Difference between revisions of "Solrosland"

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Solrosland (Solroslandic: Solesim Raigşesu) a developed democratic nation located in the region of Galt's Gulch. Having been occupied for centuries by a vibrant civilisation, Solrosland can boast a cultural heritage thousands of years old.

Since the declaration of independence from the British crown, Solrosland has developed into a nation known for its strong and pluralistic social and political institutions. In the realm of design, literature and culture, Solrosland prides itself on what its citizens see as a unique devotion to both tradition and creative innovation. In commerce and trade, Solrosland has grown into what can arguably be considered a vibrant and diversified economy.

History

Early History

The indigenous Solroslanders are an individual ethnic group. The path of their migration and origin is unclear, it is assumed that the migration of different peoples to the islands, followed by a long period of relative isolation in which the various peoples inhabiting the islands intermingled, resulting in a relatively unique homogenous culture.

The earliest evidence of an organised civilisation is the Seihari Kingdom (roughly 150 B.C.), with bronze-making and farming settlements as the hallmarks of the beginnings of a settled society. From 150 B.C. to approximately 500 A.D., the land was comprised of related but politically unaffiliated kingdoms that occasionally warred with one another on a small scale but for the most part practised a peculiar isolationism towards one another.

Classical Solroslandic Culture

At roughly 500-520 A.D., a series of consolidations and coups led to three separate alliances between many of the smaller kingdoms, with three conglomerations gaining preeminence. Known as the Three Empires Period, it initially began violently, with many individual states unwilling to give up their sovereignty. What eventually resulted was a complex system of individual spheres of influence and principalities that were nonetheless ultimately responsive to the authority of one of the three Emperors.

Unification

A marriage arrangement between two of the three monarchies led to a tripartite unification, creating a new, unified empire that nonetheless maintained the loose system of highly autonomous local principalities. There is no evidence to suggest that this political unification of the territory led to a sense of "nation" or social unity amongst the peoples of the different regions. Life remained highly provincial and centred upon the home village.

What followed was a long period of relative peace up to the point of European colonisation.

European Settlement and Integration

In 1721, the first European to arrive on the shores of the territory was Swedish captain Janst Stangeland (under the contract of the British Empire), who named the islands Solrosland, after the favourite flower of his five-year-old daughter.

In 1723, Stangeland founded the colony of St. Augustine (in what is now modern-day Stangeland), approximately 70 km. from the ancient Solesi capital city of H'lerim. The colony was founded upon an isthmus acquired from the Solesi emperor Remiaru VI, as a military garrison, trading post and foothold in the Solroslandic archipelago. The St. Augustine settlement quickly grew with British settlement. Immigrants were attracted to the fishing, ship building and fledgling industrial trades in and around the Bay of Solrosland.

The relationship between the Europeans and Solesi continued to be relatively amicable during the first 50 years of settlement. The conversion of Emperor Remiaru VI to Christianity at the age of 79, followed by the growth of the religion amongst the Solesi slowly led to an erosion of the differences between the two different populations.

Independence

After an extended period of stability, long standing and very serious questions began to surface regarding the nature of the relationship between the British and traditional Solroslandic monarchies. Simmering tensions between loyalists to the British Crown and the old Solroslandic Empire boiled to the surface in what were occasionally heated clashes in the Colonial Assembly.

The pro-independence camp was dominated by two competing factions - the Solesi who were loyal to their King and Empire and resentful of British imperial presence on their islands, and the republicans of European descent (a mixed group of ethnic French, British and Spanish settlers, many of whom were southern farmers). The loyalists were made up of urban Britons from the north, primarily the capital, who saw an economic and political benefit in remaining a part of the British Empire.

In 1823, a famine swept across many parts of the island, particularly in the south. This led to widespread deprivation amongst people in regions considered pro-Republican. The government in the capital failed to to adequately deal with this problem, and a general lack of information left urban Solroslanders in St. Augustine in the dark. This failure to act, coupled with what was percieved as the indifference of northern city dwellers, led to widespread unrest in the southern provinces. Finally in 1825 the south declared independence from British Solrosland, and created an alliance with the Solesi principalities of the far north.

The sudden political upheaval of the south led people in the cities to realise the true nature of the south's problems. The urban intellectual set and many progressive political leaders tied the failure of the colony to end the suffering, the lack of access to information on the situation, and the severity of the famine to an ineffective British government. Rumours circulated that the British and colonial governments were punishing the south for its intransigence.

Trust in the British colonial government continued to diminish. In spite of attempts to improve the situation in the face of a rising southern death toll, the appearance of urban food shortages and rising prices for staple foodstuffs due to the high cost of imports led to rising urban unrest amongst the lower classes.

In 1824, a convention of delegates from across the country took place in the southern village of Notre Dame de Reims. It was here that the declaration of independence was drafted and signed. Different copies of the declaration were printed and distributed to every provincial capital, and were simultaneously read aloud in English, Solesi, and French in each city's central square at noon on 17 July.

The British, already humiliated by their defeat at the hands of the Ashanti in Ghana, were loathe to entangle themselves in another war of independence. They graciously accepted the terms of the Declaration of Independence and recognised Solrosland as an autonomous nation, free to conduct its own affairs.

Population

Demographics and Ethnicity

Prior to European settlement, Solrosland was populated by an ethnic group known as the Solesi, which translates merely as "the people." Colonists from the British Isles did not separate themselves from the natives as stridently as in other colonies, leading to a high degree of intermarriage. Today, the Solroslandic ethnic makeup is homogenously mixed-race in nature.

Geographic Distribution

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The city of Stangeland. Most Solroslanders live in cities.

Most Solroslanders are city dwellers, making the population density of the country very low. Most of the country's interior is sparsely settled. According to the 2004 census, 70% of Solroslanders reside within the commuter belt of a major city. The vast majority of new immigrants from Asia reside in metropolitan Stangeland.

Most of the population lives along a plain hugging the coast of the South Island, along the Strait of St. Augustine, particularly in the provinces of the Gold Coast, Mannerheim, Stangeland, and Albion, and the eastern portion of the province of the West Midlands.

Culture

Solrosland's cultural landscape is a blend of native and imported influences. European culture dominates the intellectual, artistic and literary realms while native Solroslandic culture is a major part of ceremonial and home life.

While the extent to which a Solroslander may claim indigenous ancestry varies family to family, all Solroslanders recieve a thorough education in Solroslandic traditional culture and it permeates every day life. Parliamentarians wear traditional robes in both houses of Parliament, school uniforms are influenced by traditional dress, and the federal government promotes the parallel use of the Solroslandic language alongside English.

Language

Overview

Solrosland's two official languages are English and Solroslandic. In 1951, Solroslandic was established as co-equal to English as a concerted effort to make the population totally bilingual and revive native culture. While efforts to make Solroslanders fully bilingual have largely been successful, English still remains the native home language of the majority of citizens.

Solroslandic is a complex, agglutinative language with an unusually high number of very specific yet nuanced verb tenses and a system of honourific addresses. The language was at one time written in a pictographic script. As the language fell into disuse with colonisation, ability to read traditional Solroslandic script died out with the older generation. Government efforts to promote the language involved re-tooling the language to be written and read phonetically in a modified Latin alphabet.

English continues to be the dominant cultural language, with most popular music, literature, and films written and performed in English. English continues to hold a certain cachet as being the language of intellectuals and the literati. The younger generations, having been educated fully in Solroslandic alongside English, tend to use it amongst themselves especially to differentiate themselves from their less-fluent parents.

Besides these practical considerations, English has fully embedded itself into the national culture and psyche of Solrosland and as such is inseparable from the Solroslandic people.

Geographic Distribution of Solroslandic Speakers

The majority of households that speak Solroslandic as a mother tongue and primary language at home reside in the provinces of the North Island and the northwest coast of the South Island.

Solroslandic English

Traditionally, elocution has been highly important in English language education in Solrosland, and as a result most people born and educated in Solrosland speak a dialect of English highly similar to "the Queen's English." Nonetheless, the many influences from the Solesi and other European languages (most prominently Dutch and Portuguese) have left their mark on colloquial English as well as pronunciation. The English of Solrosland tends to roll the r in the middle of a sentence, and pronounce it more gutterally at the beginning of a sentence (in a manner similar to German and Portuguese).

Solrosland is the only English-speaking country to have a learnèd body on the use of the English language similar to the Académie française, publishing its own official dictionary of the English language. Its successes in limiting the influence of foreign languages on English have been questionable at best, however, with many loan words having an impact on everyday speech.

That being said, proper standard English (the Received Pronunciation) remains the most common form of English in the country.

The Arts

In the past 50 years, Solrosland has gained international recognition in the fields of modern art, literature, music, film, and theatre. These successes have been widely celebrated in Solrosland, and Solroslanders show a high degree of respect and admiration for artists and writers. The capital city's main domestic airport is named for the novelist and poet Iain Langford, who also appears on the $20 bill.

Food

The food of Solrosland is largely influenced by both British and native Solroslandic culture. Skewered fishes and meats cooked on an open fire served with a type of sweet meal mash and steamed or boiled vegetables, and a variety of stone-oven baked goods are highly popular examples of native cuisine.

As immigration from other parts of the world increased, the palate of the average Solroslander expanded, beginning with German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, and Portuguese immigrants. As the population of the country grew more affluent, Solroslandic tastes would expand still further to include the cuisines of the Japanese, Chinese and Indian immigrants who came to call Solrosland home in the latter quarter of the 20th century.

In many respects the culinary landscape of Solrosland is not unlike that of most developed countries of North America and western Europe.

Peculiarities

Solroslanders generally eat smaller meals than their Continental European counterparts. This is likely a holdover from a culture of scarcity that existed in Solrosland for much of its modern history, with the concepts of "waste not, want not," conservation, and planning ahead to save resources and means of living being a central focus.

While the sandwich is a lunch staple in the rest of the world, it is commonly a breakfast food in Solrosland, due to its convenience and versatility. A typical breakfast sandwich is made up of a fried egg, tomato, and cheese between two slices of bread (or in some cases, an English muffin).

Solroslanders are prolific coffee drinkers. In a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health inquiring into the diets of average citizens, it was found that most Solroslanders over the age of 20 generally consume two to three cups of coffee a day, and sometimes more. Even when the summer months arrive, Solroslanders will still make a point to socialise over coffee.

Civic Culture

Politics take centre stage in Solsroslandic life, with citizens taking a keen interest in the political life of their city, province, and nation, even outside of election seasons. There are many reasons for this. One of the stated goals of the country's public schools is to shape each student into "a critically minded, informed citizen." Solrosland's devotion to the concept of direct democracy, referenda, and citizen initiatives further nurtures this spirit of public activism. Furthermore, the government's policy of allowing citizens to allocate their tax dollars as they see fit has led to a strong demand for accountability and transparency from the electorate.

Media

The level of press freedom in Solrosland is extremely high, the Constitution specifically stating that "the Government of the Commonwealth shall make no laws or orders abridging the freedom of press and public discourse, except in cases of threats to national security or threats to the confidentiality arrangements of the legal system, medicine, or the Church."

The High Court decision of Yamamoto vs. The Commonwealth clearly defines the limits to the definition of 'cases of threats to national security,' as "the leaking of state secrets, defined as such as classified material regarding: the movements and locations of key government and royal figures, military materiel and hardware, and any other specifications regarding the defencive capabilities and capacities of the Commonwealth..." going on to say "... therefore criticism of policy, individuals in the government shall not be labelled in any circumstance as 'seditious' and against the interests of national security and peace, nor shall the airing of beliefs contrary to national policy."

Television

There are many diverse media outlets in Solrosland, online, in print, and over the airwaves. The national television broadcaster SBS held a virtual monopoly over broadcast media until the early 1990s, when the National Broadcast Diversification Act allowed for the selling of broadcast licenses and the allocation of new television channels for private networks. Today there are no less then 6 major networks, all competing fiercely for market-share.

In addition to the national networks, many Solroslanders subscribe to satellite packages that give them an even wider range of international programming. Conversely, SBS operates the satellite network SBS International, beaming its popular programming to subscribers around the globe.

Radio

There are 93 radio stations in Solrosland, many of which are owned by one of the six media conglomerates that run the television networks. There are, however, many independent radio stations at the local and regional level, catering to specific audiences and providing points of view less-frequently heard on major corporate networks.

Print

Newspapers and magazines are still the most popular source of information. Many nationally published newspapers and current affairs magazines compete for readers. Amongst the most popular are the North Island Morning Post and Horizon newspapers, as well as the news magazines Frontlines and Pulse.

Compared to other countries, the youth of Solrosland are extremely interested in politics and current affairs, and they are widely considered to be amongst the most well-informed young people in the world. News and current affairs magazine subscriptions are highest with young people between the ages of 17-25, whereas older citizens prefer the more traditional broadsheet papers.

Besides the popular English and Solroslandic publications, there is a thriving foreign language press situated in Solrosland that caters to the needs of immigrant communities. In most major cities one can find publications in Chinese, Japanese, Bengali, Igbo and Yoruba.

Internet

It is estimated that roughly 95 percent of family households in Solrosland have access to the internet, and of those, 98 percent have a broadband connection.

Solrosland's media companies have been at the forefront of technological innovation, using the internet and mobile phone services to deliver and supplement news and information. SBS and competing networks NRS and Echo have all launched powerful internet portals and mobile phone services.

Government

Solrosland is governed as a constitutional monarchy, with the King or Queen serving as a ceremonial head of state. The chief executive of the government is the Federal Chancellor elected by the majority party in Parliament.

Provinces

Solrosland is divided into 17 provinces and one Special Administrative Area, each with a popularly elected chief executive (premier), provincial legislature, and administrative bureaucracy. According to the Solroslandic Constitution of 1981, "... all powers not explicitely invested in the Federal Government are the domain of individual provinces."

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Map of Solrosland

Parliament

The Parliament is divided into two houses, the Senate and the House of Commons. Each province is allocated three seats in the Senate, and members of the House of Commons are elected from single-member constituencies.

Parties

The political landscape in Solrosland is varied, with many political parties vying for the hearts and minds of the populace. Four political parties tend to garner the most attention and votes. The moderate, centre-right Alliance for Progress (AFP) has held the most seats in both houses of Parliament for the last decade. The centre-left Labour Party is the second largest party, with the Green Party and the right-wing Conservatives taking the third and fourth largest shares of seats respectively.

Judicial

The highest judicial organ of the Federation is the High Court. The 11 Justices of the High Court are appointed by the Monarch with the approval of the Senate. Justices are appointed for life unless they chose to retire, or are removed by impeachment or a criminal action.

Federal Chancellor

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Federal Chancellor, The Rt. Hon. Elisabeth Hollande.

The Federal Chancellor is chosen in a vote of the majority party in the House of Commons, approved by the King or Queen, and serves for an unlimited number of three year terms. The powers invested in the Chancellor are to form a government (appoint ministers), coordinate the policies of ministers and government bureaus and directorates, represent the Federation overseas, and answer to the Monarchy. The Chancellor has relatively wide powers of appointment, including Privy Councillors, ambassadors, and senior civil servants.

The Chancellor may be censured or impeached in the case of gross wrongdoing.

Direct Democracy

Vote of Confidence Referenda

Between election seasons, if the population wishes it to be so, the electorate may circulate a petition calling for a national vote of confidence on the Government. This petition may be approved or declined by the Monarch. Following the blessing of the King or Queen, the national vote of confidence occurs as a referendum. For the Government to be dissolved in this case, a simple majority of the population in two thirds of the constituencies must vote "yes" on the question of whether the current Government is to be dissolved for a new election.

Popular Initiatives

Any registered voter may draft and circulate a petition to call for a public vote on a proposed law or Constitutional amendment.

Economy

Solrosland has a developed market economy, with high levels of growth, low taxation, low levels of social inequality, and a broadly diverse industrial and services sector. The level of social mobility in Solrosland is relatively high, thanks in part to a strong, centralised education system that provides free, high quality instruction to all citizens regardless of geographical location and income.

The backbone of the Solroslandic economy is highly skilled industrial labour, with automobile manufacturing taking up the lion's share of Solrosland's exports. Solroslandic companies like Mannerheim and SMV are world reknowned for their vehicles. In recent years, Solrosland's economy has begun branching out into services, with information technology and banking gradually coming to the forefront. Currenty, services and manufacturing both account for an equal portion of Solrosland's GDP, at roughly 44% and 47% respectively.

Over the past twenty years, agriculture has declined as a major economic force, now only comprising roughly 5% of GDP.

Historically, the economic story of the country had been one of booms and busts from the turn of the 20th century up to the 1950s, when a massive default on foreign debt and a dramatic spike in the poverty rate forced a rethink on national economic policy both amongst the leadership and the people. Following a period of austerity and a flurry of bureaucratic and market reforms, Solrosland's economy stabilised and achieved 53 consecutive years of economic growth, inflation rates below five percent, and virtually full employment.

The government organs responsible for facilitating the smooth operation of the economy include the Royal Bank of Solrosland, the country's central bank. The RBS is under the umbrella of the Economic Affairs Directorate, a controversial government bureau that coordinates the policies of the RBS with the government's short and long-term economic goals. The EAD, which operates under the direction of a 12 member advisery board, has long had a history under the AFP governments of the past decade of promoting specific industries through favourable taxation and subsidies policies, as well as targeted infrastructure projects.

Critics cite these actions as blatant corporate welfare, while supporters of the EAD have pointed to Solrosland's relatively strong, steady economic growth and diversification as proof-positive that it works. Still, a debate periodically flairs over whether the EAD is still fundamentally valuable to Solrosland's economy or if it is a vestige of the more corrupt days of overly cozy relations between industry and the federal government.

Transportation

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A SNRC regional train in Lyndenhall.

Modern rail, road, air, and water networks link all of the major cities and industrial centres of Solrosland.

Rail is the most popular means of getting around within the country, with SNRC (Solroslandic National Railway Corporation) criss-crossing the nation, serving even smaller and more isolated communities. Ironically, the completeness of the network is attributed to the endemic political patronage that occured in the 1970s, with municipal and provincial governments lobbying heavily behind closed doors for rail service to destinations that would have seemed illogical and insignificant. Trimming back the SNRC network has often been met with rabid outcry from local governments and indeed most average citizens. Any plan to do so has been effectively rebuffed by this loud oopular opposition.

Air transportation is the second most used means of travel. Every provincial capital has at least one airport. Prior to the 1990s, however, most of these airports were relatively small, with most flights funnelling through Stangeland in a hub-and-spoke network. In 1997, a second international gateway was opened in Glenmore to take pressure off of an overburdened Stangeland International Airport. Other airports followed suit, with most provincial capitals enjoying newly expanded and renovated airports outfitted with the latest technology, serving expanded domestic and regional networks.

There is a comprehensive national motorway system, serving every provincial capital and major city in the country. This is supplemented by provincial highways and state-operated and privately-operated highways and expressways in major cities.

Every city is served by a commuter rail or subway system.

Military and Defence

The Royal Solroslandic Defence Forces (RSDF) is a small but highly trained and well-equipped military that encompasses the Royal Navy, Air Force, Army and Special Operations Force (SOF). The primary role of the RSDF is, as the name suggests, the defence and security of the archipelago. The RSDF does not engage in military action overseas on its own behalf, and with the country's being non-aligned with the UN or other international organisations, the RSDF does not submit troops under the banner of any other entity. This cannot be neither confirmed nor denied in the case of the SOF, which is suspected of playing a part in many counterterrorism activities both within Solrosland as well as around the globe.

The Intelligence Reconnaissance Information Service (IRIS) is Solrosland's main intelligence agency. IRIS is divided into two branches: IRIS One for domestic intelligence, IRIS Two for international. Each branch is divided into sections dedicated to the various disciplines of intelligence work, such as human intelligence or signals intelligence among others. The actual activities of IRIS in detail are unknown.