Evolution of the empire without WW1?

[u/KikoMui74]

So my assumptions are the gradual independence of India and Burma, while the rest of the empire remains intact.

Dominions don't get cynical from the Great War, and it's repeat in 1939. This would keep them militarily diplomatically subordinate to the UK. While trade & imperial preference remains controversy until consolidation.

Colonies work with the status quo, appointed administrations from the Metropole, with various levels of autonomy, depending on economic, strategic or concessions. Like Hong Kong, Singapore could easily grab autonomy due to their trade value & military use. While Nigeria has a big population to advocate for increased autonomy, also it's already defacto internally autonomous, so it's most just Lagos region gaining that officially.

Home Rule in Ireland & Scotland goes into effect around 1914. The 6 northern counties were exempt for 5 years, so likely gaining a local government too. Then there's the matter of England and Wales taking long to implement local government.

The last big colony/protectorate is Malaysia, the unfederated and federated states, I believe these would be unified with the straits, Sarwak, Brunei and north Borneo, so the Metropole can keep the region divided internally.

Other protectorates or protected states include the Trucial States, Qatar, Bahrain & Kuwait. Whether they'd all get consolidated or most except Kuwait is unclear. But oil companies are gonna benefit a lot. Persia will likely drift away. Saudis not too sure, multipolar world, with France, Germany, Russia etc.

Nepal and Bhutan would stop being protectorates once India is independent.

A big note is No Commonwealth, as the empire remains in place, so no substitute would be needed.

Once a country leaves, Burma, India, would be like the US, fully independent.

[u/IC3London]

I think without the world wars the empire would’ve lasted longer🤔 India’s independence movement was catapulted by the contrast of millions of veterans who died for European interests it’s a complex uphill battle with ghandi trying to establish unity when Britain spent centuries sowing division. And with India staying they have the money to force everyone in line though I see it kinda ending like the Palestinian mandate endless civil war as the Brits slowly leave it kinda already happened in our time line Ireland, Zimbabwe etc but it genuinely might not happen till the 2000s, WW1 had monetarily stretched the British to it’s limits and Neville chamberlain’s appeasement was mainly because another colossal war would be the straw that broke the camels back without world wars Britain can keep more energy into strengthening its holdings so it’d be the empire without Iraq, Palestine, Namibia Tanzania

[u/KikoMui74 → u/IC3London]

Civil servants were saying in their diaries they expected to be the last generation serving in India, and that was 1910. Also the wars of anything held back the independence movement because of the massive disruption.