Supremania
| |
| Flag of Supremania | |
| Motto: The free market will sort it out | |
| Region | Wall Street |
|---|---|
| Capital | Supreme City |
| Official Language(s) | English, French |
| Government | Anarcho-capitalist |
| Establishment | |
| - Discovery | 1943 |
| - Colonisation | 1946-1953 |
| - Ancap Revolution | 1974 |
| Area | |
| - Total | 11,022 km² (4,256 sq mi) |
| - % water | 0.9 |
| Population | 2,543,000 |
| Currency | Almighty dollar |
| NS Sunset XML | |
Contents
History
The date of first human settlement of the island is lost to the sands of prehistory, but it had been inhabited for centuries by a thriving native populace at the time of first contact with foreign explorers, who were dismayed by the local habit of cannibalism and ignorant of the island's plentiful deposits of precious metals, and abandoned it. The island remained free of colonial interest and slipped from general awareness, until its dramatic rediscovery in 1943 by a group of Gruenberger businessmen whose plane crashed on the island.
Quickly realizing the potential of the island's unexploited resources, including its largely docile population, the island was colonised over the subsequent decade, with many natives being enslaved. In 1974, the Liberty Party declared the abolition of government in what has come to be referred as the Ancap Revolution, ushering in an era of relatively unique political experimentation, that has broadly lasted to the present day.
Government and politics
Supremania is generally regarded as an anarchy, although many anarchists who oppose capitalism dispute this classification. There is no real form of government: courts, the military and infrastructure are all privately owned and administered.
There is also some controversy over the role of Gruenberg in Supremanian politics. Although many of the earlier colonists were fleeing oppression and actively opposed the Court in Flurthwel, Gruenberg has come to enjoy favourable economic relations with Supremanian businesses. Many have suggested that absent a formal colonial system, the relationship is at least neocolonial.
Geography
Supremania is a relatively flat island, punctuated by the Pyramid Mountains that run down its spine. In the west there are flat, barren plains, and in the east grassland; there were formerly reasonably extensive rainforests, but these have all been deforested. The island is also notable for its stunning beaches; it also once boasted impressive coral reefs, but these too have been almost completely destroyed. It has poor soil, mitigating the development of advanced agriculture.
Climate
The climate is considered tropical. Temperatures are relatively constant throughout the year, generally ranging from 20°C (68°F) to 30°C (86°F). Rainfall is considerably higher in the east of the island (over 500 cm per annum) compared to the west (around 100 cm per annum), due to the shelter cast by the mountains. Winds come predominantly from the northeast, and the island has proved vulnerable to sporadic hurricanes.
Economy
Supremania has a strong economy. It has many resources but is still heavily dependent on foreign trade, particularly for food production, given the paucity of its soil has hindered attempts to develop agriculture, while the seas have been largely fished out. It has growing sectors in extraction and refining, processing and manufacturing, and financial services, and exports oil and natural gas. It also benefits from a substantial tourist industry.
Demographics
The substantial majority of the population (86%) are natives, while Gruenberger settlers and mixed-race descendants comprise about 7%, with the remainder being mostly citizens of other Wall Street nations.
Culture
Native culture has largely dissipated in the last fifty years, although aspects of it have been retained in heavily commercialised form to be sold to tourists, a prominent example being wood carving. The preservation of cultural landmarks is exclusively a private prerogative, and several trusts have been set up to do so, although usually only with fairly selective scope.
Modern Supremanian culture is heavily derivative, drawing on a diverse range of influences from Wall Street and further abroad, as well as Gruenberg, but while the island has used as a film location and the setting for more than one novel, it has produced few notable artists of its own.
There are no national holidays, but some major festivals, such as Christmas and Easter, are celebrated, usually in a manner primarily designed to attract tourists.
Religion
Native religious beliefs survive, but play a negligible role in contemporary society. The majority of the population is Catholic. There is a significant Wenaist movement amongst the Gruenberger population.
Church of the Free Market
An unusual, hypercapitalist religion somewhat similar to the Order of the Invisible Hand has emerged in Supremania. It understands the free market to operate on divine principles, and regards any form of deviation from this economic philosophy to be a form of heresy. Its following is small, but considerably more sizeable than any known congregations in other nations.
Music
The Supremanian musical scene is sharply divided. Native music is very popular but has proven commercially unfavoured, and most radio stations play exclusively foreign artists. Very traditional native music often takes the form of rhythmic lyric poetry, accompanied by drum and flute; the natives has also been far more willing to adapt to new influences, developing uniquely Supremanian jazz, blues and calypso forms. For the last seven years there has been an annual rock festival, The Supreme City Stage, hosted by a consortium of businessmen from Supreme City.
