I decided to spend some time playing through the latest update of Kremlingames’ China: Mao’s Legacy late last night. Apparently, Kremlingames is planning to release a future expansion of that game later this year called “The Fallen Eagle,” which might expand the game to include the German-speaking world and/or the Arab-speaking world. By “Eagle,” I am assuming that it is in reference to the “German Black Eagle” (West German Bundesadler or pre-1945 Reichsadler) or the “Eagle of Saladin” signifying the United Arab Republic (UAR).

While there already exists content for the UAR and the States of Israel and Palestine, the latest update appears to imply the former insofar as the user interface for diplomacy with the West has changed. Now, instead of having to contact the West directly through the EU/NATO, the player is able to separately contact individual European nations and the EU/NATO. With the UI now individualizing the European nations in the EU/NATO, it is possible to envisage scenarios on a scale comparable to what is already possible in Latin America.

For those who do not remember, I covered the game’s Latin American expansion last August, where I mentioned how the game delved into serious geopolitical questions regarding Mainland China’s relations with Latin America. In that context, the player is expected to either intervene in Latin America, focus exclusively on the Eurasian landmass, or both. Should the player participate in the affairs of Latin America as Mainland China, they will be able to promote regime change against Neoliberal regimes as part of building a pro-Chinese economic alliance. As I pointed out in the aforementioned post, the player has to realize that the path to building that economic alliance is not at all straightforward. Not all potential allies will be Maoists or Marxist-Leninists; the vast majority are going to be State Socialists, Democratic Socialists, Social-Democrats and Social Conservatives. In some cases, temporarily siding with Latin American Fascists and compelling them to form alliances with Anti-Neoliberal forces can go a long way toward ending Neoliberalism in Latin America.

From the perspective of Mainland China, especially a Marxist-Leninist-Maoist one, what would be the point of siding with the Fascists? The player will come to a bittersweet realization that if they cannot bring Latin America into Mainland China’s sphere of influence, then neither should the US. Two examples involve convincing Fascists in Chile and Paraguay to overthrow Pinochet and Stroessner respectively as part of broad pro-democratic coalitions. Backing Argentina in the Falklands War is another case. With that framework in mind, I am already envisioning similar dynamics involving the EU/NATO countries.

• Should the player, as Mainland China, side with the Western Bloc to oppose the Soviets?
• Should they be siding with the Eastern Bloc to challenge the Americans?
• Should the Europeans be persuaded to side with Mainland China against the Soviets and the Americans?
• Or should Europe become home to several independent Great Powers?

Based on how Kremlingames approached Koreans and Japanese, I would not be too surprised if their plans for the European nations follow similar patterns.

Categories: Politics

Tags: ARPLAN, China, Cold War, Economics, Finance, Gaming, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Socialist Finance, Third Place, Work-Standard