In real life, the United Kingdom reigned as a world superpower from 1714 to 1783 and again from 1815 to 1918/1940. Its legacy includes the worldwide acceptance of the English language, the development and cultural alteration of many African and Asian countries which later broke from it, the continued prominence of left-hand drive and the modern parliamentary democratic system.
The United States came into existence as a colonists' nation that broke off from the UK (Then still just "Great Britain") due to taxation disputes; It proceeded to conquer over a third of North America and establish its diplomatic dominance over the Americas in the span of just seventy years, and, due to a free society, a large influx of skilled European refugees and a vast amount of land and resources, managed to become a massive economic powerhouse in time for the First World War. After the Wars, the United States had become the world's most influential superpower, a position that it arguably still retains, and in those seven and a half decades has projected an enormous amount of cultural, military and political influence onto the rest of the world, even those parts of it that claim to be in opposition.
Today, the UK and the US are very different countries despite their close relationship, and are also differently positioned towards other nations. To simplify:
The US is more nationalist, maintains an ethos of personal and economic freedom and has a ridiculous, if shrinking, amount of soft power. Its citizens are brash and expressive - in all directions, might I add - and tend to travel by car. Its government is governed by a rigid constitution and is a Presidential Republic with a strong executive Head of State elected by the people/states.
The UK is more accepting of interdependence between nations, has a more expanded government that controls several important sectors of the economy and its international influence is a shadow of even the 1980s. Its citizens are quite reserved unless given several drinks and make public transport an integral part of their lives. Its government doesn't even have a written constitution and is a Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy with the Parliament-elected Head of Government holding the real executive power.
So, if the two nations exist and have similar roles in YN's world, what are YN's relations with the UK and US? Its political aspects? Cultural ones?
- Code: Select all
[b]Does the United Kingdom exist in YN's world?[/b]
[b]Are YN and the UK at peace or at war? Do they have an established diplomatic relationship?[/b]
[b]Have YN and the UK been in any wars together, whether on the same side or opposite ones?[/b]
[b]Are YN and the UK parties to any major bilateral or international treaties together?[/b]
[b]How connected are YN's and British cultures? What is the perception of British culture in YN?[/b]
[b]How are British people treated in YN?[/b]
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[b]Do the United States exist in YN's world?[/b]
[b]Are YN and the US at peace or at war? Do they have an established diplomatic relationship?[/b]
[b]Have YN and the US been in any wars together, whether on the same side or opposite ones?[/b]
[b]Are YN and the US parties to any major bilateral or international treaties together?[/b]
[b]How connected are YN's and American cultures? What is the perception of American culture in YN?[/b]
[b]How are American people treated in YN?[/b]
Here is the survey as filled out in my Nation's context:
Does the United Kingdom exist in YN's world?
Yes, although it's called the British Imperial Federation and includes Australia, most of Canada, New Zealand and a few other overseas territories that the UK does not have in real life.
Are YN and the UK at peace or at war? Do they have an established diplomatic relationship?
The German Empire and the BIF are at peace and have embassies and consulates on each other's soil - in a nutshell, the full diplomatic package that so often comes in handy during disputes.
Have YN and the UK been in any wars together, whether on the same side or opposite ones?
The two nations fought fiercely against one another in the First Great War - the first real war post-German Unification in which both were involved - with the British eventually losing after the fall of France and the unexpectedly-lost Second Battle of Jutland left Britain too vulnerable to invasion for comfort. In the 1940s, the British-influenced, African-based Rightful French Republic aided the Germans in the Second Great War, where together they defeated a Communist France. This only lead to the worsening of Anglo-German relations, however, as France flipped to the Germans soon after and the German-led European Customs Union shut Britain out of most of Europe economically. Britain was one of the few countries to back the Honeckists in the German Civil War in 1994.
Are YN and the UK parties to any major bilateral or international treaties together?
The BIF and Germany have signed many compacts on the rules of war and human rights together; however, they are not linked in any way economically, politically or militarily.
How connected are YN's and British cultures? What is the perception of British culture in YN?
Germany used to share in a lot of the British noble traditions and colonial ethics, but drifted away over time. The typical German views British people as too contradictory (With their social and personal identities typically being quite far apart) and would chastise them for an excessive interest in gossip. Britsh nobles are also regarded as significantly more archaic than German ones.
How are British people treated in YN?
Usually like every other person, although with the two nations being rivals and the last century spent in diplomatic conflict, it's not uncommon for Germans to make both personal and online/media jabs at Britons. It's also not unusual for Germans to be very insensitive about the wars they've won, the like.
Do the United States exist in YN's world?
Definitely, and it's got 57 states - the 7 new ones being almost entirely nicked off of the British. Its legal structure is practically the same as that of real-life America, but with transferable votes. Just think of the effects of that.
Are YN and the US at peace or at war? Do they have an established diplomatic relationship?
At peace and with full diplomatic functions.
Have YN and the US been in any wars together, whether on the same side or opposite ones?
The US tried briefly to intervene in the First Great War, but it backfired as the French collapsed and the Americans were left basically in enemy territory; After a costly withdrawal, they concluded a separate peace. The Americans supported the German war effort in the 2GW, were supported by the Germans in the War of 1964 against the British, and protected German interests in Asia from China during the German Civil War.
Are YN and the US parties to any major bilateral or international treaties together?
Yes, the German Empire and the USA are part of the ENATP (European-North American Trading Partnership), which provides a framework for them to keep tariffs as low as is beneficial for all parties. They both own a "piece" of the Internet, with Germany owning the European and African portion and the USA - the Americas portion. This is because both separately opened up their networking services to the public with about a three-year separation. The third portion of the global Internet is Japanese, by the way.
How connected are YN's and American cultures? What is the perception of American culture in YN?
The US had taken in many German immigrants before the late 1800s, to the point where Germans are the most common ancestors for Americans - just like in real life. Around 55 million Americans have at least one German ancestor. Those of them who still identify explicitly as "German-Americans" are reliable cultural ambassadors to Germany itself, and as such the current average German citizen is much more influenced by American dialects of English and American culture than he is by the British counterparts thereof. Students from the two cultures study in or exchange into the other country's universities on a regular basis, too. Germans view Americans as "Different but equal", a worthy culture which to them is still quite odd and outlandish. That being said, parallels have been drawn between German Kaisers and American Presidents on multiple occasions due to their extremely similar public importance.
How are American people treated in YN?
With kindness, usually. Americans are noted as being lots of fun, and the Germans are always glad to have them at parties. Due to the current closeness between Germany and America, it's common to see American specialists who work for multinationals come to Germany.