Europeian Broadcasting: Senate Interest Decline + Graphs!

[EBC (Ancient)]

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Interest in running for the Senate has declined over the years, as evidenced by the chart and data provided. The chart includes every single general and mid-term Senate election and shows the month and year of each one. Interest in running for the senate peaked in 2009 and 2010. In both those years only once did the Senate fail to garner 10 or more people running for the legislative body. It was also during this time that the Senate saw it's largest ever formation with 10 seats.

Over the past 4 years we've seen a general decline in both interest and the number of seats available. Despite great advances in the region, the number of seats fell to it's lowest ever total between the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013 with only 5 members. This amount is what the first two Senates ever in 2007 started out with. As well, over the past couple years we've seen another dubious record arise, which is the fact that we've had uncontested elections for the first time ever three times in the past two years.

These three elections have had the lowest amount of people running in them ever with 6 and 5. This is 3 times less than what the Senate saw in it's prime participation days. There are many hypothesis' as to why the Senate has struggled with lower participation which has led to lower seat numbers in general. These are in general as follows:

1. That the hyper political atmosphere has given way to a more casual atmosphere.
2. That the Senate is now solely a legislative and functional body rather than a political one.
3. That the Citizens Assembly receives far more attention and has taken away interest in the Senate.
4. That the region has become far more executive orientated than legislatively orientated.

Whatever the case may be, the Senate is not currently at it's lowest point in terms of interest or seats. As well, the region and the Senate appear fairly active currently so while participation might currently be low the Senate is certainly not a failed body.

Special Thanks to r3n and PhDre for their help. PhDre made the 3rd graph.

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PS: Do you have any things you'd like for us to graph?
PS II: The raw data is on our forums.

After months of haggling and discussions, Balder and Osiris have finally proposed a treaty called "The Treaty of the Old Gods". Amongst other things, the treaty most notably will combine both regions armies into an entity called The Imperial Sovereign Realms Army or ISRA for short. Despite being very uneasy allies back when they were part of the Sinker Pact together, both regions have set aside their rivalries months ago and have been growing closer ever since.

As well, Osiris has become stable since the creation of the Osiris Fraternal Order, something Balder had supported right from the start. Furthermore, the regions now share more members more than ever. This treaty should allow both regions to pool resources together and allow both of them to have a much larger influence in the world. The treaty has been announced in Osiris' Deshret and should be announced in Balders Riksdag later today.

Treaty of the Old Gods]The Treaty of the Old Gods

Preamble

We, the Realm of Balder and the Osiris Fraternal Order, in the interest of continued stability and prolonged friendship hereby enter into this Treaty to ensure the safe and continuous development of our parallel states. Additionally we also hereby establish the joint Balder and Osiris Armed Forces, herein referred to as the Imperial Sovereign Realms Army (ISRA), to work together to ensure the security of our realms and to advance the cause of military Imperialism where mutually beneficial to each of our Sovereign Realms.

Article I: Non-Aggression Between Signatories

i). The parties will recognize the constitutional governments in force at the time of ratification of this treaty, and any legally enacted successor governments, as the sole legitimate governments of their respective regions and will not undermine or attempt to overthrow the other's regional government.

ii). The parties will not undermine one another's security, regional identity, or sovereignty through subterfuge, espionage, invasion, or any other means.

Article II: Cooperation Between Signatories

i). The parties will defend one another against attack, either internal or external, with all available diplomatic and military resources at the request of the other party's legitimate government.

ii). The signatories agree to share any intelligence relating to the security of the other party including information relating to both regional and forum security.

iii). The signatories agree to cooperate in the organizing and hosting of diplomatic and cultural events.

iv). The signatories will cooperate on military initiatives including offensive and defensive missions.

Article III: Collaboration Between Signatories

i). The signatories agree to collaborate militarily with the goal of improving regional security and advancing the cause of each Realm, through the implementation of centrally commanded armed forces as outlined in Article IV, in order to increase operational effectiveness and efficiency.

ii). The signatories will collaborate on security and intelligence matters with the goal of preventing external subterfuge and espionage which may damage regional identity or impede sovereignty, through the appointment of a Joint Director of Intelligence by the Pharaoh of Osiris and Monarch of Balder, to work sub rosa, under relevant regional laws.

iii). The signatories will collaborate on cultural and diplomatic matters through a monthly scheduled meeting between regional Cabinets to be hosted on a rotational basis, with the additional ability of either signatories to call an Emergency Meeting with invitees determined by the Pharaoh of Osiris and the Monarch of Balder.

iv). The signatories shall collaborate on all the above together, and also when appropriate with each other's allies, specifically with shared allies of whom both signatories enjoy successful relations.

Article IV: The Imperial Sovereign Realms Army

i). The Balder Jomsvikings and the Sekhmet Legion of Osiris shall from now on be commanded by the Joint Commander of ISRA.

ii). The Joint Commander shall be empowered to organise the internal structure of the ISRA as they wish, and shall direct all military actions, unless delegated to a subordinate officer.

iii). The Joint Commander shall be jointly nominated by the Pharaoh of Osiris and the Monarch of Balder. The legislative bodies of the Riksdag and the Deshret shall then each confirm the nominee according to each legislative body's procedures.

iv). The Joint Commander shall be accountable to both the Pharaoh of Osiris and the Monarch of Balder, both of whom shall be consulted on matters of direction of the ISRA. The Pharaoh of Osiris and Monarch of Balder, as Commanders-in-Chief of each of their respective Armed Forces, each retain an individual veto over appointments and operations within the ISRA made by the Joint Commander or their subordinates. The Joint Commander may be dismissed by the joint agreement of the Pharaoh of Osiris and the Monarch of Balder.

v). Osiris and Balder shall retain control of the recruitment of new recruits to the ISRA within their own regions, though decisions on approval of individuals may be vetoed by the Joint Commander.

vi). Upon the ratification of this treaty in Balder, the Monarch shall delegate responsibility for strategy, organisation, regulation and command of the Jomsvikings to the Joint Commander of the ISRA for the duration of this treaty's existence. This delegation shall not affect the Jomsviking's ability to undertake independent operations under alternative command arrangements.

vii). Upon the ratification of this treaty in Osiris, the Pharaoh shall delegate responsibility for strategy, organisation, regulation and command of the Sekhmet Legion to the Joint Commander of the ISRA for the duration of this treaty's existence. This delegation shall not affect the Legion's ability to undertake independent operations under alternative command arrangements.

[Darwinish Brentsylvania]

Are they Raider or Defender?

[Zaolat]

Are they Raider or Defender?

They don't do either. they're Araider and Adefender

[the Imperial Crown]

Osiris has no definite alignment, and the Marshal-General of the Sekhmet Legion has the ability to decide, with approval from the Pharaoh, on the operations it is involved in.

As Pharaoh of Osiris, I welcome this formal announcement of a concrete alliance between with our sister Sinker, and I am happy to see communication between Osiris and Balder at an all time high following their immensely valuable support over the last few months as Osiris transitioned to a new form of more open and transparent government.

[Glen-Rhodes]

This seems very hypocritical coming from the two regions most closely associated with the regional sovereignty movement. Overall, I appreciate the general notion of inter regional institutions. But it can't help but be surprised by this move.

I also think it's reasonable to expect this combined army to be raider. Imperialist armies aren't defender armies.


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[Anumia]

I maintain that the name is awful, and something like the "Mythic Corps" would be much cooler

Imperialist armies aren't defender armies.

What about defender imperialism?

[Solorni]

This seems very hypocritical coming from the two regions most closely associated with the regional sovereignty movement. Overall, I appreciate the general notion of inter regional institutions. But it can't help but be surprised by this move.

I also think it's reasonable to expect this combined army to be raider. Imperialist armies aren't defender armies.


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I'll admit, I was opposed to this idea initially. Quite vehemently in fact, and NES and I had a private spat about the issue as I contemplated turning down the vice delegacy over it. However, I think under further consideration that both regions still hold sovereignty over the body and that it would allow for both regions to do more together.

It's also easy to forget that most treaties don't result in closer ties, and that this will ensure that. I believe that this sort of GCR cooperation is a good thing.

[Glen-Rhodes]

What about defender imperialism?

It's mostly just a theory. Yeah, it's possible, but it's never borne out. Imperialist armies raid. This union is like a lesser version of the UIAF. So we should expect it to behave like the UIAF.

I hope, though, that this spells the beginning of a resurgence in GCR inter regional institutions.


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[Benevolent Thomas]

I thought this joint military already existed in the form of the UIAF

[Mallorea and Riva]

Very interesting. I look forward to seeing this develop.

[Zaolat]

I maintain that the name is awful, and something like the "Mythic Corps" would be much cooler

Imperialist armies aren't defender armies.

What about defender imperialism?

That would technically at times be TITO. Though, mostly that was in the past. I can't recall them ever invading/refounding enemy regions/or affiliated regions as of recent times.

[Consular]

I thought this joint military already existed in the form of the UIAF

Neither Balder nor Osiris are members of the United Imperial Armed Forces, as you well know.

The UIAF is not only a raider entity either - the organisation played a leading role in the defense of both TSP and Osiris.

[The Grim Reaper]

I thought this joint military already existed in the form of the UIAF

Neither Balder nor Osiris are members of the United Imperial Armed Forces, as you well know.

The UIAF is not only a raider entity either - the organisation played a leading role in the defense of both TSP and Osiris.

So in your opinion, the differentiating feature between the UIAF and this combined military is that the UIAF defends?

[Venico]

I think the differentiating feature is the fact that they're completely different regions with different goals than the UIAF's membership.

[The Grim Reaper]

I think the differentiating feature is the fact that they're completely different regions with different goals than the UIAF's membership.

ffs venico I'm trying to pick at Consular until he says interesting things I can write articles about

I'm already drafting an article about you >:

[Consular]

The second line was in response to Glen-Rhodes assertion that this new military would be raider, because apparently imperialists only raid, which is incorrect.

[Sichuan Pepper]

I maintain that the name is awful, and something like the "Mythic Corps" would be much cooler



What about defender imperialism?

That would technically at times be TITO. Though, mostly that was in the past. I can't recall them ever invading/refounding enemy regions/or affiliated regions as of recent times.

Well to be fair EW refuses to CTE

[Zaolat]

That would technically at times be TITO. Though, mostly that was in the past. I can't recall them ever invading/refounding enemy regions/or affiliated regions as of recent times.

Well to be fair EW refuses to CTE

How dare he!

[Anumia]

What I don't understand is why they have to be "Raider" or "Defender", and why they cannot just do whatever the two regions want them to do with their military...

[Glen-Rhodes]

The second line was in response to Glen-Rhodes assertion that this new military would be raider, because apparently imperialists only raid, which is incorrect.

The UIAF helped TSP because they wanted to increase their own power, and not out of some overarching belief that taking over regions against the will of residents is wrong. Playing a part in fighting against the lame duck Milo doesn't make the UIAF a defending force any more than defending their imperialist possessions does.


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[Unibot III]

What I don't understand is why they have to be "Raider" or "Defender", and why they cannot just do whatever the two regions want them to do with their military...

Because you won't defend, hence raider.

[Whiskum]

The second line was in response to Glen-Rhodes assertion that this new military would be raider, because apparently imperialists only raid, which is incorrect.

The UIAF helped TSP because they wanted to increase their own power, and not out of some overarching belief that taking over regions against the will of residents is wrong. Playing a part in fighting against the lame duck Milo doesn't make the UIAF a defending force any more than defending their imperialist possessions does.


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We have no overarching belief that taking over regions against the will of residents is wrong, though we can recognise where particular circumstances, such as those perpetuated by Milograd in TSP, a major community of general importance, are deeply undesirable and built on false justifications.

However, you are correct that we undertake military operations based on our foreign policy, which is underpinned by our interests, not false moralising.

The UIAF is not a defender force, but it and its component militaries carry out defensive operations as part of that policy - whether in Anzia, Greater Wetlands, United Kingdom of Britain, The South Pacific, Osiris, Grand Central, Haven etc. We have an established record of successful defensive missions.

Precisely the same applies to our raiding operations - we are not raiders, but we raid because we believe it to be in our interests - and for reasons we have gone into elsewhere (although I am happy to go into them again if you wish) the nature of raiding, being something an instigator can plan and determine as they wish, is inherently more beneficial and practical for a political gameplay region which has no idealistic bias towards either raiding or defending.

Thus, describing the UIAF as 'raider' would be equally wrong as describing it as 'defender' - we raid more than we defend, but a raider group is not a region which raids; it is a region like Lone Wolves United and The Black Riders which exists for the purpose of raiding and is structured towards that purpose.

As for the position of this new military, I have no idea what that is or will be. It will not necessarily be the same as the UIAF's, as they are different groups conmposed of different regions with different histories. Given Osiris and Balder's positions on the matter, as stated by Lord Ravenclaw here and in the past, I imagine it will be independent of these binary and insufficient categorisations into raider or defender groups, however much they are pigeonholed.

[Anumia]

What I don't understand is why they have to be "Raider" or "Defender", and why they cannot just do whatever the two regions want them to do with their military...

Because you won't defend, hence raider.

The second line was in response to Glen-Rhodes assertion that this new military would be raider, because apparently imperialists only raid, which is incorrect.

The UIAF helped TSP because they wanted to increase their own power, and not out of some overarching belief that taking over regions against the will of residents is wrong. Playing a part in fighting against the lame duck Milo doesn't make the UIAF a defending force any more than defending their imperialist possessions does.

I think you mean *they won't defend, and it's rather difficult to "defend" when you get to decide that what they are doing is not defending anyway

[Glen-Rhodes]

I don't feel like arguing semantics. I don't buy the distinction between raider groups and imperialist groups. So if it makes it easier, just pretend that when I call the UIAF raider, I really mean imperialist.


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[Anumia]

What I meant was: if they perform a military action that preserves the existing and legitimate Delegacy of a region, telling us that's "not defending" and then following by saying "see they never defend" is rather silly.