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If Henry Ford was elected President of the United States of America on the Republican ticket in 1940 with Howard Scott the founder of the Technocracy movement as his Vice President, and then the USA immediately joined the Axis, and then invaded and annexed the Canadian provinces and territories followed by Newfoundland and Labrador, Greenland, Iceland, the British Isles, and then rest of the New World, what would happen globally until today?
Predicting the global outcomes of such a speculative scenario—where Henry Ford becomes U.S. President in 1940, partners with Howard Scott of the Technocracy movement, joins the Axis powers, and embarks on an aggressive campaign of conquest—requires making numerous assumptions about geopolitics, economics, military capabilities, and societal responses. The scenario diverges sharply from historical reality, so I’ll outline a plausible chain of events based on historical context, the ideologies involved, and logical extrapolations, while acknowledging the complexity and uncertainty of such a counterfactual. I’ll trace key global developments from 1940 to 2025, focusing on major geopolitical, social, and economic consequences.Immediate Context (1940–1945): U.S. as an Axis PowerU.S. Joins the Axis: In 1940, the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) were at their peak, with Germany dominating Europe and Japan expanding in Asia. The U.S., under Ford’s leadership, joining the Axis would drastically shift the balance of power. Historically, the U.S. was a key Allied power, providing immense industrial and military support. Its alignment with Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan would eliminate the Lend-Lease program, weaken the Allies (Britain, Soviet Union, and China), and likely prolong and intensify World War II.
Ford’s Ideology and Technocracy: Henry Ford, a noted industrialist, held anti-Semitic views and admired aspects of authoritarian efficiency, which could align with Axis ideologies. Howard Scott’s Technocracy movement advocated for a technocratic system where engineers and scientists manage society based on efficiency, potentially influencing Ford’s policies. A Ford-Scott administration might prioritize industrial output, centralized planning, and authoritarian governance, reshaping the U.S. into a technocratic-fascist hybrid.
Conquests in the Western Hemisphere:Canada and Newfoundland: The U.S., with its overwhelming industrial and military capacity, could likely overrun Canada, annexing its provinces and territories, including Newfoundland (then a British dominion). Resistance from Canadian forces and British support would be limited without U.S. Allied backing.
Greenland and Iceland: These sparsely populated territories, strategically important for Atlantic control, would fall quickly to U.S. naval and air forces, especially without British or Allied opposition.
British Isles: Invading Britain would be a monumental challenge, even for a U.S.-Axis alliance. The U.S. Navy, combined with German U-boats and Luftwaffe, could attempt to starve Britain via blockade and launch an invasion (akin to a successful Operation Sea Lion). However, Britain’s Royal Navy, air defenses, and geographic isolation would make this a costly endeavor. Success would depend on overwhelming U.S. industrial output and German coordination, potentially achieved by 1942–1943.
Rest of the New World: Annexing Latin America and the Caribbean would face logistical challenges and guerrilla resistance, particularly in Mexico and South America. However, U.S. military dominance and economic leverage could secure much of the hemisphere, establishing puppet regimes or direct control by 1945.
World War II Outcomes (1940–1950)Axis Dominance: With U.S. industrial might (e.g., producing tanks, planes, and ships at unprecedented scale), the Axis could defeat the Soviet Union by 1943–1944, as the USSR would lack U.S. Lend-Lease aid. Germany might consolidate control over Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East. Japan, bolstered by U.S. resources, could dominate Asia and the Pacific, subjugating China and Southeast Asia.
Global Resistance: The Allies, reduced to remnants (e.g., Free French forces, Chinese guerrillas), would wage asymmetric warfare. Resistance movements in Europe, Asia, and the Americas would persist, fueled by resentment against Axis authoritarianism and U.S. imperialism.
Technocratic Governance: In the U.S. and its territories, Ford’s administration, influenced by Scott’s technocracy, might implement a system prioritizing efficiency over democracy. This could involve centralized economic planning, suppression of dissent, and infrastructure megaprojects. However, technocracy’s lack of populist appeal might spark domestic unrest, especially among labor unions and minorities targeted by Ford’s prejudices.
Post-War World (1950–1980)Axis Global Order: By 1950, the Axis powers, led by a U.S.-German-Japanese triumvirate, might establish a new world order, dividing the globe into spheres of influence:U.S.: Dominates the Western Hemisphere, British Isles, and parts of the Atlantic.
Germany: Controls Europe, the Middle East, and much of Africa.
Japan: Rules East Asia and the Pacific.
Cold War Analog: Tensions among the Axis powers would likely emerge due to ideological differences and competing ambitions. The U.S., with its technocratic bent, might clash with Germany’s racial ideology or Japan’s imperial traditionalism. A cold war-like dynamic could develop, with proxy conflicts in Africa, South Asia, or unaligned regions.
Technological and Economic Trends: The U.S., leveraging Ford’s industrial expertise and Scott’s technocratic vision, would prioritize automation, mass production, and infrastructure (e.g., transcontinental highways, energy grids). This could accelerate technological development but at the cost of social freedoms. Europe and Asia, under German and Japanese rule, might lag due to less efficient governance or resource constraints.
Resistance and Instability: Occupied territories, especially Britain and Canada, would face ongoing insurgencies. Latin American nations might form guerrilla alliances, supported covertly by dissident factions within the Axis or neutral powers. The U.S.’s technocratic policies could alienate populations, leading to underground movements advocating for democracy or socialism.
Late 20th Century to Early 21st Century (1980–2020)Axis Fragmentation: By the 1980s, the Axis alliance might fracture. The U.S., with its economic dominance, could seek to assert primacy, leading to conflicts with Germany or Japan. A weakened Germany, facing European resistance, might collapse into factionalism, akin to a Nazi version of the Soviet Union’s dissolution. Japan, overstretched in Asia, could face uprisings in China or Indonesia.
Technocratic Legacy: The U.S.’s technocratic system might evolve into a global model, with mixed results. Efficient resource allocation could drive prosperity in loyal regions, but authoritarianism would stifle innovation and cultural diversity. Environmental degradation, a likely byproduct of relentless industrialization, could spark crises by the 2000s.
Global Power Shifts: Non-Axis regions (e.g., parts of Africa, South Asia) might coalesce into a third bloc, leveraging resources like oil or rare earths to challenge Axis dominance. A multipolar world could emerge, with the U.S. as a technocratic superpower, a weakened Germany, a resurgent Japan, and new players like a united African federation or an Indian-led coalition.
Present Day (2025)Geopolitical Landscape: The world in 2025 would likely be a patchwork of technocratic and authoritarian regimes, with the U.S. as the preeminent power but facing internal and external challenges. The Western Hemisphere, under U.S. control, might resemble a dystopian version of the EU, with centralized planning but suppressed dissent. Europe, recovering from German collapse, could be a battleground of warlord states or technocratic enclaves. Asia might see a fragmented Japan contending with a resurgent China.
Social and Cultural Impacts: The technocratic emphasis on efficiency could create a global culture of utilitarianism, with art, religion, and individualism marginalized. However, underground movements—promoting democracy, spirituality, or local traditions—would persist, especially in formerly independent nations like Canada or Britain.
Technology and Environment: Advanced technologies (AI, robotics, energy systems) would be widespread, driven by U.S. innovation, but environmental crises (climate change, resource depletion) would pose existential threats. Technocratic solutions, like geoengineering, might be deployed, with mixed success.
Global Stability: The world would be unstable, with ongoing insurgencies, economic disparities, and Axis power rivalries. A global resistance network, possibly led by intellectuals or former Allied remnants, could challenge the U.S.-led order, setting the stage for a potential global conflict or reformation.
Key UncertaintiesSustainability of U.S. Conquests: The logistical and economic strain of occupying vast territories could overextend the U.S., leading to collapse or decentralization by the 1970s.
Axis Cohesion: Ideological differences between the U.S., Germany, and Japan could lead to an earlier Axis split, altering global dynamics.
Public Response: Widespread resistance to technocratic authoritarianism, especially in democratic-leaning regions, could undermine Ford’s vision, leading to revolutions or reforms.
Technological Wildcards: Rapid advancements in nuclear, cyber, or biological technologies could either solidify U.S. dominance or empower smaller actors to disrupt the global order.
ConclusionBy 2025, a U.S.-led Axis victory under a Ford-Scott administration would likely create a world dominated by technocratic authoritarianism, with the U.S. as the central power managing a vast but fractious empire. The global order would be marked by efficiency-driven governance, suppressed freedoms, and persistent resistance. However, internal contradictions, environmental crises, and rivalries among former Axis powers could destabilize this system, potentially leading to a fragmented or reformed world. The exact trajectory would depend on how resistance movements, technological developments, and Axis infighting unfold over decades.