld and in the newly independent states, such as the former Russian Federation. New colonial empires were built in the outer Solar System, primarily by India, China and Japan. The South American Union became a new threat to the East, as it was seen as and presented itself as a force of old-fashioned republicanism. The West continued its decline. Europe became the "Sick Man of Terra," and the United States not only suffered from a major civil war, but was also humiliated in wars against China and India where it was no match for the Eastern powers.

But what transformed the 22nd century, and defines the 23rd, is the rise of the Arab Union. The Arabs were always disunited, despite sharing a common language, and Arab lands were always a battleground for more powerful empires. This all changed when the Union of Arab States arose in former Saudi Arabia and began a long campaign to unify all of the Arabs. This was challenged by the other great powers, but they could do little as the Arabs outmaneuvered them and even used them to forge a greater union. Although a republic, the UAS is informed by modernism, and is behind only India as the premier technological power in the Solar System. The rise of a united Arab people has shifted the Solar System's alliance system, into one centered on the Arabs and one dedicated to containing them.

The Shanghai Pact is made up of traditionally rival states which have little in common except for their mutual fear of the UAS. The Indians are the most powerful member, as they are the greatest empire on the planet. Though their holdings on Earth are comparatively paltry, the Indians rule the stars, owning about a quarter of off-world territory. They still retain many colonies on the Moon, and have used Mars as a giant prison until recently. The Indian Star Fleet is the most powerful in the world, and can attack any point in the Solar System. Though a republic, India is rather modern and open to technocratic ideas. The Chinese, once India's rival and once the most powerful on a planetary scale, has been knocked down a few pegs after the Sino-Arab War of 2170. They desire vengeance against the Arabs, particularly for several asteroid colonies the Arabs took after China's defeat. The Chinese are no longer a radically technocratic state, but they are a strange ally for the South American Union. This relatively backwards, anti-technocratic power was a rival to both China and India in the recent past. However, the diplomatic bungling of the recent Arab president has pushed South America into the Sino-Indian fold. Though backwards, the South Americans still have a massive military that must be contended with.

Not to be outdone, the Arabs have formed their own alliance: the Terran Alliance. This alliance is dominated by the Arabs, who are the dominant planetary power nowadays. They too are a republican union, but a somewhat liberal one, and their orbital buildups are what has led India to see them as a premier opponent. Although 21st century futurists always imagined a caliphate, and the Islamic State did survive for quite a bit as an example, the UAS is a secular state with many religious groups living in relative peace within its borders. Aligned with the Arabs is the West African Republic, an old, shaky federation of many different ethnicities that all despise one another. Their suzerainty over Gabon is rather shaky. The Arabs' other allies are the Eastasians. A union descended from ASEAN, the Union of Eastasia seeks to emulate the other successful unions, despite the country's lack of automation. Militarily, the Eastasians are seen as useless, but they did defeat the West Africans in some orbital conflicts.

Then there are the other powers. The old United States has finally been overthrown, replaced with the new American Technocracy in 2211. This technocracy is having a lot of trouble keeping its house in order, and between the warlords, Easterners, and the Mexicans, things aren't looking too good. Meanwhile, Mexico has embraced modernity, at least technologically, and under their new emperor is seeking to expand all throughout the Americas. They've already defeated the Americans in several wars, and their defeat of the South American Union in 2305 proved to the world that they are a great power. The EU is still considered a great power, but has lost a great deal of territory, and has become an Arabian satellite state thanks to their dependence on the Arab economy. And on the Moon, the Technocratic States of Luna looks down on Earth and sees a chaotic world it wants nothing to do with. Being the most powerful economy in the Solar System, it sees no reason to involve itself in any petty wars.

The 23rd century has seen many innovations. Fusion has become the energy source of choice, leading to quite a few helium-3 booms on the Moon. Self-sustaining colonies are present all throughout the Inner Solar System, and some have even been established on the Jovian moons. Man has stepped foot on Titan and Triton (both were Indian missions), and plans for helium-3 fueling in the Jovian moons are underway. Orbital railguns orbit the planet, watching out for asteroids, space debris, or intentional attack from orbit (and of course, to rain death down in case of war). Automation has revolutionized everything: most careers are in managing or repairing machines, and management can be done through direct neural interface. Some rudimentary AIs exist, many passing the Turing test, but apart from some supercomputers none can match, let alone exceed, a human. Most militaries are automated too, with armies and fleets of machines ready to bring death to their enemies as soon as the order is given. And with the recent assassination of the West African vice president in Libreville, they may get their chance to fight in a system-wide conflict.

Description
Something that's been sitting on the to do list, and I figured it would be good to get some brainstorming going. WW1.5 goes for the 2014 = 1914 route, but Mr.J suggests in these two posts that the early 21st century is more like the 18th century. So, in the spirit of WW1.5, let's take that to its (il)logical conclusion and see what the world is like two hundred years in the future, their analogue of the early 20th century. Unfortunately, this will be my only map for a while, since I've run through my backlog of completed work.

---

The 21st century saw a shift of global power back to the East. After a series of economic crises and unwinnable wars in the Middle East and North Africa, the United States retreated from world affairs; the giant went back to sleep, its society becoming more insular. The European Union, which once showed such promise for progress, stagnated and weakened during the latter half of the 21st century and through most of the 22nd. Throughout the West, a pseudo-Luddite sentiment arose, seeing technological progress as destabilizing to society and ultimately unnecessary for the maintenance of Western dominance. Western space programs shriveled up and disappeared, even as an Eastern space race began.

Meanwhile. the East rose. India and China competed for new markets in Africa and the Middle East, while colonizing near-Earth orbit, the Moon, and beyond. Dynamic new technology transformed the Eastern economies. Increased automation, seen as a threat in the West, increased living standards in the East and allowed the Eastern powers to outproduce its competitors. The East did have its share of violence. The first offworld war, the Lunar War, was fought between India and China in the 2050s. Luna declared independence from India in 2076, and the Chinese Revolution of 2089 shook the world, bringing almost the entire world into 25 years of war and destroying the Russian Federation.

The new ideology of technocracy and its war with the old republics would define the 22nd century. In 2130, the People's Republic of China was replaced once again by a technocratic government. Elements of technocracy became part of the Indian government, which became fearful of technocratic revolution within its own borders. Technocracies became the most popular form of government offworld and in the newly independent states, such as the former Russian Federation. New colonial empires were built in the outer Solar System, primarily by India, China and Japan. The South American Union became a new threat to the East, as it was seen as and presented itself as a force of old-fashioned republicanism. The West continued its decline. Europe became the "Sick Man of Terra," and the United States not only suffered from a major civil war, but was also humiliated in wars against China and India where it was no match for the Eastern powers.

But what transformed the 22nd century, and defines the 23rd, is the rise of the Arab Union. The Arabs were always disunited, despite sharing a common language, and Arab lands were always a battleground for more powerful empires. This all changed when the Union of Arab States arose in former Saudi Arabia and began a long campaign to unify all of the Arabs. This was challenged by the other great powers, but they could do little as the Arabs outmaneuvered them and even used them to forge a greater union. Although a republic, the UAS is informed by modernism, and is behind only India as the premier technological power in the Solar System. The rise of a united Arab people has shifted the Solar System's alliance system, into one centered on the Arabs and one dedicated to containing them.

The Shanghai Pact is made up of traditionally rival states which have little in common except for their mutual fear of the UAS. The Indians are the most powerful member, as they are the greatest empire on the planet. Though their holdings on Earth are comparatively paltry, the Indians rule the stars, owning about a quarter of off-world territory. They still retain many colonies on the Moon, and have used Mars as a giant prison until recently. The Indian Star Fleet is the most powerful in the world, and can attack any point in the Solar System. Though a republic, India is rather modern and open to technocratic ideas. The Chinese, once India's rival and once the most powerful on a planetary scale, has been knocked down a few pegs after the Sino-Arab War of 2170. They desire vengeance against the Arabs, particularly for several asteroid colonies the Arabs took after China's defeat. The Chinese are no longer a radically technocratic state, but they are a strange ally for the South American Union. This relatively backwards, anti-technocratic power was a rival to both China and India in the recent past. However, the diplomatic bungling of the recent Arab president has pushed South America into the Sino-Indian fold. Though backwards, the South Americans still have a massive military that must be contended with.

Not to be outdone, the Arabs have formed their own alliance: the Terran Alliance. This alliance is dominated by the Arabs, who are the dominant planetary power nowadays. They too are a republican union, but a somewhat liberal one, and their orbital buildups are what has led India to see them as a premier opponent. Although 21st century futurists always imagined a caliphate, and the Islamic State did survive for quite a bit as an example, the UAS is a secular state with many religious groups living in relative peace within its borders. Aligned with the Arabs is the West African Republic, an old, shaky federation of many different ethnicities that all despise one another. Their suzerainty over Gabon is rather shaky. The Arabs' other allies are the Eastasians. A union descended from ASEAN, the Union of Eastasia seeks to emulate the other successful unions, despite the country's lack of automation. Militarily, the Eastasians are seen as useless, but they did defeat the West Africans in some orbital conflicts.

Then there are the other powers. The old United States has finally been overthrown, replaced with the new American Technocracy in 2211. This technocracy is having a lot of trouble keeping its house in order, and between the warlords, Easterners, and the Mexicans, things aren't looking too good. Meanwhile, Mexico has embraced modernity, at least technologically, and under their new emperor is seeking to expand all throughout the Americas. They've already defeated the Americans in several wars, and their defeat of the South American Union in 2305 proved to the world that they are a great power. The EU is still considered a great power, but has lost a great deal of territory, and has become an Arabian satellite state thanks to their dependence on the Arab economy. And on the Moon, the Technocratic States of Luna looks down on Earth and sees a chaotic world it wants nothing to do with. Being the most powerful economy in the Solar System, it sees no reason to involve itself in any petty wars.

The 23rd century has seen many innovations. Fusion has become the energy source of choice, leading to quite a few helium-3 booms on the Moon. Self-sustaining colonies are present all throughout the Inner Solar System, and some have even been established on the Jovian moons. Man has stepped foot on Titan and Triton (both were Indian missions), and plans for helium-3 fueling in the Jovian moons are underway. Orbital railguns orbit the planet, watching out for asteroids, space debris, or intentional attack from orbit (and of course, to rain death down in case of war). Automation has revolutionized everything: most careers are in managing or repairing machines, and management can be done through direct neural interface. Some rudimentary AIs exist, many passing the Turing test, but apart from some supercomputers none can match, let alone exceed, a human. Most militaries are automated too, with armies and fleets of machines ready to bring death to their enemies as soon as the order is given. And with the recent assassination of the West African vice president in Libreville, they may get their chance to fight in a system-wide conflict.