Decade by Decade Summary

US: Republican dominated. The US gets involved in the Middle Eastern War, and moves to a unilateral international stance. The Cyberbomb.

Mexico: Slowly builds up its economy over this and the next decade. Mexico will not be a real player until the late 20s, but does manage to improve its economy considerably.

South America: Rain forest damage slows somewhat as tourist trade (particularly coastal states) rises. Brazil isolationist, as it builds its strength to join in on international affairs.

Russia: Increasing friction with the US, but nothing serious manages to happen. Russia is continuing to lose ground in international affairs.

EU: The European Union military force, separate from the UN, is formed. EU continues to expand economically, and acts as a staging ground for the US war on terrorism.

General: The Middle East collapses into outright warfare over the course of this decade, and the US begins taking sides (to the resentment of Russia and China). By the end of the decade, the Middle East is raging.

Israel: Terrorism, bombings and raids peak in the latter half of this decade, making life almost unbearable. Israel becomes a modern Sparta.

Japan: Continues to grow economically, recovering from its mild depression over the course of the decade.

China: Modernizes its military, grows its financial power, and so on. Under new leadership from Pau Kun, China seems invigorated.

Other: In general, these countries continue to build themselves up, selling themselves to corporate business.

General: Brush wars continue through this decade, with a few stronger flare ups, but this is really just the calm before the storm. US involvement in Africa drops to almost nil as valuable resources are redirected into the Middle East.

The International Space Station.

Near the end of the decade, unemployment takes a sharp rise.

US: Economy weakens over the course of the Middle Eastern War (which mostly ends this decade). Puerto Rico becomes the 51st State. Marcia Rodriguez.

Mexico: Continues to build up its economy.

South America: Largely unchanged from the 00s.

Russia: Gets involved in the Middle Eastern War, to US dismay. The Bear has returned.

EU: Europe continues to remain somewhat neutral in the Middle Eastern War, providing money but little in the way of troops. By the end of this decade, the EU is a financial 1st power.

General: The War dominates the decade as Chinese, Russian and US forces pound the warring nations. It all ends when China drops three nuclear missiles over the course of 2019.

Israel: Surviving on aid from foreign countries, Israel is wartorn and weary.

China: The Tiger awakens, and gets involved in the Middle Eastern War. Throughout this decade, China will become more and more internationally involved.

Japan: Enters an economic boom and begins currying favor from non-China powers, just in case.

Other: despite dire feelings, a newly invigorated China benefits most of these countries, and no move is made to "conquer" them. Economies begin to pick up.

General: Africa goes down in flames.

Fishing trade worldwide has to be curtailed due to depleted oceans.

MuseWeb begins to become popular.

US: Energy Bubble promotes economic boom time, after the far too expensive war.The US-Russian Alliance and the Cold War with China. Ghsot farms. GID Protocol gains acceptance.

Canada: Undergoes a renaissance in the entertainment industry, as the continuing buildup of independant film makers combines with MuseWeb to create an astounding artistic community.

Middle & South America: Energy Bubble promotes economic boom time. Brazil begins nosing its way into international affairs.

Russia: The US-Russian Alliance and the Cold War with China. Russia begins to enter a golden age of capitalism.

EU: Massive economic growth, fueled by EU's status as a corporate center for the world economy.

General: The Middle East is mostly a burnt out shell. China, Russia and US occupy the remains with the hope of rebuilding them as functioning members of the international community. China takes the hard line (which works) and the US takes a fairly wimpy route (which does not work).

India: Worst poverty of the last 200 years.

China: The new solitary superpower, with a strong technology foundation, access to space (and many well-funded programs there), and economic might. A strong antinuclear sentiment has formed. China puts a man on the moon, and sends a manned mission to Mars.

Japan: A nervous, small, but financially powerful neighbor of China.

Other: Severely injured by spillover from the Eastern War, still in reasonable shape.

General: Africa begins slowly rebuilding, although the process is known to be long, mostly with funding from EU.

US: Increasing city congestion as urban center populations increase. US-Russian Mars Mission. GeneGate.

Middle & South America: Brazil continues to be involved in international affairs as a "second power". Galapagos Launch Facility.

Russia: The US-Russian Mars Mission.

EU: Social renaissance, complete with lots of alternative life styles.

General: Rebuilding.

China: China has continued to grow as a military superpower, and has begun to watchdog international affairs. In particular, China begins providing a sizable chunk of relief funds to various countries in Africa. The Mars Mission lands a man on Mars.

Japan: Similar to 90s Canada.

General: Rebuilding.

Moon: A permanent lunar base is erected, with 6-10 people year round.

US: Thirders and Opium Heads. Protests, and 1200 dead in a nationwide riot. Miraculous medicine.

Brazil: Growth in international affairs as Brazil's economy begins to rival that of first world nations. The Brazil bullet train.

EU: Thirders and an extremely open atmosphere. Continues to grow financially, and allies with Russia on many economic matters.

Russia: Financially exceeds the US, moving back into first world power status.

General: Chinese occupied regions begin to reach second world status, although beneath a very authoritarian regime. US-Russia occupied regions continue to suffer through the initial tremors of a shift to capitalism.

China: Alliance and aid to Africa pans out with the opening of the Congo Launch Facility. China is now the foremost military in the world, on a multitude of levels.

General: A number of African states are now allied with China, and continue to grow their economies piecemeal (the Chinese Method). Chinese-Congo Launch Facility opens new doors to space.

Wealthy young adults are often genefixed, genescreened, and trait selected.

Enhanced reality.

US: Similar to the 1970s, revolution begins to settle down as Thirder views are partially adopted into the mainstream. The US begins focusing on catching up to the rest of the world.

Brazil: Economically a world power, Brazil allies with Japan (called the Margin Alliance) to establish a foothold in space.

Russia: Formal adoption of the Middle Eastern countries it is occupying (some call it annexation). A fading of the US-Russian Alliance.

EU: Europe suffers through a period of backlash against the hedonistic atmosphere, and undergoes something of a Puritanism Revival. This lasts for most of the decade, but almost entirely snuffs out by the end, and is largely regarded as a singularly bad idea. The economy downturns.

North: Annexed by Russia. While this is protested bitterly, bringing the nations directly into Russia's burgeoning economy turns out to be a good thing, and growth begins.

East: China continues to monitor these regions, but has largely relieved them of control. Most young people in this region are bilingual, speaking Chinese and their native tongue.

West: US largely abandons its duties over the course of this decade, as it becomes more isolationist and focused on "catching up". These regions continue to be very poor.

India: After decades of rebuilding, India is still poor, and now in debt up to its eyeballs. Ananthaswalli crops up as a religious and political idealist whom the Indian people begin to follow. Preaching separatism and self-reliance, he sparks a movement in India of cutting ties with the outside world which shakes through most of the decade.

Japan: The motto of this decade is "New Management", and the wine and technology flow freely. Japan begins mimicking the more successful aspects of EU culture, and begins to become very important. An alliance with Brazil (called the Margin Alliance) is made to open doors to space.

China: Establishes a small embassy at the Artemis Project. Continues to be the foremost military power in the world, but this is less important than finances this decade.

General: For once, Africa begins to know real opportunity in international affairs. Although the Congo facility barely competes with the Galapagos facility, Africa is beginning to achieve some foothold in space.

Project Centauri I.

Mass driver on the moon.

Rational computers.

US: In the face of internal conflicts and scandals in government, the US-Russian Alliance begins to fade in importance locally. Near the end of the decade, the failure of the US-Russian Alliance to prevent the "secession" of Lunar City finishes killing it.

Brazil: Allies with and supports Lunar City in its bid for freedom, jeopardizing Brazil's relationship with the US, but strengthening ties with Galapagos and Ecuador (the real monetary powers). Religious revival and swelling feelings of national pride.

Russia: The newly enlarged Russia suffers short term tremors as populations shift around. The populace flexes its democratic muscles, and shakes up some elements of government. The defining event for the decade, however, is the Lunar "secession" at the end of the decade, which also effectively kills the US-Russian Alliance.

EU: Europe's economy begins to upswing again, and while the state is still somewhat puritan, the degree to which it had become uptight is relaxed.

East: A social and civic revival take place over this decade, as China formally releases them from occupation. Most soldiers of the war are tottering old men now, and the former children are ruling the country. Ties with China remain strong, and China tries to keep up appearances as a benevolent mentor.

West: Some of the easternmost nations attempt to establish ties with their richer, eastern neighbors, but the process is a slow one. The US half-heartedly intervenes in a fwe cases to prevent starvation, but really doesn't do much.

India: The Ivory Curtain closes over India for this and the next decade. Sporadic fighting occurs within the borders.

Japan: Allies with and supports Lunar City in its bid for freedom, jeopardizing Japan's relationship with almost everyone, but strengthening ties with the space powers and China. Japan is the first nation (near the end of this decade) to really accept MicroGibson-based virtual reality.

China: Allies with and supports Lunar City in its bid for freedom. China generally maintains an appearance of a benevolent mentor "for all countries", ruled by ancient wisdom and modern sensibilities. Offers to take over the Western Middle East from the US are politely refused. Rise in religious values.

General: Nation-building and civic revival. Congo becomes the "satellite nation", and plans for a orbital beanstalk are talked about seriously.

The Deliverator worm (the author is caught later in the decade, in Russia).

Lunar City: The Artemis Project formally announces its automony near the end of the year, and successfully defends itself from the half-hearted attempt by the US-Russian Alliance to prevent it. China establishes an embassy to Lunar City.

US: Technically a world power, the US does not really pursue any causes or shake anything up. Clones are legal.

Brazil: Brazil, in conjunction with Lunar City and Galapagos Launch Inc, ptus a small manned base on the moon. Brazil becomes the "software nation".

Mexico: Mexico establishes a strong environmental campaign.

Russia: Technically a world power, Russia does not really pursue any causes or shake anything up.

EU: Slowly at first, but building up a serious head of steam by the end of this decade, the biotech revolution begins in Europe.

General: Against the wishes of the US (not that they do anything about it), China moves in to the western half of the Middle East and begins helping them build.

India: After two decades of isolationism, India breaks down and establishes ties with EU to seek help with its economy (still unwilling to deal with China). European corporations see in India a source of cheap intellectual labor, and an opportunity to monopolize an entire population once it grows its economy.

China: China begins plans to establish a colony on the moon, although it does not really happen this decade. Most of this decade is dominated by the Chinese helping rebuild the Middle East, and continuing to strengthen economic ties with Africa.

Japan: Streaks ahead of the rest of the world within the narrow niche of artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and infostructures. Largely internally focused.

Congo: Economically, beginning to compete with Galapagos, although from a satellite focus rather than a industrial production focus.

General: With a few exceptions, a number of African nations begin discussing an AU (African Union) similar to the EU. Old rivalries generally prevent this, however.

Fusion power.

Otherwise, a pretty boring decade.

US: The Hall Nanofac is put into production early in the decade, and astoundingly rapidly begins to dominate industrial production. This brings the US back to being an economic power in a fairly short time, and literally restructures the balance of power between the nations. However, the US keeps the Hall Nanofac technology as secret as possible for most of the decade. Industrial espionage by other nations reaches an all time high, and the US finds itself becoming increasingly unilateral again, and takes on a fighting stance as regards other nations.

Brazil & Galapagos: Crunched by a sudden upswing in US production capabilities, the Margin Alliance finds itself relying more and more on its software technical abilities. Within two years of the Congo Beanstalk, Galapagos Launch Inc and Brazil manage to erect on in Ecuador.

Russia: The biotech revolution leaks into Russia from EU, and undergoes a social and religious renaissance. The Bear turns inward for some navel gazing, although that does not prevent them from racing China to put a colony on the moon.

EU: Puritanism gasps its last, dying breath as the biotech revolution hits full swing. Combining with virtual reality, advanced Japanese neurotech and increasingly cheap production from the US, Europe begins to flounder in its own excesses.

General: The Middle East continues to grow its economy and power, and begins modernizing its military force as allies with China. Solar and fusion power both become dominant, and many nations begin examining niches in the world economy.

India: EU biotech literally turns the poor Indian economy on its ear. Over the first half of the decade, India shifts to a second world nation, and begins working on its place in the world. Eurocorps encourage them in the direction of agricultural biotech, particularly those which will be of use in hostile environments.

China: Moon colony, racing Russia. China is now deeply involved in nations covering roughly half the planet, and the vast majority of the landmass. Most international affairs are dominated by the Chinese presence.

Japan: Continues to become the infotech nation.

Congo: The orbital beanstalk (a space elevator) goes up, cheapening space travel to obscenely cheap levels.

General: Talks of an African Union are pushed through by competitive needs, although it will not actually occur until the 2090s. Africa begins to take on the role of a second best brother, able to do anything any other nation can do, half as well. Specialization seems increasingly elusive.

Moon: A number of nations begin to establish colonies on the moon, mostly clustered near Lunar City. Lunar City becomes loan and profit oriented, helping others open up parts of the moon and attempting to create a "melting pot" without compromising L.C. values.

US: At the beginning of the decade, the Hall Nanofac is leaked to Webnet, and the secret is gone. US loses its competitive edge (particularly against Lunar City), and after a lot of posturing for the better part of 2092, shifts to a mercenary position, hiring out its skilled labor force to those who are trying to adapt the nanotech revolution to their economy.

Brazil: The Margin Alliance (Brazil and Japan) team up again, this time exploring the infotech frontier. Brazilian top-notch programmers and Japanese information scientists get together to rewrite Webnet, neuraltech, and more. What will come of this is anyone's guess.

Galapagos & Ecuador: The Ecuador Beanstalk, in conjunction with Galapagos mass drivers and rocket technology, dominates the space trade. Money flows like red, red wine.

EU: Russia joins the European Union as a "Major Partner", and begins pouring resources into biotech, and helps stabilize the EU economy.

General: The nanotech revolution provides much of the Middle East with a suddenly needed niche: production resources. Oil becomes valuable again, as a root substance to construct items with.

India: Becomes the "food nation", as farmland is largely abandoned over much of the rest of the world, India begins taking up much of the slack (with much of the rest of the slack taken up by China).

China: China begins proposing a world government (guided by them, of course) and covers up a number of small civil wars within its own borders.

Japan: See Brazil (under the Americas).

General: Deprived of first status even in the beanstalk, the African Union finally forms, and spends the first six years of this decade deciding what to do. Still, Africa manages to be fairly successful economically, just not dominant in any major field, and a decision slowly worms its way through... AU will remain as it is, less dominant, but more likely to survive change.

Lunar City: Tries to establish itself as a portal region, the city you go to to enact commerce, opening their doors to the corrupting taint of "outsiders" for the first time since the highly restrictive immigration laws. Lunar City undergoes severe changes, as the mass of immigrants overwhelm the "cultural superiority" of Lunar City itself. Still, Old Wealth holds some sway, and the people in power tend to be "natives", while the new class of overpopulated immigrants take lower class jobs and party late into the night.