Difference between revisions of "Knootoss"

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{{Image|http://knootoss.vogels.nu/images/spoorviaduct.gif |right|Trein|Knootoss railways}}
 
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Knootoss boasts a highly advanced communications and transport network. There is a an extremely dense network of highways and (mono)rail, connecting all mayor cities. The National Railways have been privatised. Waterways are also very important as they are being used to ship bulk goods over long distances. [[Rotterdam]] is o­ne of the biggest ports in the world in terms of cargo transfer. [[Schiphol]] Int. Airport is a civilian mainport handling an enormous amount of air traffic, but most military air operations take place from Balmora Airbase.
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Knootoss boasts a highly advanced communications and transport network. There is a an extremely dense network of highways and (mono)rail, connecting all major cities. The National Railways have been privatised. Waterways are also very important as they are being used to ship bulk goods over long distances. [[Rotterdam]] is o­ne of the biggest ports in the world in terms of cargo transfer. [[Schiphol]] Int. Airport is a civilian mainport handling an enormous amount of air traffic, but most military air operations take place from Balmora Airbase.
  
 
Internet access is primarily, though not exclusively through [[Bunnynet]]™, the Internet access provider of [[Pink Bunny Cola Incorporated]].
 
Internet access is primarily, though not exclusively through [[Bunnynet]]™, the Internet access provider of [[Pink Bunny Cola Incorporated]].
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* [[Vigvar Convention on Cooperation]]
 
* [[Vigvar Convention on Cooperation]]
 
* [[Accord of Leiden]]
 
* [[Accord of Leiden]]
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*[[Treaty of Courtland]]
 
* A host of other bilateral agreements
 
* A host of other bilateral agreements
 
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'''United Nations organisations'''
 
'''United Nations organisations'''
*[[National Sovereignty Organization]]
 
 
*[[United Nations Old Guard]]
 
*[[United Nations Old Guard]]
 
*[[Uranium Magnates Association]]
 
*[[Uranium Magnates Association]]
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[[Category:Knootoss]]
 
[[Category:Knootoss]]
 
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[[Category:Nations]]
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[[Category:Nations active in the United Nations]]

Latest revision as of 07:48, 31 March 2007


Dutch Democratic Republic of Knootoss
Nederlandse Dem. Republiek Knootoss
knootoss.jpg coatofarmsupload.PNG
Flag and Coat of Arms of Knootoss
Knootossmap.GIF
Official Languages Dutch, Frisian
Capital Knootcap, >1 bln
Prime Minister Jan Willem Daatman
Foreign Minister Femke Vologdov
Area
 - Total (multiply by factor x)
 - water

41,526 km²
7,643 km²
Population
 - Total (september 2005)
 - Density

4.884 billion
949.28/km²
Independence July 20 1581, from Lavenrunz
Government Type Unicameral Parliamentary Democracy
Nation Type Republic
National Animal Guinea Pig
GDP (2005)
  - Total
  - GDP/capita

230 trillion euros
€46,990
Currency 1 Euro (€) = 100 eurocents
Time Zone
 - in summer
GMT +1
GMT +1
International Abbreviations
 - sport
 - government

KNO
DDR
Pronunciation (IPA) /ˈknoːtɔs/
Naval Craft Classification KDF (Knootian Defence Force), KCS (Civilian)
CHDI (2006) 0.964 (very high)
National Anthem Anthem of the Dutch Democratic Republic (Download)
Internet TLD .kn
Calling Code +31


The Dutch Democratic Republic of Knootoss (/ˈknoːtɔs/) is a post-modern developed democracy on the European continent, inhabited by a highly educated population of almost five billion.

Foreign visitors, including many non-humans take special notice of the nations liberal social policies. Recreational drugs, prostitution and gambling are all legal. The nation sees itself as part of the Western world: its people are oriented towards free and open trade, and there is a wide consensus on the advantages of the free market. The nation is run by coalition governments usually involving liberals. Currently a liberal/green coalition is in power led by Prime Minister Jan Willem Daatman.

The Knootian people are peaceful to the point of pacifism even if their (sometimes militantly capitalizt) governments has been known to engage in foreign adventures. The Knootian Defence Force used to have a feeble reputation, but it has grown more effective since the Shadow War devastated the country.

The Dutch Democratic Republic heads the ‘Knootian Federation’, which includes several dependent areas with a great deal of autonomy. Ale-Yarok (or "green leaf") is a protectorate in Israel while Knootian Colombia is assigned to the Knootians in a Baron/Knootian mission to restore order to a nation plagued by insurgency. Nieuw Rotterdam is a new and growing colony of the Federation.

Geography

Topography

The Dutch Democratic Republic is the geographic equivalent of the Netherlands. The territory has been expanded with reclaimed land (called polders.) The terrain consists mostly of coastal lowland and reclaimed land with some hills in southeast. Most land is below sea level. Urban density is high, and the urban population in the coastal lowland lives in a decentralised web of historic cities. The cities in the west of the country have grown into a single agglomeration called Knootcap, which is also the capital. Knootcap encompasses the west and centre of the country, including the old cities of The Hague (the centre of government), Amsterdam (the old capital), Rotterdam (the economic heart) and Utrecht. In the reclaimed lands, cities are set up according to strict building plans.

The nation has few natural resources besides some arable land. Natural gas is won in the north of the country and there are corporations drilling for oil in the North Sea.

As a result of high urbanisation, its land use focusses on non-agricultural uses:

  • Arable land: 26.53%
  • Permanent crops: 1,5%
  • Other: 71.44%

Knootoss has a temperate marine climate with cool summers and mild winters. The weather has a tendency to be rainy, humid and cloudy. It claims an exclusive fishing zone of 200 NM and a Territorial sea of 12 NM.

Environmental issues

Water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates threaten the environment. There is air pollution from chemical installations and refining activities, resulting in heavy smog concentrations in some areas. Acid rain threatens areas downwind from Rotterdam and Deforestation is almost complete at this point. Controversially, some areas in the northern provinces (notably Friesland and the Waddenpolder) suffer from sinking ground due to extensive winning of natural gas.

Culture

Race and ethnicity

The human race, the original inhabitants, account for 81,7 percent of the population. Humans are predominantly ethnic Dutch but on the whole it is a multicultural society with a large and vocal Elvish minority of about 13,4 percent of the population. Various non-human races make up the remainder of the population.

Life expectancy at birth is rather low for humans, about 60 years. This is mainly due to the low quality of private healthcare and a habit of assisted suicide in the case of severe illness or limitations associated with age.

Knootian Culture

Date English Name Local Name
January 1 New Year's Day Nieuwjaarsdag
May 4, 5 Shadow War Commemoration Dodenherdenking, Bevrijdingsdag
Septermber Prinsjesdag Prinsjesdag
December 5 Santa Claus day Sinterklaas
December 25, 26 Christmas Kerst
December 31 New Year's Eve Oudjaarsdag

Knootoss is not famous for its celebrated heroes, brave soldiers or charismatic revolutionaries, nor are Knootians a people of profound philosophers and great thinkers. Rather, it is a nation of painters, lawyers, politicians and writers, and of course a nation of merchants.

Most non-Knootians think of Knootians as tolerant, individualistic, sex-crazed, drug-using advocates of free abortion and euthanasia. While this stereotype is a bit extreme, there is a core of truth to it. Knootoss is a happy-go-lucky liberal nation, but there is a lively contrast between this pragmatic liberalism and the buttoned-up just-so primness of a culture originally founded on Calvinist principles. As a result of this, Knootians tend to feel a sort of moral superiority toward other peoples and often cannot resist telling foreigners that something in their country should be different. Foreigners can also be expected to be asked things that may not necessarily be considered "done" in some other countries.

Knootians are informal by the standards of more aristocratic nations and they tend to shy away from ceremony, ostentatiousness or excessive displays of patriotism and personal wealth. Fuss of any kind is regarded as undignified. Personal freedom, on the other hand, is very much written into Knootian Law and any transgression is likely to be fiercely resisted.

While people may be informal on a personal level they are not casual when it comes to rules. Knootoss is a highly regulated society with rules for just about everything. Procedures need to be followed and a consensus achieved before decisions are finally taken. On an individual level too people tend to be organised into an agenda culture where things rarely happen spontaneously (although of course there are exceptions to every rule.)

Religion

(Additional information: Secularisation in Knootoss)
The Knootian Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respects this right. The country has a long tradition of providing shelter to religious refugees. Unfortunately, Knootian policies and values tend to clash with most religions on ethical issues as well as in the international political arena. Because of this, the mainstream of public debate has grown to be hostile to religion. The number of former churches that have been converted into art galleries or supermarkets is an obvious sign of the attitude to both religion and art.

Christian religious groups are largely marginalised in politics (there is no viable Christian-Democrat party) but humanist organisations have some sway in the SLP and KGP parties. The Order of the Invisible Hand is said to be very influential amongst the elite.

<div" class="plainlinksneverexpand">religionsinknootoss.JPG
Religious groups in Knootoss
</div>

Approximately 36,9 percent of the population considers themselves to be Humanist (either deist or secular). 9,8 percent of the population practices The Faith and 2,3 percent is Sirithilist. 1,6 percent of the population is Dutch Reformed, 0,31 percent Calvinist Reformed and 0,79 percent Roman Catholic. 2,1 percent belong to other non-Christian religious groups (Danaanism, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, and the Order of the Invisible Hand). 46,2 percent of the population is either Atheist or Agnostic. A small number of foreign missionary groups operates in the country.

Society has become increasingly secular. According to the Government's Social Cultural Planning Bureau, religious membership has declined steadily in the recent decades, and it continues to decrease today, although at a slower pace. Membership is decreasing among all denominations except for the Order of the Invisible Hand and the Danaan church. Approximately 26 percent of religious practitioners are active within their religious communities. An estimated 11 percent of Humanists, 25 percent of Roman Catholics, 33 percent of Dutch Reformed, and 55 percent of Calvinist Reformed attend a church or equivalent at least once every 2 weeks.

Those who leave a religion rarely return. Nonetheless, significant numbers of those who have left their religions still consider themselves to be members of a religious group. Approximately 35 percent of citizens claim adherence to a religion. However, the beliefs and practices of many of these adherents have developed into what some describe as a selective approach to religion, accepting the positive but not the negative aspects of a particular religion. Approximately 20 percent of citizens, primarily among those who have left the "traditional" churches, describe themselves as "seekers of spiritual or philosophical truths." These persons tend to gravitate toward (although not necessarily to join) newer or nonorthodox religious movements.

The Holy Vatican See has re-established an effective church organisation, but many Roman Catholics have left the Church in the wake of secularization since the 1960s. Among those remaining, many express alienation from their religious hierarchy and doctrine. For example, most of the country's Catholics express no objections to female or married priests and differ with church thinking on a number of sensitive doctrinal issues.

Knootian Protestantism is quite heterogeneous. Among the Protestant churches, the Dutch Reformed Church remains the largest, although it also has suffered the greatest losses to secularization. Church membership in this denomination has declined by over ninety percent in the past 50 years. The second largest Protestant group, the Calvinist Reformed Church, has been less affected by membership losses and even has succeeded in attracting former members of the Dutch Reformed Church. Other Protestant denominations include Baptists, Lutherans, and Remonstrants. The main Protestant churches merged into the Nederlands Hervormde Kerk Knootoss (NHKK). However, a few orthodox communities refused to merge. The nation was originally in majority protestant, the Dutch Reformed religion being the state religion. Political conflicts between religious groups played a major role in Nineteenth century Knootoss.

The Faith is practiced steadily by a majority of the countries Elvish population, whilst Sirithilism is mainly popular amongst humans. The popularity of Sirithilism has strongly declined after an initial wave of enthusiasm, and the remaining Sirithilists are either part of a hardcore group of followers or entirely disaffected from the religion.

History

<div" class="plainlinksneverexpand">http://knootoss.vogels.nu/images/UPflag.jpg
The flag of the United Provinces of Knootoss. The Lion in the old flag was replaced by the word 'Democraten' (Democrats) in the twentieth century as the lion was a symbol of the House of Knootcap.
</div>

The history section of Knootoss has been divided into several subsections dealing with major eras for ease of reading. Each article can be read independently. For an overview leaders throughout history refer to the List of Knootian Heads of State.

Later events of 'pre-RP history' have not yet been fully determined but will be added later. Recent Knootian history can be read in the subsequent entries of Prime Ministers.

Politics

Electoral system

According to the Knootian constitution, the Prime Minister is both Head of State and Head of Government. He or she is elected by popular vote. Should any single candidate fail to capture a majority in the first round, a second election will be held between the two most popular candidates.

Voting is voluntary, and voters usually vote at specified polling stations in their neighbourhood. However, they can apply to get a special voter's card that allows voting in the entire country (for national elections). A "postal" voting system using secure internet connections exists for citizens living abroad or temporarily staying abroad because of their work/occupation. Voting by proxy is allowed in place of any person lawfully deprived of their liberty on polling day. Voting at a polling station is done by electronic voting machine and polling officials are volunteers.

The country has a national legislature with one chamber, the Staten-Generaal. Candidates are elected using List Proportional Representation, meaning that preferential vote for individual candidates on a party list. Seats are distributed at the national level among different lists or groups of lists which have obtained at least 0.5% of the nationwide vote, each being awarded as many seats as the number of times the votes for its candidates is the multiple of an established national quota (the total of valid votes in the country divided by the number of seats (200) to be filled). Within each list, seats are then allocated among candidates according to the order in which they appear on the list. The seats remaining unfilled after this first distribution are then allotted according to the d'Hondt method of highest average. There is no legally imposed minimum threshold of votes required by a party to win seats in the Staten.

There are many different parties represented in the Staten-Generaal as a result of this system, with different parties forming different governing coalitions in support of the government of the Prime Minister. These coalitions usually involve the liberal SLP governing with either the right-wing RCPK or with the left wing greens, sometimes with a junior partner.

The standard time for elections (for Prime Minister and Staten-Generaal) is every 4 years. The constitution provides for the dissolution of the government and the parliament before the end of its normal term. Elections can then be called by by the Prime Minister. Elections may also be called when a majority of the parliament no longer has faith in the government.

Political parties

Party Leader(s) Description Percentage of Seats Seats in the Staten-Generaal
Knootiaanse Groene Partij Femke Vologdov The Knootian Green Party (KGP) is the largest political party. The KGP is oficially a green Party, but it represents most of Knootoss' centre-left, which is pacifist and anti-war, in favour of the welfare state and socially liberal. The party opposes the growing influence of the Order of the Invisible Hand and won the elections opposing the war in Tanah Burung. The party is in government after being in the opposition against a right-wing SLP/RCPK coalition for 8 years. 37.5% 75
Sociaal-Liberale Partij Jan Willem Daatman The Social Liberal Party (SLP) is a centrist liberal party with a strong socially libertarian tradition. The party is economically liberal, though its members do not agree on what exactly this means and there are factions within the party of different points of view from the neoliberal former minister of economic affairs Laurens-Jan Brinkhorst to the almost libertarian socialist former Prime Minister Lousewies van der Laan. The party is united on social issues and embraces individualism as the way forward. Militant anticlericalism is popular within the party, which has been in government in almost all coalitions, and is usually free to pick the greens or conservatives to govern with. It is currently in government with the greens. 29,5% 59
Realistische Conservatieve Partij Knootoss Hugo Deburghraeve The Realistische Conservatieve Partij Knootoss (Realist Conservative Party of Knootoss) or RCPK describes itself as 'Pro-freedom, Pro-strength, Pro-Market and Pro-Knootoss'. It is an economically conservative party with a socially liberal programme. It favours much higher defence spending while lowering taxes and eliminating traditional social programmes. The RCPK is in the opposition after having been in government for eight years. 24,5% 49
Socialistische Partij Jacobus Domela The Socialist Party (SP) has a radical socialist (some would say communist) platform which has met with surprising success in the last four elections. It is not a social-democrat party. The SLP and KGP generally compete for social-democratic voters. 5% 10
Knootiaanse Elven Partij Tári Calafalas The Knootoss Elvish Party (KEP) is an 'Elvish' special interest party, taking generally pro-capitalist and pro-Menelmacari policy stances. After the electoral defeat of Galadriël Táralóm nos Círdan, the party managed to recapture a significant part of the Elvish vote, led led by the attractive Tári Calafalas. 3,5% 7
Other parties ---- A number of other parties exist in Knootoss, but due to the small number of votes they have received, they are not represented in the Staten-Generaal. Amongst these small parties are a Knootian Social Democratic Party, the Party for the Animals, the Knootians For Progressive Change reform group, the populistic Popular Party and several Christian factions including the Christian-Democratic Alliance, the 'Real' Christian-Alliance, the Christian Alliance For Democracy and the Dutch Reformed Voting League to name just a few. The Christian parties are largely ineffective and consumed by infighting and not even many Christian churches or voters take them seriously. The Imperialistische Partij or the Imperialist Party wants to turn Knootoss into an Empire, headed by a Queen they themselves proposed. 0% None

Media

Media conglomerates such as KNN have a share in all domestic papers. The Knootoss News Network is therefore the dominant provider of news in Knootoss. Wombat News is also very popular. Despite uniformity in ownership, the existing newspapers cater to very different audiences. In order of size there are:

Trouw (‘Loyalty’)
A decidedly centrist newspaper with formerly Christian roots but secularised along with the rest of the Knootian media. Medium-brow, most of its readers are middle-class with white-collar jobs. Trouw is fact-oriented, and tends to state both sides of the story with a tendency to focus o­n moral judgements. Interestingly enough, it has no direct ties with political parties but has ‘supporters’ amongst the more pragmatic politicians within the liberal SLP, the green KGP and the conservative RCPK.
De Telegraaf (‘The Telegraph’)
A low-brow paper that is unabashedly conservative and right-wing. A firm supporter of former Prime Minister Galadriël nos Cirdan, it favours ‘decisive policies’ and ‘leadership’. It lost its status as the largest paper in the DDR after supporting the extreme-right Dick Tator before the Shadow War, but it remains a strong voice in public opinion. Articles in this newspaper are opinionated, and the writers despise ‘communism’ (which, according to them, is anything to the left of the Conservatives)
De Volkskrant ('The Peoples Paper')
As the name suggests, this is a progressive paper that attracts both socialist and leftist non-socialist readers. Generally supportive of the green KGP and more progressive SLP elements and welcoming towards the new Socialist Party. (De Telegraaf consistently claims that De Volkskrant is being run by communist agitators.) It mainly competes for readers with Trouw.
NRC Handelsblad ('New Rotterdam Courier / Trade Journal')
A merger from the New Rotterdam Courier and the Amsterdam-based General Trade Journal, this paper has relatively small number of readers but it is praised for its high-quality. This high-brow paper is mainly read by the upper class, government officials, and the corporate elite. It is openly Liberal in its outlook (as its mission statement says). While its views politically ought to coincide with the government (liberal/conservative) it often takes its own views o­n matters and is appreciated for this by its influential readers. This is because it is not regarded as a propaganda outlet for the general population but more as a ‘grindstone for the brain’ that provides in-depth analysis. Financial data, stock quotes etc. also form a backbone of the paper as it provides daily figures for almost all NS nations with stock exchanges. (This makes it a very big paper in terms of pages.)

Finance

Upon taking office, the government announces its plans for the next four years, including budgetary policy, in a coalition agreement. Budgetary policy encompasses all arrangements relating to public finance. The Minister of Economic Affairs is primarily responsible for this policy.

Every year on the third Tuesday in September the Prime Minister delivers his Speech from the Binnenhof in which he outlines the government's plans for the years ahead. After this speech, the Minister of Economic Affairs presents the national budget to the Staten-Generaal. It is made up of the individual budgets of each ministry. Central government spending is funded mainly through taxation. Other sources of revenue include the sale of natural gas.

Economy

General information

(For more information on tax in Knootoss see Knootian taxation system)

Knootoss has a prosperous and open powerhouse economy depending heavily on foreign trade. The service-oriented economy is noted for stable industrial relations, moderate inflation, and a sizable current account deficit. Benefiting from the complete absence of drug laws, an extremely prosperous export sector is up and running. Due to scale advantages, the prices are significantly lower then illegal produce, making Knootoss extremely competitive in this industry. Other industrial activity is predominantly in Information Technology (IT) but on the whole the industrial sector is very diverse and competitive in areas from arms manufacturing to cheese exports. Research and development is one of the main service industries in Knootoss and great emphasis is placed on R&D by the government.

Recently, large investments have been made by foreign investors in Automobile Manufacturing, Poultry, Electrical items and drone technology. A Knootian corporation is also the official distributor of Pink Bunny Cola™ and related products. Knootoss uses the Euro along with several other nations and the country continues to be one of the leading European nations for attracting foreign direct investment. Tax levels in Knootoss are relatively low and the government has a pro-business attitude.

The economic and industrial heart of the nation is in the city of Rotterdam and the surrounding area, whereas distant provinces such as Friesland have to rely on tourism and related activities for additional income.

GDP composition by sector
  • Agriculture: 1%
  • Industries: 21%
  • Services: 78%
Unemployment rate
0,8% - 5,1% depending on the definition used.

Communication and infrastructure

<div" class="plainlinksneverexpand">http://knootoss.vogels.nu/images/spoorviaduct.gif
Knootoss railways
</div>

Knootoss boasts a highly advanced communications and transport network. There is a an extremely dense network of highways and (mono)rail, connecting all major cities. The National Railways have been privatised. Waterways are also very important as they are being used to ship bulk goods over long distances. Rotterdam is o­ne of the biggest ports in the world in terms of cargo transfer. Schiphol Int. Airport is a civilian mainport handling an enormous amount of air traffic, but most military air operations take place from Balmora Airbase.

Internet access is primarily, though not exclusively through Bunnynet™, the Internet access provider of Pink Bunny Cola Incorporated.

Actors

The Ministry of Economic Affairs is one of the largest ministries in the DDR. Only the ministry of Education has more employees. The ministry has its own intelligence agency, the EIVD, which reports directly to the minister. The ministry is seen as having close ties to the major corporations. It is very influential in decision-making in all fields of government. It establishes consulates abroad that rival the embassies set up by the ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Despite strict anti-cartel laws, several major corporations have cornered large parts of Knootian markets. The multinationals that are most well-known abroad are Bonifatius Recreational Drugs Incorporated, Caesar SuperComputer Inc, the Global Hell Group the Knootoss News Network and Pink Bunny Cola Incorporated. The Heraclitus Group has a reputation as a defence contractor.

The Order of the Invisible Hand has a huge infuence on Knootian economic thinking, especially amongst the economic elite. Many corporate executives and higher-level civil servants and political administrators in the government are seen as sympathetic to the ideas of the Order and many in it are rumoured to be members. Their influence is especially pervasive in the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Trade and Development

Knootoss is a major proponent of free trade. The mayor trade partners of Knootoss are the signatories to the KIST treaty, the WBO and (former) Ur Trade Pact member states and the nations in the regions of Nederland and Holland. The import commodities are machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs, clothing and weapons.

Knootoss is an economic aid donor, donating to various development aid programmes, both through the ministry of Economic Affairs and through private donations, in total amounting to about 0,6% of the GDP. The government co-funded the DNAC. The recent conservative administrations have strongly cut aid programmes and changed their nature. Some nations have cynically described the reformed Knootian economic programme aid as being "either for geopolitical purposes, or extortions in exchange for trade concessions".

One of the main recipients of Knootian economic aid is New York and Jersey, a first-world nation which, in turn, funds the DDR the same amount of military aid.

After leaving the NS United Nations, a policy has been established to encourage the "development of rendering the NSUN even more irrelevant then it already is". The DDR ministry of Economic Affairs has cut all economic and humanitarian aid to NSUN member nations with the exception of structural adjustment funding programmes, disaster relief and reciprocating aid.

Education

General information

Education in Knootoss is obligatory between age 6 and 16, and partially obligatory between 16 and 18. There are public and private schools in Knootoss but all school types are inspected by a governmental agency called the Onderwijsinspectie (Education Inspection) and they can be closed by this agency if quality is found lacking. Education is the main spending post of the government. (Almost half of all government spending is allocated to the Ministry of Education.) As a result, the quality of education in Knootoss is considered to be very high by the United Nations (scoring top percentiles in world rankings)

The goal of Knootian education is to make students as self-sufficient as possible from an early age, using the concept of "self-learning". Emphasis is placed on developing practical and social skills such as computer skills and working in groups. The role of the teacher in this process is more that of a coach, especially at the higher levels of education. Instead of gaining huge in-depth knowledge, students learn to cope with learning how to deal with huge quantities of information and processing them independently. Education on the higher levels tends to focus on broad knowledge with many interdependencies between different subjects.

Pre-school and Primary education

Pre-school education is popular with more affluent parents, and sometimes children attend pre-school facilities even from the age of two. Between 4 and 12 years old, children are obliged to go to the basisschool (elementary school; lit. "basic school"). This school has eight grades. The first and second grade used to be called kleuterschool (kindergarten), and many people still refer to both grades as such. From group 3 on, children will start to learn reading and doing maths. When a child has not advanced enough in a year, he/she has to do the whole year again. Government-sponsored elementary education is officially free of charge, but many schools ask a "parental contribution" from parents that can amount to a significant sum for the higher levels of education.

Secondary education

After attending elementary education, children from 12 years old go to the middelbare school (middle school) which has between four and six grades (depending on the type). VMBO is the least theoretical, followed by HAVO and VWO. The first year of secondary education is called brugklas ("bridge class"), where the school determines what type of secondary education should be followed. In practice, the brugklas is almost always already divided between the VMBO-brugklas, HAVO/VWO-brugklas and gymnasium-brugklas (gymnasium is part of the VWO).

Most schools are only specialised in one or two types of education. This is especially true for the gymnasium, which takes only the most promising students. Usually, children spend time only with people from their own 'education class' after they have been selected in the 'basisschool'. Because of this, the VMBO children who are destined for the nations industries and manual labour rarely interact with the cream of the cream at the Gymnasium. Some have critisised the system for being class-based and discriminating, pointing to the strong correlation between the income of parents and ethnicity in relation to the education type that a child is usually assigned to. This criticism is usually dismissed by pointing to the rigid testing and meritocratic principles used to select children for a certain education type.

Apart from these levels, there is functional specialisation throughout the secondary education system. There are two 'profiles' for students which provide an education programme with interdependent subjects relating to global sectors in the economy. The first profile is E&M (Economics and Society) which focuses on subjects such as economics, statistical math, history, societal studies, etc. Higher-level first profile students get classes on applied technology as well. The second profile ("Nature, Health and Technology") focuses on subjects such as general maths, biology, physics, chemistry and a subject dealing specifically with technology. Apart from these profiles, students have room for free choice of a number of subjects.

Higher education

With the necessary diploma's a student is granted acces to higher levels of education. This education is usually free, though again some schools ask for 'voluntary' fees that give acces to all sorts of facilities. Students do have to pay for their own books. There are four levels:

  • Mbo (Middelbaar Beroeps Onderwijs): medium level vocational education focusing on specific trades.
  • Hbo (Hoger Beroeps Onderwijs): higher vocational education. (You need a HAVO diploma.)
  • Wo (Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs): universities.
  • Bve (Beroepsonderwijs en Volwasseneneducatie): specialised post-school education and education for adults. This type of education, while not free, is rather cheap, as it is heavily sponsored as part of the 'life long learning' programme of the Ministry of Education.

Foreign Affairs and Defence

Military

(Main article: Knootian Defence Force)
The ministry of Foreign Affairs and Defence coordinates external relations and controls the military. The Knootian Defence Force (KDF) is seen by Knootians as the military arm of foreign policy, referring to all the branches of the military.

Foreign policy

(For an overview of Knootian ambassadors to and from foreign nations see: List of Knootian ambassadors)

Knootoss pursues its foreign policy largely within the framework of multilateral organisations, such as the Knootian International Stabilisation Treaty (KIST) and the Vinyatírion Economic/Readiness/Intelligence Treaty of Allied States (VERITAS). It has taken part regularly in peacekeeping operations and is a member of the Human Rights Council. The government cooperates with the United Nations wherever this is thought possible using a UN office as its formal representative.

Knootoss was a founding member of the KIST and VERITAS and a senior member of UnAPS, SATO and the UTP, and as such has played an important part in promoting international trade and in pioneering closer ties between nations. VERITAS comprises a number of well-established nations with good international reputations, and it is now one of the cornerstones of Knootian security policy while the Knootian economy, strongly geared to exports, has benefited hugely from the stability the KIST treaty has brought, and three-quarters of Knootian exports go to other KIST signatory states. Knootoss therefore regards these two treaties as frameworks for stability and sustainable prosperity which it will continue to contribute to.

As a country with a globally-oriented economy, Knootoss attaches great importance to a well-structured world order. This has been the case for several centuries. In the modern world, many problems, such as those of the environment, can be solved increasingly only on a global scale. The government is also eager to promote values to which Knootian society attaches great importance such as democracy, the free market and sentient rights.

Knootoss also seeks to maintain good bilateral relations with its historically close countries: Iuthia, Tanah Burung, Lavenrunz, Etaros, Pacitalia the Haven nations, the WBO and MAFTA partners, the Defence Pact members of Valinon and Sunset and the other KIST and VERITAS member states. It has close cooperation with Tarasovka. In addition, Knootoss has strong ties with Menelmacar and has helped countries such as Zvarinograd and Lietuveska make the transition to democracy and the market economy. The Dutch Democratic Republic has good bilateral nations with many nations, including Alcona and Hubris, Thelas (via Accord of Leiden), and The Resurgent Dream.

International Organisations

Despite not being a member of the United Nations, the DDR cooperates with several UN organisations, through the UN office.

Membership

United Nations organisations

Formerly member of

External links