NationStates Jolt Archive

Yes, its one of those ‘tell a little bit about yourself’ threads.

Who are the social elite in your nation? (or “dominant class”, if you are a Marxist)

NOTE: the social elite is not a single person or institution like ‘the King” or “parliament”. It is the group of people that has the most influence in your nation. (And is usually the well-respected.)

Examples (there could be more)
-The aristocracy. (Lavenrunz, Iansisle)
-The clergy (Iesus Christi, I imagine. Or Syskeyia.)
-The corporate elite. (The Resi Corporation, Der Angst before their recent changes.)
-The military (Officers, countless nations in NS seem to be dominated completely by the military)
-The Party elite. (Pretty much all communist nations, I figure. Can also apply to non-communist parties though.)
-The social elite (Intellectuals, for example. Its somewhat more fuzzy. I would consider Knootoss such a nation. There isn’t really a group with a status-aparte, but the well-educated and well-to-do are clearly overrepresented in many ways.)

Sometimes there is a difference in social and economic stature.
For example, in Knootoss the intellectual elite (the “liberal” elite for you Americans out there) would have the most stature, but not exactly economic power. Academics dominate institutions such as parliament and other representative bodies, and policy is generally made to favour them.

Being a businessmen, or being wealthy for that matter, doesn’t rank very high in social stature in Knootoss But economically most power is in the hands of relatively few businessmen of a few corporations: RecDrug Incorporated, Pink Bunny Cola Inc., Omnitouch, KNN etc. Microcosm too, I figure. :)

How about your nation?

Kaukolastan is very dominated by the Internal Security Agency (ISA), which weilds frightening (and growing) power. It monitors every citizen through every use of credit cards, tracks people daily, logs phone calls and emails. If you could ask them (and not be added to a List) they could tell you where every member of your family is, as well as what they had to eat. As such, no politician would really dare cross them, for fear of some "incident" coming out of the woodwork, but the ISA is still somewhat under the Executive Branch's control.

Every security camera in the nation is linked into the Argus Network by law. Satellites look down on every action. Every phone line is blatantly tapped. Fiberoptics have a side line to monitor. Mail is scanned. Cars are data-dumped to track your locations via GPS systems. Documents are photocopied and submitted. Medical records are handed over monthly. Taxes are logged. Every person has a File, and every File is current. Too many Flags in that File, and you Vanish. In effect, everything you do CAN and WILL be used against you.

Also large power is the Corporate Elite, but they are dwarfed compared to the vast information wealth of the nearly omniscient intelligence service. Their unoffocial motto:

"Protecting you from yourself... even if you don't know it."

In Aelosia the social elite of the society is the Aristocracy, composed of the ten Great Houses of the Empire and the one hundred Lesser Houses.

Yet, as the Houses comprises almost all the high officers of the military, the most talented artists and scientists, most of the intellectuals and the biggest Corporate CEOs, I suppose they're an elite group too...

Although in the startings of the new Omzian Republic the Party (Socialist party) dominated the entire country, Omzian Nation too, has an intellectual elite. Education is considered very important in the Omzian culture, and is well-valued and funded by the current government (from improved schools to public [free] college and university positions) besides various other issues (suprisingly, including military and defence). The Omzian society long considers skills and intelligence is more important than wealth and power, as a person with such intelligence can serve the country well, and make great decisions when in power. Oma Zee, the founder of the current government, is himself a highly intelligent man holdding various university degrees -- such as law degrees. The Parliament and local (provincial) governments require elected members to have at least a college graduation, and in a recent survey even many of the infantry soldiers in the Army at least have a college graduation.

Also like Knootoss, being a businessman in Omzian Nation wouldn't mean much. Even for people like Vana Ganoe (a famous Omzian businessman with only a high school graduation), intelligence and skills can place them in much higher ranks of respect and role in society. However, a lot of businessmen are too, university graduates. As with this, unlike most nations, the Omzian government also has a lot of university graduates middle-class people participating in politics (For example, the current Omzian president Gagarin Vansare originated from a poor farming family, and he holds various law and sciences degrees).

Kilean is ruled by an elite of industrial magnates, military officers, civil servants, powerful labor organization heads, and foriegn office/intelligence figures. Although the people have a small amount of say in the Heimatsversammlung, members of this elite "government class" are the only ones standing for office....

Think a class somewhat similar to the "ottoman class" in the ottoman empire- soldiers, bureaucrats, diplomats, etc- the same people will probably be all of those things at different points in their life. This is most prevalent at the highest ranks, however. Mid-to-high level government class people are mostly specialists.

Techon is run by Emperor Imitus VI, his advisors, and his parliment. Also the second main influence other than that is Kiko CO. because they own the majority of buisnesses, and they revice money from exports, and help support Techon.

Iuthia can't really have much of an Elite because most of the nation seems to be content with very little luxuries.

However we do have those who have managed businesses (all ulimately owned by the government) well end up being well paid...

Mostly I would have to say that we're mostly made up of a small faction of military elite, people who have made their names well know as officers and the such.

I haven't given it too much thought to be honest, I've been working too hard on getting my military balanced, even though the nation is pretty much run in a similar fashion to a military organisation... seeing as all citizens have to serve their time at one point or another alot of military standards have been passed on to parts of society...

In all truth, Iuthia is pretty hard to comprehend at times, the people are free so long as they don't get involved in politics... and when I say free they are pretty much permitted to do anything so long as it isn't harmful to others without their consent. All drugs are fully legal (though regulated) but society has taught most of them enough disapline to keep away from the life ruining sort.

Nudity is also fully legal (we're a warm nation) and is down to the individual... this often results in a slightly different set of ideas about looks and the such.

Elites in Santa Barbara are the corporates, or suits as they are generally known.

It wasn't always this way. Santa Barbara started out as, and for several hundred years of it's existence remained, a military autocracy. Many wars with harsh, unforgiving enemies in a rough colonial setting created a people who strongly emphasized the importance of military tradition and strength.

Over time, that began to slowly change. Years of completely uncontested military might and lack of foreign conflict made the role of the military seem diminished in importance, especially in the eyes of the corporates, who through the peace earned by the military, early on turned Santa Barbara into an industrial, economy-driven nation. Santa Barbara in the 17th-19th centuries was an odd mix of militaristic tradition, colonial expansionism and aggressive free market enterprise. Some of the world's oldest corporations first formed in Santa Barbara, beginning from the mid 1600s onward.

As the corporations grew in power, popular sentiment turned against them in waves. The military government became increasingly self-protective and controlling, until a socialist revolution saw the battle apparently lost for free marketism.

Political power was always concentrated in the military government, but in the later years of the United Socialist States, with an increasingly unwieldy and ineffective political system, the corporates finally won: Toby Pratt, a leading General in the USSBA, took control in a carefully planned and remarkably bloodless coup, along with his brother Bob Pratt, the then owner of PrattCo and a whole lot of other corporations. Toby then handed power back to his brother, and together with their sister the three formed a triumverate of sorts.

The new power structure saw the unification of corporate and military elites through the three Pratts, but the corporates still maintain a stranglehold on the social structure.

In Santa Barbara, wealth, and the ability to use that wealth, is power.

However, times change. As threats from foreign powers emerge and the Pratt dynasty decays, we may yet see militarism become the chief virtue, and not entrepeneurism. As the emptiness, hopelessness and apathy of the Santa Barbaran lifestyle continues, the decadence may see religion, especially Catholicism, take hold.

With Lord President Heinrid Abadas, head of the Neo-Feudal Party, of course he would like to see political and social power concentrated among the high ranking clergy, corporates and the privatized military. He talks often about the oaths priests must make to God, the employee must make to the employer, and the soldier to his commander; he's inferring also that these three elites (well, two elites and his preferred, but still minority faith) be unified politically and socially underneath him, as nobles are to their liege lords.

But his radical ideas are unlikely to change the overall culture, unless something drastic happens...

The elite in the Empire of RomeW may come from a very strange place- the public service sector- but it has good reason. The Roman government, which devotes almost 60% of the budget to social services and education, tends to view its poorest citizens as having the most say. Public service groups are forbidden from mainatining anything more than a small profit, but because the Roman government pays close attention to the poverty levels, whenever the public service demands funding it is quick to listen and to act. Some have accused Roman Emperor Paul XII of devoting too much money to the public sector and taxing RomeW to the ground, but Paul points to RomeW's low crime and poverty rates as justification for the high taxes to fund the services, although there are those who wonder if RomeW's punitive tax laws are preventing the economic growth it could have.

Well, the "elite" in Xanthal is the leadership I suppose. And yes, we're communist, so you're right there. The Dictator and the Ministry Directors have the most power in the political realm. Other than that, people are pretty equal in most things. Xanthalian is the dominant species here though (95% of our population), so others sometimes fall by the wayside since their voice is smaller. In terms of respect, the leaders are at the top of the chain, but police officers, Armada officers, and International Affairs ministry people are also looked upon as some of the more important and respectable members of society.

There is a bit of a leftover aristocracy in Eredron; those who are directly descended from one of the Five Families that ruled the medieval city-states in Eredron, and have not become 'intermingled' with those in the provinces, or 'foreigners'.

Despite the democratic government, a bit of an old-boy network does exist.

The only truly influential people in the Dominion of the Evil Overlord are the senior Corporate officers of Evil Overlord Enterprises. Competence (measured by a ratio of valid citizen/shareholder complaints to production/cost efficiency) is the only effective means of advancement. Merely having a lot of money is not enough- there are a lot of rich citizen/shareholders.

"Influence" in the Dominion means exactly that- the ability to influence the opinions of the Master of Malevolence himself- the Evil Overlord. No one ever sees His Omniferocity in person (for security reasons), but ordinary citizen/shareholders have the chance of influencing corporate policy through the medium of the Self-Synchronous Integrated Network (SSIN)- the massive computer network infrastructure within the Dominion.

Citizen/shareholders may make suggestions on several public message boards. Discussions on the subject are free and open (so long as strict rules against political activity are enforced), and the authors of good ideas are rewarded with pay raises, housing upgrades, promotions, paid vacations to Amida Island- or a combination of any of the above. People who get several sugggestions adopted by Senior Management have more influence than the people who get ridiculed for posting silly or impractical suggestions (it must be noted that ridiculing such silly messages and reading the clever ones are major forms of entertainment among citizen/shareholders). People with that sort of influence get additional consideration for regular promotion as well, and therefore usually get promoted to their maximum level of competence (MLOC)

Citizen/shareholders gradually build up their professional MLOC as part of their career path. Citizen/sharehloders with more than one MLOC or a very high single MLOC also are accorded high status within their field of expertise. For example, a Mechanical Engineer who is wonderfully adept at his craft might have an MLOC rating of Engineer-9 (determined by arbitrary testing and demonstrated ability, with advances in grade given for outstanding performance). This man would have a great deal of influence on Mechanical Engineering issues, but would have little influence outside his field unless he had demonstrated ability in other fields (and recieved MLOC ratings for them as well).

The most influential people in the Dominion are those with high MLOCs in fields deemd critical for the profitable running of EOE's vast commercial/military operations. These people (all senior corporate officers in EOE) get their opinions heard by the Autocrat of Armageddon on a regular basis. The downside to this access to ultimate power is the fact that His Omniferocity routinely executes those who try to abuse their authority or make too many expensive mistakes.


TEO

The Main Body of the USSNR, or Nodea Rudav, Rudavia, and many other names, of dominate beings is the Komodren. They wear no clothes, for they have their reproductive organs placed on the inside, and look similar to that of a Komodo Dragon, yet walk upright and look very Humanoid, body features by muscles and arms and legs. Tail and snout are also included, with claws and talons.

Humans, whom are considered Birthrights for being of the Line of Blood from the Beginning with the Komodren Birthrights, wear clothes, yes, but are also there. Only Birthright Humans are allowed to live in Nodea Rudav, for they were born there from a long line of Pure Strains.

Anywho, thats about it, Komodren are found only in Nodea Rudav with the only Pure Strain of Human Being..muahaha...

There are several elite groups in Isselmere-Nieland, from the nobility and gentry, the former element being represented by the Council of Peers within the Council of State, an educated meritocracy that graduated from a few select universities, and a burgeoning economic elite (i.e. capitalists) emerging from the kingdom's ever diversifying commercial and industrial base.

The tendency towards meritocracy, linked with an "old boy network," and away from an aristocratic socio-economic elite began in the 1920s. Presently, the nobility holds very little political power by virtue of title: like all other groups, lords and ladies must be elected to gain political office.

Though many citizens of the Dominion would insist that their nation has no elite, Kotterdam is a capitalist nation, and as in all capitalist nations, money talks, and the more money you have, the louder it speaks.

There are several 'elite' in Roania. There is no real order of precedence, but many of the elite classes are in the government. The controllers of the country are the nobles, every Prime Minister comes from the aristocracy; many other governmental posts are held by the aristocracy as well. They rule the country, and also own most of it, since many of the younger children of the nobles enter the bureacracy or join the 'corporate' sector.

Another major, major force in Roania is the military. Unlike almost every other military on the planet, the Roanian armed forces have complete control of every facet of their existence. They own the weapons, the factories that make the weapons, the mines the materials for the weapons are mined from. They own the food their soldiers eat, and the farms which they get the food from. And etc. The military is the most powerful group in Roania; and is only nominally loyal to the government which pays it. The Minister for the Armed Forces is always picked from the ranks of the Field Marshals and Generals, and at no stage are any civilians allowed any access into the Ministry. Since approximately 98.7% of Roania's population is liable to be, and generally is, called up for the draft, it's not a situation that comes up that much.

Another aspect of the military is the fact that the Polizei are part of it. Police in Roania undergo military training and have military weapons.

And use them.

Finally, straggling in 3rd most powerful, are the Corporate Oligarchs and the Clergy. The clergy control most of the education in Roania, and train everyone to be good little Roanians of whatever approved religion they come from. Children who exhibit any signs that they might protest against the status quo are carefully guided back. The Corporate Oligarchs are part of the government too. Thus, the companies they head are essentially ministries. Since Roania decided to allow massive trusts, it has reached the point of no competition in almost all of Roania's industries. Quality is maintained by the bosses, who are all too aware of the fact that their factories are under constant inspection and that any wrong doing will result in massive pain for them and their families.

Since the waxing days on the XIX Century, the political system of Terraus has been run by civil servants. The most obvious and common of which is the soldier, though this is not entirely correct. Certain other areas, such as police, firefighting, and paramedicine, are also in the category of ways to obtain the franchise, and thus the right to vote and hold public office.

It is generally seen as foolhardy the way democracies give the populus control over the government without the individuals learning to truely appreciate it. That is where the Service comes in. Any naturalized citizen over the age of 18 who is legally sane can join the Service, regardless of gender (100% gender integrated military), race (though Terraus is a human nation, so race is very rarely an issue), ethnic group (though a large majority of the nation's population is of the Terrausi ethnic group), political views (though History & Moral Philosophy is a mandatory course in schools and must have been completed prior to application), sexual orientation, religion, physical handicap, etc. Pretty much the only people who can't serve are the legally incompetent, the legally insane, and the morally unfit.

While new recruits list their preferences for what they would like to be assigned to, such as Psychological Warfare, Logistics, Infantry, Provost (the military police who police both the military and civilian areas. Not known for their people skills), etc, and an effort is made to find something on their list that there is A) a need for and B) the recruit might be actually capable of performing, the government is under no compulsion to honor their requests. After an assessment is made of the new recruit, they are sent to train at wherever they've been assigned. The more promising and intelligent recruits may be sent to a military acadamy or trained in whatever field they're assigned. However, less promising recruits may be assigned to such tasks as shoveling bat guano for fertilizer or testing experimental survival gear in the desert wastes or frigid mountains.

Training is intentionally made as hard as it has to be. This is both to better prepare the recruit for the hardships of warfare, but also to weed out those who are not willing to stick it out. At any point in training or during one's service (except when on deployment, of course), a person may simply resign. Fill out a few forms and they're a civilian. However, they will never have a second chance at earning their franchise.

Those who have the dedication to see their service through (minimum of two years to a maximum of when we say so, unless you go career, which is twenty to life) are thus entitled to full citizenship and franchise within the Dominion. Though a servicemember can vote and be elected to public office after two years (indeed, the current Hegemon was in his seventh year of military service when he took office), they cannot resign from the Service without sacrificing their franchise.

The general concept behind this limited-access form of democracy is that to weild authority in the decisions and actions of the State with the franchise is a precious authority. One that should not be simply given freely to a person because they happened to be born eighteen years earlier. Like all things, you have to pay for it. But rather than paying in mere cash, the individual has to be willing to give up years of their lives and possibly even die if necessary for the State. The only currency taken is blood. And to further insure that those not dedicated first and foremost to the State's best interest don't gain such an authority, every step of training is meant to discourage those who may not have the fibre to serve.

While technically the only benefit to service is the franchise, the reality is a bit different. Full citizens will find many more positions open in the government heirarchy, and frequently positions of influence within the government will be occupied by those still in the Service. Government-run healthcare is also restricted to franchise-holders, as is the right to possess a handgun (though a very well registered one), and various other rights and so on. The greatest benefit though is that you will not be forgotten or left behind, no matter how many years it has been since you were honorably discharged.

Thus the "elite" is those who serve, that 5% (military != 5% of my population, though) of the population willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater whole.

However, the economy is dominated by several massive corporations with interests in virtually every economic field. Directly or indirectly over 80% of the population is employed by five companies, though most are unaware of it and normal competition apparently continues anyways. This corporate elite is a major factor in decision making, though they do not have any direct political power (beyond making "donations" to Senators, of course).

OOC: If you've read Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers (I hate the movie and it has nothing to do with my country, so don't even bother looking at it for an idea of Terraus), you'll get the idea. I used the system and idealology in that for a lot of my inspiration combined with various other sources (like the Roman Republic, for instance). Terraus is also just-slightly postmodern tech, like about 2010-2015 level.

And for those who make this assumption, my personal politics are actually a far cry from the rather right-wing ultra-militarism and quasi-fascism of Terraus. I just found the idea of such a societ intreguing to create and RP, so I did it.

No idea why I posted this either, since I practically never RP on NS... >_>

ADDENDUM: I forgot to mention a little side effect of this system. Actually it's quite intentional. There is no civilian oversight of the military. The population pays taxes, yes, but the vast majority have no voice in the decision making process. After all, what does an arm-chaired civilian know about the military?

Roania- sounds like a real plesant place to live!

Vaxintorian society is fairly simple in this respect. All power... political, social, economic... is distributed in proportion to combat ability. The best fighters are obeyed, because those less skilled know they will be killed if they refuse. Disagreements about authority are settled by duels. The best fighters tend to be in the military, which is everyone who is physically able to fight and not needed for other work. (The most disagreeable jobs are given to those who can't force anyone else to do them, and so on until every task that needs a worker has one.) For obvious reasons, the military has most of the power. The Supreme General, usually the best fighter amongst the Vaxintorians (though occaisonally this warrior chooses a different job, if not interested in power), is considered above and beyond the military, and therefore not a part of it, but he (or she) almost always comes from the army... so, even in this, they have the most influence.

Within the Principality of Skeelzania, the elite class is the aristocracy. The elite of the elite are the Skeelzots, who are currently the ruling family in the Principality. The numerous lesser houses have significantly less power, although they are able to exercise some control through the Skeelzanian parliament, or Ziad. There are currently about 20 Lesser Houses, with about 10-20 retainers per house. Since the Principality is spread across only two planets, there is often fierce competition between the lesser houses for control and influence.

All of the major corporations are owned in some part by one of the lesser houses, who also exercise control over their family lands. The military and police are firmly in the hands of the Skeelzot family, although members of the lesser houses and the retainers often serve in the military for extended periods as a way to gain prestiege.

Well, the aristocracy in Chimaea would be the elite, but titles of aristocracy is given to people who do exceptional things, while at the same time being hereditary too. Significantly, a title can be stripped from the bearer or the bearer's family by order of the Governor.

After that would come the intellectuals: the judges, the scholars and so forth... and after that would come the military.

Wazzu is a nation founded by and for corporations.

The Executive Board is the ruling "council" of Wazzu, and is made up of people elected by shareholder votes (weighted voting...though every Wazzuian holds shares in this council). Due to possible external influences, shares of corporations with representatives on the Exeuctive Board can be owned only by Wazzu citizens (revoking citizenship means loosing shares).

Companies on the Executive Board include TransCorp, Oren Moore Inc., Lifeworks, and Elegant Solutions.

The Cheif Board Member is the primary (but not only) leader elected by popular vote from all citizens. This is a relatively new development, occuring only with the election of the most recent (and 3rd) leader of Wazzu (Wazzu was pseudo-facist in it's early history).

The Advisory Board is a secondary "council" made up of large, Wazzu-based corporations that do not limit shares to Wazzu citizens. These council members have no real power, but their advice is often taken by the Executive Board (as it is usually good for Wazzu corporations).

The most prominant company on the Advisory Board is Hermes Spacelines.

The Ministers of Wazzu hold a fair amount of power. Each is appointed to the position by the Executive Board and usually reign for life. There are the typical Ministries, Defense, Education, Trade, etc.

A fair amount of power in Wazzu is also held by Judges (the only other political figures to be popularly elected), corporate executives, and a very hidden scientific elite.




However, the Wazzuians who hold the most power are by far and large those who own the most stock in Wazzu's largest corporations. While most of Wazzu's external policies are guided by the corporations themselves, much of Wazzu's hidden agendas and internal workings are directed by these powerful families (like the Wang Family, led by Liz Wang, granddaughter of the late Nike Wang).

The social elite in the Eternal Dominion of Wretchengard are the aristocracy, but like Aelosia said about his nobles, Wretchengard's nobles also make up the core of the high ranking military officers, the intellectuals, and rich corporate executives. It is, however, not unheard of for a non-noble family with a long line of outstanding officers to rise in prominence to the point of a lesser noble, due to the nation being very militaristic.

A major faction within the Republic of Kay Son are 'associations' formed mostly of farmers, doctors, merchants, and students. After that are small cadres of leading officers within the province milita and the regular army itself. One a month these association meet together to review the acts of government to see whether or not their issues have been addressed.

Oh, I forgot to say that if someone is talented enough in any field, without being a member of the Noble Houses, his family is automatically promoted to the status of lesser House. That's why all the elites are comprised in Aelosia's aristocracy...

Jagiellonia is a capitalist nation, and therefore it can be said that the elite of our nation are the rich. However, our elite is not as dominant as the elite groups of other nations. This is for two main reasons:
1) Education is state-owned and completely free, and therefore the rich have no kind of monopoly over it. Actually, a high school grade average of 75% is required for a young person to be accepted into University, and therefore many upper-class youth fail to qualify.
2) Private donations to parties and candidates during elections are strictly forbidden, political parties must limit their campaigns to the budget assigned them by the government. This gives all political parties equal opportunity, eliminating capital from politics completely.

Neo-Cascadia is a military collective, all tasks carried out by the various sub-divisions of the military. All citizens are a member of this military, and bad behavior is policed by the Clergy of Light, a military religious order which strictly enforces christian morality. All people are barcoded and assigned a number.

Private industry does not exsist, we have no need of it, since we all work for the common goal (anyone found to be doing the bare minimum to avoid punishment is quickly cleansed from the system. We are trying to maintain a self-sufficient, yet growing, system)

Basically, the people in charge are those who are decided by me and my advisers to lead the various units. Agriculture division, Science Directorate, Clergy High Priest etc.

Hmmm, not much room for individuality in your system, is there? I got a feeling there's rebelion brewing in your nation...

In Adderton, those who are the 'elite' are divided into several factions:

1) Of Free Enterprise; mostly small business owners
2) Of the Rangers; an association of 'cowboys' whom still roam the land
3) Of the Ranchers; majority shareholders of large ranches
4) Of the Unions; of small nomadic bands who keep mustangs and wild beasts
5) Of the Populist Movement; a band of small time farmers with a lot of political clout with the common folk

Why, there's no elite in Tsaraine! Not at all. Every citizen has equal opportunity to rise and fall based upon their own merits.

If that's not what you meant ... the nation is organised upon military/collectivist lines into ten different Divisions. The ones which recieve the most attention are Divisions Five (Command, including education), Six (Research and Development), Eight (the Air Command - basically the air force), and Nine (the Space Command). However, on a simple percentage basis Divisions Two (Industry and Maintenance), Three (manufacturing, medical, and all other secondary and tertiary industry), and Four (mining and construction) recieve quite a lot of funding also, since they're the basis of the nation.

Officially, the people have no say in how the country is run. Unofficially, the two major religions (the Cult of Fate and the Orthodox Faith of Ruki Aestrakhor) can and do influence the decisions of the governing Division Council to some degree.

Actually, I've just realised that it's similar to Neo-Cascadia's system. Except without the state religion and with a whole lot more civil freedoms (Tsaraine doesn't care what you do, so long as you also fufill your quota, or do things which could be damaging to the State or fellow citizens).

There is really not much of an elite class in The Gothic Underworld, and all citizens enjoy basic freedoms. However, in terms of social respect, the benign vampires of the Gothic Underworld would be considered most dominant. This would have to do with the role vampires had in the nation's history, and they are especially admired for their ability to keep their blood thirst under control, such that the only deaths by vampires are criminals on death row, and which is not seen with vampires anywhere else. Vampires, though respected, constitute a minority in a largely human population, and most of their blood thirst are satisfied by human admirer who volunteer their blood.

The rejistanian government tries to give every person the equal right to rise and fall, but the traditional, tribal 'hilita' (the caste of leaders) still exists and also influences the government policies - not even hidden but very straight, since the members of the tradional hilita families join parties and run for offices. The current first lentine doesn't belong to the hilita, but several hilita members are in the parliaments because hilita members are still respected.
Besides the hilita exists the 'class' of intellectuals, who are also respected and their opinions are heard. Since the rejistanian education system is open and free, this class doesn't consist mostly of hilita members.

the social elite? I'm tempted to just say the Imperatrix. barring that, the social elite are those in government. The State is All in Kelvinisgrad. you serve The State, or you serve nothing. and those who choose not to serve The State very rapidly find themselves in a forced-labor camp. there can be no social elite in a society that allows citizens only that which all other citizens posess, as they need.

I could go on about The State, but it would be pointless to do so here.

our nation litteraly has no elete as such. only pica's (sorry bad pun)
it's not that we're undefferentiated oatmeal either.
there are those who are more envied, more emulated, more looked up to, but these are not holders of personal power or authority because again that's not quite how things here work. there is no investment of authority in individuals.
those who are most greatly admired are those who create beauty to share with everyone and those who are most generous to everyone.
this is actualy the 'engine' as it were, that drives our nonmonetary economy.
the concept is called potlatching and it is actualy a very ancient one, though in carlemnaria it gets to be interpreted in a very modern, even 'futuristic' context.
anyone and everyone really can have their 15 minuets of glory if that's what they want.
though most are quite content to be surrounded publicly by an enriched and gratifying environment while living in modest comfort.
accumulation for its own sake is itself meaningless, and those who boast of it are seen as ignorant and a little off in the head.
the creation of great beauty is what young children naturaly aspire to.
we do not produce bitterly frustrated adults who have suppressed their natural creativity for the sake of persuing arbitrary if popular assumptions as monetary economies and cultures that romantacize aggressiveness tend to.
we do tend to have a lot of harmless hermits on the one hand and extended non-nuclear interest group families on the other.
both of which bring great joy and gratification.

=^^=
.../\...

Marimaia has a party elite, comprised of the Suunist Party of Marimaia (SPM). Within the SPM, the main powerholders are the Marimaian cabinet ministers and of course the Premier himself. We have something of a weird situation, as most of the major leaders are under thirty; when the former Premier died, his son became Premier, then promptly cleared out all of his father's loyalists and replaced them with friends he made while in the Suunist Youth League. The Marimaian Suunist Congress is our version of a legislature, but 'Suunist Congressman' is just a cushy party job where you sit around gossiping before agreeing with everything the executive wants to do.

The elite work to keep the economy running smoothly and give the people all the civil rights that they want, as long as they don't criticise the government. The people are actually happy with this, because the current government doesn't oppress them very much, unlike the previous one. The best way to describe the whole thing is 'the Suunist Parent-State'.

The Elite in Roycelandia are not the Aristocracy (Titles being purely Ceremonial and Formal, and Estates taxable), but the Imperial Colonial Administration, Imperial Airways and the Imperial Trading Company.

A position with any of these Government Departments or Companies is a ticket to a lifetime of Travel, Adventure, Riches, Prestige, and Attractiveness to the Opposite Sex.

The Colonial Administration is responsible for handling the day to day affairs of Roycelandian East Africa and Coral Palm Island, although in reality most of REA's administration is handled by the Governor-General and the Colonial Government in Port Imperial (the capital of REA). Most of their time is spent lying on beaches on Coral Palm Island, exploring the Jungles of Roycelandian East Africa, and ensuring that Roycelandia's colonies are prosperous, happy, and remain part of Roycelandia (Independence for Roycelandia's colonies is forbidden under the Constitution, but that doesn't stop people trying occaisonally.)

Imperial Airways are Roycelandia's national airline- they operate the Imperial Aerospace Sunderland Flying Boat on all Long-Haul Routes (especially to Roycelandian East Africa and Coral Palm Island), as well as International Flights to other nations. For shorter flights, Imperial Airways operates the DC-3, although both aircraft have been upgraded to modern standards are are just as comfortable, if not more so, than a 747-400's Business Class.

The Pilots are the very best Roycelandia has- often ex-Airforce pilots, considering some of the places they fly, and the Stewardesses are the prettiest girls in Roycelandia- many are former Swimsuit/Lingerie models, Porn Stars, or just very attractive and pleasant.

The Imperial Trading Company handles most of Roycelandia's Foreign Trade, and as such the Higher-Ups spend a lot of time overseas negotiating contracts, sampling merchandise, and the like.

Anyone who has one of these jobs has attained the status of Elite in Roycelandian society, outranked only by the Emperor's Friends and the Commanders of the Defence Bureau for Roycelandia, REA, and Coral Palm Island.

This is our hierachy

1. Royal family
2. Religious leaders (Christian, Jewish, Arab/Moslem)
3. Minor royalty, politicians, Knights of Jeruselem
4. Local and non-federal politicians
5. The average person
6. Criminals
7. Terrorists

I forgot to Mention......

Being a Nation For and By Its People, a Socialist Democracy, not Communism or Federalsim or Imperialism or Captialism or whatnot, the Elite, the Ruling Body in My Nation is The People, The Citizens and Civilians, for They ARE The True Government of My and Any Nation.

So far I've seen a lot of very nice responses. Thanks. For now, I did want to respond to this one:

I forgot to Mention......

Being a Nation For and By Its People, a Socialist Democracy, not Communism or Federalsim or Imperialism or Captialism or whatnot, the Elite, the Ruling Body in My Nation is The People, The Citizens and Civilians, for They ARE The True Government of My and Any Nation.

Yes, of course, but every nation has a group that has more power and that "specialises" in running the country, if you will. How big is the chance that a factory worker in your nation becoms minister? Out of the blue, I mean.

1) Emperor
2) Imperial family
3) heads of powerful houses
4) Families in powerful houses
5) The common citizen
6) Foreigners

Well...

In Agh Shankkakur there's lots of different classes, but there are those who are at the top and bottom, of course. Being a theocratic state, the ruling élite are neccessarily comprised of the upper echelons of the Satanic Priesthood - namely, the Arch-Deacons, Arch-Bishops, Cardinals, etc. Essentially, while the Satanic Church maintains a firm political grip on Agh Shankkakur, the ruling priesthood (essentially identical in structure to that of the Catholic Church) is the upper élite, as is publicly seen. However, a nation cannot function without its financial backing, and hence those who control the banks - the financial élite who comprise those shadowy, conspiratorial individuals - are also seen as virtually on par with the Satanic Church. Ultimately, the force behind the banks are the Illuminati.

Using their powerful financial control, the Illuminati have been able to insinuate themselves into the Satanic Church, often making a synergy between the Church and the banking authority -- top priesthood is often top Illuminati. Hence, the governing body is not the Anti-Pope and his cohorts, but the Grand High Council of the Illuminatus - a shadowy cabal of rich bankers and powerful priests, whose main goal is to keep technological control by trade with the alien "Greys".

Well... yeah. That basically sums it up.

In short: Rich bankers and priests.

That's easy!

Freebodnik V is an anarcho-syndicalist eutopia, a parable of human rights and freedom, where everyone respects another, no parties or banners exist, where everyone does what is needed, and work does not exist - for all work is considered rewarding, more like hobbies than anything else.

There is no ruling elite in Freebodnik V. Silly as it may seem, the entire nation is almost like one big family, working together, and dividing equally the produce of their labour.

There is no Party elite, because there is no Party - no need - as all voting is done directly through wireless connexions to the central network. It's an eDemocracy.

There is no wealthy elite, because there is no wealth in Freebodnik V. The concept of wealth simply doesn't exist - there is only earth, and those who live on it, and the idea of hoarding riches simply doesn't make all that much sense to Freebodniks.

There is no intellectual elite because all educational facilities are equal, and all intellectuals are basically on par with everyone else. Everyone is equally valuable in Freebodnik V. Everyone works together.

There is only peace, love, and cooperation in Freebodnik V - there simply isn't any reason for any minority group to take control or rise above everyone else.

In other words, Freebodnik V is the ultimate equalitarian eutopia. Though it might not be feasible in reality, it's something we can all strive for.

In the Holy Empire of Callidus the Knights of the Silver Gauntlet are the elites and held in the highest regard for they are the defenders of the realm. Knight is a just a title thought we are not a medevil nation.

Socially, the members of the Cyberutopian Socialist Coalition, the "ruling party" of the country, are no higher than the average citizen, though it often invokes a sense of respect when someone lays claim to the title of Arbiter. Intellectuals are looked up to, making the Committee of Scientific Progress a very powerful group. In terms of military, everyone has been in the military at some point, so being an officer isn't a big deal. However, the top elite of the Special Forces, the Agents, are an extremely powerful group and are both feared and revered, as would be a secret group that the government has created but not publicized at all.

The Emirate of al-Takbir concentrates power in the hands of those ancestrally capable of wielding it. Allah has granted these men great judgement and they are respected for it.

The elite of the nation are the Ten Clans of al-Takbir who make up the Inner Court of the Emir. These clans are the al-Ruwaysh, al-Haqq, al-Islamiyyah, al-Ja'ish, al-Khattab, al-Quds, al-Ta'iba, al-Farsi, al-Jebel and al-Shatt clans. Of these, the al-Islamiyyah clan is the most revered as it provides the Emir of al-Takbir.

Among the commoners, respect is given to those who have served in the military and those whose knowledge of the Faith is great. Those who are appointed to the Majlis al-Shura are also accorded some respect.

I would have to say in Techon, the oath is split. The leader is the Emperor, who is currently Imuts VI. The his Advisors, the parliment, and last but not least Kiko Co. Who creates basically every need and appliance for the people.

The Most revered within the 13 Clans belong to the High Fist Clan, led by the EnheilRas. The High Fist Clan is reserved for the Greatest Stratgists and primary military leaders. They are drafted from the other dozen clans. The Existance of the High Fist drives the society into achieving the ChumRas Orka. The Orcs of the High Fist (only High-Orcs, not even lesser Orcs are allowed in) give the Society a purpose, and without them, the other dozen clans would certainly fall into disarray. Currently, Manus Trebelium holds the title of EnheilRas, and he still has another 40 years before he dies. His surrogate son, Delgon, is expected to take reign after that.

We're a Monarchy, but those who have titles feel a responsibility to the people, much like in a democracy. Those who are successful businessmen can be counted on to have sound advice on economics, because they're on the sharp end of the stick in that field. Academics are listened to when they stick to what they know, but those who use that respect to wield an opinion on everything tend to be ignored. All three of these groups, in some way or another, answer to the general populace, so they're balanced out. We're pretty much an ideal civalization, but we aren't perfect. Not by a long shot.

Sorry this is short, but it's what I have:

- Members of the Ruhrian Imperial Navy

- Government Officials

- The Wealthy & the Business Owners

- Citizens located on the smaller islands (Not the main two)

- Models and Actors

As Hell Bovines is a direct democratic, socialist nation, the social equality and political participation of the populace are very high, what means that there's nothing that could be called an 'elite'. After all, the pourpose of socialism is to eliminate the elites, isn't it?
Everybody has the same rights and benefits and share very similar incomes, that are made in goods and services and not in money.
Most decisions are made by direct democracy and citizens can participate on the desicion-making process from their local barrial assemblies.

However, there are citizens more influential than others.
As participation in the direct democratic process is voluntary, those who are willing to devote their time to politics will be, obviously, more influential than those who don't, but basically everyone has the same rights and benefits and earns the same for their work.
Being influential or not is basically a decision of each person, as participation in government decisions is voluntary.

Well we have a weird system although it shows a predominance towards the English/Scottish system in nature (being founded by Scots). The fundemenatlly powerful groups are:

The Buisness class(That is bankers, owners of companies, trading firm owners, major stock holders, etc.)

The Peerage (Barons, Vicounts, Graves)

The Adel( Lords, Baronettes, Thanes)

The Landed Gentry (the people who control large farms/estates of housing etc.)

The problem is that neither group is exclusive of each other. Many of the last three groups have buisness ties or are, members of the first group. Also marriage between the Gentry-Peerage, Gentry-Adel are common. (Not so the marriage of Adel-Peerage since both groups have a loathing for each other)

The Peers have the most institutionalized power. They are all members of the College of Peers that elects 1/3 of the Great Chamber, which is the Unicamerial legislature. The College also is needed for any admendments to the constituion. At the same time, some Peers...such as the Landgraves actually are part of the local parish governance. Markgraves are similar but are actually military govenors of the marches. Although they can vote in the College they can not stand for election.

The Adel is really a reminant of the ruling families of the Outer Islands. Although Baronettes are still given to distinquished individuals. However, most of them hold their land outright from the Monarch such that they tend to be somewhat more independent than the Peers can be. They also tend to get marganalized at times after causing headaches for the government.

The Landed Gentry has money, and tends to hold their land directly from the crown or an upper Peer. They also tend to hold themselves more for election that other groups, having more free time. In some instances this group has become blurred with some of the ultra rich trading families over time. But the distinction is usually set by the phrase "were you invited to the hunt ball of Landgrave __________." If you have for more that three years in a row, most people will think your a member of the gentry.

I should point out that 80% of the population are Freemen who directly elect their Grand Minister, 2/3 of the members of the Grand Chamber through proportional representation, the Directors of all State Universities (Not a Royal or Naval Chartered Schools) and most local and city officals.

15% are Vaux, or non-citizen workers who either have not applied for citizenship or are too new to do so. They are only allowed to vote in some local elections. (They also pay only 1/2 the flat tax rate. And some Vaux are very far from poor.)

The Church is perhaps the only group, within Catholic Europe, which could be considered to be a social elite. This is because the Church is the government and has all the power (both executive, legislative and judicial).

Also, the Church controls the economic activity of Catholic europe with private enterprise having been outlawed. Whilst there may be foreign corporate companies within Catholic Europe, they have very little economic power within our borders.

So, the Church is the 'social elite' in Catholic Europe.

In the Eternal Necrontyr Empire of The C'tan, excluding the leaders, the elite are basically those with a talent for sciences, particularly physics and engineering, though also other sciences. Business acumen and economic skill are considered respectable too. Because of this, the educated tend to be respected to a large degree, though those whose interests lie in less rigid 'liberal-arts' disciplines are less respected. Partly due to this, the people tend to be Rationalists, and the majority of art, entertainment and so on is imported, with major exports being technical goods.

It is a rather unpleasant idea, or a very good one, depending entirely on your own point of view.

OOC *confused why the list says the last post is by Thelas when I can only see Ctan. Perhaps another post will remedy this*

Most definitely the Social Elite. Our nation is run by a Leader Caste chosen at birth based on intelligence. The Teacher/Academic Caste also is influencial since it determines who does what in life, they select and evaluate a 12 year old abilities and determine which caste he enters.....

There are three major 'elite' classes within The Empire:

The Confederacy of Anti-Socialist Values (CASV): Most major corporations within The Mindset are members upon of this institution, which holds some power over political decisions affecting the private sector. Currently, the government (also a corporation) holds the Director General seat, giving it the most influence within the group, and hence ownership of the most shares. Therefore, many people see The Mindset as a closed-market economy, sinc the government has direct control over many businesses. This is not always the case, however, since the government actively encourages free-market trade and practise. We are slowly evolving to a 'Capitalizt' society, with some minor edits in it's practise to suit our government style.

The Council of The Twelve: Every seven years, the twelve sectors of The Empire have a democratic general election to choose who they wish to represent them. Those who are elected gain power in the form that they are able to directly question the Prime, as well as collectively (with a 100% approval from all other council members) block legislation passed by the Prime from becoming law. The Prime currently has a good relationship with his council; although this is not always been the case, especially on laws regarding religious freedom and total democracy.

The Prime: Although not strictly a group, the Prime is heavily involved in all other castes. He is the grand ruler, democratically elected over 700 years ago, preserved through biometric enhancements and rejuvination therapy. He is currently regarded as a dictator by many nations, though he is not a tyrant. He strongly believes that The Empire can become the most powerful atheist, capitalist empire ever to grace the lives of anyone that joins its ranks. He stands for education, free-market trade, profit over preservation and intelligent thinking based upon an atheist mindset. His great great grandfather, Pr'Varia Dancos I, founded The Empire over 4000 years ago. He is the spokesman and chairman of the government corporation, and also the director of CASV.

Milesia is run by people with the relevent expertise in each government department (the Central Bank, Justice, Education and Foriegn Affairs) and these are appointed by the Civil Service Commission.

Therefore there is no "elite" as such, but those who are most skilled run the country and education is perceived as all-important. IF there were a definable elite, it would be highly educated people most likely, then most likely business people.

Vernii is a constitutional monarchy disguised as a democracy. The position of President is hereditary, and is passed down to the President's son whenever the current one dies. There is no legislative branch, all power is held by the executive branch. There are no elections for any position above mayor, everything above that, such as governors, are appointed to their positions by the President and his Cabinet.

Other powerful elite would be corporate leaders, such as the owner of the Gregor Corporation. Also well respected are various high ranking military officers, such as Fleet Admiral Harris.

As far as society goes, the populace has excellent civil rights, they just have barely any political rights. Freedom of religion and speech are guaranteed, and citizens are allowed to protest against the government if they want (not that it would make a difference). However, protestors do get themselves put on Internal Security's watch list, and those who take protesting too far often end up disappearing or suffering "accidents."

The Village of Wandering Argonians is ruled by an Elder Council, made up of 5 females over the age of 170 years. They act as a parliment of sorts, wielding true governing power. Each Elder Family submits its matriarch to serve on the council. The Chief is similar to a king, leading the armies from the front. The chief is a male over the age of 90 years, and proves himself in combat with the current chief when he dies, or decides that he is too old to continue fighting.

The Elder Families are the social elite of the village. There are five in total, each having its own fighting style.

Quickclaw/Infinite Mystical Claw Style
Kath/Swift Viper Style
Destreth/Sleeping Crab Style
Morkath/Hungry Dragon Style
Ulkeen/Prowling Durzog Style

For a more complete history, visit the Non-Human Union website. Contact Biotopia for details.

In order of importance:

The Dictator, The Infernal Lord, Dorusceronis YlimNeicna
His Brother, The Infernal Lord, Atanracnad YlimNeicna
Appointed Officials
Hereditary Nobles

Corprate and Intellectuals, mainly. The military also has a lot of power.

Azn and Islandian people are the elite. Still, we dont hate on any of the whites or blacks that live here, and they certainly dont live in slums like in Western countries. Crime is very low in Islandia, with a sizeable percent of non-Azns and non-Islandians moving up due to increased economic opportunities.

To understand why those who are socially elite in Steel Butterfly actually are elite, you must first get yet another small history lesson of the Empire.

After the Republic Crumbled and the Machina were easily eliminating the Human Alliance, and with it all traces of Humanity, James Foxx majestically rose and eliminated all of the Machines in 5 years. (Of course there's more too this, but I want it brief.) Afterwards, realizing that the Machines could once again just build more of themselves until they once again had the majority in the Senate, the people voted James Foxx the first Emperor, and his first job as Emperor was to outlaw AI, which he did.

He rewarded his 6 Generals from the war, which all fought heroically, to the 6 governmental positions of the time. Those general's lasts names were as follows:

Bivens
Apakoh
Warheit
Loire
Mitchell
Zephyr

When General Warheit married James Foxx's only daughter, the Foxx name died out, but the six remaining became a sort of unofficial nobility throughout the Empire. Today, two governor's lasts names are Bivens and Loire, the Commander of the Imperial Space Fleet and Marine's last name is Zephyr, and everyone who's last name falls on that list is filthy rich. There are also a few more widely known names that are related to the 6 families by marriage at some point, but now by blood over the ages. The last name Nemerov, the Emperor's last name, for example, stems from the Mitchell family, and therefor is also considered nobility.

There are four races of humanoids in the Empire, although only three will ever be officially recognized. There are the Humans, the Zabrak (Darker skin and horns on their heads), the Worthen (Cat-like people), and the almost extinct Aurals (pretty much demi-gods). The Aurals were "purged" long ago by the ever-paranoid humans, yet a handful (literally like 4) are still alive and in hiding.

Humans are the "elite" species in the Empire. The Zabrak live on one planet, XIII, and a few colonies. However they are very Xenophobic and speak a language (the language of the Aurals actually) known by few humans. Still the Zabrak are very advanced technology-wise, as opposed to the Worthen, who live pretty mideval. They still live in huts and tribes, and they know little of space travel or anything. However, their leader was brought up by humans, and knows of all the technology of the Empire. He is slowly teaching them the ways of the Empire.

I hope this guide helped or interested someone. Good day.

For countless centuries, the majority of the power in all of Valeria has been held by aristocracy. The nobles hold fixed elections to the populaces, by placing only aristocratic candidates for election. These nobles are elected to a seat on the advisor committee to the emperor of Valeria. Usually these barons are only Valerians; cultural minorities are most likely to be refused seats. The aristocracy is filthy rich, existing on a couple millennia of acquired wealth (since 162 BC, these families had earned their fortunes).

Second to the aristocracy would be the military. With the militarizing of Valeria, the army and many of its generals have become a force to contend with the aristocracy. Some generals have become rich and influential among the people, and after the purges that cut down a portion of the aristocracy in 2008 AD, the 6th year of Alexander I’s reign, the military has taken higher precedence in the empire.

A third class that is quickly rising to the top is the newer class of capitalists. These citizens, enriched by farming boons and industrialization, have nearly as much wealth as the aristocracy. However, they lack popular support for their liberal views.

Officially

Since Anonymous Lepers has only one actual "citizen"--Eldrad the Supreme, that is our elite.

However, he has created certain series and iterations of Lepers that have greater cognitive and independent action capabilities than others, so the Lepers of the "B" series, the "L" series, the "S" series, and the "T" series are generally "elite" in the sense that they are the most humanlike of the bunch.

Unofficially

Unofficially, there is the Rebellion, which began when a few Lepers of the elite series accidentally discovered evidence of the human civilization that had occupied their island prior to the holocaust. Upon realizing that they had once been human, a few of the Lepers began to plot to restore their humanity and free themselves of Eldrad the Supreme.

The three Lepers who rose to the top in the early days of the Rebellion stripped themselves of their iterative ID indicators and are now known only as Leper X, Leper Y, and Leper Z. Each has other Lepers working with them and assistants coordinating overall covert operations.

Leper X's job is to develop resources for the Rebellion--covertly sell the highly advance Kastrian biological and chemical technology Eldrad has revived, and acquire "hard technology" that can enable them to achieve their ends.

Leper Y's job is to plan the actual bio-logistics of restoring the Lepers to something like humanity; to identify, salvage, store, and reference "human" knowledge (especially anything they can save of the remnants of the former civilization on their island,) and to plan a way of reviving a real human culture on the island.

Leper Z's job is simple: Find a way to defeat and destroy Eldrad the Supreme and his semi-sentient Leper hordes (along with any loyal sentient Lepers,) without getting the whole island and all the Lepers wiped out in the process.

Recently, the "second level" leaders of the Rebellion (the assistants to X,Y, and Z, coordinators, etc.,) have discovered the concept of "names" through recovered artifacts including literature, films, media, etc. They now designate themselves with names they choose from the few artifacts they have.

So basically, besides X,Y, and Z, any "Named" (that is, no longer Anonymous) Leper is "elite" in the Rebellion.

Intellectuals and computer scientists... the most are those that combine those two.

The Government Board of The Armed Republic of Friyusistan is formed with representants of the elites:
- 9 executives, normally the presidents of the largests corporations of the country
- 9 military, generally 3 of the army, 3 of the navy and 3 of the air forces
- 3 representans of the Friyusistan National Church

In Resistencia the social elite are the military and the intellectuals, but all people are pretty much cool with eachother.

bump

The Thelasi government has been in an odd shifting stage for the past several years. Since the death of General Theallas, Thelas has been an “Imperial” state. The Empress holds supreme power, below her are the Force Commanders, the leaders of the standing Thelasi army and star navy.

The Force Commanders, during peace time, are only four in number really, they and Empress Ithenril are the elite of Thelas. In times of war, any number of Force Commanders can be appointed from the ranks of the Admirals and Generals, but after the war they are demoted, or, if they have shown extreme potential, the Empress will demote a less skilled Force Commander instead.

Below the Force Commanders is the House of Nobles, a group of nobles, obviously, who on their own hold almost no political or military power, yet hold enormous monetary power. These nobles are mostly the survivors from the original founding of Thelas. Few of them give their ages, and rumors abound about how old they really are.

Under the House of Nobles is the House of Governors, the Governors hold enormous political power, yet hold little to no monetary or military power. Usually they are the more liberal side of the government, and are often in disagreement with the House of Nobles. In something that is quiet unusual in Thelas, the House of Governors is elected by the people. Although they are elected, Empress Ithenril can throw out the peoples decision and call for another vote. In this vote, another candidate would replace the rejected candidate on the ballot. Even though this grants power to the Empress/Emperor it has only been used once.

Below the House of Governors is the House of Citizens, composed of representatives from all of the 200 States in Thelas. Each state gets two representatives, elected by the people.

Although the Houses seem to have power, they really just send up recommendations. They have no REAL power to do anything about what Empress Ithenril and the Force Commanders are doing.

Not listed here are the many government agencies, it would take the life time of an elf to describe them all.

That's easy!

Freebodnik V is an anarcho-syndicalist eutopia, a parable of human rights and freedom, where everyone respects another, no parties or banners exist, where everyone does what is needed, and work does not exist - for all work is considered rewarding, more like hobbies than anything else.

There is no ruling elite in Freebodnik V. Silly as it may seem, the entire nation is almost like one big family, working together, and dividing equally the produce of their labour.

There is no Party elite, because there is no Party - no need - as all voting is done directly through wireless connexions to the central network. It's an eDemocracy.

There is no wealthy elite, because there is no wealth in Freebodnik V. The concept of wealth simply doesn't exist - there is only earth, and those who live on it, and the idea of hoarding riches simply doesn't make all that much sense to Freebodniks.

There is no intellectual elite because all educational facilities are equal, and all intellectuals are basically on par with everyone else. Everyone is equally valuable in Freebodnik V. Everyone works together.

There is only peace, love, and cooperation in Freebodnik V - there simply isn't any reason for any minority group to take control or rise above everyone else.

In other words, Freebodnik V is the ultimate equalitarian eutopia. Though it might not be feasible in reality, it's something we can all strive for.

:lol:

Will post more later.

TAG

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

Since the beggining, the Community of Bariloche has been that, a community, everyone chiped in and everyone had a say in everything. Recently there has been a centralization of the government as a result of the economic growth, but all the current officials are trying their best to reconstruct the direct-democratic institutions that made our country great.

When we are at this state of direct-democracy, the elite (which is not the "dominant class", because if they were they would stop breathing... SUDDENLY) are the popular local representants, who preside the local asamblies (sp?), and carry the desitions to the national communal government.

Right now the only elite are the elected representants which are honoured to be elected and work under close surveillance of the people.

Bariloche: but wouldn't you say that some people influence policy more then others?

Again: by 'elite' I don't mean the people who vote, like members of Parliament of important generals. I mean the 'layer' in society that has a lot to say. A few thousand people, at the very least.

~Knoot BUMPing his thread.

There are two elites in Patoxia, the rich gentlemen (now the real Aristocracy) who dominate the Government and the Criminal elite.

The wealthy gentlemen who dominate the government are the mostly the descendants of confederate immigrants who migrated to Patoxia following the American civil war and gained much power and influence in the young Confederacy of Patoxia. They however had certain aristocratic urges and have recently installed Nicholas Tokugawa as Emperor, and formed an imperial government. They live mostly who around the capitol and the cities of the southern part of Sakhalin.

The wealthy gentlemen however do hold much real power over the people of Patoxia and must cooperate (by looking the other way most of the time) with the "Criminal Elite" who consist of infamous air pirates and other members of organized crime. The "Criminal Elite" are fairly organized and use the stronghold on Zeke's Peak as a neutral area to conduct “business” and relax.

Edit: clarification

Intellectuals, definately. Although they are a large group, they still fit the definition of "elite."

Nearly everyone in Nikvonia eventually gets a university education, we are a mixed "race" (English, Scots, Welsh, Irish, and Pacific northwest Indians), we all serve in the military, all citizens (those who agree to serve in the military and be bound by the laws) vote, we all speak English (our own dialect).

The elite would probably be Senators, who have all been officers in the military, and were probably successful business men. Though there is no rule, they are often of the remnants of the aristocratic families leftover form colonial days. They are often of more pure English or Scots blood.

Education and business are completely seperate from the government, corruption being punishable by death (by firing squad), but usually the best and brightest run for political office, and Senators have to have served in another part of the government, so they are bright and experienced.

The elite class within Sambizie varies from where you place the values. For instance, the Military Elite would include Generals and Lordships who have been awarded Empiral Assets based on the performance in the battlefield. The Corporate Elite would be those company's or industries such as Aero-Tech Military Contracts and IVA Cloning. It is common knowledge that if one wishes to suceed within the Empire, they must be "favored" in some way, shape, or form. The best way to gain reconition is through the military as many mid to high ranking officers hold the pieces of the Empire, (this may explain compulsary military enlistment for the last centry).

Every Sambizie born citizen get's their taste of the military via mandatory service. It is during that time that they are provided training in not only the military but a varity of other industrial and technical fields. This training is then reinforced with mandatory education past the High Scool level. However, should they not be enrolled within 1 year of the military release, they can opt to reinlist or work at McDonald's...at the bottom rung.

Since political freedoms are outlawed and civil rights are a rarity, those who don't make it in the military or white-coller enviroments, make up the majority of taxable income.

There is really no elite class in Hattia. You can't say it is the Congressmen, because they have to vote the way their constiuents do. (They are there basically for ease of counting.) And they have 1.8 billion armed Hattians there to make sure they do that. The Prime Minister has very little real power. The military is also subdued by the armed populace. In Hattia very few people even have a tiny bit more influence than everyone else.

The elite among the borg collective is hard to define. To be sure, they are 'ruled' by the primary concensous monitor and facilitator (PCMF), that is only a semisentient program that organizes the borg, defines the goals, and allocates resources (including drones) to accomplish those goals.

The Dragons could be considered an elite by outsiders, and in some ways they are, their great wisdom and inteligence as well as physical and magical powers, not to mention their centuries or millenia of experience make them valuable to the colective, but they don't have any more influence than a regular drone on the decision making process besides giving advice.

Scienists do have a lot of pull in the collective because they know the most efficient allocation of resources to acomplish the goals of the collective, but they don't get to set those goals, or at least not any more than any drone gets to say about the goals.

So then how are the goals for the borg collective set?
The PCMF remembers what the goals of the previous collective where and continualy polls all drones for what the new goals should be, assining a drift from the current goal set based on how long the drones hold onto the new way of doing things, and how strongly they feel about it, as well as the memory of how long the old goals have been there and how strongly the drones have felt about it over time. However that is not the full story, each drone has a weight attached to it's current opinion, depending on the situation in the entire colective, and what the 'vote' pretains to, if the collective is in a situation where the current drone is good at brining it to a sucsessful resulution, and/or the 'vote' deals with the drones skills then the 'vote' is worth more than it otherwise would be. So Genkis Khan and Napoleon's 'votes' would count more than Michelangelo's when the collective is in a war, however if the collective was trying to win an art competition the michelangelo's vote would count more. When the collective tries to both fight a war and win an art competition then their votes would be slanted towards how much it has to do with their area of expertise.

So from that point of view the elite in the collective is a constantly shifting set of drones, and there could even exsist multiple elites if the colective goals are sufficiently divided, as they often are.

This is by no means a full explanation of how the borg work, it's at best a brief summary.

The social and corporate elite has a stronger say in the state's affairs than the normal citizen. The people who are the most influencial are both social and corporate elites, rich families that appear frequently in Aerigian tabloid magazines.

We would like to say that we agree with Aerigia and would like to set up trade and start talks over future actions together.

Sorry I didn't answer before, kind of busy in RL and here too.

Bariloche: but wouldn't you say that some people influence policy more then others?

Again: by 'elite' I don't mean the people who vote, like members of Parliament of important generals. I mean the 'layer' in society that has a lot to say. A few thousand people, at the very least.

~Knoot BUMPing his thread.

I understood that, and that's why I answered, to stablish that (when in our Direct Democracy state) no one has more saying than others. We don't have private enterprising, nor a military who preexisted the nation, so no pressure from those sectors. Personal involvement in debates and votations is completely optional, but at least 95% of the people (older than 18 and younger than 75) participate actively in their local decitions. In the present the political apathetic are a lot, but luckily people interested in politics and government-watchers are still in existance. We expect the politics freedoms to improve and the apathy to descend in a few years (if I get the d*** issues that is :lol: )

In Spyr, influence of a particular class is a bit difficult to see clearly. The military would seem, at first glance, to dominate affairs, with officers holding many government positions, and also the whole of the Judiciary.

However, under scrutiny, it can be seen that there is a high amount of intellectual power... university students tend to be the portion of the public agitating for policy change, and the 'military officers' in government are frequently prominent intellectuals whose views agree with those of the President, and whose military rank is granted after appointment. The government encourages policy debate in the populace, and observes the results, meaning that it often follows a course influenced by the most knowledgeable debaters.

Economic power is a completely different matter. The Ministry of Commerce and the CEOs of major corporations come from the same class of buisness leaders, and sometimes government officials will also be heads of companies. These people also tend to be well educated, but their focus is not intellectual, but profit and prosperity. This group has a high degree of influence over the economy and economic policy, though on occcasion the core of intellectual-bureaucrats has been able to curtail some of their desired measures.

With every iron fist, there needs to be something to deter people from stepping outside the grasp. In the first few years of ASW, the A.S.I.A. institute (Archaic Slang Intelligence Agency) was founded for the training of intelligence officers and foot-soldiers prepared to shoot their own brother should they think outside of the predetermined thought.

As an agency of the government, they have grown reputable fear from several incidcences, including a Christmas Day and Hanukah massacre (over 300 dead, over 450 wounded.), the New Years AO incident (A.S.I.A. had reason to believe terrorists were operating in the subways. To that end, they positioned armed gaurds at all overground levels and gassed the lower ground with agent orange), and their reputable ability to remove any citizen from existence, both physically, economically, and politically, thanks to modern style executions and erasing of computerized information. They are the most powerful and influential group, affecting all classes of society. Young mothers even tell their children to be good or the A.S.I.A. will come for them.

BUMP!

The Royal familly are Austs Elite.

In the UCSNE, it's primarily the military, those in the technology and economic fields, and the Centrists.
The military influences most foreign policy and trade.
Those who are well educated, especially in technology and economics, have serious influence on the domestic policies that don't involve the military or police, like environmental policies, taxes, welfare, business.
Of course, the Cetnrist Party has influence on who gets into these positions... They've been running the nation since the beginning of the modern era.

In Chigwell Row the elite are whosoever I say they are. If anyone disgrees with my dictate they shall be reduced to social class 5 status and all wealth and property will be confiscated and made available to the state, under my supervision of course.


An official edict on behalf of His magnificence The Peoples Ruler of Chigwell Row

Soddslaw is a nation divided into a rural community and an urban community.Although it is a democracy, the 1st patriarch is a mixture of president and near emporer. He/she is elected by a ballot of the population from a list agreed by the members of parliament of both houses. The 1st Patriarch is elect for two and a half parliamentary terms. and can stand for reelection although this is rare. The upper house is elected from the 'elites'. All this term means is people who have qualified to be allowed to stand. by service to the country. This is a little like an honours system but the choosing is done purely on service. There is a fast track where a cadidate can be put forward in return for an act of bravery or a scientific discovery etc. These Senators serve Three lower house terms and retire one third at a time there is no system for relection. The system keeps a balance between rural and urban people although the urbans tend to feel that they are at the centre of things. The 1st Patriach is currently working on a solution to this as it is seen to be dangerously divisive. One move has been made however with the legislation banning any town from growth above a certain size. The whole thrust of recent goverment actions has been to reduce or contain urban growth and encourage a pride in self sufficiency so far as is possible

Soddslaw is a nation divided into a rural community and an urban community.Although it is a democracy the 1st patriarch is a mixture of president and near emporer .He/she is elected by a ballot of the population from a list agreed by the members of parliament of both houses. The 1st Patriarch is elect for two and a half parliamentary terms. and is all9owed to stand for reelection although this rare The upper house is elected from the 'elites'. All this term means is people who have qualified to be allowed to stand. by service to the country. This is a little like an honours system but the choosing is done purely on service. There is a fast track where a cadidate can be put forward in return for an act of bravery or a scientific discovery etc. These Senators serve Three lower house terms and retire one third at a time there is no system for relection. The system keeps a balance between rural and urban people although the urbans tend to feel that they are at the centre of things. The 1st Patriach is currently working on a solution to this as it is seen to be dangerously divisive. One move has been made however with the legislation banning any town from growth above a certain size. The whole thrust of recent goverment actions has been to reduce or contain urban growth and encourage a pride in self sufficiency so far as is possible

BUMPS while urging people who post here to read the first post...

Final BUMP before archive request!

The clergy do not rule Syskeyia. The Republic's constitution prohibits clergy from voting, and as the vast majority of Syskeyians believe in Catholic principles and act on them, the episcopate, by and large, stays out of political life.

(Sorry, gotta emphasize Syskeyia is NOT A THEOCRACY before this is archived as people start thinking wrong ideas based on Knoot's initial post.)

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

The clergy do not rule Syskeyia. The Republic's constitution prohibits clergy from voting, and as the vast majority of Syskeyians believe in Catholic principles and act on them, the episcopate, by and large, stays out of political life.

(Sorry, gotta emphasize Syskeyia is NOT A THEOCRACY before this is archived as people start thinking wrong ideas based on Knoot's initial post.)

(Ah, but you’re defending against the wrong accusation! ;)

Knoot never said the clergy rule Syskeyia, he said they were the social elite.

At the risk of using a poor analogy: The aristocrats are undoubtedly the social elite in Iansisle, but we certainly aren’t a directly feudal country; we’re a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Similarly, the church may have social power by the ton in Syskeyia, but still have not a lick of political power.

It’s a fine line, and quite an easy one to accidentally jump.)

The Communist Party of New Mozambique control all aspects of life in the PRNM. They are building a better future for the people.

The Clergy, of course. However, there are a few extremely rich "Robber Barons" within the country, which run the illegal yet uncontrollably large Automobile Manufacturers... Sadly, since these businesses are illegal, their income is not recorded, and therefor the people who control them slip under the income tax, making them unbelievably wealthy. Yet they 'donate' enough money to the government to 'convince' the government not to shut them down, that the government doesn't crack down on these individuals and their illegal corporations.

The clergy do not rule Syskeyia. The Republic's constitution prohibits clergy from voting, and as the vast majority of Syskeyians believe in Catholic principles and act on them, the episcopate, by and large, stays out of political life.

(Sorry, gotta emphasize Syskeyia is NOT A THEOCRACY before this is archived as people start thinking wrong ideas based on Knoot's initial post.)

(Ah, but you’re defending against the wrong accusation! ;)

Knoot never said the clergy rule Syskeyia, he said they were the social elite.

At the risk of using a poor analogy: The aristocrats are undoubtedly the social elite in Iansisle, but we certainly aren’t a directly feudal country; we’re a parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Similarly, the church may have social power by the ton in Syskeyia, but still have not a lick of political power.

It’s a fine line, and quite an easy one to accidentally jump.)

Indeed, that was merely what I was claiming. Of course, that still gives them a hell of a lot of influence. Abstract things such as 'Catholic principles' are nice, but how these values are used in concrete reality is always based on operationalisation by an elite group. Ie. the elite. The group people want to be like, who they admire.

Sure, your country is a democracy, but do the people listen as much to a cleric as they do to a drug-addicted objectivist heathen?

In the Protectorate of Starblaydia, the seldom-glimpsed Lord-Protector holds the key power position, but no-one really knows his background, or which companies he actually owns. Holding sway over most of the population are the Corporations, who take care of everything from all sorts of Industry to even owning the Law Enforcement Agencies.

Ordinary workers have little to no rights in the employment sector, but generally Starblaydi are hard-working, as they know they must be to keep their jobs. This does, however, result in large ammounts of consumer spending power, bringing an ever-more ambitious middle-class into the social picture

Indeed, that was merely what I was claiming. Of course, that still gives them a hell of a lot of influence. Abstract things such as 'Catholic principles' are nice, BU THOW ETSHE VALUEZ R USED IN CONCRETE REA;i YsI ALWAYZ BASED ON OPERTAIO0NALISATIOJN BY 4N 733T GORUP!!!!!!!!11 ei.. Teh 733t.. The group people want to be like, who they admire.

Sure, your country is a democracy, but do the people listen as much to a cleric as they do to a drug-addicted objectivist heathen?
Horribly bad "l33t-speak" brought to you by the Dialectizer (http://www.rinkworks.com/dialect/).

Well, we did kill a bunch of "drug-addicted objectivist heathens" back in the Objectivist War of the '80s, and some non-addicted ones as well. :D

Anyway, back to the subject. OK, Syskeyia is not, directly or indirectly, ruled by the clergy. The majority of Syskeyians believe everything in Catechism of the Catholic Church. (http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/ccc_toc.htm) but they also think for themselves. I know that sound contradictory, but it's not. I also don't think there's any one "group" who the majority of Syskeyians desire to imitate. A phrase for most Syskeyians would be "Accept the Catholic faith, for it is from God. Question everybody else." They're orthodox Catholics who are independant thinkers. (Or should I always go on and on about how your people are always being told what to do by the university professors, RecDrugCorp, the Social Liberal Party, etc.?)

So stop saying that "the clergy always tell Syskeyians what to do," OK?

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

"it may not make sense, but it does, so there!" ?

Does anyone else understand what Syskeyia is trying to say? Its got me a bit muddled.

Anyway, back to the subject. OK, Syskeyia is not, directly or indirectly, ruled by the clergy. The majority of Syskeyians believe everything in Catechism of the Catholic Church. (http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/ccc_toc.htm) but they also think for themselves. I know that sound contradictory, but it's not. I also don't think there's any one "group" who the majority of Syskeyians desire to imitate. A phrase for most Syskeyians would be "Accept the Catholic faith, for it is from God. Question everybody else." They're orthodox Catholics who are independant thinkers. <snip irrelevant sentence>

So stop saying that "the clergy always tell Syskeyians what to do," OK?

(Ah, but that's a false quote! Neither I nor Knootoss has ever said "the clergy always tell Syskeyians what to do" - you can have a social elite that doesn't want to be as such, or you can have a 'non-intentional' social elite. I said that "the church may have social power by the ton in Syskeyia..." and Knoot said that "...how these values are used in concrete reality is always based on operationalisation by an elite group."

Or, to rephrase: "'Accept the Catholic faith, for it is from God. Question everybody else.'" Or do you wish to say that Catholic values are not organized by an elite group, and that group is the clergy?

And, by the way, if you'd ever seen my GPA, you'd know full well that people don't do everything university professors tell them. :P

Militanar is pretty much a classless society, being a near-socialist nation, but the dominant power is probably the military-industrial complex, and the high-placed individuals ruling over it.

(Ah, but that's a false quote! Neither I nor Knootoss has ever said "the clergy always tell Syskeyians what to do"

Actually, it's a paraphrase of something Knootoss has implied in both IC and OOC comments:

But let me put these incidents in perspective and look at the longer term. We see here a track record of hostility towards the DDR and other individual SATO nations. Inevitably, this amounts to hostility towards the organisation as a whole based on theocratic principles.

OOC: ... Frankly, these talks are only needed to avoid retalliatory actions. These diplomats ICly stated to come here only if domestic policies would NOT be the subject of discussion. No sovereign nation allows himself to be pushed around by some church fatcats in another nation. Sys did read that. If Sys continues to blahblah about his personal beliefs it will be a VERY short meeting followed by some nasty countermeasures.

The minister was referring to an attempt initiated by the Foreign Ministry to negotiate with church leaders and head of state that failed miserably. “The Syskeyians insisted that we changed our domestic policy even though we had said that would not be a negotiating point. The Knootian people decide about that”, said the SLP minister to the press. “And the people have voted SLP and entrusted us to make their policies, not the Catholic church.”

Is the Knootian government willing to drop funding for abortion and euthanasia?
No. Funding might drop as a result of budget cuts but no way is the government going to give in to the demands. Especially not after the embargo. Its a question for your people of either swallowing their pride or facing the economic embargoes of over 30 nations. I would like to end the sanctions, and my government doesn't favour it as a policy instrument but they are not going to change democratically decided policy because a foreign church wants them to. They are not interfering in your domestic affairs either you know.

Emphasis added. :wink:

God bless,

The Republic of Syskeyia

Why, hello Mr Straw Man! :P

Seriously, though, I can’t quite see what relevance those quotes have on the fact that Knootoss never implied that the Syskeyia was ruled, de facto or de jure, by the clergy. He simply stated that “[the clergy] is the group of people that has the most influence in your nation.”

From what I’ve seen of Syskeyia, the clergy is the dominant group in terms of influence; after all, don’t most Syskeyians “Accept the Catholic faith, for it is from God”? It follows to reason that, if most Syskeyians are devoted to the degree they apparently are that the clergy, as the medium through which one may talk to God, would carry enormous influence, intentional or not. This influence is held not through active means, but as a result they garner among the masses.

If the clergy carries great respect among the general populace, and Knootoss listed the clergy as carrying great respect among the general populace in the initial post (which, unlike various other references brought in to cloud the issue, is the subject of contention), I fail to see what your problem with his statement is.

Well, I'd argue with this but Iansisle has already provided a sound and flawless argumentation. Thank you :)

To clarify I a bit more about what I do mean:
As the first post said, the social elite is a concept of influence, not one of mind control or power. Think about it: in all periods of history and in all geographic regions there has always been a social elite. Even in communist nations where there was a party elite with special priviliges, but also in democracies. The US for example clearly has a corporate elite which is very influential in policymaking, and its values are almost universally admired in that nation. 'The American Dream', becoming rich through entrepeneurship, etc etc.

If not the clergy, who is your social elite?

The corpate elite are above the lawn all three of Weslemagne's countries.