



Newswatch
History of the Soviet Union
- 2000-2011: Soviet policies and society stay the same as they have for the past 90
years. Standard of living drops slightly. Central government increases pressure on Soviet
satellites around the world. Afghanistan is completely controlled by Soviet forces. Soviet and
Chinese forces engage in sporadic border clashes.
- 2012: The Grain Blight hits the Ukraine. Nuclear exchange that follows results in
relatively minor damage, as satellite defences neutralize most inbound missiles.
- 2013: Russian equivalent of Food Riots spread throughout country: government loses all
semblance of control.
- 2014: Socialist Politburo falls in a bloody rebellion started by the KGB and Red Army.
- 2015-2023: Anarchy throughout Russia. Several small factions made up of Party and
KGB leaders try to take control, but fail. Small empires rise and fall in central Russia. Death
tool from famine and violence over past 11 years estimated at over 35 million.
- 2024: A small group of scientists, philosophers, religious leaders, and other educated
men who survived the Black Years (as they became known) come out of hiding and form a
small society in south central Russia based on work programs and strict rationing of
protein-enriched algae. (This Russian-developed algae is much like the algae foods developed
in the U.S; but it is not quite as nutritionally efficient and even less palatable than the American
type. It is, however, food.)
- 2025-2032: The New Peoples Party extends its programs and power, slowly reuniting
Russia. Government is based on Socialist economic principles, but a large amount of personal
freedom and free enterprise is allowed on the local level. The United States government starts
sending small amounts of aid to the new government. Living conditions improve. The Russian
military starts to rebuild, but is mostly organized in small local militias with members serving
on a reserve basis. New Peoples Party invites former Eastern Bloc countries to formally be
absorbed by the Second Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Only Poland and Afghanistan
refuse.
- 2033-2036: Russian citizens enjoy a higher standard of living than anytime in past 200
years. S.U.S.S.R. is formally recognized by most other nations in world. Autoduelling
telecasts from the U.S. gain in popularity, but autoduelling is officially a "public menace," not a
sport, and illegal.
Issue 5/2 Index