Kargazhstan

The People's Republic of Kargazhstan is a nation in Central Asia.

History

A mountainous and rough country, Kargazhstan was inhabited relatively late in history, its first inhabitants arriving over the southeastern passes around 1,800 BC. In the 8th and 9th centuries AD this area was home to the Gyzhnam Empire, whose foremost monarch, Tokokan Rhey (r. AD 789-841), presided over a cultural and economic golden age. In the wake left by the decay of the Gyzhnam Empire, Turkish tribes from the northwest invaded, founding a loose aristocratic oligarchy which slowly drove the Gyzhnam peoples into isolated corners of the country. Around 1300, the foremost family of these Turkish overlords, the Serkan clan, assumed control over the squabbling aristocrats and founded a ruling dynasty. Their rule was short-lived, however, because after less than 3 generations on the throne the Serkans were ruined by the massive immigration of the Kargazh people, a tribe of indeterminate origin and language. The Kargazh soon wrested control from the Turks and filled the country.

By the 19th century, the Kargazh tribes came to the attention of the Russian and Chinese Empires. In 1825, at the first Battle of Nazh 'Zhovel, the Russians defeated the Chinese with the assistance of a large Kargazh army. The Russians installed Torank Boro, the leading Kargazh general at Nazh 'Zhovel and head of the most powerful Kargazh tribe, as Emperor. Torank, a crafty leader, used Russian power to enrich his own family and tribe at the expense of the rest of the Kargazh people. Torank, however, was clever enough to limit Russian power in Kargazhstan and preserve his independence. His son and grandson were not, and were little more than self-serving Russian puppets. In 1889, after more than 60 years of Boro family rule, the London-educated leader known only by the pseudonym "Kuoro" (roughly translates to "Public Servant") returned to his country to restore national liberty. Kuoro adopted ideas of democratic socialism and national-self sufficiency and sought to modernize his backward nation. After a 20-year civil war, Kuoro won from the Russian Czar the right to draw up a constitution and hold elections, provided Kargazhstan held nominal allegiance to the Russian Empire. Kuoro was elected Prime Minister in a landslide.

Kuoro's ambitious agenda was put on hold by the First World War. His modernizing efforts were successful in a military capacity as well. Kargazhstan contributed many soldiers to the Russian war effort, and many units fought very heroically. The Russian Revolution was a great dillemma to Kuoro. After much vacillating, Kuoro declared Kargazhstan's support for the Czar and the White Forces, despite his socialist leanings. When the Bolsheviks made their power clear, however, Kuoro cut his losses and declared his friendship with the USSR. Kuoro was able to navigate the waters of Soviet relations and prevent domination of Kargazhstan by the USSR, but his assassination in 1925 by a Gyzhnam nationalist paved the way for Soviet domination. For the next half-century, the USSR practically ruled a nominally independent "People's Republic of Kargazhstan".

In 1977, the Soviet-friendly government was overthrown in a coup led by the commander of the army, General Oubouru. The USSR immediately intervened on behalf of the ousted government, and a bloody 6-year civil war began. Worn down and more concerned with Afghanistan, the Soviets cut their losses and withdrew from Kargazhstan. General Oubouru set himself up as President and Supreme Commander-In-Chief. He liberalized the formerly communist economy and removed the Russian and Soviet officials who had run the nation prior to his ascension. Oubouru grew more dictatorial and despotic, however, and many suspected him of losing his mind. He renamed the army "Oubouru's Army", and, in 1993, declared himself "Supreme Eternal Emperor", which he later amended to "Supreme Eternal Omnipotent Infallible Emperor". Oubouru repealed many of his own economic reforms and plunged the nation even further into communism than it had been before. In 1999, Oubouru was assassinated by a group of his own officers led by his Chief of the KMIS (the secret police), Colonel Karra.

Immediately after overthrowing General Oubouru in 1999, Colonel Karra took no other title or post than that which he held under the former leader. Although he was still only a Colonel and had actually resigned as official head of the KMIS, Karra was for a time well known as the head of Kargazhstan's government. Karra went to the Torank military academy in his late teens and was immediately commissioned as a lieutenant. He soon became an aide to General Oubouru, and during the civil war was appointed commander of a Special Forces unit. He served with distinction and was appointed head of the KMIS by Oubouru in 1984.

Karra's rule was sometimes quite benign and sometimes brutally despotic, but he seemed at least to be mentally stable, in stark contrast to his predecessor. Some speculate that his reluctance to assume any official title came from having seen his mentor deteriorate from exposure to power. Despite his often dictatorial tendencies, Karra toyed with the notion of liberalizing the economy, but until very recently most of the communist framework remained. In October of 2005 Karra finally committed to free-market reforms, endorsing a full-scale capitalist overhaul of the economy.

Resistance to Karra's rule had largely been crushed but was largely crushed but, after the reforms, began to appear in force. Gyzhnam nationalists demanded language recognition and political independence, which Karra was forced to grant, allegedly under pressure from a multinational corporation which employed many Gyzhnams and sought to pacify business conditions. The State University of Kargazhstan became a hotbed of democratic rhetoric, with a series of skirmishes between police and students culminating in a full-scale insurrection in the streets of Nazh 'Zhovel, forcing the police and military to retake the grounds of the University foot by foot. Minority religious groups demanded greater freedom, and recieved much. Trouble with China was a constant source of consternation, and Karra narrowly avoided war on several occasions.

In the end, Karra was unable to keep his grip on power. Under pressure from intellectuals, democrats, religious groups, and international corporations seeking a more peaceful business climate, Karra was forced to concede to elections by early November. Although many both inside Kargazhstan and outside Kargazhstan consider Karra the leader of his nation, the elections have left Kargazhstan with little or no government. Quite simply, no element in this large, diverse nation has the strength to create a unified government, and most elements in the country have vested interests in preventing the development of another strong central government.

In February of 2006, Colonel Karra made an aborted attempt to sieze power, citing the apparent anarchy in Kargazhstan. He promoted himself to General, but was quickly defeated by feudal warlords and corporate mercenaries. He now lives in exile in Russia, and insists that he is the rightful leader of Kargazhstan.

Politics

Today, Kargazhstan's future is unprdictable. A nominal central government has been created, and it is democratically selected, but the real power in Kargazhstan no longer resides in Nazh 'Zhovel. Feudal-type "warlords" have assumed control over much of the country, and multinational corporations no longer seem to bother with consulting the central government before opening businesses, rather, they usually just deal with local authorities. Despite the presence of large numbers of armed militia leaders and petty rulers, Kargazhstan is remarkably peaceful, at least compared to much of its history. Muslims have recently taken the lead in political reform, and the State University of Kargazhstan, once a political hotbed, has become the privately run University of Kargazhstan, and is focusing on responding to the modern business climate, with classes on topics such as Golbalization, Entreprenuership, Economics, and other formerly forbidden free-market lessons. All in all, Kargazhstan seems to be doing well for a former marxist dictatorship.

Geography

Kargazhstan is landlocked, and is a fairly barren, mountainous nation. The principal mountain range is the Tokokan, and most of the nation is far above sea level.

There are two large "lakes" (actually small seas) to the north of Nazh 'Zhovel, one to the northwest, Lake Rodai and one to the northeast, Lake Lyiadai.

Economy

Current Economic Information

Kargazhstan has traditionally been a fairly poor country, and while economic indicators fluctuated considerably, rarely was unemployment far below 10%. Today, however, with almost no government controls over the economy, the markets flourish, and prosperity has at last come to Kargazhstan.

Colonel Karra until recently maintained most of the communist controls over the economy, so in one sense it could be said that Kargazhstan was a communist nation. Black markets proliferated, and corruption was (and sometimes still is) crippling. Karra toyed with the idea of liberalization, and finally endorsed free-market reform in Kargazhstan, ushering in drastic improvements in living standards and personal freedom. Today, the economy is worlds ahead of what it once was, and continues to improve.

Demographics

Kargazhstan has a population of (Click for Population). Government census information is wildly inaccurate, but estimates put the ethnic Kargazh population at about 60% of the nation's population. The most significant minority, at about 15% of the population, is the Gyzhnam population, which lives in several pockets scattered throughout the nation's less hospitable regions. The remainder of the population is made up of a mix of Russians, Chinese, and other Central Asian peoples. The dominant religion is actually called Daman, a folk religion with roots in the early Gyzhnam Empire. Daman make up only about 40% of the population, however. Approximately 30% of Kargazhstan's citizens are Muslim, mostly Sunni but with a significant Shiite minority, while estimates put the Orthodox Christian population at around 20%. Judaism accounts for most of the remaining 10%.

Culture

Kargazhstanis place a high value on education and intelligence, and schooling is important even to peasants. Rifts between ethnic Kargzh and Gyzhnams are strong, and, as a result of centuries of loss, Gyzhnam culture is permeated by clannishness and fatalism. Music is important to all elements of Kargazhstan's society, and although every ethnic group and religion has a different musical tradition, some instruments and musical techniques are present throughout.

The Daman religion is a strange mix of folk customs, social duties, and unusual practices. Polygamy is actually permitted under Daman tradition, although few practice it. Other religions have suffered persecution periodically, but their main grievance is the inordinate representation of Daman in government positions. The main public holiday in Kargazhstan is "Kuoro Day", which falls on Aug 1 and celebrates the return of Kuoro to Kargazhstan.

Miscellaneous topics

Democracy

A group of student radicals known as the "Kuoro Society" began making increased demands for democracy a few years ago. The Daman religion was quite under-represented in this society, and some in the government called it a "foreign plot" to debase Kargazh culture. Students clashed with police and the military in Nazh 'Zhovel numerous times, and they suceeded in closing the State University of Kargazhstan twice. The Kuoro Society spread to the non-student population as well, but was under close scrutiny by the KMIS. Since the restoration of democracy, however, the Kuoro society has lost its support among the student population and the now-private University of Kargazhstan. Many of the Kuoro society's leaders have gone abroad, to Europe, Russia, China, the United States, or other places, and try to drum up support there for their new agenda, which, now that democracy is back, has been changed to demands for more strength to the central government, more electoral power in the hands of "the people", socialization of key industries (but only key industries), a progressive income tax, a policy of purely secular government, and other causes. The Kuoro society has lost much support within Kargazhstan, and their generally left-of-center proposals alienate the now capitalist-oriented University of Kargazhstan, the former home of the society.

The central government is elected by a complicated patchwork of electoral procedures, as most local juristictions are allowed to select their representatives in parliament by whatever means the local authorites may decree. This has lead to a confusing bunch of electoral systems, each reflecting local preferences. As a result of this, and for many other reasons, the central government lacks credibility in many places, and many find it simpler and more efficient to look to local figures for leadership.