Tyran Regional Application Thread

[Tharsatica]

Application
Official Name of Nation: The Most Serene Republic of Tharsatica
Type of Government: An elected monarch (the doge) who takes on a name of state but in many respects a Presidential Republic with two houses of the legislature (in other words a mixed government).
Head of Government: Goran Milić
Head of State: Doge Giovanni IV
National Population (cannot be larger than 300 million): 8,714,881
Type of Economy: Mixed economy, most elements of a free market but some elements of socialism.
Brief Description of Nation (culture, society, politics, etc.): Tharsatica is a coastal republic with a population of around 8.7 million. Its main cities are the capital and largest city, Ragusa, followed by Ardea, Herceg Novi, Cattaro, Castelnuovo, Perast, San Marco, Scutari, and Durres, in no particular order. Ethnically, Tharsatica is made up of several main ethnic groups: Tharsatican (48%), Gavrani (21%), and Pelagesque (27%), along with some other minorities (4%). Languages of Tharsatican, Gavrani, and Pelagesque are all recognized by the state. Religiously, Tharsatica is mostly Roman Catholic (~70%) while Muslims make up 25% and Protestants and others 5%. Politically, Tharsatica has a very complex system to temper the rule of the majority with the rights of the minority. There are two major legislative bodies: the pregadi, or the Senate, consisting of 120 members, and the consiglio of 240 members, which is the lower house of the country. The doge is selected by approval ballot by members of a third chamber, the collegio, which has 54 members. The doge is elected by 2/3 approval voting of the collegio in order to create a compromise candidate. If no candidate gets a 2/3 majority on the first ballot, the lowest candidate is removed from balloting and balloting continues until one candidate has the required majority. The pregadi, consiglio, and collegio all have very specific rules about which ethnic groups get to elect seats in each of the bodies, and the doge usually rotates between the three major ethnic groups, as does the position of Prime Minister. Generally, Tharsatica is described as a consociatonalist state.

The history of Tharsatica sheds some light on its diversity and conflict between ethnic groups. The Tharsaticans arrived in the area around the 7th century CE and set up a number of states and duchys, each fighting with one another. By the 9th century CE, Duke Dragoslav had united the warring states into the Duchy of Tharsatica, the first time the area had been unified. But another group of people - the Pelagesque - conquered much of the coastal areas as part of their Republic of Pelago, a massive trading empire, and founded several of the major cities along the coast. Warfare broke out among Tharsatica and Pelago around the 1100s and went back and forth, ultimately ending up in a stalemate between the two. Then, in the 1300s, the Gavrani invaded from the east and conquered large parts of the Duchy, also settling the area. Meanwhile, the Republic of Pelago had solidified its control of the coast with the Gavrani and the Tharsaticans fighting in the interior, creating a large trading republic with a large control of the economy in the area. In the 1500s, the Duke of Tharsatica, Duke Stefan, drove the Gavrani Empire out of the area, although many Gavrani settlers still remained. That left the Pelagesque as the only other major power in modern-day Tharsatica. Stefan's successor, Duke Andro, finally united what would become modern-day Tharsatica into his Dukedom in 1544 when he took the city of Ragusa and made it his capital. A major regional power declared Tharsatica its suzeraignty in 1868, but in 1921, Tharsatica became independent again. A major ethnic conflict erupted in 1990-1994 but peacekeepers managed to broker a peace and the current electoral system based on that of the old Republic of Pelago, which remains in place today.

(Of course this history is readily changeable if needed to fit with regional neighbors).

Preferred Climate: Mediterranean climate - warm to hot dry summers and mild to cool wet winters. Preferably along the coast somewhere to take advantage of ocean winds.

Roleplaying Example or Links (Please provide at least three individual posts or at least three paragraphs):
Note that all 3 are with my main nation, Ceni (can confirm if necessary).

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=367630&p=27983491#p27983491
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=367630&p=27803695#p27803695
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=367630&p=27742408#p27742408

[Mubata]

Tharsatica: Absolute resounding hell...

YES!!

[Syara]

I have no objections.

[Mirarea]

Nation Name : Kingdom of Mirarea (Königreich Mirarea)
Form of Government : Constitutional Monarchy
National Leader(s) : King Alexander II (Holtzmann), Chancellor Ralf Weber
Population : 21,517,431 (2015)
Gross Domestic Product : Nominal GDP $886,518,157,200. Per capita nomial $41,200
Description of National Culture : Mirarea is strongly Catholic and conservative, Mirareans adhere to their customs, traditions, food and drink, and their own dialect of the German language more strongly than any other Germans in the region. Mirareans take pride in their centuries-old traditions and have a strong sense of independence compared to other German states. The people are informal and polite to both outsiders and those that live in the country. A demographics check of other nations is likely to find Mirarean expats living in close-knit communities that adhere to the traditions of the homeland.
Climate and Geography : The Mirarean Alps (Alpen) are a famous feature of Minarea. Another feature is its major rivers and the expansive forest to the east of the country. Geography otherwise is usual for an Alpine country but geography has allowed for an unusual small sea access between the Alps. The sea access port allows for a critical trade route for the country. Climate is also usual for an Alpine country with its cold winters, rainy seasons, and mild summers. Floods, while rare, occur and can be devastating on a large scale.
National History : If there’s a lack of neighbors that are German, Minarea would form itself via internal convalescing of local tribes that later formed the duchy. Christianity had completed its conversion of the country in the 8th century. The current royal family, the Holtzmanns, took power after being awarded the country as a fief by the church in the early 13th century. From then on, the country developed internally with some interaction with its neighbors (if any). The country survived a Protestant Reformation and remains Catholic to this day. If anything, Minarea’s history parallels that of Bavarian history to a major extent (minus any German Empire).

The monarchy remained after a democratic revolution in the late 1910s but the country was transformed into a nominal constitutional monarchy after being an absolute monarchy for centuries. The resulting constitution resembles that of the Weimar constitution, bringing about political instability that forced the monarch to step in and rule by decree at times per chancellor requests. This allowed a right-wing ultra-nationalist party to take over in the 1930s, later bringing about a terrible conflict on a very destructive scale. A consortium of regional allies later defeated and occupied the country with the intent to restore democracy and instill neutrality in the nation. The Basic Law (similar to that of the German Basic Law) protects against such previous abuses while retaining the Holtzmann throne as the country’s ceremonial head of state. The provision of a temporary return to an absolute monarchy is only provided in the event the regular federal government is unable to rule effectively. To this day, this clause has never been implemented.
Description of National Economy : The country is a major manufacturing base for multiple domestic and foreign firms. Adding to its agricultural and other domestic industries, this allows for the country to have a nominal GDP per capita of $41,200.
Description of National Military : On paper, the Reichswehr is formidable and well-armed. In practice, while the military is well-armed and trained, its constitutional and legal mission is to protect Mirarea on the domestic front and is restrained against offensive operations beyond its borders. This is enforced in deliberate refusal to procure any significant transportation equipment that would enable mass deployments beyond that of Mirarea and other legal measures. The serviceman’s rifle is typically a G3A4A1 with use of the MG3 as the squad automatic weapon. Other equipment, such as the Leopard 2, Boxer AFV, the notEurofighter, and Puma IFV, are considered state of the art but are not intended for offensive operations. Plans for a forward defense of the country from invasion exist as well as plans of a national redoubt to extract a high price for invasion forces. Mirarea does not possess weapons of mass destruction.
Description of Geopolitical Role : In stark contrast to its neighbors (if it resides near any), Mirarea has maintained a policy of neutrality and maintains a strong defensive outlook to its military. While not formally enshrined in the Basic Law, neutrality was adopted post-war in the wake of the war’s destructive impact on the country. This precludes offensive operations beyond the country but allows for humanitarian operations involving military personnel.
Preferred Climate: Bavarian, German Alps preferred. Near any other German states too, bitte.
Roleplaying Example or Link : Here we go:

The tourist, a 20s-something male, appeared almost green-eyed as when he first landed at the capital’s international airport. He had found his way to the city’s central plaza, home of the city hall, nearby royal residential palace, and the Frauenkirche but he had no idea where to go and what he was to do next. He had only managed to find out the country code to his home country so he could call home on a public telephone. He didn’t even know how to dial home until he wandered back into the nearby U-Bahn and S-Bahn station and found out via an advertisement. The tourist was nervous but passersby could mistake him for a native or at least a city resident as he did not show it on the outside. He could barely even speak the native German language except how to get help in English (Sprechen Sie Englisch?)

While he was nervous, he was also absorbing the historical value of the city. Its unmeasured wonder. The wonder of a foreign country. Something you could not see at home but in an old country not like his. He took out his camera and began to take pictures of the nearby scenery, both old and new, as modern buildings contrasted with the old architecture. The city hall, having been built in the 1800s, looked old compared to a nearby office and retail building across the Platz. The city hall, unfortunately, showed bomb damage from the Great War that could never be erased. Nearby buildings that were salvaged or restored after the war also showed signs of bomb damage. If he had gone to the Frauenkirche later, he would learn of the extensive decades of restoration that still could never undo the harm done to the church. The city, old as it was, still breathed new life as residents and other fellow tourists mingled with each other to watch the famous Glockenspiel to perform its 5 o’clock show. A nearby restaurant had an open-air eating area where the tourist sat down and began to eat a couple of Brezeln and ordered a weissbier in order to relax.

He still only had a full month in Mirarea as he was on a study abroad program. In about 30 minutes, he had to meet his group in the Platz for a welcoming dinner. He paid for his quick beer and snack and sat down to watch the Glockenspiel perform. He felt still slightly nervous, also feeling comfortable about this country he was to stay in for a month. He was in for a culture shock as he had to adjust to Minarean culture and the way things were done. Perhaps he could intimate one of them as many thought he looked as an Minarean.

He first had to meet his group and go from there. One step at a time.

Notes and Questions : Mirarea is based on Germany’s Bavaria, where I went for my Study Abroad program in 2013. Originally, Lanos was supposed to be German but a comedy of errors prevented this from happening. With this clean break from Lanos, I hope to have a nation I would love to use in NS that is purely German (or Bavarian in this case) with some custom tweaks (such as the adoption of the German Basic Law with the addition of a monarchy).

Please list any active alts or puppets you may control : I’m Lanos (The Republic of Lanos) but all nations under my control that currently exist (with hopeful exception of Minarea) have been placed in my puppet storage region and do not count towards any canon.

[Schottia]

Alles Klingt Gut.

I don't see any problems with the application, and as always the finer points can be ironed out once you start chatting to the existing members.

It will need to be up for discussion of course, but off the top of my head, I'm going to guess that with Acrea moving recently there might be room to put you near Shalum, which I believe has German speaking regions, and is Catholic... but he'll correct me if I'm wrong. That part of Eracura might even support your climate.

Just my initial thoughts, I think the nation sounds like a good fit.

[Gylias]

-snip-

Bored with Arcana?

[Tennai]

Looks like you have good app, Mirarea. Not very German or Alpine here though, so I don not expect to see you on my border.

[Acrea]

As of right now, actually, I think that next to Acrea on the new continent might be a good location. One of the nations of Acrea is, in fact, a wholly German nation, though Protestant, and maintains a climate similar to the one Lanos wants. Likewise, there is already an Alpine region that could directly flow into Mirarea.

[Kirisaki]

After initial discussions with Ossoria on IRC, I have decided to write up a preliminary application for Tyran, for possible later use. All references have been adapted to suit Tyran. Please note that at this moment in time, this app should not be construed as a definitive indicator of an intention to join Tyran. Feel free to comment, discuss or otherwise offer your opinion.

Application
Official Name of Nation: The Radiant Empire of Kirisaki; alternatively the Harmonious Empire of Kirisaki
Type of Government: Executive monarchy; directorial representative democracy with bicameral legislature
Head of Government: The Executive Committee of Kirisaki, represented by chairperson Yuiko Tachibana
Head of State: Akasha-no-miya Rin, her Imperial Highness Rin [Akasha], tenshi of the Seraphic Throne
National Population (cannot be larger than 300 million): 92,377,420 [2016 census]
Type of Economy:

Mixed market economy with significant government intervention; has a strong tradition of leftist economic policies. The Kirisakian economy is primarily supported by a strong service sector; it is widely recognised as a regional leader in research and development, while Kirayuki, the empire's capital, also plays a role as a regional financial and banking hub. The empire's economy is founded primarily on several 'cornerstone' industries, which include banking, automotive manufacturing, the fabrication of military armaments as well as tourism. The veritable jewel in the crown, however, is energy generation; Kirisaki is constantly at the forefront of the field, with a sizable portion of its GDP relying on said field. In addition, Kirisaki's focus on alternative energy generation in particular has allowed it to wean itself off polluting fossil fuels; as of the time of writing, almost 80% of Kirisaki's energy demands are met via renewables, and that figure is projected to rise to an unprecedented high of 90% within a decade's time.

The empire is a major trading power; its network of modern, well-equipped ports and infrastructure, combined with its strategic location as a gateway to the [important Tyran waterway], contribute immensely to its prominent position in this regard. Nonetheless, the empire is staunchly protectionist; except with special provisions as provided for by trade agreements, punitive tariffs are imposed on most non-essential goods. As such, most foreign trade that are not exempt from the usual punishing tariffs come in the form of intangibles; service fees, box office receipts, and the like all contribute towards foreign trade volumes.

Brief Description of Nation (culture, society, politics, ect.):

Kirisakian culture is an eclectic combination of unique cultural elements, derived from real life cultures as well as from my own imagination.

Primarily based on a combination of Japanese and Chinese culture, Kirisakian culture nonetheless differs significantly from its real life counterpart. From a religious perspective, most Kirisaki-jin are merely casual followers of Kisekido, the national religion; and yet, there is a deep-rooted spirituality within the majority of Kirigiri's descendants. It is their belief that every single being, be it human, animal, or plant, retains a tamashi, spirit, within its core. This is reflected in the traditional Kirisakian reverence for nature - it is considered a cardinal sin to engage in wanton destruction of the world which Kirigiri gave life to, akin to destroying the single most prized possession of the deities.

As a natural extension of their belief in tamashi, Kirisaki-jin also retain a steadfast belief in the existence of spiritual energy, an abstract concept that is directly linked to a host of Kisekido religious ceremonies. Spiritual energy is extant within every being that has a tamashi, and it is, for all intents and purposes, equivalent to life force. One's spiritual energy cannot be exhausted, but can be increased, sapped, amplified, or otherwise altered, for better or for worse, by one's acts throughout one's lifetime. The most potent source of spiritual energy can be realised through the act of sexual union; and as such, Kisekido shrines often provide for voluntary sexual rituals that brings Kirisaki-jin into closer communion with their kami.

From a societal perspective, the Kirisaki-jin are a generally reserved people who do not often display their true personalities in public. Much like the Japanese concept of honne/tatemae, there exists a boundary of societal acceptability that one cannot cross, on pain of social alienation. However, at their core, Kirisaki-jin are typically cheerful, boisterous, and outgoing.

The Imperial Kirisakian Forces can be divided into three distinct branches; the Imperial Kirisakian Land Force (IKLF), the Imperial Kirisakian Naval Force (IKNF), and the Imperial Kirisakian Air Force (IKAF).

• The IKLF is a small, yet elite, fighting force; numbering around 275,000 active personnel, its primary objective has transformed from the spine of Kirisakian military might to a force largely geared towards self-defence and riot suppression. However, the IKLF remains capable of executing limited operations on foreign shores; it has actively participated in peacekeeping operations in the past, and has also played key roles in humanitarian operations throughout Tyran.
  
  
• The IKNF is the major branch of Kirisaki's armed forces. Kirisaki's geographical location has meant that naval supremacy would always be key towards ensuring local Kirisakian primacy. Over the course of centuries, this has gradually led to the development of a state-of-the-art naval force; a force which has been the single most important factor in Kirisakian dominance over the seas. While Kirisaki's navy was initially hopelessly outclassed against the navies of foreign invaders in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, today, the IKNF is one of the premier blue water navies in Tyran, ranking amongst the most sizable and well-equipped navies in the region. The IKNF is, bar none, the most powerful military institution within the empire.
  
  
• The IKAF, while perhaps a little less renowned than its maritime counterpart, nevertheless remains a crucial component of the modern Imperial Kirisakian Forces. As a result of continued government investment and support, most of the country's aerial assets are cutting edge, featuring ground attack aircraft, versatile multirole fighters, helos as well as the requisite support aircraft. In recent years it has been the most well-funded branch of the IKF, receiving in excess of $16.5 billion for the current fiscal year.

I envision Kirisaki playing the role of a diplomatic heavyweight, one wholly capable of enforcing its diplomatic deals with measured, judicious application of soft power. By and large, Kirisakian foreign policy would revolve around the maintenance of the regional status quo; however, not above resorting to quick and decisive action, diplomatic or otherwise, should it be to the empire's advantage.

Preferred Climate: A climate roughly analogous to RL Japan will serve my purposes well; please refer to the iiwiki article on Kirisaki for a more detailed description.
Roleplaying Example or Links (Please provide at least three individual posts or at least three paragraphs):

Sample 1
Sample 2
Sample 3

Additional samples available upon request.

Please refer to the iiwiki article on Kirisaki for a more in depth description; although the information contained therein is a little outdated, it should for the most part paint an accurate picture of the direction in which I'd like to take Kirisaki in. Feel free to direct any questions concerning this application to me, either via this thread or the regional IRC.

[Shalum]

Both of the applications above look good to me. Not sure if Mirarea is moving next to me, or Acrea, depending on how IRC conversation will/has already played out. As to Rin's nation, I am sure we could find a good area for it. Someone who is more diplomatically inclined would be interesting to see in Tyran ^^

[Schottia]

I would thoroughly welcome Kirisaki to the region, should she decide to make the application official, and I hope she does. This is an interesting nation, a good RPer, and someone who already has ties with some of the nations in the region.

My only question, and it's not a concern, it's a question. Would you intend to keep Lirinya, or would this be a swap?

[Kirisaki]

My only question, and it's not a concern, it's a question. Would you intend to keep Lirinya, or would this be a swap?

This would depend largely on what you guys would prefer. Lirinya's a more ambitious project than Kirisaki ever was, and I'd like to believe that it'll shape up to be a far more creative and interesting addition to the region in the long term. Only problem is that I'm not sure I could juggle two nations at once, especially given that my creative spark has died down a little of late. If Tyran is amenable to the idea, though, I could consider retaining Lirinya alongside Kirisaki.

[Syara]

I have no objections to either candidate.

[Azura and Montemayor]

Both applications seem perfectly fine to me, no objections here.

[Mubata]

Looks alright to me for both.

For the Lirinya vs Kirisaki map space issue, I definitely think the less dormant and/or NPC nations, the better, considering the volume of new nations coming in. If it comes down to RPing one nation or the other, the non-RPd nation should give way to someone who needs a spot and would like to be active.

[Mirarea]

-snip-

Bored with Arcana?

You're there, so...

In any event, if it is up to me, I would like to be put near Shalum. Of course, Oss the mapmaker has the final say.

[Phonox]

Application
Official Name of Nation: The Republic of Phonox
Type of Government: Unitary Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy
Head of Government: Prime Minister Kimiko Saito
Head of State: Empress Yui of Shirane
National Population (cannot be larger than 300 million): Approx. 8.428 Million
Type of Economy: Mixed Market

Brief Description of Nation (culture, society, politics, ect.):
Phonox is a crowned republic consisting mainly of one giant metropolitan city. It is in fact a city-state with a high population density and standard of living. In geopolitics, it generally tries to achieve neutrality abroad and tries to maintain good relations in general while promoting peace and stability where it can. It has in its history been the site of agreements being made and even goes as far as serving as neutral ground for arbitration. Its military in general is tiny, if not nearly non-existent, and the nation tends to follow a mantra of pacifism where it can. At home, its population of nearly 9 million people live fairly well off lives. The majority of the nation's inhabitants are Miraian but its sizable minority is comprised of many different ethnicities as Phonox has become more and more multicultural during the past decades. Domestic policy tends to favour high civil and political rights for its citizens since reforms in the 1920s that pushed the country in that direction. Its economy is primarily (and nearly entirely) dominated by the tertiary sector with commercial services being the main bulk of Phonese industry. Culturally, Phonox tends to reflect that of Kirisaki due to the fact that Phonox had previously been a territory of its empire. While the government has no official religion, most Phonese are followers of Kisekido which originated in Kirisaki as well. Generally speaking, Phonox is also an accepting society and does without social hierarchy in favour of social liberalism.

Additional information can be found on Phonox's factbooks which are, as always, subject to change still!

Preferred Climate: Temperate generally. Mild Summers. Cold Winters.

Roleplaying Example or Links (Please provide at least three individual posts or at least three paragraphs):

• RP with Kirisaki
• RP with Gylias
• RP with Shalum

[Mirarea]

Yes to Phonox.

[Shalum]

Phonox gets my approval.

[Schottia]

Very much in favour of Phonox joining the region.

[The Republic of Akashi]

Hey everyone, Gylias here, now that Kirisaki's in, I'm going to move my alt too since it's a former colony. I plan on keeping both nations active, although I'll admit Gylias is my main and tends to be a bit of a default. Hopefully though Akashi makes an interesting addition to the region.

Application
Official Name of Nation: The Republic of Akashi
Type of Government: Parliamentary democratic republic
Head of Government: Prime Minister Kōko Kaga
Head of State: President Nancy Lean
National Population (cannot be larger than 300 million): 10.032.864
Type of Economy: Mixed market economy
Brief Description of Nation (culture, society, politics, ect.):
Akashi is a multicultural parliamentary republic with three main ethnolinguistic groups: Miranians/Kirisakians, who form a slight majority of the population, Kāhē, the indigenous population (based on the Māori) who had to endure colonial oppression, and the English, who arrived along with the first wave of colonialism.

History
The Kāhē people were the first inhabitants of modern Akashi, developing a distinctive culture and civilisation. In the late 17th/early 18th century, Shalum invaded and conquered the Kāhē kingdom, instituting a harsh colonial regime and bringing many English-speaking settlers. During this period, the region was named "Waterford", in reference to its abundant rivers. While Shalum was involved in another conflict and withdrew its garrisons, Kirisaki staged a surprise invasion and conquered Waterford in 1839. Under their rule, it was renamed "Akashi". The Kirisakians consolidated their rule by gaining the support of the Kāhē people, guaranteeing them language and education rights, and sought to turn Akashi into a model colony. Their administration saw improvements in infrastructure and quality of life, the use of its natural resources to aid Kirisakian industrialisation, and the adoption of a policy of tenminka, encouraging cultural assimilation and the use of the Miranian language, which alienated the English-speaking settlers.

Akashi was granted self-government in 1860, and peacefully gained independence on 1 January 1910, not long after Phonox's own independence from its former metropolis. At this time, it was the State of Akashi, with the monarch of Kirisaki serving as the head of state through a Governor-General. After a promising start, Akashi began to be crippled by divisions and mutual enmity between Miranian, Kāhē, and English Akashians, weak governance, and economic policies that led to a large part of the Akashian economy coming under the control of foreign corporations and a growing gulf between rich and poor Akashians. (There might also be some foreign interference if anyone is okay with it. Mirarea's 1930s ultranationalist regime might be a good candidate for trying to destabilise Akashi and encourage homegrown fascists.) Civil war erupted in 1935, lasting five years, and ending with the ascent to power of Juliana Eberhard.

Juliana led Akashi for the next 30 years, transforming it from a war-scarred failed state into a prosperous modern economy and democratic republic. Her achievements were many, and such that she is known as the "mother of the nation". She abolished the old bicameral Diet and replaced it with the unicameral National Assembly, in the process transforming Akashi into a republic with an elected head of state. She harnessed Akashi's natural resources and implemented a policy of import-substitution industrialisation that made Akashi a heavily industrialised economy, although some industries would later turn out to not be viable. She implemented progressive social reforms and programs that led to the emergence of a unified Akashian identity, and pursued an activist foreign policy that sought to lend "prestige" to the republic.

During the 1970s and 1980s, the Akashian political system entered a period of transition, the previous dominance of Juliana's National Union (NU) party being replaced by a more fragmented Assembly and a series of coalitions between the Socialists and NU. Economic growth gradually slid downwards and ultimately ground to a halt, as the limits of the import substitution model were reached and unviable industries required more subsidies to stay afloat. In 1984, Ran Tsukuda became Prime Minister, leading the first Conservative Party government since the civil war. A centre-right moderate, Ran implemented reforms that stimulated the economy in a manner that avoided severe social conflicts, gradually reducing subsidies to unsustainable industries, floating the minrin, overhauling the tax system, and encouraging greater investment. She also presided over a comprehensive constitutional reform in 1984 that made Akashi a parliamentary republic, and an electoral reform in 1985 that replaced its threshold-less proportional representation system with mixed member proportional.

While the economy returned to growth, more upheaval took place in politics. Ran was forced out of office in 1989 in the midst of what would later be called the "neoliberal conspiracy", an attempt by domestic and foreign business figures, media proprietors, and neoliberals to infiltrate Akashian politics, dismantle its mixed economy and privatise state assets. (I might get Syara's input on this.) The 1991 and 1994 general elections saw swings to the left, fragmentation on the right, and the emergence of new forces such as the anti-free trade New Akashi Party, and the centre-right Moderate People's Party and National Renewal Party, broken off from the Conservatives due to the neoliberal conspiracy. Socialist Prime Minister Marcia Edwards managed to implement several significant reforms such as the replacement of Akashi's welfare system with a basic income, and a growth in information services, but led an often unstable government and was ultimately replaced by a returned Ran in 2000. The subsequent decade saw the election of centre-right governments that balanced business-friendly policies with a strong safety net and measures to prevent inequality and poverty. Following the 2011 general election, Socialist leader Kōko Kaga took office in coalition with the National Union, pursuing more activist fiscal policies and social reforms. At the most recent general election in 2015, Kōko led the Socialists to a one-seat majority, the first majority government since 1970. She currently leads a one-party Socialist government with support from the National Union, Green Party, Progressive Party, and Future Party.

Economy
Mixed market economy, primarily tertiary sector now but retains a strong industrial sector. Several heavy industries remain, such as manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, chemical, and electronics. Tourism has also become a rather important sector in the economy. Agriculture is diverse, and rivers ensure that a large part of Akashi's energy is hydroelectric in origin. Significant mining industry - mainly iron ore reserves, zinc, copper, cobalt. Possibly some offshore gas fields.

Society
Modern, generally progressive, multilingual, and increasingly multicultural based on immigration. Miranian Akashians, similar to Miranian Gylians, can likely be distinguished by the fact that they have less of a honne-tatemae distinction and are more open in public, not concealing their true personalities.

Military
75.816 active personnel + 101.779 reserve personnel. Purely defensive armed forces, although available for humanitarian assistance if necessary.

Akashi is often a significant source of volunteers for Esperance International Peacekeeping Corps.

Politics
National Assembly of 500 members, mixed member proportional: 300 are elected from constituencies (選挙く senkyoku "electoral districts") through instant runoff voting and 200 are elected through party-list proportional representation at the national level using open lists and the Sainte-Laguë method.

Current parties in the National Assembly, roughly on a spectrum:
Progressive Party - left; libertarian socialism, communism, New Left
Green Party - left; green politics
Future Party - left; techno-progressivism, cornucopianism, bright green environmentalism, Pirate Party equivalents
Socialist Party - left/centre-left; democratic socialism/social democracy, old school Nordic model type socialists
National Union - centre/centre-left; Eberhardism
Liberal Party - centre; social liberalism, ordoliberalism, social market economy
New Akashi Party - centre; radical centrism, opposition to free trade
Moderate People's Party - centre-right; one-nation conservatism, mixed market economy, social liberalism ("wets" like Ian Gilmour for UK readers, Rockefeller Republicans for US readers)
United Reform Party - centre-right; "socially responsible capitalism"
Democratic Party - centre-right; classical liberals
Conservative Party - right; right-wing populism
Freedom League - right; Randroids (now kicked out of the Assembly)

Even after the 1985 electoral reform, Akashian politics are very diverse and have a multiparty system. There was a much bigger churn of parties in the past and some significant political realignments.

Preferred Climate: Whatever's the climate here, I guess.
Roleplaying Example or Links (Please provide at least three individual posts or at least three paragraphs):
RPing with Eve
Fun with elections, part 1
Fun with elections, part 2: the partyening
Fun with elections, part 3: the numbers strike back
Fun with elections, part 4: a new hope
My original app post, somewhat outdated in parts but still largely relevant. Includes me going a bit overboard with making up political parties.

[Mirarea]

Yes to Gylia-Akashi.

[Quen Minh]

Yes to Gylia-Akashi.

I agree.

[Megelan]

Since everyone's moving to Tyran...

Application

Official Name of Nation: the Community of Liberty of Megelan

Type of Government: The six counties that make up the Community of Liberty are tied together by a constitution not unlike the United States' Articles of Confederation, and by an executive and legislative council not unlike Switzerland's Tagsatzung; however, the country's constitution does allow, unlike the Articles of Confederation, the existence of nobility, and the country's council is, unlike the Tagsatzung, a permanent one; the location of said council, however, rotates every three years among the cities of Megelan, Munscia and Tesin, respectively the country's major city, the summer capital of the early medieval Kingdom of the Winnili, and their winter capital.

Head of Government: Twelve Captains and Defenders of Liberty, the members of the aforementioned executive and legislative council, two for each one of the six counties. They are appointed by their counties' legislatures every three years, can't serve two consecutive terms, and can serve only three of them.

Head of State: As above.

National Population (cannot be larger than 300 million): 3,160,481

Type of Economy: Farming and light industry are the backbone of the economy of most of the country; the city of Megelan is a center of business and culture. The country's economy is a mixed one: even though privately owned, small companies and industries benefit from low taxes and dominate the economic landscape of the nation, they are subject to a considerable amount of regulation, aimed at protecting the country's environment and at safeguarding the rights of the Community of Liberty's workers.

Brief Description of Nation (culture, society, politics, ect.): A Romance nation with heavy Germanic influences, it has close cultural and historical ties with Mirarea. However, the national character of Megelan has been shaped by republicanism rather than monarchism, a kind of republicanism that can be described as a synthesis of the thought of Carlo Cattaneo and the thought of Thomas Jefferson, built upon a tradition of localism dating back to the Middle Ages: direct democracy and federalism, agrarianism and work ethic, civil rights and self-sufficiency; all these elements have contributed, over the course of several centuries, in creating a society that, especially after the grip of the Catholic Church on the nation was lessened by secularization, is borderline autarchic and vaguely xenophobic, but also decidedly egalitarian and undoubtedly democratic.

The official language of the Community of Liberty is Italian, but in their daily life the average Megelanese speaks one of the many, mutually intelligible dialects of the Insubrian language; the official religion of the country is Catholicism, but the influence said official status has on local politics can be compared to the influence the Protestant state churches of northern Europe have on their countries' political process.

Preferred Climate: Continental European, somewhat warmer than Mirarea's. If Mirarea is Tyran's Bavaria, Megelan is Tyran's western Lombardy, eastern Piedmont and southern Switzerland.

Roleplaying Example or Links (Please provide at least three individual posts or at least three paragraphs):

On one side fields, and a small town in the distance.

On the other side a river and, beyond it, a foreign country.

The cyclist pedaled forward, barely noticing the occasional stare, for they were used to such behaviour; one of the many prices one had to pay for fame and success. The small group of conscript soldiers, men and women alike, that ran past them, knew however better than to stare at a famous athlete in the middle of their daily routine, and marched forward, their footsteps providing the beat to the martial tune they were chanting in perfect unison.

Only a small fraction of them would become actual soldiers, of course; five years of military service were a way one could earn the right to vote and, since the country had not fought a real war in several decades, those among them who decided to keep the uniform were either employed by the nation in peacekeeping endeavours or sought employment in those private military companies that offered them far more bellicose endeavours.

Less than peaceful encounters between the two categories of soldiers were not unheard of, and from time to time they resulted in the death of one or several of the people involved, the likelihood of such an outcome increasing if the soldiers belonged to different counties; the cyclist smirked, amused by their own mental quip.

They now shared the road with other bicycles and with cars, most of them electric; the solution the country as a whole found, in accordance with its policy of self-sufficiency, to its lack of fossil fuel sources.

The cyclist finally reached their destination, a small town of three thousand people, dominated by actual or repurposed farmsteads and bordering one of the canals that ran throughout the whole country; they entered the nearest bar, and were welcomed by applause: they'd won several races in the most recent Grand Tour, and would've won it if not for the last of said races. The cyclist ordered a cup of coffee.

They sat at a table, sipping their coffee, reading the latest edition of the county's most popular newspaper and, of course, signing autographs and posing for photographs. The first page of the newspaper was dominated by the news of the corruption scandal in the government of the city of Megelan, several of the members of which had been revealed to have ties with the Ligéra, the city's infamous organized crime syndicate.

The laws of the County of Megelan were less harsh than those of most of the nation, but they had no doubt that, if those politicians had been serving the people of another, more rural county, all of them would've been sentenced to death. Or worse.

Their eyes drifted to an article about the refugee crisis: the nation had carved itself a comfortable niche in the global community, and had gone from being a relative backwater to being one of the wealthiest countries in the world; it had gone from being a place of emigration to being a place of immigration; but to say that the people were comfortable with it would've been to lie. Keeping the small country's population low enough to be able to feed and support itself with what the nation had, and export the fruits of its citizens' labour as well, was the philosophy the Community of Liberty had followed ever since it threw off the foreign yoke.

Thousands upon thousands of new mouths to feed would've disrupted this careful balance; the country's draconian laws on immigration spoke for themselves. Some refugees had been accepted, after the citizens of the towns where they'd been assigned had voted in favour; all of the new arrivals possessed useful skills that would've benefited their new community of residence. Most of the refugees, however, had been prevented from crossing the three rivers that marked the border between Megelan and the rest of the world, at gunpoint.

The following article was about the humanitarian aid and the peacekeeping forces the nation had sent to the country from which the great part of that horde of desperate humanity hailed; doctors and teachers, too. Aid that had reached its destination before the World Assembly had accused the Community of Liberty of everything from human rights violations to petty selfishness due to its refusal to admit several thousand people inside its borders all at once.

Enough of this. The cyclist went straight to the sports section of the newspaper, read the analysis of the matches and races that had taken place in the previous couple of days and, not much later, they headed out and pedaled on; it was time to go home.

[Gylias]

Since everyone's moving to Tyran...

Hey Megelan!

App looks alright to me. Based on your country's language and political organisation, I think you might have a good foundation for some common history with Rapallo.