Difference between revisions of "Zadania"
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=== Religion === | === Religion === | ||
| − | The relationships between religion, citizens, and the state has developed dramatically since the DPRZ's creation. Most East Zadanians are Protestant. The number of Protestants was estimated to be just under half the population. About 7 percent were Roman Catholics. Other religions accounted for less than 1 percent of the population. The remaining population is either non-religious; or declines to declare a religion. According to the Constitution, freedom of religion and worship is the right of every citizen. In reality relations between church and state have vacillated over the years. All organizations within the socialist structure of society are designed to work together in developing a new socialist person and in restructuring society. Therefore the state usually does not tolerate organizations outside of those officially sanctioned by the [[Socialist Unity Party of Zadania | SEZ]]; however, recent reforms have initiated great change. The state, as described by Chairman [[Dieter Lambsdorff | Lambsdorff]], "should have nothing to do with the church, just as the church should have nothing to do with the state." Lambsdorff in addition replaced the DPRZ's traditional aggressive athiest stance with one of agnostic skeptcism. | + | The relationships between religion, citizens, and the state has developed dramatically since the DPRZ's creation. Most East Zadanians are [[Christianity | Protestant]]. The number of Protestants was estimated to be just under half the population. About 7 percent were [[Roman Catholicism | Roman Catholics]]. Other religions accounted for less than 1 percent of the population. The remaining population is either non-religious; or declines to declare a religion. According to the Constitution, freedom of religion and worship is the right of every citizen. In reality relations between church and state have vacillated over the years. All organizations within the socialist structure of society are designed to work together in developing a new socialist person and in restructuring society. Therefore the state usually does not tolerate organizations outside of those officially sanctioned by the [[Socialist Unity Party of Zadania | SEZ]]; however, recent reforms have initiated great change. The state, as described by Chairman [[Dieter Lambsdorff | Lambsdorff]], "should have nothing to do with the church, just as the church should have nothing to do with the state." Lambsdorff in addition replaced the DPRZ's traditional aggressive athiest stance with one of agnostic skeptcism. |
===Culture=== | ===Culture=== | ||
Revision as of 02:28, 28 February 2005
East Zadania, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Zadania (DPRZ), German Demokratische Volksrepublik der Zadania (DVZ), is one of the world’s leading industrialized nations, located in the heart of Vaagsfjord. Known for its centrally-planned economy, Zadania has a strong tradition of democratic socialism and international cooperation.
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National Motto: Vorwärts immer, rückwärts nimmer! (Forwards always, backwards never!)
<tr><td align="center" colspan=2> ContentsHistoryThe end of the Great War in 1945 was accompanied by the destruction of fascism in Zadania. The victorious nations of x, x, x, and x divided pre-war Zadania into four zones of occupation. These zones were to exist as a transition stage until sovereignty could be restored to the Zadanian people and nation. Various negotiations led to the planned occupation and administration of post-war Zadania. The states (Länder) of Mecklenburg, Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, and the eastern sector of Greater Berlin fell in the x Sector of Zadania. Succeeding disagreements and objections of economic development led the x to withdraw from the proposed outline and initiate post-war occupation independent of the other powers. The western occupation zones were consolidated into a single independent entity. This entity later became the x. Following the formation of x, a congress organized by the Socialist Unity Party of Zadania (German Sozialistische Einheitspartei Zadania) in May, 1949, adopted a constitution establishing the People’s Democratic Republic of Zadania. Wilhelm Pieck became the country's first president and Otto Grotewohl its first prime minister, with Walter Ulbricht as first deputy prime minister. During the 1950s, Ulbricht, who was first secretary of the SEZ from 1950, emerged as the leader of East Zadania. Under Ulbricht, the country became closely aligned with x. After the death of Pieck in 1960, the office of president was replaced by a council of state, with Ulbricht as its chairman. In order to reduce the large flow of persons leaving East Zadania many of whom crossed from East to West Berlin, a wall was erected between the two parts of the city; it was later reinforced and enlarged. The Berlin Wall, as it came to be known, drastically cut the number of emigrants, and gradually this had the effect of solidifying East Zadania as an independent country. In 1963, a “New Economic System,” calling for more efficient and decentralized economic planning, was adopted. As a result, East Zadania's economy expanded considerably in the 1960s. The DPRZ experienced its own "economic miracle", allowing the nation to reach the forefront of economic advancement. In 1971, Ulbricht resigned as first secretary of the SEZ and was replaced by Erich Honecker . Under Honecker, most of the few remaining private enterprises were taken over by the state. In addition, checks on intellectual and cultural activities were relaxed somewhat. In the 1970s, trade between the two Zadanias increased. Travel restrictions were eased so that West Zadanians could visit the East, and later, in the 1980s, East Zadanians were allowed to travel to West Zadania. It had appeared that the Socialist experiment was working. The continued growth of the economy guaranteed the promises of the government. The citizens of East Zadania experienced one of the greatest economic growths in history. However, by the early 1990s the miracle system began to die. Stagnation, inefficiency, and inflation crippled the economy. Protests, labor strikes, and demonstrations slowly destroyed the state. The death of Erich Honecker in 1994 symbolized the demise of the old guard and the demands of the new generation. East Zadania had failed to realize the burdens of the new world environment, and had lost sight of its primary goal, the happiness of mankind. Following Honecker’s death, a power struggle ensued. Within months, however, Hans Modrow gained support and became the new General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Zadania. Hans Modrow received little popular support despite his promises for economic and political reformation. At the Thirteenth Party congress in 1996, Modrow announced rennovation of the nation's electoral process, possibly leading to open elections. Modrow promised elections in which the power would “for once be put in the hands of the people.” In addition, Modrow announced that decentralization of economic decisions would continue. Modrow, surprisingly, was elected state president in the nation's elections. The elections saw greater participation of other parties, however, was still strictly limited by the DPRZ's alliance policy (Bündnispolitik). Modrow showed East Zadania to the world as a nation of perseverance; a nation that could and would survive. In January of 2003, Dieter Lambsdorff was elected General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Zadania. Lambsdorff promised to improve relations with all nations, continue economic reform, continue reform of the electoral system, destroy remaining obstructions to freedom of expression and demonstration, and to make East Zadania “a state of peace and socialism.” Lambsdorff within weeks secured the DPRZ’s membership in the United Nations, and personally resolved a labor dispute with the nation’s automobile manufacturing industry. During this time period, East Zadania was confronted with numerous international incidents including the problems arising from disputes with the United Socialist States of Faybian. On 7 October 2003, the anniversary of the nation’s founding, Lambsdorff addressed the nation. In his address, Lambsdorff announced plans to raise living standards, promising that the nation’s primary concern was consumer satisfaction. In addition, he promised to double the nation’s GDP and to secure peace with all nations. Near the end of his speech, Lambsdorff recognized that his nation had experienced troubles, and that it had made mistakes in the past. In ending, Lambsdorff ordered the DPRZ’s borders to be opened. On the morning of 27 January 2005, Dieter Lambsdorff announced that the revival of the nation was well in progress. In the middle of a frigid Alexanderplatz, Lambsdorff announced, “Zadania has arisen from the abyss, and he wakes eternally!” His allusions to the rise of East Zadania following the great destruction of the Great War caused the gathered crowd, with great ecstasy, to begin singing the national anthem, Auferstanden aus Ruinen. Approximately one month later on 26 February, Lamsdorff announced the legalization of small-market capitalism in some sectors of the economy. Lambsdorff defended the action as a requirement to fulfill the "promise given to the people upon this nation's founding." GeographyPhysical EnvironmentEast Zadania lies in the heart of the northern Vaagsfjordian plain. The terrain is gentle, and the landscape is marked by few sharp contrasts. Landform areas merge into one another; no significant natural boundaries bar communications or distinguish one section of the country from another. The country, however, can be roughly divided into geographic regions. The northern plain covers most of the country and contains the coastal area in the far north and the lowlands in the center. The uplands consist of notable mountains and remarkable rolling hills that cover the southern section. Political SubdivisionsThe DPRZ is divided into fifteen districts (Bezirke), each named after the largest city: Rostock; Schwerin; Neubrandenburg; Magdeburg; Potsdam; Berlin; Frankfurt; Cottbus; Halle; Erfurt; Leipzig; Dresden; Karl-Marx-Stadt; Gera; Suhl. Population DistributionEast Zadania has many large cities; however, the largest by far is Berlin. The population is thus much less centralized and oriented towards a single large capital than in most other nations. By far the largest urban conurbation is the Berlin region including the Potsdam district. Other large heavily populated areas are the Erzgebirge foothills around Karl-Marx-Stadt and Zwickau, the central Elbe valley around Dresden, as well as the Halle-Leipzig area. SocietyPopulation DemographicsEast Zadania contains no minority groups of any significant size. Most citizens identify themselves as Zadanians, culturally and linguistically. The government, has encouraged the development among its citizens of an East Zadanian national consciousness distinct from that of West Zadanians. It has adopted a "two-nation" policy and has pointed to divergences in culture, language, and socioeconomic development as proof that a single Zadanian nation no longer exists. Recently the government, led under the emerging Dieter Lambsdorff, has begun to reinitiate the idea of a unified Zadania. Most East Zadanians believe that they share with their West Zadanian counterparts a Zadanian nationality that is based on a common ethnic heritage and shared historical experiences. LanguageLanguage is perhaps the most significant expression of a common Zadanian nationality. The German language is spoken by millions of people of Vaagsfjord, including peoples living in the two Zadanian states, Vorsehung, x, as well as throughout the world. In addition the language has a significance beyond its everyday use. German-speaking people have made important contributions to science, literature, and philosophy. Most Zadanians write and speak the standard form of German with little difficulty, although dialects continue to be used among family and friends and on informal occasions. (Differences in dialect are based on divergences in pronunciation, use of expressions, intonation, syntax, and the meaning given to specific words.) ReligionThe relationships between religion, citizens, and the state has developed dramatically since the DPRZ's creation. Most East Zadanians are Protestant. The number of Protestants was estimated to be just under half the population. About 7 percent were Roman Catholics. Other religions accounted for less than 1 percent of the population. The remaining population is either non-religious; or declines to declare a religion. According to the Constitution, freedom of religion and worship is the right of every citizen. In reality relations between church and state have vacillated over the years. All organizations within the socialist structure of society are designed to work together in developing a new socialist person and in restructuring society. Therefore the state usually does not tolerate organizations outside of those officially sanctioned by the SEZ; however, recent reforms have initiated great change. The state, as described by Chairman Lambsdorff, "should have nothing to do with the church, just as the church should have nothing to do with the state." Lambsdorff in addition replaced the DPRZ's traditional aggressive athiest stance with one of agnostic skeptcism. CultureIn addition to a common ethnic heritage and language, the Zadanian people share certain social values. The Zadanian world view and value system are products of Teutonic pagan cosmology, JudeoChristian tradition, and modern eighteenth- and nineteenthcentury philosophies. The pre-Christian conception of the world pitted the bravery and stoicism of man against the harsh and oppressive forces at work in the world. A thread of tragedy ran through life, but it was blended with romanticism and mystical idealism. Lutheran Christianity, the religious tradition that most profoundly influenced Zadanian thinking, emphasized individual morality and conceived of man as essentially frail and full of guilt. Man could cleanse himself only through penance and devotion to the Almighty. The rationalist systems of later Zadanians represented the culmination of Enlightenment philosophies. Munificence and agnosticism lay at the basis of current-day philosophic and economic view. These different and, in many cases, contradictory religious and philosophical currents have produced a Zadanian who is stereotypically characterized as inward looking, vulnerable, sorrowful, and full of self-doubt. He combines the sober qualities of industry, intelligence, honesty, obstinacy and cleanliness with a certain sentimentality and gaiety. He is extremely disciplined and exhibits a penchant for order and authority. He admires courage and physical and moral strength. There is a certain validity in this character description insofar as it is based on a common set of experiences and traditions. As with all stereotypical descriptions, however, it constitutes a distortion of reality when applied to the individual.
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Flag of the People's Democratic Republic of Zadania
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