Introduction
The Republic of White Highlands, commonly known as The Republic or more formally The Sovereign and Unified Republic of White Highlands, is a country situated on the Western coast of the White Highlands Region, Auriga Bella on the planet of Kebir Blue.
The Republic is known by outsiders to have turned into a Fascist state, and is also a very new country having been recently crumblelled due to economic and political strains. The Republic of White Highlands is known to be however a unitary state, compromised of two larger and one smaller province. All national and provincial affairs are handelled and controlled by the executive in the capital Kigali.
Etymology
The name of the country the Republic of White Highlands is a fairly new term and was originally coined by Sir. Adam Sutler in the early 3470's just before the Grand Revolution. With White Highlands being the region for which the Republic resides, in a speech dennouncing the previous government he said:
- "We here today must break our government! Break the Aristocracy for which have benefited so much from the toils of our great suffering. It is now that we plaec our faith in a new dream. A dream of a completely Sovereign and Unified Republic of White Highlands, where we former Kinsekian peoples are no longer restrained by indecent national and provincial borders,"
The previous name of the Republic of White Highlands, Bashir was a arabic name given to the collective small provincial and city states preceeding the Republic. Bashir means "The one that brings good news," and was a named used by many foreign travellers emigrating to the state.
History
Main article:History of the Republic of White Highlands
Before 3479
Settlement by anatomically modern humans of what was to eventually become the Republic of White Highlands ocurred in a series of waves beginning roughly 3000 years ago near the end of the Aurigian prehistoric period, most of the population travelled from the Eastern regions of the continent.
In 600 the Bazrian Conquest of White Highlands brought many settlers to the region, and in particular the area which came to be known as the Republic. This was subsequently followed with the inception and later spread of the Islamic religion throughout the region for a duration of 1000 years.
In 1600 the first borders were erected and the area which came to be known as the Republic was named Bashir. In 1673 the first states formed within Bashir, though these were small states consisting of 2 ~ 3 villiages at their largest. Feudalism became the dominant form of legal and military custom, small conflicts between rival land owners were common.
1934 saw the first of many religious conflicts between Islamic city states and Marbellian settlers coming to arrive, the early modern period for the Region was thus characterised by the annexation of the region by the Gijonian Empire, which was largely Christian in beliefs. Christian influence in Bashir therefore played a key part in many of the Eastern and Southern states of Bashir.
By 2065 nearly all of the city states within Bashir were locked in isolationism from the rest of the region and continent, Gijonian influence continued to play a key role in the politics and later economics of the city states.
The 2300's saw a long period of innovation in Bashir, though this was later characterised by imperialism and the creation from hundreds of smaller states to several larger ones. The Kingdom of Amelata, Velurum and the Bashirian Federation were involved in a series of small yet connected wars for domination over Bashir.
In 2542 the three states unified against the Invading Gijonian Empire, prompting a act of political, economic, military and fiscal union between the states to form the Kingdom of Bashir. The Triparte - Gijonian War lasted for 20 years and resulted in anexation of the Bashirian kingdom by the Gijonian Empire. For 5 years after Bashir experienced mass de-islamisation in much of the country, though some of the Western regions were left untouched by the invaders and Islamic influences remained.
In 2567 the Bashirian Kingdom was unified with it's northern neighbour Swampland, renamed Swamplandia a technological and innovative boom was characterised by a significant influences in the culture of the country.
2600 saw the entry of Swamplandia into a new war, this was a large war between the Belonia and Gijonian empires, in which the dominion status of Swamplandia forced it's entry into the war. This saw a gradual population decline throughout the war, where Swamplandia became famed for it's significant shipbuilding. Eventually the Gijonian empire crumbelled from a large social movement, and Gijonian rule collapsed throughout Swamplandia. The Union collapsed in 2797 and by 2800 was invaded by the Belonian Empire.
In 40 years from 2800 to 2900 the name Bashir was reinstated and the nation industrialised to some extent where the economy became finally compatible with that of foreign nations in comparison.
The early 2900's the Kingdom of Bashir became more entrenched in Theocracy and thus the religious divisions grew, a man-made famine inflicted by the Belonian empire forced many christian peoples to flee north, gradually Bashir was granted more autonomy - In 2936 it gained independance.
In 2977 The Communist State of Kinsek came to fruitition - both Bashir and Kinsek initiated amicable contact, though to some extent rivals. Investment and economic growth was stunted whereas there was a significant difference to that of Kinsek, whom enjoyed a economic, political and military boom.
In 3001 the region experienced a large economic downturn, though this largely had little effect to that of Bashir it caused significant influxes once again, bringing the population to 10 million. Where it stayed untill 3200's.
3250 saw the collapse of communism in Kinsek, and although this brought about significant revolution throughout the region. The isolationism of Bashir was a advantage, much of the Kinsekian Aristocracy whom were members of the Communist Party fled to Bashir, creating a permanent rift between Kinsekian Christians of the East and Bashirian Islamists of the West.
3268 saw a attempted military coup fail, creating more instability throughout the nation.
In 3298 the governemnt persued a massive liberalisation programme, this was sucessful in diffusing the racial and religious tensions, although this did not remove the Theocracy that was in place. Isolationism continued despite external economic and foreign influences. This continued furthermore with little to no tension between the two groups for another 200 years.
This continued untill the rise of Highlandic Nationalism which spawned the NMP (Nationalist Movement Party,) a fascist organisation aimed at destroying all of the Theocratic aspects of the Kingdom of Bashir. Various efforts were made to subdue the party, untill in 3478 they insighted mass rebellion, and with the assitance of half the population brought a end to Theocratic rule in 3479.
This was known as the Grand Revolution.
After 3479
All previous political organisations were destroyed and banned. In 3479 a fascist government was installed with the High Chancellor Adam Sutler as the primary head of state. Elements of the former political system remained in place as for the Local Chancellors.
3479-80 saw the passing of the Presidency Act. Which stated a end to Theocratic rule, over 200,000 people were arrested and deported and a secret police was set up. Massive reforms to the political, economic and military systems were brought forwards. Including a end to Isolationism in accordance with Highlandic Nationalism and the expansion of influence. The country was renamed the Republic of White Highlands, and also joined the Soviet Federation.
By 3500 the Republic had became a active member of the Soviet Federation, and also became a economic powerhouse within the White Highlands area, the population reached a milestone of 23 million in 3504 in comparison with 12 million in 3479.
Geography
The Republic of White Highlands has a moderately diverse array of climates and regions bearing different geographical features. All together the area within the region and taking into consideration the position along the Centurai Ocean, meteorology speaking The Republic is considered one of the most interesting meteorological places in the region of White Highlands.
A large part of the nation, particularly near the border to the east is dominanted by largely unexplored decidious forests, which all together are large enough so that they encompass of the trilateral borders of Kinsek and Ezov. It is predicted that over 40% of the nation's wildlife call the decidious forests their home.
The Aeriela Mountain range is situated in the North of the country along the coastline, just East of the capital Prevonica along the Velurum Sea. A majority of plant life there is representative of that of Boreal forests in great contrast to the grasslands in the central and western areas of the country, unlike the Decidious forests of the East the Boreal forest is home to a large proportion of the country's eco-tourism sites. The government has announced a series of plans to designate a large part of the Boreal forests a national park.
Climate
Being situated along the coastline of Centurai Ocean and near the White Highlands mountinious region to the East, The Republic enjoys moderately diverse climate all year round. Temperatures throughout a typical year tend to vary between -10°C to +25°C. Although on some years it has been recorded to be significantly higher or lower due to pollution and climate change effects.
Precipitation remains moderately high in the Republic to much contrast of the rest of region. This is thanks partly to a series of wheather fronts coming in from Centurai Ocean out in the West and North. With the occassional few storms, such storms are repicatory of 70 mph winds, with a few noticable execptions in the past where winds have exceeded 150 mph.
Government and Politics
The Republic of White Highlands is a unitary state currently under the form of a Fascist government. The executive branch of government is handelled by both the High Chancellor of the Republic and the Prime Minister of the Republic. The High Chancellor excercises absolute rule whereas the Prime Minister serves as the figurehead of the Legislative branch of government.
The current Prime Minister of the Republic controls the Legislature on behalf of the High Chancellor, and is in effect his right hand man. The Prime Minister regularly either with or on behalf of the High Chancellor chairs meetings with the chancellors of the different provinces. These Chancellors in effect have no real power within the government having most of the affairs being sorted out by the High Chancellor and Prime Minister, their sole duty and responsibility is to be the face of government within the 3 provincial regions of the Republic. They are therefore held accountable in their local area for anything that occurs and are responible for ensuring that the citizens of the their designated area follow and uphold the law.
| Chancellor | Provincial Region |
|---|---|
| Bahkta Mohammed | Bashir Region |
| Robert P. Heratio Velurum | Velurum Region |
| James P. Mikerson | Southern Amelata Region |
The Legislature and Judiciaral affairs of government are handelled solely by the Enforcement Ministry. This government body is chaired by both the High Chancellor and the Prime Minister respectively, though the High Chancellor rarely gets involved, it is officially their job to interpret any orders given by the High Chancellor and translate them into law which then in turn can be passed down to the respective provincial areas. It is has been publicaclly noted however that the person who acutally interprets the law is the Chancellor of the specific region with the assistance from the enforcement ministry, meaning that if possible orders, arrest warrants and new laws can theoretically get filtered down and therefore altered unintentionally. Such variation in interpretation mean that ultimately the law is excercised differently in different areas, however this can often be counter-acted by direct orders from the executive and Prime Minister.
Every week on a Wednesday the High Chancellor would often meet with what is referred in the Republic as "The Big Five" consisting of the High Chancellor's inner circle. (Prime Minister, 3 chancellors and the Head of the Military.) It is in this meeting that the High Chancellor discusses with the Big Five (never in person) the critical issues facing the country, as well as formulating and discussing policies which are mainly tied with that of Foreign Policy, Defence and key economical decisions. It is said however in such meetings only the Prime Minister and the Supreme Military Commander hold any significant amount of influence to change or discuss any policies or directions for government. Because as previously noted the role of the local Chancellors is merly to implement the law locally within the provincial regions and not make them.
Being a Fascist state the Republic of White Highlands currently & "temporarily" operates a Single-Party System in which the only operable party is the one in which the government resides. That being the Nationalist Movement Party. Although there is only one party and there are no effective external political rivals, there are significant gains of factionalism within the NMP. Although this is restricted to the more junior members efforts to limit the effective powers of factional groups within the party are currently under way.
Foreign Affairs
Following a revolution the Republic of White Highlands had officially at first adopted a policy fitting with that of political isolationism from the rest of the region and continent. However following the Act of Presidency the Republic of White Highlands now enjoys implementing a proactive regional foreign policy in the absence of any major political power there.
Federation Status
The Republic of White Highlands has been a fully active member of the Soviet Federation since 3479. During this time it has been a major interest to that of the government to further enhance and develop relations with that of distinguished nations such as the Kingdom of Greenwood, the Imperial Union of Gaia and others through varying levels of co-operation throughout the Federation.
Since joining the Federation The Republic of White Highlands has established various embassies around the world, including the opening of the Soviet Embassy within the capital city Kigali. Various schemes including mutual defence and economic treaties are a highlight to the various examples of the benefits of being within the Federation.
Amelatarian/Kinsekian - Republican Relations
As well as increasing and negotiating possible joining of the Soviet Federation, the Republic of White Highlands also enjoys modestly positive and friendly relations with that of it's northern neighbour; La Republica del Amelata or formerly known as The Communist State of Kinsek.
Both of the countries share a common history up untill the point of 2797 when the Gijonian Empire crumbelled and the two states split apart. But after the reformation of the Kinsekian state in 2977 both nations once again enjoyed warm and friendly relations, this was characterised on numerous occassions through the trading of produce, machinery and military technologies between the two states of Bashir and Kinsek. Whereas Kinsek however came to dominate the north of White Highlands Bashir stagnated and thus didn't grow much untill the eventuall fall of the communist government. Many kinsekians were killed in the subsequent revolution, along with many of Aristocracy, with the Kinsekian wealth and empire destroyed much of the culture, wealth and heritage emigrated to their Southern ally the United Kingdom of Bashir.
The Republic of White Highlands now seeks to further increase ties with the La Republica del Amelata, with a recent report indicating that 78% of the population wanted closer relations with that of their northern counterparts. In a joint Amelatarian/Kinsekian - Republic poll over 48% of both Amelatarians and Republicans would favour a act of union between the two countries. The Prime Minister has described the unity of both peoples as a "Special Affair,"
Military
The Armed Forces of the Republic of White Highlands are largely organised into 4 seperate fighting departments. The regular armed forces including the Army, Air Force and Navy, yet also the Quaternary Fighting Department consisting of the Border Patrol, Research & Development, Counter-Subversive and Intelligence services.
Overall the military is controlled by Ultimatley the commander-in-chief who is the High Chancellor. However the second commander-in-chief. The the signle figure largely responsible for the overrule running of the military and it's doctrine would be the Supreme Military Commander (of the Republican Armed Forces). He is the overrule head of all 4 branches of the military, and he and the High Chancellor are said to be very good friends. To prevent either of the Prime Minister or the Supreme Military Commander from gaining too much power it is very rare for the either to interfere in each other's departments. And the High Chancellor still makes the critical decisions such as the the reservation to Declare War or Declare a Military National Emergency. The Supreme Military Commander can only place the military on reserve and mobilise.
The national defence of the Republic are divided up into differing military zones varying on the Branch of the military involved. Each particular military zone has a designated zone commander for each of the three main branches of the military. The Quaternary Fighting Department doesn't operate and therefore use the system of defensive zones and so are therefore more centralised, operating on a national level.
The Republican Army
The Republican Army has since the ascension of power by the High Chancellor saw massive changes within the command and ranking structure. Whereas a large focus were placed on large-scale armoured and infantry divisions. The Army has now been radically refocused to adapt to a new age of technological and economic expansion, therefore great fluctuations in the number of recruited soldiers and officers have been common within the army.
The Army now however is split into 3 military zones, The Eastern, Velurum and Bashirian military defensive zones are the current layout in which the Army is adapting. With a different set of skills and organisation with each military zone. The Army on the whole however currently places a lot of it's resources into the formation of Mechanised Military Units, this therefore means a large base of the ground forces compromise of Infantry Fighting Vehicles, Armoured Personneal Carriers with some small elements of heavy armour such as Tanks and Assault Guns.
This is evolution from the former military organisation of the army based on completely independant Tank and Armoured Operations, during the revolution and looking at how urban battles faired out against armoured units around the world. The Army submitted a review and began to reform the armoured corps to act more in conjuction with the infantry units as opposed to acting seperate. Another critical reason for the change into more conjuctive divisions was the extent of the natural landscape of the country, having large swathes of land being dominated by woodlands, yet another half to be dominated by grasslands. The fast,quick and precise deployment of infantry to trouble spots has since became a key backbone of the army's military doctrine.
The Republican Air Force
Despite radical reform of the overall military, the current model adopted by the Republican Air Force (RAF) hasn't changed in over 50 years. It's main objectives despite the increased prevelence of air power within modern warfare thus remains the same. A notable change recently however are a serise of efficientcy uprgrades throughout the RAF while still adopting the old organisation scheme.
The Air Force unlike the Army and the Navy (where are seperated into several small zones), unlike the other two branches the Air Force is simply split into two different defensive zones in which to operate. With one zone being the Bashirian and naval zones while the other wing of the air force retains responsibility of the Velurum and Southern Amaletian areas for greater and effective support of the army. The RAF therefore has key objectives in which to follow:
- To maintain aerial superiority over the skies of the Republic and it's domestic interests.
- To assist and work in conjuction with the Republican Army on defensive and offensive operations within the republic and to assist the army in protecting both domestic and international interests of the Republic.
- To assist and work in conjuction with the Republican Navy on littoral defensive/offensive operations within the designated territorial waters and to assist the Republican Navy protect interests domestically on behalf of the republic.
Overall the main role of the RAF therefore is to first provide aerial dominance and then use that dominance to support the Mechanised force below, it is common Republican military doctrine that with effective multi-role capable fighters, the lack of effective heavy armour could therefore be countered on a open-field armoured basis with the use of precision bombs and area of effect weaponry.Therefore common aircraft include that of modified Tornado's of various variants, and again modified JF-17's. A wing of helicopters and transports also support the Mechanised and Naval forces of the military and can perform a varying degree of tasks in regard to joint Republican military doctrine.
The Republican Navy is by far the larger of all three of the primary branches for the military. Under the current reforms to the military the role of the Navy within the Republic has changed considerably and has been linked as one of the few military departments ear-marked for direct Federation and global aid action. The Navy is split into three defensive zones and a deep sea "zone" which in turn corresponds to foreign deep-sea waters. As of 3482 the navy regularly operates in Foreign and International Waters as apart of global disaster relief and joint Soviet Federation anti-piracy operations.
The main role of the Republican Navy is to protect the country's coastline along the Centurai Ocean and to operate within global trade routes to safeguard and protect Republican and Federation trade routes in anti-piracy and anti-terrorism operations. However the main strength of the Republican Navy lies within the littoral zone of the naval waters and thus a large emphasis is placed upon the defence of the coastline.
To assist in this task the navy does in it's jurisdiction have limited access to various fortifications and military hardware in which no other service apart from the QFD enjoy.Examples of such hardware to assist in the defence of the coastline are a series of fixed fortifications equipped with various advanced batteries and heavy artillery components, as well as land-sea fired missiles and other land-fired anti-ship missile and rocketry systems.
Therefore a large part of the navy is compromised of what would be regarded as smaller vessels in comparison with that of larger, blue water navies. Currently the Republican Navy has been described as that of a Green Water navy, with limited ambitions of achieving Blue Water Navy Status at this time, however projects within the navy are under way to develop larger and more effective deep-sea vessels. In 3481 High Chancellor Adam Sutler along with the Supreme Military Commander agreed to increase the capabilities of the navy:
- "We must develop our navy furthermore to garuntee and safeguard our interests within the global trade routes throughout international waters. By working with our new partners within the Federation and our closest of allies throughout White Highlands, we can further strive to achieve a service of excellence and professionalism which shall advance the cause of the Republic of White Highlans across the world. As with every single sucessful mission promoting the federation and foreign aid comes that extra bit of knowledge that we are making our mark in this large and opaque world."
Another critical part of the Navy which is set to be further expanded in future years, is the introduction of a large flotilla of Nuclear powered attack Submarines, these submarines are planned to have mixed capabilities including anti-ship, anti-air and anti-ground functions using a variety of weaponry on board including Torpedoes, Cruise Missiles, and submarine launched Anti-Aircraft batteries which are currently being tested by the QFD.
Economy
The Republic of White Highlands currently has a mixed economy between the 3 main sectors of the economy, with a broad range of corporations in National,State, Public and Private hands. The economy therefore enjoys both a wide range of state intervention and market activity, with the privitisation and nationalisation of many businesses a regular occurance.
The overall ranking of the Republican economy since 3499 was that of 1st in the entire region of White Highalnds. Before the Grand revolution the economy roughly remained at the same level and thus didn't really enjoy any critical level of investment. However since the presidency act of 3479 a fresh wave of over 4 trillion SC$ has poured into the economy. Though largely from internal investment, increased state intervention and planning in the economy has resulted in a significant fall in corporate tax and created room to grow for existing corporations. As of 3480, over 40% more businesses were released from state control and placed on the public stock market, with large shares being sold to new Soviet Federation economic peers. Defence industries however have been nationalised.
According to the Republican Economic committee. The country currently enjoys a large surplus of around SC$13 Billion every single month. This has grown year on year since 3480, and has currently surpassed government targets of achieving that of SC$5 Billion. Since 3479 there has also been significant increases in sufficiency levels throughout the country, over 60.58% of all country consumption as of 3496 were covered internally, this is despite growing domestic consumption throughout the economy, targets for achieving similar levels for all corporation consumption levels, which stands at a lower rate of approximately 6.58% of consumption covered by interal contracts.
Monthly Economic Production
National Production and general GDP data reveal that the current production per month stands at approximatley 100.14B SC$.
The high rates of growth for the economy of the Republic is also said to be having a significantly greater impact on other surrounding countries than previously thought.The energy and agricultural sectors which play a large share of 40% of the economy for example have been exported to the neighbouring countries of White Highlands, and have said to have brought down food and energy prices in the local area by as much as 13%. That said a large portion of credit throughout the population often finds it'self in external investment. As much of 70% of private investment throughout the republic is external, though 80% of that figure is through the Soviet Federation and a significant amount of it is currently processed through the Economic Cooperation and Investment Treaty.
Economic Cooperation and Investment Treaty
As part of the government's initiative to increase the level of investment going in and out of the public corporations throughout the country, on 16th November 3483 the government signed the Economic Cooperation and Investment Treaty. This treaty is aimed to increase the level of investment both publically and privately between the public corporations of: The Imperial Union of Gaia, the Republic of Romanam, the Republic of White Highlands and the Socialist Union of Mandarr. The aim of the treaty is put over 100 billion SC$ each into each other's public corporations. It is estimated that the combined partial investment from several countries would bring about a annual 2.7% faster and more stable growth for the economy and will prompt more investment from other countries into many of the developing projects throughout the country.
Energy
The Republic of White Highlands is a energy exporter nation, and therefore currently retains energy independance from outside countries, the energy market throughout the Republic has largely been monopolised by three larger corporations such as that of Pakston Energy Corp. and Sutler Energy Corp. which are both public companies and that of Nishat Power. Which is a private corporation.
The overall energy production for the Republic of White Highlands as of 3484 (at 100%) is approximatley 36,000 million kwh's. Which in turn generates approximatley 20% of the White Highlands share. A large distribution of this electricity is produced by hydraulic fracturing, where natural gas is extracted by the predominant public corporations of Sutler and Pakston energy corporations. According to Kebir Blue council reports there could be between 80 ~ 140 years worth of gas throughout the Republican territories.
Since 3493 there has also been significant development of offshore oil. Largely symbolised with that of the Minseto Offshore Oil company, though the Republic now enjoys a large input of oil from these offshore facilities only 7% of them are consumed in the country, and 90% are infact exported to other nations within the White Highlands region.
Transportation and Infastructure
In recent decades even before the Grand Revolution huge investment has been placed within the transportation and infastructure networks of the Republic. With the amount of road, rail and other transportation systems being laid down growing by as much as 48% in the past century. With the growing state of the economy this is set to change spectacularly. In the past 10 years alone a additional 130% more miles of motorway has been placed, connecting some of the larger cities across the Republic.
Such large projects includes a large budget of roughly 200 Billion SC$ for bridges, tunnels and conjestion solutions throughout the existing motorway to increase the max level of traffic. Furthermore new high-speed railways have recently being given critical investment and construction has already begun, the long-term plan set out by the previous government was aimed to:
- "Construct a long-lasting transportation and infastructure network to join up and connect the various countries throughout White Highlands together, being situated on the coastline and in the middle of the region a fast and efficient road and rail network can only bring substantial benefit into the regional economy,"
Science and Technology
With improving levels of education, the technology sector is becoming a increasingly growing sector of the Republican economy... Currently 15.5% of the country's monthly production is through High-Technology industries. Although this figure has declined in recent years due to a lack of proper educational facilities, improving levels of investment and educational quality have lead to a series of predictions that by 3500 the figure of such High-Tech contributions could reach that of 20% ~ 25%. Making the Republic of White Highlands one of the technological centres of White Highlands.
A significant area of interest for Republican science is that in advanced and efficient materials. A notable example would be that of Graphene. Which is currently being worked on in various education and research institutes around the Republic. Such materials which are super-efficient in terms of a strength/weight basis is said to potentially revolutionise industries.