NationStates Jolt Archive

This thread is the new factbook for the Eternal Republic of Xirnium. It is a continuing work in progress. Please feel free to comment.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e221/Xirnium/arms1.jpg
Internal Government Memorandum, Office of the Foreign Ministry
The Eternal Republic of Xirnium

Tárië Ambârmentë Laë Nainányéna! – Until the End of Time!
To: Mr Wilfrid Närmocú
Assistant Secretary of the Foreign Ministry
The Eternal Republic of Xirnium

From: Ms Audrey Cenëdéss
Private Secretary of the Foreign Ministry
The Eternal Republic of Xirnium

Dear Mr Närmocú

Please find enclosed within this letter a preliminary draft copy of the “Concise Fact Sheet” section of the Xirnium in Brief pamphlet which the Foreign Ministry hopes to make available as a general guide to foreigners at all departmental office buildings.

It is my hope that you will consider this draft to be of satisfactory quality for the purposes which the Foreign Ministry has defined. If after evaluating the factbook you have any suggestions at all for alterations to the proposed work, I would be most interested to hear them.

[Signed]

Ms Audrey Cenëdéss
Private Secretary
The Office of the Foreign Ministry of the Eternal Republic of Xirnium

_______________________________________________________

The Eternal Republic of Xirnium in Brief

Introduction

Background:
Today’s Xirnium is a vibrant, secular and liberal social democratic republic whose protections of civil and political rights are unrivalled anywhere else on Earth. One of the most modern sovereign nations in the world, and a leader amongst European States, Xirnium and her rich, long and proud culture have played an incalculable role in advancing the pursuits of literature, science and parliamentary democracy.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e221/Xirnium/Xirniuma.jpg

Holy Xirnium, as it is sometimes affectionately referred to by its inhabitants, is a land of great natural beauty and pristine wilderness.
The following image shows parts of the Nurtále Alps in the south-east of the Eternal Republic.


Geography

Location:
North-western Europe between the North Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea and the Norwegian Sea.

Geographic coordinates:
60 00 N, 10 00 W

Map references:
Europe

Area:
Total: 698 723 sq km
Land: 628 850 sq km
Water: 69 873 sq km

note: includes only metropolitan Xirnium; does not include Xirniumite overseas territories, dependencies and other administrative divisions of the Eternal Republic

Area - comparative:
Slightly larger than France.

Land boundaries:
Total: 0 km

Coastline:
33 289 km

Maritime claims:
Territorial sea: 22 km
Contiguous zone: 44 km
Exclusive economic zone: 370 km

Climate:
Mostly temperate and cold temperate. Comparatively mild because of the moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current and the existence of numerous large lakes. Frequent overcast days. Cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers except in south. Rainy year-round in parts. Subarctic in far north.

Terrain:
Mostly rugged hills and low mountains interspersed with large lakes, fertile valleys and high plateaus; gently rolling plains in west and southwest; alps and rugged mountains in the east; heavily forested; glaciated arctic tundra in far north.

Elevation extremes:
Lowest point: Eleüsaénia River Delta -2 m
Highest point: Mount Caëniüm 3 872 m

Natural resources:
Relatively abundant resources: coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tin, limestone, salt, chalk, silica sand, slate, uranium, timber, fish, feldspar, fluorspar, phosphates, antimony

Relatively scarce resources: arable land, bauxite, antimony, arsenic, mercury, nickel, potash, titanium, platinum, diamond, chromite, nickel and gypsum

note: abundance and scarcity calculated relative to the resource’s need and value (in addition to its natural amount) in the Eternal Republic.

Land use:
Arable land: 14.12%
Permanent crops: 0.1%

Natural hazards:
Electrical storms, winter windstorms; floods; avalanches.

Environment - current issues:
Continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to meet and exceed Kyoto Protocol targets.

Increasingly heavy reliance on nuclear fission power (currently greater than 70%) and alternative renewable energy sources in order to decrease already greatly reduced reliance on fossil fuels.

Geography - note:
Occupies strategic location in North Atlantic Ocean; lies near vital North Atlantic sea trade and communication lanes.



People

Population:
2 172 679 812 (September 2006 estimate)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.5%
15-64 years: 67.8%
65 years and over: 15.7%

Median age:
Total: 36.2 years

Male: 35.2 years
Female: 36.7 years (2006 estimate)

Population growth rate:
0.23% (2006 estimate)

Sex ratio:
At birth: 0.82 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 0.82 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.80 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female

Total population: 0.78 male(s)/female (2006 estimate)

Life expectancy at birth:
Total population: 89.26 years

Male: 87.59 years
Female: 89.73 years (2006 estimate)

Nationality:
Noun: Xirniumite(s)
Adjective: Xirniumite; Xirnian (antiquated form)

Ethnic groups:
Primarily European ethnic groups 95.4%; other 4.6% (2006 census)

Religions:
Predominately none, overwhelmingly atheist population

Indigenous religion: Núháquënwaëv (animist paganism)

Other minor religions: Xirniumite Orthodox Christianity

Languages:
English (official language, 100%), French (official language, 82%), German (45%), Spanish (22%), Russian (12%), Italian (10%), Amestrian (16%), Pacitalian (2%), Vic-Romus Comatican (0.5%)

Former official languages: Ancient Xirnian, Latin, Ancient Greek

Literacy:
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 100%

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e221/Xirnium/Xirnium4.jpg
Xirniumite cities are a breathtaking synergy of old and new.
Though well known for its magnificent medieval gothic towers, the Eternal Republic is also resplendent with ultra-modern skyscrapers.


Government

Country name:
Conventional long form(s): Eternal Republic of Xirnium
Conventional short form(s): Xirnium

Pronounced: ZER-nee-um

Former: Xirniumite Empire

Government type:
Westminsterian parliamentary democratic republic

Capital:
Naèräth

Administrative divisions:
45 different provinces subordinate to the central authority in Naèräth

Independence:
497 CE; Xirnii city-states united under the rule of the Xirniumite “Viceregal Tetrarchs” (so called because they governed, nominally at least, as representatives and by the authority of the Byzantine Emperor in Constantinople) Agäwaérn, Halândín, Hälthâdir and Valärcíca. Xirnium has maintained an unbroken continuity of sovereign independence ever since.

National holiday:
Anniversary of the start of the Golden Revolution, 5 April (1624). During the pitched battles that occurred during this bitter Civil War, the Xirniumite Parliament finally and totally shattered the power of the monarchy, confirming the cornerstone doctrines of Parliamentary Sovereignty and the Rule of Law which continue to define the Eternal Republic today.

The slow moves of Emperor Velêrìus I towards monarchical absolutism, and his defence of the divine right to rule, were completely thwarted by the Supreme Parliament during the Golden Revolutionary War, and the Monarch was finally executed by the Parliamentarians for High Treason in 1626.

Constitution:
Unwritten common law constitution consisting primarily of case law, common law doctrines, constitutional conventions and practises and several documents of higher statute law, which include treaties, bills of rights, and entrenched acts.

Legal system:
Common law tradition; recently began nonbinding judicial review of legislative action; judicial review of executive action; able to declare laws repugnant if they conflict with basic common law rights; does not accept ICJ jurisdiction or, indeed, the intereference of any foreign body

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
Chief of State: Lady Protector Victória Seriendé (since 13 April 2006)
note: legally, and practically, the non-executive, ceremonial figurehead of Xirnium

Head of Government: Prime Minister Heather Gílda (since 8 September 2006)

Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the Prime Minister from among the members of Parliament

Elections:
Chief of State - None; the Lord or Lady Protector is appointed by the Prime Minister on the recommendation of a joint statutory committee, which evaluates a shortlist of candidates provided by the Xirniumite Parliament.

Head of Government - Following national legislative elections, the parliamentary leader of the majority party (or the majority coalition) usually becomes the Prime Minister.

Legislative branch:
Bicameral Parliament comprised of a Legislative Council (the upper house, or House of Councillors - consists of approximately 500 members; one half of members are elected from the various Xirniumite provinces by proportional representation every four years to serve eight-year terms) and a Legislative Assembly (the lower house, or House of Assembly – consists of approximately 800 seats; members are elected from each constituency by popular vote to serve four-year terms)

Elections:
House of Councillors – last held 22 November 2003 (next to be held no later then December 2007)

House of Assembly - last held 22 November 2003 (next to be held by December 2007)

Election results:
House of Councillors – percentage of seats per party – Progressive Democrats 55.8%, Social Democrats 22.7%, Liberal Democrats 18.1%, Greens 3.1%, Conservatives 0.1%, other 0.2%

House of Assembly - percentage of seats per party – Progressive Democrats 62.3%, Social Democrats 16.4%, Liberal Democrats 12.1%, Greens 6.8%, Conservatives 1.1%, other 1.3%

Judicial branch:
High Supreme Court of Xirnium (highest court of appeal, its Law Lords and Ladies are appointed for life by full sitting of the Supreme Parliament); High Courts of Xirnium (High Court of Appeal, High Court of Justice, High Civil Court)



Economy

Economy - overview:
The past couple of decades has seen the Xirniumite economy surge from strength to strength (with both growth and production at unprecedented robust levels) and has marked the emergence of the Eternal Republic as a major trading power and financial centre in Western Europe and indeed the world.

The Xirniumite economy is a free market economy with important government regulations to ensure the existence of competitive practices and avoid market failure, an unrivalled system of social security and transfer payments to address income inequality, the nationalised ownership of certain important, strategic, or natural monopoly industries (such as education, health care, transport telecommunications and power and water utilities), subsidisation of important programs (such as child care) and a staunch commitment to free trade.

Some “third way” centrist economic principles have been embodied in lower taxes and the deregulation and decentralisation of certain industries in order to encourage competition. Other economic areas, however, provide clear examples of socialist government controls, including powerful antitrust legislation, extensive workers’ rights and far-reaching welfare policies.

Tertiary and quaternary sector industries (including services such as banking, insurance, and business services, in addition to scientific research) comprise, by far, the largest segment of Xirnium’s gross domestic product, followed by high-quality secondary sector manufacturing industries. The new Keynesian monetary and fiscal policies of the Xirniumite government have succeeded admirably in guaranteeing the strength of the Xirniumite economy; inflation, interest rates, and unemployment continue to remain low.

GDP (purchasing power parity):
EUR €50 trillion (2006 estimate)

GDP - per capita (PPP):
EUR €24 205.71 (2006 estimate)

GDP - composition by sector:
Agriculture: 8.4%
Industry: 25.8%
Services: 65.8% (2006 estimate)

Unemployment rate:
2.6% (2006 estimate)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.2% (2006 estimate)

Agriculture - products:
Wheat, potatoes, vegetables, wine grapes; beef, dairy products, sheep, poultry; fish.

Industries:
Automated machinery, chemicals, metallurgy, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles, electronics and communications equipment, metals, paper and paper products, textiles and clothing, other consumer goods, tourism.

Electricity - production by source:
Fossil fuel: 4.1%
Hydro: 17.3%
Nuclear: 73.2%
Other: 5.4% (2000)

Exports:
EUR €7.44 trillion (2006 estimate)

Exports - commodities:
Luxury crafts (lace, textiles, and furniture), fine Glassworks, electronics, manufactured goods, aircraft, plastics and other petroleum-industry products, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, beverages, opiates.

Imports:
EUR €7.44 trillion (2006 estimate)

Imports - commodities:
Manufactured goods, coffee and tea, beverages (especially wines), foodstuffs (especially fruits).

Major import and export partners:
Yallakian trade bloc, McKagan, Halberdgardia, Velkya

Currency (code):
Xirniumite aythir (XNA)

Currency code:
XNA Ŧŋ

Exchange rates:
Xirniumite aythir per Euro - 0.78 (2006)
Xirniumite aythir per US dollar - 0.61 (2006)

Fiscal year:
1 July – 30 June



Communications

Telephone system:
General assessment: highly technologically advanced domestic and international system.

Internet country code:
.xn



Military

Military branches:
Xirminite Self-Defence Forces: Xirniumite Army, Xirniumite Navy (includes marine infantry and naval aviation), Xirniumite Air Force (includes airborne infantry), Xirniumite Gendarmerie and Xirniumite Strategic Missile Force.

Military service age and obligation:
The Xirniumite Self-Defence Forces (XSDF) is a professional and all-volunteer force. Minimum entry requirements are comparatively very strict, and some of the criteria include:

-The applicant must be at least twenty-one years of age.
-The applicant must be a Xirniumite citizen.
-The applicant must have successfully completed secondary education and exceeded a certain specific minimum final score.
-The applicant must have a satisfactory police record.

-The applicant must successfully pass medical, fitness, psychological and aptitude tests.

Both men and women are eligible to join any branch, and apply for any role (combat or non-combat), in the Xirniumite Self-Defence Forces.

Military manpower:
Approximately 7 million

Military manpower as a percentage of total population:
0.27% (December 2006)

Military expenditures - monetary figure:
EUR €3.5 trillion (May 2006)



Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:
Xirnium is currently sponsoring a Constitutional Convention process in Torontia in order to resolve any remaining obstacles hindering the reunification and self-determination of the Torontian republic.

In 2005, a clandestine Xharnian special forces detachment attempted to violate the sovereignty of Xirniumite territorial waters only to have its efforts thwarted by the Xirniumite Air Force. The commando team were charged with committing crimes in the Eternal Republic, and are still serving their sentences in a Xirniumite correctional facility.

Xirniumite-Amestrian diplomatic relations continue to remain in a state of deep freeze following the breakdown last year, though there have been some recent indications of a mutual move towards reconciliation.

reserved

The Judiciary of the Eternal Republic


Court Hierarchy

High Supreme Court of Xirnium
This is the ultimate appellate court in both civil and criminal cases. The High Supreme Court has original appellate jurisdiction on all constitutional cases. The right of appeal to the High Supreme Court is not automatic, unless the matter comes within its original jurisdiction, and generally leave must be sought.
The High Supreme Court is comprised of seven Law Lords or Ladies. They are addressed in Court as Your Lordship or Ladyship.

High Court of Appeal
This is an appellate court with no original jurisdiction. The High Court of Appeal is divided into criminal and civil divisions. There is a full right of appeal to the High Court of Appeal on a matter of law and sometimes, though much less often, on a question of fact.
The High Court of Appeal is comprised of Lord and Lady Justices of Appeal. They are addressed in Court as Your Lordship or Ladyship.

High Court of Assize
This is a criminal court with both original and appellate jurisdiction. When it sits as a court of first instance, trial is by judge and jury. When it hears appeals, in which three or more judges will sit together (thus forming a Full Court of the High Court of Assize) there is no jury.
The High Court of Assize is comprised of Justices. They are addressed in Court as Your Honour.

High Court of Session
This is a civil court with both original and appellate jurisdiction. When it sits as a court of first instance, judges will normally sit alone. However, three or more will sit together (thus forming a Full Court of the High Court of Session) when hearing appeals. The High Court of Session is divided into many divisions, including but not limited to the Commerce Division, Family Division, Chancery Division, Exchequer Division, Admiralty Division and Common Division.
The High Court of Session is comprised of Justices. They are addressed in Court as Your Honour.

Courts of Judicature
These are courts of original jurisdiction in a range of civil and criminal matters.

Magistrates’ Courts
These are inferior courts of some limited civil and criminal jurisdiction within a local area.
Cases heard in Magistrates’ Courts are done so by Stipendiary Magistrates, refered to as Justices of the Peace. They are addressed in Court as Your Worship.

The Executive of the Eternal Republic

Supreme Executive Council
In Xirniumite constitutional practice, this body exercises executive power, and approves the signing of formal documents (known as Orders-in-Council) such as proclamations, regulations, ordinances and statutory appointments.

The Supreme Executive Council comprises all members of the government Ministry, with the Prime Minister presiding as President. Orders-in-Council made by this body must be done so in accordance with Acts or Parliament, and in any case they may be overturned by an ordinary Act of Parliament.

Members of the Supreme Executive Council are entitled the styles of address The Right Honourable and His or Her Grace. Furthermore, they are bestowed the historical noble title of High Lord or Lady of Parliament, an ancient Executory position in Xirnium that has existed from at least the fourteenth century.

Members of the Supreme Executive Council are therefore granted the ceremonial noble rank of High Lord or Lady. As with all noble ranks in the Eternal Republic, they are held only so long as it pleases Parliament.

The entire Ministry is not required to attend every meeting of the Supreme Executive Council for it to be considered valid. A quorum consists of the Prime Minister and two other members of the Ministry, or in the absence of the Prime Minister consists of three members of the Ministry (the most senior of whom will preside over the Council as Vice-President).


The Ministry
The Ministry comprises all government ministers headed by the Prime Minister, irrespective of whether or not they are in Cabinet. The subdivisions of the Ministry are the Inner Cabinet, the Outer Ministry and the Parliamentary Secretaries.

Inner Cabinet
The Inner Cabinet is the body comprising the highest-ranking members of the Government, and is selected by the Prime Minister. Due to party discipline, which is a feature of the Westminster system, Cabinet collectively determines the Government’s overall policy and strategic aims, deciding what legislation it will seek to pass in Parliament.

All members of the Inner Cabinet hold the formal constitutional title of Minister of Cabinet, and hold individual portfolios regarding specific governmental duties.

Selected List of Significant Cabinet Ministers

Prime Minister:
The Most Hon Dr Heather Margaréta Gílda MP

Deputy Prime Minister:
The Rt Hon Yvette Glîrwen MP


Leader of the Government in the House of Assembly:
The Rt Hon Aurélian Cúlienén MP

Leader of the Government in the House of Councillors:
The Rt Hon Lauréline Serônleìthian MP


Minister for Foreign Affairs:
The Rt Hon Eléanor Numêsalquó Sabëlinà MP

Minister for Defence:
The Rt Hon Félix Dägnír MP

Chancellor of the Exchequer:
The Rt Hon Anastázia Fälastúri MP

Attorney-General:
The Rt Hon Dr Márkus Atâril-Löndé MP

Minister for Education:
The Rt Hon Igrayne Látaquári MP

Minister for Health:
The Rt Hon Annamária Lamänméldo MP

Minister for the Interior and Home Affairs:
The Rt Hon Héctor Ilúvantë MP

Minister for Trade and Commerce:
The Rt Hon Zoltán Aíre-Dâlóme MP

Minister for Science, Research and Technology:
The Rt Hon Dr Agáta Nársúlë MP

Minister of Finance and the Economy:
The Rt Hon Dr Carolyn Andûne-Nörui MP

Minister of Justice and the Police:
The Rt Hon Lucian Istyárê MP

Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Affairs:
The Rt Hon Hélène Altaerdë MP

Minister for the Environment:
The Rt Hon Sebestyén Dorthönion MP

Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Civil Aviation:
The Rt Hon Dr Cornélius Siólmë Baëlágrëdh MP

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries:
The Rt Hon Dorian Nëstad-Cýrion MP

Minister for Culture and Xirniumite Heritage:
The Rt Hon Dr Élisabeth Tyälengán MP


The Head of Government - Prime Minister
The Prime Minister of the Eternal Republic is a chief minister who serves as the head of the Executive branch of the government. By constitutional convention, the Prime Minister (as the head of the elected Westministerian parliament) must be a member of the lower house of the Supreme Parliament and hold office only while he or she maintains the confidence of the Xirniumite Parliament. Should the Prime Minister lose a vote of no confidence in his or her leadership, he or she is bound by convention to either resign, or to hold an election if Parliament cannot agree on a suitable individual to elect to the Prime Ministership. This custom is designed to ensure the inviolability of the doctrine of Responsible Government – that Cabinet and the Prime Minister remain accountable to the Sovereign Parliament.

The Xirniumite Prime Minister enters office through direct election by parliament. It should be noted that, as the Xirniumite constitution is largely unwritten, the Prime Minister’s powers and duties are primarily defined by tradition, custom and the Xirniumite Common Law.

The Prime Minister is entitled the styles of address The Most Honourable.

Current Prime Minister:
The Most Hon Heather Gílda MP

reserved - legislature

The Culture of the Eternal Republic

Brief Overview

Any attempted summation of the culture of the Eternal Republic will necessarily be overly brief, cursory and lacking in meaningful detail, yet space unfortunately does not permit a more detailed examination. The culture of Xirnium is distinct, rich and varied, reflecting a long and fascinating history steeped in ages-old traditions and customs. The Xirniumite people possess a vivid intellectual heritage which has profoundly influenced and contributed to world literature, philosophy, science and the arts. For centuries, Xirnium has played a key role as one of the leading centres for high culture and Western civilisation in Europe, and continues this proud tradition today.

Xirniumites are remarkable for their highly cosmopolitan, pre-eminently civilised approach to life, combined with great concern for modern fashion, style and appearances. An appreciation for the fine arts, haute cuisine and superb wines, etiquette and haute couture permeates Xirniumite culture. Xirniumites are generally well-educated, highly informed regarding current affairs both in Xirnium and abroad and academically minded. The culture of Xirnium is also extremely liberal and progressive, even by the standards of her north-western European neighbours. Consequently, a strong emphasis is placed in Xirnium upon individuality, tolerance, freedom and equality. The protection of liberal civil and political rights is held sacrosanct in the Eternal Republic, as is the Western philosophical concept of the sovereignty of the individual.

Xirniumite people are frequently perceived as taking a great deal of pride in their national identity and the positive achievements of Xirnium, to the point that they are occasionally viewed by foreigners as being condescending or scornful of other “less liberal, less democratic or less culturally developed” nations. Most Xirniumites, however, would argue that this perception is most unfair, and point instead to the way that the cosmopolitan culture of Xirnium staunchly embraces internationalism. It is also notable that nationalism and jingoism is strongly frowned upon in Xirniumite culture, owing to its perceived links to intolerance and racism, militarism, extremism and imperialism (which are all inherently incompatible with the Eternal Republic’s acceptance of diversity, its pragmatic pacifism, and its “splendid isolationist” foreign policy).

The institution of public education is a cornerstone of Xirniumite culture, and is considered essential in the civil development of all Xirniumite citizens. Schools in Xirnium are owned by the State and are consequently free, strictly secular and (at least before university) obligatory. Secularism and rationalism are defining aspects of Xirniumite culture, and religion is considered a deeply personal matter which has no place whatsoever in public life. The vast majority of all Xirniumites have no spiritual beliefs of any kind whatsoever and are instead atheists. In order to protect the vital civil liberty of religious freedom, the absolute separation of church and state has therefore been a fundamental feature of governance in Xirnium for centuries.

Xirniumite culture traditionally shuns the imposing of objective standards of morality or the mandating of norms of behaviour, rather considering that individuals should have the freedom to determine their own conduct and goals (so long, of course as this does not infringe on the rights of others). Consequently, strong anti-censorship laws exist in Xirnium, in addition to progressive laws which defend inalienable civil liberties (especially the freedom of expression). Xirniumites are generally private individuals, and would therefore be quite hostile to suggestions of outside interference or monitoring in any aspect of their personal lives.

Xirniumites generally tend to place great importance on the enjoyment of life and the individualist pursuits of happiness and self-gratification. Indeed, hedonistic and profligate philosophy has been monumentally significant in shaping the Xirniumite psyche, and the great majority of the citizen’s of the Xirnium have (since antiquity) personally held the maximisation of pleasure and the avoidance of unpleasant outcomes to be amongst the most central of aims that an individual should satisfy. Some foreign observers, particularly from more conservative or traditionalist nations, have therefore decried the Xirniumite culture and lifestyle as quite decadent or debauched – descriptions that most citizens of the Eternal Republic are, in fact, quite proud of.

Attitudes in regards to sex and relationships are highly liberal and licentious in the Eternal Republic, even when compared only with other north-western European and Scandinavian nations. The, comparatively hysterically puritanical, views held by most in other (even Western) nations regarding promiscuity, fornication and other areas of human sexuality are not found in Xirnium. Sexual freedom is considered extremely important, and consequently Xirniumite culture traditionally strongly opposes any social and legal efforts to control sexual activities between fully consenting adults. Homosexuality and bisexuality are, of course, entirely acceptable in Xirniumite culture (and have been so since antiquity), and are not regarded as in any way unusual by the people of Xirnium. Indeed, the discrimination based on sexual preference which exists in certain other moralistic or religious cultures around the world would be considered completely absurd in Xirnium.

The values of feminism has long been a central tenet of Xirniumite culture, and women’s rights are guaranteed by both modern social mores and extraordinarily powerful protections under the law (for example, all women in the Eternal Republic have had an absolute Common Law right to legal abortion on demand stretching back to the earliest judicial precedents). Neither political, nor economic, nor social inequality between the sexes is acceptable to society in the Eternal Republic. Indeed, Xirniumite culture is strongly characterised by a long tradition of equal involvement of both men and women in all its facets, and the protracted history of Xirnium is veritably litered, from its most distant past to today, with the profound contributions that various visionary women have made.

Xirnium has made significant contributions to art, music and literature. The Eternal Republic contains some of the finest examples of Gothic Revival, Neo-Renaissance and Elizabethan-style architecture in the world, with the gargantuan Supreme Parliament House of Gálatilliön being a classic example of the former. Xirniumite culture is resplendent with the names of numerous historically significant classical music composers (particularly from the Baroque and Romantic periods), including such greats as Laûrelín and Críssäegrím.

In addition to the fields outlined above, Xirniumite culture has also traditionally held in high regard the life sciences (such as biology and botany), theatre and drama, and the intellectual disciplines of oratory, philosophy and debate. Sports such as equestrianism, fencing and sailing are also fairly popular, particularly amongst the upper and upper-middle classes. Poetry, including the works of Xirniumites such as Môrwën and Gloraëdhèl, is widely adored.


Symbols of Xirnium

Vexillology of the Eternal Republic

State National Flag:

The government flag of the Eternal Republic. No modern laws or customs exist which restrict its use to Xirnium's government or its agencies, but it is still flown from all Xirniumite public buildings.

This flag was first used as a battle standard by the Parliamentarians during the Civil War of 1624, in which the Monarchy was decisively defeated by the Supreme Parliament.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e221/Xirnium/stand2.gif


Civil National Flag:

The civil flag is flown by Xirniumite civilians on non-government installations, though no laws prohibit it being flown also at government buildings. The civil flag of Xirnium, in its current form, was adopted on 12 October 1872.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e221/Xirnium/flag2.gif


War National Flag:

The war flag of the Eternal Republic is flown by the Xirniumite Self-Defence Forces. This flag was first used as the top mast War Ensign on the legendary first-rate, 100-gun Ship of the Line HMW Indomitable (the flagship of the Xirniumite Parliamentary fleet) from 1758-1779. It has since been adopted as the flag of the entire Armed Forces of Xirnium.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e221/Xirnium/warensign.gif


Coats of Arms of Xirnium

Emblem of the Sovereign Supreme Parliament of Xirnium:

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e221/Xirnium/arms1.jpg


Emblem of the Sovereign Judicial Courts of Xirnium:

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e221/Xirnium/arms2.jpg


Emblem of the Head of State:

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e221/Xirnium/arms3.gif


Offical National Anthem
Hail to thee, Xirnium Eternal

The song’s origin is uncertain, though it may date back, in its present form, to the nineteenth century.

Unofficial National Personification - The Lady Eldabêth
The Lady Eldabêth is a mythical and poetic symbol found in several Xirniumite epics, and the national personification of the Eternal Republic of Xirnium. A figure of Xirniumite literature and folklore, the Lady Eldabêth represents Democracy, Liberty and Wisdom, and symbolises the final triumph of the people’s Supreme Parliament over the Monarchy. She is generally a symbol of high esteem, and regarded rather fondly by the Xirniumite people.

The Lady Eldabêth is typically portrayed as a war goddess - she is commonly depicted as a beautiful young woman wearing a classical golden helm, a sheathed sword, and wrapped in a flowing burgundy gown. The Lady Eldabêth carries a shield occasionally emblazoned with a raven device (common in Xirniumite heraldry) and is armed with a long spear. She is present in many places in Xirnium and holds a place of honour in civic buildings and Courts of Law. The Lady Eldabêth is also a fairly common character in Xirniumite political cartoons and satire as a representation of the nation of Xirnium.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e221/Xirnium/archcountess.jpg
A statue of the Lady Eldabêth outside Iáthërn Harbour.


National Motto
Ancient Xirnian (Official): "Tárië Ambârmentë Laë Nainányéna!"
Greek (Official): "Για χρόνια αιώνια!"
Latin (Official): "Ad Vitam Aeternam!"
English (Unofficial): "Until the End of Time!"

National Animal Emblem
The common raven. This species of bird is found throughout most of Xirnium.


Customary Greetings in the Eternal Republic

Greeting phrases
Spoken means of greeting are generally considered by most foreigners to appear more formal in Xirnium then in other nations of the western world. Good morning, good afternoon and good evening, and good day, good night and goodbye are used almost universally (upon meeting and departing, respectively) whilst hello, hey and hi, and bye are comparatively rare (even amongst familiar individuals).

Informal greeting phrases such as what's up, how's it going, catch you later and others are unusual in Xirniumite culture.

Handshaking
The short ritual of briefly shaking clasped right hands is almost universally done upon meeting or departing, regardless of familiarity. It is the standard greeting in Xirniumite culture for both sexes (between two men, two women or a man and a woman).

Cheek kissing
The traditional ritual of cheek kissing is one that typically accompanies handshaking in Xirniumite culture. In addition to being a gesture of greeting, it is also used as a sign of respect and to formally confer congratulations or condolences. It is common between a man and woman or two women, particularly between two individuals who are familiar with each other or two individuals of high social status. In Xirniumite cheek kissing, both individuals will lean forward and lightly touch lip with cheek, with the gesture repeated on the other cheek. Cheek kissing is less common between total strangers when in informal situations.

Bowing
Nodding one’s head slightly towards another is considered a formal and tradition gesture of respect in Xirnium, and is done by both males and females. Bows may be used in welcomes, farewells, as part of an apology or an expression of thanks. Bowing, in Xirniumite culture, caries no connotations whatsoever of superiority or inferiority, and may be done regardless of familiarity. Generally, bowing will be accompanied by handshaking during greetings.

Hand kissing
In formal situations where bowing occurs, the gesture may be accompanied by polite hand kissing. This is initiated by a woman holding out her hand with the palm facing downward, to which the person kissing touches his lips. Hand kissing is considered a gesture of respect in Xirniumite culture. As with bowing, it may be done regardless of familiarity. Where it occurs, it will replace both the standard handshake and cheek kissing.


Terms of address

Social Titles
Mr is used as a title for men, whilst Ms (pronounced MZZ, rather than MIZZ) is used for women. Female titles found in certain other nations, such as Mrs and Miss are never used in Xirnium, regardless of the age or marital status of the woman concerned. Furthermore, the title Master is not found in Xirnium. In Xirniumite culture the title is used together with the surname of the individual in direct address – however first names are generally used by people of above marginal familiarity in non-formal contexts.

Individuals of noble rank (regardless of whether they hold the status of a High Lord or High Lady, or merely Lord or Lady) are typically directly addressed with the title Lord or Lady, together with their surname. My Lord and My Lady are never used in Xirnium, even in direct address to people of noble rank.

Courtesy Titles
The titles Sir, for men, and Madam (pronounced MA-dam, rather than mah-DAHM) for women, are very commonly used as polite or respectful forms of address without the person’s name. The title ma’am is not found in Xirnium.

Surnames
In Xirnium, a married woman’s birth name never changes upon marriage to that of her husband - as it occasionally does in certain foreign cultures. It would be considered both improper and absurd to address a Xirniumite woman by her husband's name. Furthermore, the Xirniumite Common Law prescribes that parents must jointly agree to the choice for the names of their children - and allows for hyphenation between the two parents' surnames. In cases of disagreement, the mother's name always applies.

Although traditional Xirniumite first names (such as Elerrinä, Aranel, Malínaldä) are less frequently being chosen than they once where, classical Xirniumite last names are still fairly common in the Eternal Republic.

Geography and History of the Eternal Republic

Map of Xirnium

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Ancient High Xirnian

Ardär! Eldâliemba Vaudriennë!
Endorännä ai gaúthion ê vânda ni sithròn!

Aurédal ê farantále ni meldenòr, ai vaudâlgelot värdrä,
Werrä lambàr ni värlaid, Eléneldi ê nuariennä naurnä,
valthàneil elverâth ai naustriennë! Verdâlemba!

Lyric fragement of the Hymn to the Swan Queen

A classical northern European language and member of the Indo-European family, once spoken throughout Xirnium. It has a long but poorly-understood history, with an origin unclear and a past that spans more than thirty centuries. The last prestige Xirnian dialects died out towards the end of the Middle Ages, and the language today is mainly of scholarly interest. Public schools in Xirnium continue to teach ancient High Xirnian as part of their mandatory curriculum.

The term Xirniumite languages embraces the proto-Xirniumite language of which next to nothing is known, Old Xirnian, which remained in use until the arrival of the Latin alphabet, Middle Xirnian, the evolutionary phase in which most of the sagas were originally composed, and the final form of ancient High Xirnian.

The grammar of the Xirniumite languages has remained remarkably consistent throughout the ages. There are three distinct numbers, the singular, dual and plural. There are two distinct gender categories, the masculine and feminine. Five cases show different functions for nouns and pronouns. Adjectives agree with nouns in number, gender and case. Verbs are inflected for person and number (first, second, and third, singular, dual and plural), tense, voice, aspect, and mood. In ancient High Xirnian, object mostly follows verb.

The vocabulary of the Xirniumite languages, and of ancient High Xirnian particularly, is renowned for being dauntingly large yet surprisingly imprecise. One deals with shades, tones and ambiguous relativities when one speaks in ancient High Xirnian, rather than with lucid and concise points. Few languages especially can claim the abundance of abstract nouns available in the ancient Xirniumite languages.

The earliest records of the Xirniumite languages trace back to first millenium runic inscriptions, and indeed such constitute one of the oldest alphabets ever discovered in northern Europe.

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A selection of letters from the ancient Old Xirnian runic alphabet

reserved - economy

Xirniumite Peerage

Though newly reformed and renewed by the Modern Peerage System Amendment Act 2006, Xirnium’s extensive system of titles of nobility is one many hundreds of years old with a complex and distinguished history. All Xirniumite honours, including peerage dignitaries, spring from the Supreme Parliament, which is considered the fons honorum, or “fount of honour”, of the Eternal Republic.

Under the modern Xirniumite Common Law, peers and peeresses no longer possess any significant legal privileges, and are the holders of primarily ceremonial titles.

Noble Ranks
The following list is both incomplete and subject to change at the whim of the Supreme Parliament. The items of each category of noble ranks are placed in order of importance.

Nobles of the Legislature
High Lord/Lady of Parliament (Members of the Ministry)
Lord/Lady of Parliament (Members of Parliament)

Nobles of the Judicature
High Law Lord/Lady of Appeal (Chief Justice of the High Supreme Court)
Law Lord/Lady of Appeal in Ordinary (Law Lords/Ladies of the High Supreme Court)
Lord/Lady Justice of Appeal (Justices of the High Court of Appeal)

Nobles of the State
Lord/Lady Protector of the Republic (Head of State)
Lord/Lady Privy Counsellor (Honorary private advisors to the Viceregal Head of State)

Lord/Lady Count/Countess Palatine/Palatiness (Chief representative of the Xirniumite Head of State in overseas dependencies)
Lord/Lady Viceroy/Vicereine (Chief representative of the Xirniumite Head of State in overseas territories)

Lord/Lady Chancellor (Presiding officer of the House of Councillors)
Lord/Lady Speaker (Presiding officer of the House of Assembly)

Lord/Lady Archtreasurer (Head of the Reserve Bank)

Nobles of the Aristocracy
Lord/Lady Prince/Princess (newly restored)

Lord/Lady Archduke/Archduchess (obsolete)
Lord/Lady Duke/Duchess
Lord/Lady Marquess/Marchioness

Lord/Lady Margrave/Margravine (rare)

Lord/Lady Archcount/Archcountess (obsolete)
Lord/Lady Earl/Countess
Lord/Lady Viscount/Viscountess
Lord/Lady Baron/Baroness

Lord/Lady Baronet/Baronetess

Nobles of the Military
Lord/Lady High Grand Constable of the Republic (Head of the Xirniumite General Staff - Abolished)

Grand Sea Lord/Lady (Head of the Xirniumite Navy)
Lord/Lady Grand Marshal of the Armies (Head of the Xirniumite Army)
Lord/Lady Marshal of the Air Force (Head of the Xirniumite Air Force)

Politics of the Eternal Republic

Xirniumite Political Parties

Major Parties (economic left to right wing, descending)

Social Democratic Party of Xirnium

Party Logo:

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The Social Democratic Party of Xirnium (SDPX) is a major political party in the Eternal Republic. It is a democratic socialist party (or perhaps social democratic party) formally and closely linked to Xirniumite labour and trade union movements. Currently the second largest party in the Xirniumite Supreme Parliament, the SDPX holds 16.4% of the seats in the House of Assembly and 22.7% of the seats in the House of Councillors.

The SDPX is, in fact, the oldest party in the Eternal Republic. It last held Government jointly in 1999, during which the political alliances that comprised the Grand Coalition of 1993-99 finally disintegrated and the Social Democratic Party of Xirnium fared disastrously in the resulting parliamentary elections. The party has since seen a remarkable resurgence, particularly in recent years, and current polls indicate that it is expected to greatly increase the number of seats it holds in the 2007 elections - though whether or not it can unseat the ascendant Xirniumite Progressive Democracy Party remains to be seen.

Economic Ideology: Ostensibly, according to its official charter, the Social Democratic Party of Xirnium aims to gradually reform the capitalist system with the aim towards achieving a more equitable and progressive socialism via conventional, democratic constitutional processes. In practice, the SDPX usually tends to take a slightly more left-wing approach, on most economic issues, than does the XPDP.

The SDPX advocates an extensive, full welfare state. The party generally maintains strong support for economic policies which are expected to have the practical effect of partially redistributing wealth and power in order to gradually reduce socio-economic class distinctions (for instance, it usually supports reforms aimed at creating a more progressive tax system whose rates rise to greater levels for the higher income brackets). Large and highly ambitious spending programs are a hallmark of the Social Democratic Party of Xirnium.

The SDPX also takes a decidedly more left-wing stance on the issue of nationalisation than does the XPDP, and remains committed to social ownership of certain major industries, including airlines and the banks, in addition to significant segments of the manufacturing, agricultural and mining sectors (for example, the Xirniumite Motor Car production giant Sílmâtuëmanér was purchased by an SDPX government in 1946). Social Democrats in the Eternal Republic have traditionally defended the role of the public sector in the provision of health care, education, child care, utilities, mass transit, banking, mining and fuel extraction. Finally, it should be noted that unlike with the XPDP, there exist individuals within the SDPX who retain a reformist Marxist analysis system.

It is important to bear in mind the long history of association of the Social Democratic Party of Xirnium with the Eternal Republic’s labour union movements. The SDPX advocates legislation favourable to workers and their interests. It also often backs union industrial action such as organised strikes aimed at improving wages and working conditions.

The Social Democratic Party of Xirnium advocates a mixed economic system (like the XPDP) that borrows more frequently from the concepts of planned economies. The policies of the Social Democrats in Xirnium should be strongly differentiated from those of Marxist-Leninists, for the SDPX fully supports allowing market forces to determine production, distribution and pricing. The SDPX supports more comprehensive government control and regulation than that practised in the mixed economy of the XPDP, and Xirniumite Social Democrats have often rejected outright the “Third Way” economic reforms of the Progressive Party.

Primary Macroeconomic School: Keynesianism.

Social Ideology: The Social Democratic Party of Xirnium has always advocated a highly progressive social policy that shuns traditional values as irrelevant. Individual freedom, rather, is considered a central objective. The SDPX emphasises positive liberalism, seeking to enhance the positive freedoms of the poor and disadvantaged in society. As opposed to negative liberalism, the freedom from external obstacles against achieving individualist ends (which is the focus of the LDRPX), positive liberalism is considered the actively assisted freedom to achieve individualist ends (and is the ideology of the XPDP and SDPX).

Whilst the ideological differences between the SDPX and LDRPX are quite obvious, despite both parties quite clearly being liberal, the differences between the Social Democrats and Progressive Party are far more subtle. The SDPX is staunchly communitarian, whilst the XPDP is perhaps more individualist, though both are undeniably progressive.

SDPX ideology supports same-sex marriage, birth control and the provision of abortion procedures to all women upon demand, positive discrimination policies for the achievement of feminist reforms, greater expansion of civil and political liberties, strong environmental protection laws, secularism, multiculturalism and increased tolerance, highly liberal drug policy, legalised euthanasia and prostitution, and greater republican reforms (such as an end to titles of nobility).

Foreign Policy: The SDPX advocates international multilateralism, the active support and promotion of democracy and human rights abroad, and strict pacifism in external affairs. Favours drastic reduction to the funding and numbers of the Xirniumite Self-Defence Forces. Adheres to idealism and liberal theory in international relations.

Affiliations: Socialist International member; associated with Xirniumite Fabian society; frequent coalition ally of the Xirniumite Progressive Democracy Party.


Xirniumite Progressive Democracy Party

Party Logo:

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One of the most remarkable of the developments of modern Xirniumite politics has been the comprehensive dominance of the Xirniumite Progressive Democracy Party throughout a greater part of the twentieth century. Currently the party of Government in the Eternal Republic, the XPDP is the main, solidly left-wing, social democratic political party of Xirnium. It holds a majority of seats in both houses of the Supreme Parliament, having gained 62.3% of the House of Assembly and 55.8% of the House of Councillors in the elections of 2003.

Having historically grown out of various socialist political parties of the late nineteenth century, the impressive success of the Progressive Party has been difficult to explain – though it surely lies, in part at least, due to a pragmatic synthesis of traditional left-wing policies such as social welfare, market regulation and progressive social liberalism with new, “Third Way”, policies such as lower taxes and free trade (often placing it at odds with the SDPX). Indeed, the XPDP and SDPX have historically had a most curious relationship, often forming left coalition governments whilst at other times frequently accusing each other of being too radical or lacking pragmatic perspective (in the case of the Social Democrats) or being too moderate and willing to compromise (in the case of the Progressive Democrats).

Economic Ideology: The highly forward-looking economic policies of the Xirniumite Progressive Democracy Party have revolutionised the Eternal Republic, and placed Xirnium in an unrivalled position of economic pre-eminence. Due to decades of governance by the XPDP, Xirnium has produced a strong economy that is both robust and stable, with affluent firms ranging from small sole proprietorships to massive transnationals, and has maintained very low unemployment levels, low inflation, and impressively high GDP growth. These considerable achievements have all been made despite government regulation of the market in order to protect small enterprise, workers and consumers via antitrust legislation and other laws designed to promote competition and prevent market failure.

As with the SDPX, the Progressive Party has advocated extensive labour laws, including incredibly powerful legal rights for workers and trade unions aimed to ensure that workers’ pay and benefits are adequate to obtain the highest standard of living and safest possible working conditions. The rights to unionise and to take advantage of collective bargaining and industrial action have always been fundamental in the Eternal Republic, and have only been further entrenched by the XPDP. Industrial regulation is achieved via statutory protections that include minimum wage laws and protections against arbitrary dismissal. It should be noted, however, that the SDPX often criticises the XPDP for not going far enough to cement labour rights.

A far-reaching system of social security is widely regarded as the centrepiece of the Xirniumite Progressive Democracy Party, though others justifiably point to its Keynesian macroeconomic fiscal policies as quite significant. Most political analysts consider the nationalisation platform of the XPDP to be considerably more moderate than the SDPX, though this is not to say that it is insubstantial. The Progressive Party advocates the nationalised ownership of certain important, strategic, or natural monopoly industries such as education, health care, transport, telecommunications, and power and water utilities. In addition, it shares the position of the Social Democratic Party in regards to the need for a strong welfare state (and progressive income taxation) to mitigate and resolve the problems inherent in unregulated capitalism (such as unacceptable income inequalities). The Progressive Party has always considered freedom to include social equity, and this ideology is extended to include free or greatly subsidised programmes and services including universal childcare, healthcare and higher education.

A distinguishing feature between the XPDP and the Social Democrats is the extent to which “Third Way”, liberal economic policies have been adopted in the later. Efforts have been made by the Progressive Party to limit state intervention in the free market, to deregulate and decentralise certain industries whilst providing tax relief – particularly to the lower income brackets. Xirniumite Social Democrats have vocally protested such moves, as any reduction in tax revenue necessarily reduces the extent of government spending programs. Additionally, ending protectionist policies (such as restrictions on international trade like quotas and tariffs) and pursuing free trade has been embraced as a way to mutually increase wealth. Reconciling the traditional social welfare aspect of XPDP ideology (which is easily extensive enough to put even the Scandinavian liberal democracies to shame) with these more centrist policies, has been the primary challenge of the Progressive Party.

Primary Macroeconomic Schools: Keynesian economics and neoclassical economics.

Social Ideology: The Progressive Party has focused not only on improving Xirnium’s already great individual liberties, but actively ending discrimination and providing equal opportunities to those groups traditionally disadvantaged by society. Though it lacks the distinctively communitarian concern of the Social Democratic Party, the XPDP is considered a compassionate party that champions the causes of those who are victims of injustice and inequality.

Feminist goals provide one fundamental aspect of XPDP ideology, and the Progressive Democracy Party has had an amicable relationship with the Feminist Alliance of Xirnium. Positive discrimination policies have been used as corrective tools in order to assist demographic gender, race or ethnic groups to achieve greater representation. By all accounts, such progressive policies have been resoundingly successful. For instance, women have already achieved greater than fifty percent representation in both houses of the Xirniumite Parliament despite the absence of any parliamentary or electoral quota system (though many have argued that cultural factors, such as natural societal propensity towards greater equality and tolerance within the Eternal Republic, may be more responsible for this). Unlike the SDPX, however, the Progressive Democracy Party has never embraced multiculturalism and has more restrictive immigration policies than do Social Democrats.

The Progressive Party has implemented impressive environmental protections (although they are not quite as extensive as those proposed by the Xirniumite Green Federation or even the SDPX).

XPDP ideology staunchly supports same-sex marriage, universally-available birth control and the provision of abortion procedures to all women upon demand, positive discrimination policies for the achievement of feminist reforms, the fundamental supremacy of liberal civil and political rights above most other concerns, strong environmental protection laws, secularism and increased tolerance, a liberal drug policy, legalised euthanasia and prostitution. The ideal world advocated by Xirniumite Progressives is a harmonious and tolerant society where every individual has the opportunity to define and pursue his or her own personal goals without interference from external parties, so long as such goals do not infringe on the sovereign rights of others.

Foreign Policy: The Progressive Party has designed its foreign policy for the sole goal of protecting the Eternal Republic’s national interests, to the extent that it often ignores injustices abroad. The XPDP adheres to the realist school of thought in international relations, which holds that sovereign states are the equal, autonomous actors in an anarchic international system. Xirniumite foreign policy under the XPDP has been non-interventionist. It has also been described as “splendid isolationist”, as the Eternal Republic under the leadership of the Progressive Party has been reluctant to enter permanent alliances or commitments with other nations (especially military pacts), has remained uninvolved in major political controversies (particularly armed conflicts) and yet has simultaneously built a vast informal network of spheres of influence.

The foreign policy of the Progressive Party has put it at stark odds with Xirniumite Social Democrats, who have adopted the idealist school of thought in international diplomacy – manifesting, for instance, in the SDPX policy that democracy should be promoted abroad. Favours contraction of the Xirniumite Self-Defence Forces.

Affiliations: Socialist International member; associated with Xirniumite Fabian society; frequent coalition ally of the Social Democratic Party of Xirnium; political ally of the Xirniumite Feminist Alliance.


Liberal Democratic Reform Party of Xirnium

Party Logo:

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The Liberal Democratic Reform Party of Xirnium (LDRPX) is a left of centre, social liberal party formed in 1932 after a merger of various minor market liberal and social democratic parties. It is currently the “alternative third party” in Xirniumite politics, and easily the largest political party in the Supreme Parliament following the XPDP and SDPX. The LDRPX maintains close ties with civil and political rights advocacy groups, in addition to organisations that promote further constitutional reform for greater democratisation within the Eternal Republic.

Liberal Democrats in Xirnium currently hold 12.1% of the seats in the House of Assembly and 18.1% of the seats in the House of Councillors. They have never held government outright, though they (along with the Social Democrats and Progressive Party) constituted government during the Grand Coalition of 1993-99. With the fall from grace experienced by the SDPX following the parliamentary elections of 1999, there has been a great opportunity for expansion by the Liberal Democratic Party – though it has been tempered by the impressive electoral successes of the Xirniumite Progressives.

Economic Ideology: The LDRPX is a moderate left of centre party, whose economic platform can perhaps be described either as social liberal or ordoliberal. Xirniumite Liberal Democrats strongly support the free capitalist market and believe that the current level of government intervention in the economy should be decreased (though they have shied away from rejecting Keynesianism), whilst advocating the privatisation of various public industries. The LDRPX generally criticises Xirniumite Progressives (and especially Social Democrats) for not going far enough to pursue deregulation, decentralisation and lowered taxes. Additionally, it considers the current level of government restrictions on the operations of commercial enterprises to be overly great and burdensome.

Despite these market liberal policies, however, other considerations place LDRPX economic policy quite definitely on the left of the political spectrum. The ordoliberal ideology of the Liberal Democratic Reform Party of Xirnium dictates that an important obligation of the state is to provide a suitable legal environment for the economy by ensuring the integrity of competition and preventing market failure (which includes, for example, the rise of monopolies and oligopolies, or the existence of predatory practises amongst corporations). The LDRPX thus advocates powerful market regulations and the existence of authoritative statutory regulatory bodies, consumer protection laws, antitrust legislation, and intellectual property laws - which place it starkly at odds with the views of libertarians.

The economic policy of the Liberal Democratic Party goes much further than this, however - well into the realm of social liberalism. The party supports the existence of generous minimum wage laws and trade unions, advocates the strong protection of worker’s rights and conditions, collective bargaining practises, and labour laws – all with the intention of securing economic opportunities for everyone.

The Liberal Democratic Party is, additionally, committed to providing a broad system of welfare and social security, free public health and education, and government subsidies to business - all supported by a modest level of taxation. It also supports tax-funded, subsidised or state-owned legal aid, child care, libraries and other information services, roads and public transport. Thus, despite being friendly to free enterprise, the LDRPX still advocates a social mixed economy. Both the Progressive Party and the Social Democrats, however, have scathingly criticised the LDRPX for what they perceive as a failure within Liberal policies to provide adequate funding for essential public programmes.

The Liberal Democrats advocates removal of controls on imports and exports, and supports the pursuit of free trade – though, like the XPDP, this support is not unqualified.

Primary Macroeconomic Schools: Keynesian economics and supply-side economics.

Social Ideology: The Liberal Democratic Reform Party of Xirnium can be described as culturally liberal in that it stresses the freedom of the individual away from the tyranny of the majority. It emphasises the freedom not to conform, which makes the party policy of the LDRPX easily as liberal as either the XPDP or SDPX. Concisely, Xirniumite Liberal Democrats advocate the extension of civil liberties to allow any form of conduct by an individual so long as it does not infringe on the civil or political rights of someone else.

The greatest distinction between the Liberal Democracy Party and the XPDP and SDPX is that it focuses primarily on negative liberty, as opposed to positive liberty (though certainly its economic policies, at least, indicate that positive liberty has a place within LDRPX ideology). Simply, negative liberty involves being free from the authority of others, rather than being given the opportunity and ability to fulfil one’s own ends. This outlook has led to the LDRPX being traditionally reluctant to pursue positive discrimination policies to enforce equality, however it has certainly not abandoned such policies entirely (for example, it supports gender quotas for parliamentary candidate lists).

Foreign Policy: Has not ruled out that specific circumstances might demand a policy of unilateral interventionism (including even violent intervention) in cases where such is necessary to preserve the liberal civil and political rights of Xirniumite citizens. Strongly favours diplomacy, however. Rejects the notion of peremptory intervention. Favours expansion of the Xirniumite Self-Defence Forces. Adheres partially to the neoliberal school of international relations.

Affiliations: None.




Minor Parties (economic left to right wing, descending)

People’s Socialist Workers’ Coalition of Xirnium

The People’s Socialist Workers’ Coalition of Xirnium is a minor political party in the Eternal Republic which advocates the principals of communism. The PSWCX was founded in 1919 by Xirniumites who supported the Bolshevik Revolution in the Russian Empire and who opposed Xirnium’s small involvement in the First World War. It receives negligible votes in parliamentary elections, has insignificant party membership and does not currently hold any seats in either house of the Supreme Parliament.

Political Ideology: Trotskyist Marxism.

Political Position: Far left communist.

The ultimate goal of the PSWCX, as described in its manifesto, is for a proletarian revolution to occur (both in Xirnium and abroad) in order to replace the current bourgeois capitalist order with a future classless, stateless society based on collective ownership of the means of production and the abolition of ownership of private property. Current PSWCX ideology instead focuses on reforming capitalism in order to achieve communism, rather than violent overthrow. The People’s Socialist Workers’ Coalition advocates a centrally-planned, command economy, and is considered a radical fringe group by political analysts.

The PSWCX has traditionally spurned Stalinist and Maoist thought, and its own version of Trotskyist ideology has been (since the beginning) considered to be left-leaning on the Marxist political spectrum in that it historically strongly supported the Left Opposition’s aim for democratic rights in the Soviet Union. The Xirniumite Communist Party has distanced itself from Communist regimes in the Soviet Union, China, North Korea and elsewhere, and claims its party platform to be entirely compatible with democracy.

Foreign Policy: Supports perpetual worldwide revolution to peacefully overthrow inequitable capitalism and install egalitarian communism. Adheres to the Neo-Marxist international relations theory, which focuses on analysis via economic and material concerns.

International Affiliations: Former member of the Communist International; Member of the Fourth International.


Xirniumite Green Federation

The Xirniumite Green Federation (XGF) is a minor left-wing environmentalist and ecologically conservationist political party in the Eternal Republic. It was formed in the early seventies out of a movement opposing the expansion of nuclear power throughout Xirnium. The Greens won two seats in the upper house of the Xirniumite Parliament for the first time in 1985, failed to retain any in the following election in 1989, but returned again to the legislature in 1993 (after which it comprised a very small part of the Grand Coalition of 1993-99).

The XGF is unusual amongst the minor parties in that it has achieved significant representation in the Supreme Parliament. Currently, it comprises 6.8% of the House of Assembly and 3.1% of the House of Councillors.

Political Ideology: Green.

The Xirniumite Green Federation is committed to the four pillars of ecological sustainability, social equality and economic justice, grassroots democracy and non-violence. The need for thriving, natural ecoregions within the Eternal Republic, preventing global climate change and the greenhouse effect, and preserving the environment are seen by the XGF as essential political aims.

Some of the policies of the XGF include a commitment to participatory democracy and consensus decision making, a green tax shift to assist the environment, the adoption of green economics, protecting biological diversity and promoting energy conservation.

International Affiliation: Member of the Global Greens.


Feminist Alliance of Xirnium


Xirniumite National Party of Unity


Xirniumite Movement of Anarchist Individualists

I know it's a WIP, but groovy job so far Xirnium! What program did you use to make your Coat-of-Arms and other symbols?

Thank you for your kind comments. I just used the standard Paint program for the creation of the various symbols and coats of arms.

Overseas Dependencies of the Eternal Republic

Vardimëldë

Capital (and largest city): Avrâda

Official Languages: English, French
Unofficial Spoken Languages: Italian

Nation type: Xirniumite overseas dependency

Chief of State: Lady Protector Victória Seriendé
Official Representative of the Chief of State: Countess-Palatine Gertrúd Zieváthênil

Population (2006 census): 7 012 341

Location: South-western Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea
Climate: Mediterranean temperate with mild, rainy winters and warm, dry summers
Terrain: Mostly low coastal plains; many coastal cliffs; Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and shrubs

More to come...