NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: Mostly, because I cooked up a post I liked in a discussion thread, but the thread got locked immeadiately thereafter, and my point was never answered. Ah, well. This is an excerpt from a book put out by my Intelligence Chief, Anderas Kerrik.

IC:

"...What, then, is the point of SATO, if no opponents are on the field. If the CACE is no longer acting out, and The Reich has been defeated, and the GDODAD reformed, then what good is the defensive alliance of SATO? Right now, it suffers, because it is the answer to a problem that is not being asked. Should this problem occur, SATO would regain it's relevance, but would that take to long? Would it have fallen into too long of disrepair? In the humble opinion of the ISA, we believe that SATO first needs to find it's role, it's part of the equation. Only then can it regain relevancy, not vice versa. SATO needs to know what question it is answering, before it can seek to give that answer out...

"...the quandary we now face, as a world, is not so much a power vacuum, but a power dispersion. The problem is that the world is so equal, that the Hobbesian "State of Nature" has begun to assert itself. Alliances are only as strong as they can be at forging, and they are bound only by trivial matters. Realpolitic and Raison de e'tat (sp) are the only binding factors. Nations rise and fall like the waves, and leaders pivot about, without warning. The old powers, which for so long established the Status Quo, are now swamped in a morass of semi-powers, who seek the thrones. In this terrifyingly equal world, security and stability can only be guaranteed by force and sanction...

"...as such, we, the semi-powers, now have the ball in our court. It is our alliegance that matters, our resources that may tip the scales. The superpowers may not realize this yet, but a massive restructuring of order surely lies ahead, for no system can sustain the internal stresses our world is subjected to. Something must give, and it is our choice to position ourselves for that eventuality. We can give, or we can take, and our placement in this world is what will decide who becomes the power, and who is consumed by power...

"...this is the fluid world we now live in, and the choices the Alliances have, is how to align themselves. So, this comes full circle, through every action and reaction. What are the problems these alliances answer? Do they solve the right problems? Can we trust them to do so? These questions are the future, and they will shape our lives."

-ISA Director Anderas Kerrik
-Excerpted from: "Commentary on the Modern World"
-Chapter Six: "The Wax and Wane of the Great Powers"

(Available, for $7.99, USD at any Kaukolastani Bookstore!)

These clips have been sound bytes on Kaukolastani Politcal Debates and Talk Radio for the past week, and many politcians have begun weighing in on Director Kerrik's questions and stances.

OOC: In other words, feel free to post replies, agreement, or argument here. But keep it civil. Think like it's a Crossfire show, and they're talking about the book with you're representative...

Huh? Don't know what you're talking about here. Saw another thread claiming that the Reich has been defeated on Mars?! Interesting, since we don't have space colonies and never have been on Mars. Well *Shrugs* someday we will see the truth....

Taggity.

Something about realpolitick would be nice.

...and The Reich has been defeated...

I wish.

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

The sound byte played on the computer screen, from The Republic of Syskeyia, and the host, John Gerisimo, turned to Kerrik, who was sitting in a chair opposite him in the set. "Well, Director, there seems to be some question about that statement. Could you explain?"

Kerrik nodded, tugged gently on his suit. "It's quite simple, John. There was, at the time I was writing my analysis, the statement by a minister of Laverunz that the Reich had been defeated. This was the focus of the first paragraph quoted on the show. I was using that in reference to the power dispersion we are experiencing.

"If you look before it, I spoke of Laverunz's statement, and that was a question issued towards the readers, to make them think about the world situation. In actuallity, the Reich is still functioning, but like all of the "powerful" alliances, it is moribund. Once again, the dispersion has struck. All of these alliances are so well balanced, that they would bring each other to their knees, even in a victory. As such, they cannot afford war. So, they are locked into a cold war, with hot flashes scattered about. This is what I was talking about, the entropy of the alliances."

The host nodded, "Well, thank you, Director. Next, we move to our panel of experts! But first, this commercial break."

OOC: Anyone can have an analyst from their country. Keep the RP solid, and remember, this is Crossfire-like. NO DECLARATIONS OF WAR OR OTHER STUPID SHIT! Also, even without a presence, you can "phone in" questions and answers.

"I believe that there is a continuing and worrying trend of nations going 'evil' these days. The civil rights movement had its hight a few years ago, with multiple alliances dedicated to intervening in countries with human rights violations. However these days there is little left of that initial enthusiasm. The relative strength of Arda is testimony to that, in my opinion."