NationStates Jolt Archive

(OOC: Underlying the basics of the government type I will be RPing in my country, linked with the thread 'Rise of the Dragon' found HERE (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=574788). I will likely use this to write further political elements to clarify my country as I see fit. Feel free to provide IC analysis, political discussion etc from other governments, political philosophers, columnists etc. Hope you enjoy.)

From the first chapter of the pamphlet 'Survival of the Society: Armed National Republicanism' by General Alexi Thorpe, published in June 2005.

Unity, Struggle, Survival: The Underlying Philosophical Concepts of Armed National Republicanism


For as long as history can remember, the human condition has centred around three important factors; the building of society, the conflict of those societies and the desire of that society to survive. We will start by examining each of these.

Building of Society

Human beings have naturally centred towards the developing of societies. From the earliest confederations of primitive humans to the complex technological economies of the twenty-first century, the societal combination allows human beings to trade and rely on each-other’s strengths in order to overcome their own weaknesses, thus allowing the survival of the human species against the natural and the artificial.

Conflict of Society

As long as humans have existed, there has been conflict between humans for the natural resources of the planet. Again, societal groups have allowed humans to unify for common defence and project strength against other groups to control the scarce economic resources available.

Survival of Societies

Through this unity and this common defence, the society seeks to survive. Through societies surviving, humanity survives. Therefore, the unification of society for the basic concepts of building, competition and survival is the central philosophical tenant of Armed National Republicanism.

I will now outline the other basic tenants of Armed National Republicanism

Nationalism

Nationalism is a central tenant of Armed National Republicanism. A society is formed over hundreds of years through a shared culture, language and history that forms the important bricolage required for the unity of a group. Over many years, society can evolve, assimilate new cultures and learn to better itself from the addition of others - our own mix of British and Russian heritage built upon by a shared history since our independence is a prime example. However, this assimilation must be done under the guidance of survival and struggle as our basic principles - not all societies can connect without holding basic tenants in common, which many do not. Furthermore, the world cannot be benefited from the survival of weak aspects of other societies. To evolve, the society must choose carefully what aspects to assimilate and what to leave behind, and to remember that there will be many more of those we will spurn than be able to embrace as comrades in basic principles whilst learning from that which can improve us.

Democratic Centralisation and Participation

In order for the society to unify, its members must have a stake in the society. Unless the actions of the society represent the voice of the entire group, then the society will not survive. Thus, democracy must take control in the society, and the people must have say.

This precept must apply to all elements of political, social and economic philosophy. Each economic unit, be it company of two individuals or a mass corporation of thousands, must be organised along democratic means. The owners of the economy must be the society. Provided this is still based along capitalist economic philosophy, this will not interfere with the prospering and development of the society.

However, society must work together, and dissent must be avoided to maintain the unity and discipline of society. In this manner, the concept of Democratic Centralisation maintains the ideal element to unify these two elements – a free, democratic discussion of all elements of economy, society and politics must be undertaken at all levels, after which time a consensus is developed and must be adhered to by all – the minority, in this respect, must respect the majority, as it represents the majority of what society wishes. The survival of society must be taken into account over minority dissention.

Discipline and Martial Unity

In order to maintain this unity, discipline must be brought into society. This discipline can be best developed by an incorporation of martial military disciplines. Just as each individual must be a part of the development of the societal unit, each individual must provide for the common defence. Universal acceptance of martial military-influenced respect of authority, stability and structure must be incorporated at every level of society. In this manner, the aspects required for societal survival can be created – respect, comradeship, strength and responsibility. Hence the motto of Armed National Republicanism: ‘Army, People, Party’, and the symbolism of the philosophy; three gold stars representing those three aspects, emblazoned on a field of red to represent the blood of the masses that struggle to protect it every day.

Such are the principles of Armed National Republicanism. Such are the basics of the prime society. Such is the nature of survival we must adopt.

(OOC: Bump for interest)

Brief History of Saint Vladimir

1730 – The area to later become Saint Vladimir is colonised separately by both the British and Russian Empires, situated on a snow-covered but mineral-rich continent lying 400 miles north of both countries. Limited trade between the two colonial groups, but tensions remain high between the competing empires.

1770 – Area is effectively divided into two separate territories following exploration and expansion by both groups. To the north lies the Russian colony known as the ‘Vladimir Oblast’, whilst the south is occupied by the British ‘Saint Province’. The two colonies come up against borders of the German Empire colony ‘Deutz’ to the south and a native sovereignty of indigenous tribesmen know colloquially as the ‘Yewit Dynar’, literally translated as ‘Icemen Empire’.

1785 – The two colonies come under heavy attack by the Yewit, who hold large-scale military forces at their command. Due to the isolated nature of their location and the difficulties in traversing the often ice-covered waters nearby, the British and Russian Empires are reluctant to send large numbers of reinforcements. Both provinces are forced to work together to defend themselves with limited support from their own colonial masters, and manage to fend off the attack with largely indigenous forces. In doing so, the two colonies begin to develop a mutual respect and consideration for each-other. Increased trade and social interaction between the two colonies develop in the following years.

1853 – Crimean War breaks out, and Britain and Russia go to war with each-other. The two colonies, after years of interaction with little interference from back home, outright refuse to go into combat with each-other. Both the British and Russians send independent task forces to subjugate the colonies and bring them under control once more. The two colonies declare an emergency confederation of their own indigenous military garrisons, with high ranking officers from both sides forming a military Central Command. The colonies fight off the invading task forces, and the British and Russians retreat, unwilling to commit more resources to a periphery theatre during such a large-scale campaign against each-other in Europe.

1854 – The two colonies officially declare independence from their respective empires, and form an economic confederation to complement the continuing military cooperation. The Saint Province and the Vladimir Oblast form the ‘Confederation of Saint-Vladimir’, with either side ruled by their own local nobility.

1870 – The Confederation officially unifies with the marriage of Duke Igor Chechikya and Viscountess Mary Spencer, with public referendums on both sides endorsing the move and the creation of an indigenous royalty. The Kingdom of Saint Vladimir is formed, and the hyphen is dropped. Initial rule continues with little democratic safeguards, although internal dissent is low.

1905 – Changes at the start of the twentieth century, notably the unrest seen in Europe, force the Kingdom to make concessions to the working masses. The Parliament of Saint Vladimir is officially formed, and is given the power to debate legislation put forward by the Sovereign and their advisors and recommend amendments to the Sovereign.

1914 – First World War. Saint Vladimir offers support to its former colonial masters, now united as allies, and launches an attack on the German colony of Deutz to its south. The war quickly stalemates into bloody trench warfare along the Kingdom’s southern border, and little changes until peace is declared in 1918.

1919 – Soldiers returning home find high unemployment and low living standards due to the economic damage done by the war. This, coupled with public disgruntlement at the loss of life to the Kingdom during the trench warfare, starts the beginnings of an urban-based left-wing movement.

1928 – Following widespread protests and civil unrest, Tsar Mikhail Spencer-Chechikya is forced to abdicate, and the ‘Revolution of 1928’ forms a constitutional republic, with a fully democratic Parliament headed by a President and Prime Minister.

1929 to 1938 - Great Depression – collapse of the economy, mass unemployment. Disgruntlement and disillusionment leads to the growth of both the extreme left- and extreme right-wing movements in the Republic.

1938 – Election of right-wing Parliament and government sympathetic to fascism, which forms a non-aggression pact between the Republic and the Third Reich.

1939 – World War 2. Saint Vladimir remains officially neutral, although poignant memories of past conflicts lead to increased tensions along the border between Saint Vladimir and Deutz Colony.

1942. Deutz Colony attacks Saint Vladimir, which is pulled into the conflict. Due to Saint Vladimir’s initial neutrality and the isolated nature of its location, the Allies refuse support. Saint Vladimir is forced to fight alone, defeating and occupying Deutz Colony two years later.

1952 – Widespread protests force Saint Vladimir troops to withdraw from Deutz Colony, which declares independence and becomes the left-leaning People’s Republic of Deutz.

1953-1990 – Saint Vladimir remains officially neutral during the Cold War, although spends time being courted by the United States with aid and weaponry due to the proximity of socialist Deutz. However, left-supporting groups within Saint Vladimir cause internal unrest with protests and small-scale terrorist activities.

1991 – Fall of the Soviet Union sees an increasing resurgence of the right-wing in Saint Vladimir, with nationalism and a rebirth of continually prevalent royalist tendencies in the citizenship.

2005 – Ardent nationalist and royally-descended Chairman of the Central Command General Alexi Thorpe publishes his pamphlet 'Survival of the Society: Armed National Republicanism’, outlining his own political views, and receives both condemnation from the government and widespread grassroots support in the military and population.

2007 – Rising oil prices begin to negatively affect the Saint Vladimir economy and internal unrest and protests increase against the government’s seeming ineptitude to handle the crisis. Public disagreements begin between General Thorpe and the elected government.

2008 – Economic crisis worsens, protests reach violent levels and the government orders a curfew on civilian movement. Parliament begins proceedings to arrest General Thorpe on suspicion of providing monetary and material aid to anti-government protestors in the form of small arms.

December 2008 – The December Revolution. General Thorpe stages a coup, and usurps civilian power.

(OOC: Bump)

OOC: Are your people ethnically Slavic? If so, the National Democratic Party would be very, very enthusiastic towards building ties between our nations.

(OOC: The population is basically mixture of Russian and English heritage, so the ethnic group would be largely somewhere between Slavic and Caucasion, although the extreme south and north vary more towards a particular group than the other. However, the large majority of the population could be described as half-Slavic, half-Caucasion.)

Long live the AAU!!!

(OOC: Bump)