Historical Counterfactual Analysis

An early invention of the transistor in 1920 would have had profound implications across numerous domains, drastically altering the course of history.

Technological Implications:

1. WWII: The transistor, a fundamental component of modern electronic devices, could have advanced the technology used in WWII significantly. Communication devices, radar systems, navigation tools, and weaponry would have been more reliable, compact, and efficient. This could have potentially shortened the war or even altered the outcome.
2. Cold War: The transistor would have accelerated the development of computer technology, potentially leading to an earlier establishment of the internet for military use. The espionage and intelligence aspects of the Cold War would also be drastically changed with more advanced technology.
3. Space Race: The miniaturization of technology that transistors allow could have enabled more sophisticated spacecraft much earlier, potentially leading to an earlier moon landing or even more ambitious space missions.
4. Consumer Electronics: The availability of transistors in the 1920s would have allowed the development of portable radios, televisions, personal computers, and other consumer electronics decades earlier than in our timeline. This would have had profound cultural effects, accelerating the Information Age and changing societal structures.

Economic Implications:

1. Structure of Major Economies: The earlier advent of the transistor would have caused a shift towards information-based economies much earlier. This may have also led to earlier offshoring of manufacturing jobs, which could affect the economic balance of power between nations.
2. Beneficiary Countries: Countries with strong scientific and industrial capabilities like the U.S., Germany, and the U.K. would likely benefit most initially. However, countries like Japan, South Korea, and later China, which became leaders in electronics production, may have also risen to prominence earlier.

Geopolitical Implications:

1. The global balance of power may have shifted, depending on who had access to transistor technology and who could manufacture it on a large scale.
2. Earlier development of computing technology could have also influenced the decolonization process, and perhaps even prevented some conflicts, through better communication and data processing.

Unexpected Consequences:

1. The rapid technological advancements due to the early invention of the transistor could lead to a faster depletion of natural resources used in electronics manufacturing.
2. This could also lead to earlier environmental awareness and regulations, and perhaps an earlier emergence of renewable energy technologies.
3. The societal impacts of an earlier Information Age could be profound, leading to earlier shifts in societal structures, behaviors, and norms. This could include everything from an earlier emergence of digital culture to changes in work patterns and the organization of cities.

In conclusion, if the transistor had been invented in 1920, the world of 1980 could have been significantly more technologically advanced, potentially resembling today's world in many ways.