EDITED 6-22-2011
1. Geography
Arkinesia is a medium-sized nation, encompassing about 1.4 million km2 (approx. 570,000 mi2). It's located in the region of Sals Realm, bordering Sarilian and Manfigurut. To the south, east-southeast, and west-southwest, Arkinesia is surrounded by water. The terrain is mixed--in the central portions of Arkinesia, there are small mountain ranges or plains, to the north, just plains, to the south, craggy mountainous outcrops and rivers, to the west, steep mountains, and to the east, desert, leading to Sarilian. The climate is largely temperate to chilly, except, of course, to the east. The very southern tip of Arkinesia has very warm weather, nearly tropical. Arkinesia's environment was at one time in grave danger, due to overuse of forests and lack of emissions regulation, but in recent years has seen massive steps forward, including an increase in the use of nuclear power from just 6% in 2003 to almost 90% in 2007. The replacements of coal and oil power plants has been finished, and Arkinesia is now a green electricity producer.
2. Economy
Arkinesia's economy is based loosely on the principles of the so-called Austrian School of Economics, populated by the likes of von Mises, Freeman, and Kirk. Public spending is quite low, for example, only 1% of Arkinesia's budget is used in welfare spending (source). Administration costs literally do not exist. Arkinesia does not provide much financial support to the business sector, however, manufacturing and distribution companies are prosperous.
More facts from the previously cited source (accurate June 22, 2011):
Exchange Rate: 1 bahpiahar = $1.59
GDP Per Capita (Estimated): $21,436.63 (Bhp. 34,122.82)
Unemployment: 2.64%
Government budget surplus: Bhp. 2,231,144,073,774.00
Population: 6,151,000,000
3. History
Arkinesia was formed many moons ago. Nobody knows when. What everyone agrees on was that the long-gone nation of Xinthridius experienced a massive communist revolution. Supposed communists took over Xinthridius' government, and a group calling themselves "The Arkinesians" (nobody knows why they decided on such a silly name), a group of libertarian Austrian economists, broke off with about two million followers and formed Arkinesia. Xinthridius has since fallen into decay, but Arkinesia has somehow managed to succeed.
Arkinesia participated in the Sals Realm Conflict of 1942 on the side of the Southern Alliance (still existent to this day).
In recent years, relations between Unibot and Arkinesia have been tense, and these tensions flared in several World Assembly debates in 2009.
In the 1990 midterm elections, the Arkinesian Federalist Party finally gained filibuster-proof majorities in the Parliament and on Roberts Hill, and took over, beginning the darkest part of the Federal Era. In 1998, Federal Party Chairman Alexander Zubruckis won the presidential elections by 2,100 votes. He was assassinated by Markus Suparno in July of 2001. In 2006, Arkinesia drummed out the Federalists en masse in the general elections.
4. Military
The branches of the Arkinesian Combined Armed Forces (ACAF) are as follows:
Arkinesian Army
Arkinesian Air Force
Arkinesian Navy
Arkinesian Marine Corps
Arkinesian Special Operations Branch
Arkinesia is militarily allied with the nations of Sarilian and Manfigurut, the nations bordering Arkinesia. These two nations are also supplied with Arkinesia's one-time crown jewel, the Shuriken fighter attack aircraft.
Currently, the Combined Armed Forces number something to the tune of 44 million strong, including cadets and reserves. The actual service-ready manpower is closer to 16 million. Arkinesia spends about $27 trillion/year on national defense.
5. Government and Political Structure
Arkinesia is called "Arkinesia" in day to day conversation. Residents or property of Arkinesia is "Arkinesian". The government is a democratic/libertarian/confederate democracy. The capital city is Kotaharapan, located in the northwest part of Arkinesia. Our lovely nation is divided into 13 states. Major cities excluding the capital include but are not limited to Pennington (north-central Arkinesia, home to Pennington Air Force Base), Autumndale (central Arkinesia, home to tourism and industry), and Kroneman City (home to automotive manufacturing). Women have equal rights as men, but are not granted special rights to "be on the same level", however, if women show particular competency, businesses are required to grant the appropriate wages. The executive branch consists of President Neil Knight and his vice president, who is an ambiguous character, never before seen in public (to anyone's knowledge). The judicial branch has the authority to enforce Arkinesia's law, however, previous precedents are almost regulated. Judges in Arkinesia are renowned for fairness. The legislative branch consists of the Upper Parliament, which has 50 members, five from each state, and requires a 50% + 1 vote for passage of a bill, and the Lower Parliament, which consists of some 513 members, based on the population of each state, and requires a larger majority for a bill to pass (51% + 1 vote). Arkinesia has four major political parties, the Federal Party, the Libertarian Party, the Green Party, and the Socialist Party. Currently, as usual, the Libertarian Party controls all three electable offices, with 64% of the Lower Parliament, and 31/50 seats in the Upper Parliament. The Federal Party holds 29% of the Lower Parliament, and 4/50 seats in Upper Parliament. The Socialists hold 1/50 seats in the Upper Parliament, and 3% of the Lower Parliament. Independent and Green politicians make up the rest.
The Arkinesian national anthem is named "Bells On Austin Way," and is sung to the tune of "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day." Arkinesia needed a good anthem and nobody comes up with original ones anyway, so someone played with "I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day," and this came out somehow.
I heard the bells on Austin Way
Their old familiar ringing play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Freedom,
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
Till ringing, singing on its way
The nation turned from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair we bowed our heads
“There are no rights on earth,” we said,
“For greed is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
Of note, Special Operations Group Six's motto is "nefas vadum deficio vox increbresco," or "The wrong shall fail, the right prevail."
6. People and Population
Arkinesia has most recently recorded 6.151 billion people as its population. The majority of Arkinesians are between 25-50 years of age. Life expectancy at birth is about 84 years of age for males and 86 for females. Most Arkinesians are Arkinesian in origin. Three languages are accepted in Arkinesia—English (primarily), Bahasa Indonesia, and German. English is a requirement for all Arkinesians. Many Arkinesian students opt to learn Bahasa Indonesia, as it is common in the southern parts of Arkinesia. Literacy in Arkinesia is prevalent and paramount in schools, thus, according to WA inspectors, every Arkinesian is functionally literate.
7. Communications
To the knowledge of technology experts in Arkinesia, some 90% of Arkinesians own televisions, 97% own a radio, and 99% or more own a phone of some kind. Each state has three broadcast stations for TV and radio. Our major TV broadcasters are ATV (Arkinesia TV), an English language channel, TPR (Televisi Populer Rakyat), a channel in Bahasa Indonesia, and FM-TV (Fernsehen für die Massen-TV), a German language television channel. Each TV broadcaster owns a radio syndicate as well. There are other branches and smaller networks as well. Arkinesia has three major internet providers, Royal Blue Internet Services (based in Kotaharapan), Chromium Web Solutions (based in Autumndale), and Diamond Internet Networking (based in Pennington). Everyone in Arkinesia has access to the internet, either at home or in a public computer lab, at libraries, schools, and other places of learning. Arkinesia's TLD is .akn.
8. International Affairs
Arkinesia was elected by default as Minister of Foreign Affairs in her region in 2009, moving from the Minister of the Interior.
Arkinesia served as Minister of the Interior for Sals Realm in the last term. Arkinesia has also served as WA Delegate for Sals Realm twice.
