EDITORIAL · NATIONSTATES · CULTURAL IMPERIALISM · REGIONAL IDENTITYCultural imperialism is a concept familiar to leftists as is applies to real-world politics, but an argument can be made for the application of this concept to the world of NationStates. In NationStates, cultural imperialism does not manifest as it does in real life, but this essay will use the term to describe a similar phenomenon that can be observed in-game.
Cultural imperialism in real life is the practice of promoting a culture that is considered "superior"—that is, the culture of economically and militarily superior societies—and the suppression of cultures held by weaker societies. This can perhaps be seen in Africa, Asia, and the Americas, where Western societies displaced traditional societies during the colonial period, eliminating much of the indigenous cultures and creating centuries of problems for their peoples.
In NationStates, we see similar attempts from those who believe themselves to be superior to promote their ideas while downplaying alternatives. Communities that successfully organize themselves in ways that are antithetical to the established "norm" of mainstream regions are criticized for lack of development and culture. Regions that do not have offsite forums or elaborately-detailed "legal" documents to provide the foundation of a regional bureaucracy are considered "undeveloped," even if they are capable of providing a robust and interesting experience for their members without them.
As an example of a region that enjoys success without these, we can look to our own home.
The Internationale does not have an offsite forum or any semblance of government bureaucracy, but this does not mean that our region is any less legitimate, active, or enjoyable for its comrades than any other region.
Rather than closing off regional decisions to an elite group of qualified members—which can be disguised with any number of legislative names, like "senators" or "representatives—legislation is instead carried out by direct democracy on our regional message board, with every comrade member given an equal vote. Everyone has a say in how the region is run.
At no point in our region's over five-year history have comrades ever called for the establishment of further bureaucracy or regional administration, even as The Internationale celebrates the fastest growth it has experienced in its history, having grown by over eighty new nations since before the new year. Despite this success and regional satisfaction, we find ourselves in the crosshairs of the leadership of other regions who find us important enough to criticize while simultaneously suggesting that, due to our "lack of development," that we are not important.
This is cultural imperialism as it manifests in NationStates. Unfortunately for these cultural imperialists, regions like The Internationale cannot be subjugated or shut down in the same way that the West was able to dominate the native peoples of the continents they "discovered." Instead, we will happily continue our "backward" ways, empowering our comrades to be a part of the regional discussion, linking in solidarity with our leftist allies, and discussing matters that we find interesting and important. Those who want another experience are free to seek it, but they will not find another community that is "superior."
NEWS · NATIONSTATES · MILITARY · EASTERN EUROPEEastern Europe is now back under its own administration after it was raided last Friday by the United Imperial Armed Forces, an interregional military alliance of The New Inquisition, The Land of Kings and Emperors, and Albion. Other militaries, including the military of the pseudo-leftist region The Communist Bloc, joined the occupation forces.
UIAF forces withdrew Friday afternoon, citing their original intent to occupy the region for one week. The region's community, recouping from the raid, are discussing the future. Though we do not share embassies, The Internationale stands in solidarity with our comrades and offers our support moving forward.
COOKING · REAL WORLD · RECIPES · EGG DISHES
by Ratateague, R&B Culinary EditorWelcome, tovarishch, to the first issue of P
OTLUC! Learn to subsist on one's own labor without such fanciful, bourgeois luxuries as expensive ingredients, specialty cookware, or ample counter space. Cook with enough time to spare to return to the fields! Without further ado, the meal of the day is a
pomodoro egg bake, serving four.
Ingredients:- 4 medium-sized tomatoes
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- 4 eggs
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, thinly sliced
- 4 English muffins, toasted
Directions:Grate the cheese and chop the basil first. Preheat oven to 350 °F. Cut the top quarter off each tomato. Scoop out the insides, much like the bourgeoisie have gutted collective bargaining, leaving the shell. Drain any excess liquid—just as capital, vampire-like, drains living labor—and place the tomato shells on a baking dish/pan/sheet. For each shell, sprinkle 1 tablespoon of parmesan cheese to coat the inside. Gently break and slip an egg into each tomato, similar to the way unions have been broken across the country. Sprinkle sliced basil over the eggs.
Bake in the oven until egg whites set and yolks begin to thicken: approximately 30 minutes. Toast the English muffins at this time. Sprinkle remaining cheese over eggs, and serve on top of toasted English muffins. Eat, you are done!
Recipe from the American Egg Board.
TNEWS · REAL WORLD · YEMEN
by Jane Cutter and Andy Freeman for Liberation NewsFollowing the latest clashes in Sana'a between Houthi rebels and the government, and the collapse of a deal granting most if not all of the Houthi demands, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and his cabinet have resigned, leaving a huge question mark as to the future of Yemen, the poorest yet most populous country in the region. In 2012, Hadi had replaced Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was forced out by a people's movement after 33 years in office.
In the face of this unstable situation, the U.S. has at least temporarily suspended "counter-terrorism" operations with Yemen.
Houthi takeoverThe Houthis essentially took over Sana'a, the northern capitol city, in September 2014. The Houthi rebellion started more than 10 years ago and had reached a ceasefire in 2010. What prompted the resurgence was the end of fuel subsidies in July 2014.
Once in the capitol, they forced the resignation of the Prime Minister, Mohammed Basindwa. What were they seeking? While their rebellion has always been about greater cultural and religious autonomy for their own group, the demands of the recent take-over have focused on changes to the constitution, "The latest violence appears to have been sparked by Houthi rejection of a draft constitution that divides the country into six federal regions, a move they fear would dilute their power. Houthi leaders accused Hadi of reneging on the U.N.-brokered deal, which promised better representation on a commission to oversee the drafting of a new constitution." (Al-Jazeera)
On Jan. 23, while thousands of Yemenis in Sana'a rallied in support of the Houthis, chanting anti-U.S. and anti-Israel slogans and calling for the unity of Yemen, thousands in southern cities Aden and Taiz rallied against what was called a Houthi coup (Al-Jazeera).
Context: Four way struggleThese latest developments in Yemen must be understood in the context of the ongoing four way struggle going on in the country. In the north, we have the Houthis, nominally Shi'ites, who are members of the Zaydi sect of Islam, unique to Yemen. The Imamate that ruled north Yemen until the Republican Revolution in 1962 was a Zaydi imamate. They are being supported by Iran and oppose the U.S. presence and intervention in their country. In the South, former site of the Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen, there is a socialist independence movement. In the center of Yemen, Al Quaeda in the Arabian Peninsula plays a role. AQAP has claimed responsibility for the massacre at Charlie Hebdo in Paris. The fourth group is the central government, now possibly defunct, which while quite weak, has collaborated with imperialism and allowed the use of drones and other U.S. attacks on the Yemeni people, ostensibly in the service of the "war on terror." Suffice to say that each group is opposed to each of the others.
U.S. imperialism is quite concerned about the latest turn of events. The New York Times and other imperialist sources emphasize that the Houthis are Shi'ite, and are attempting to cast the conflict in Yemen as a sectarian one. However, the situation is much more complex than that. The Houthis are a tribal grouping from the North. Even before the ousting of Saleh, tribes represented the real power base in Yemen; Saleh was associated with the largest tribal group, and was known for his skill in buying off tribal leaderships and playing one tribe off against the other. It was often said the power of the central government existed in the major cities such as Sana'a, Aden and Taizz, and only extended as far as the paved roads, if that far.
Meanwhile it should not be forgotten that the south of Yemen, formerly a British colony, was after liberation a socialist republic, until the two Yemens reunited in 1990. A civil war ensued between north and south in 1994 and the capitalist north emerged victorious. Since then, the impact of globalization and neo-liberalism has been quite visible in this culturally rich but financially impoverished and underdeveloped nation.
The "Arab Spring" inspired struggle for democracy in Yemen brought tribesmen into the city where they participated in the Taghyir (Change) Square tent city. Since the ousting of Saleh, the struggle has continued, with civil wars raging in the north (with the Houthis) and in the south (with the southern movement for socialism).
Read the full article at Liberation News
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