Grussland

Grussland, officially the Democratic Republic of Grussland (Grussland German: Demokratische Republik Grussland), is a nation in the north-west of Levantia, occupying territory north of the Immitis mountain range and bordering [tbd]. With an estimated population of just under 65 million, Grussland is a moderately sized country known for its tumultuous seas and famous with eco-tourists for its temperate rain forests, alpine mountains, and great coastal plains. The climate is generally continental and oceanic, with some alpine or tundra landscapes at higher elevations.

Originally founded in the 14th century, Grussland can trace its modern lineage to a number of small pagan kingdoms and city-states. Many of these small predecessor lands were self-declared kingdoms, principalities, or lands controlled by violent warlords, the majority of which evolved from bronze-age Germanic settlements in the resource-rich forests and foothills of the area. The capital, Hoffstadt, was founded in 215CE and was a kingdom in its own right, with political maneuvering by the ruling Anderberg dynasty leading to the foundation of Grussland.

Grussland today is a developed, industrious, and scientifically-advanced country. Its socialist economy is driven by high-tech, automotive, and other knowledge-based and capital intensive industries with tourism proving to be a major player. Socially, the people enjoy numerous personal freedoms, but the political atmosphere is more restricted. In general, the nation often ranks highly in international scientific, economic, civil, health, and happiness indexes.

Etymology
The name 'Grussland' first appeared in texts from the fifth century and originally referred to the pagan lands west of the Immitis mountain range and Aurus river, though today has expanded to cover the modern country's entire territory.

Historians and linguists believe the name is of German origin, with "gruss" referring to a common greeting in the area at the time. Given the multitude of city-state and a strong culture of hospitality, it is likely the name of "Grussland" is derived from texts referring to the area as a "land of greetings" for travelers.

History
Main article link

Prehistory
WIP -Iron age nomads

Early Settlement
Settlement started in the south of Grussland in the late bronze age and slowly spread north as agriculture and trade spread. Early settlements preferred riverbanks foothills, and settlement patterns can be traced this way gradually heading north to the coast. One theory states early Pagan merchants and storytellers brought their beliefs and agricultural practices to the region with them, which convinced the nomadic tribes to settle along predominantly river-based trade routes.

The earliest known settlement is the town of Charbon, near the southern border of Grussland. Supposedly founded in 2100BCE with the creation of a granary and several simple stone houses, the town is also the site of an early Pagan temple worshiping the god of the harvest. Temple inscriptions outline prayers and some laws regarding the grain trade; indeed, records of the granary's stock and customers reference laws written in the temple's stone. Dating around 1000BCE, these are among the earliest texts in the country.

The capital of Grussland, Hoffstadt, was itself founded in 215CE on the Bay of Klaural. Originally a port founded on a sheltered inlet, the city thrived on the wine and pottery trade. As its wealth and influence grew, Hoffstadt became a focal point for the area. The city quickly became its own independent Kingdom and the ruling dynasty became the richest and most powerful family in Grussland. The last members of the Anderberg dynasty could trace their lineage to the first King of Hoffstadt.

As an influential mercantile city with many land holdings in the area, The Kingdom of Hoffstadt later served as the seat of the Commonwealth of Crowns. This Commonwealth was founded in 968 as an assembly of local Pagan kings, princes, dukes, and so forth in response to missionary activity and Christian crusades. In order to fight the onslaught of religious soldiers, the Commonwealth of Crowns effectively raised armies from among its constituent lands to form a unified front against invaders. An elective monarchy, leadership originally rotated between the more powerful city-states on 6-year terms. In early years no household outright ruled it beyond their respective constituent lands. By the year 1000, the Commonwealth had evolved from a purely militaristic alliance to a trade and social union or sorts; it passed numerous trade laws and outright banned foreign religious worship over its constituents.

Foundation
At the Commonwealth of Crowns Conference of 1322, the Anderbergs were re-elected for a fifth consecutive 6 year term. However, by this time, many Grusslander had converted to Christianity and, pressured by a renewed onslaught of organized Christian invasions, much political maneuvering by the Anderbergs, and a ludicrous amount of noble inbreeding, the conference voted to unify the Commonwealth into a cohesive Christian Kingdom before the next scheduled conference (1328). The Treaty of Rochlitz of 1326 cemented the foundation of Grussland with the Anderbergs firmly in control.

Middle Ages
WIP -Slavery

WIP -Expansion & conflict

WIP -Christian Crusades into Grussland

Early Modern
WIP -Industrialization 18thC

WIP -Democracy 18thC from conflicts & bankruptcy?

WIP -Catastrophic foreign adventurism?

WIP -Nationalism v liberalism 19thC and new round of expansionism

Modern
WIP - 1900s & 1910s

WIP - 1920s economic boom & cultural revival

Years of contraction: 1929-1945
After the economically and socially vibrant early and mid-1920s, a poor harvest in 1929 and the early depletion of coal reserves in the early 1930s in Eastern Grussland hit the country hard. Stock sell-offs from 1929 through 1932 triggered an economic meltdown, with energy-dependent manufacturing sectors especially devastated. Wealth inequality increased rapidly over these years, as those with comfortable means were able to weather the economic turmoil and unscrupulous lending practices tied working families with untenable debts. Indeed, those with large reserves of wealth lived in relative decadence and, in some cases, depravity at the expense of those less fortunate.

Death of Rudolph & Parliamentary Rule
While known to be in generally poor health, the death of King Rudolf VI in 1936 at the age of 40 and the subsequent end of the royal line served only to compound the economic issues of the day. With no successors and only a smattering of minor nobility, the dissolution of the incredibly inbred House of Anderberg plunged the country into tumultuous parliamentary rule with frequent (and flawed) elections. Indeed, 6 general elections were held between 1936 and 1947, none of which were truly fair in terms of media coverage or ballot access.

Populist politicians on the left and right of the political spectrum used the now-ubiquitous radio to air their messages, fomenting unrest and political radicalism, creating deep divisions in society. Minority groups found themselves greatly marginalized and blamed for society's problems, though a large cohort of the unemployed and working class citizens turned to the labour movement to voice their anger and dismay. In 1945, the Social Democratic Party, Socialist Party, and Communist Party merged to become the Worker's Unity Party (WUP) which held a plurality of seats in Parliament, seizing on the popular discontent and economic inequities suffered by the masses.

People's Republic
After the 1947 election, the WUP formed the first majority government in 13 years in coalition with the Farmer's Front, an agrarian party seeking price controls. Less than year later, the government declared a People's Republic with WUP Chairman and General Secretary Werther Graf declared Premier of Grussland. Although initially promising a gradual transition to a socialist economic model, whereby industries would be nationalized but remain decentralized, the country quickly adopted a highly centralized command economy. The pace and type of change discouraged members of the Social Democratic faction of the WUP, who had felt their voices and opinions were being marginalized. Following a number of WUP purges and membership defections to upstart parties, opposition parties were banned in 1955.

While the country was surprisingly productive and advanced for a communist state, by 1980 the black market was larger than the official economy. WUP General Secretary Hans Sigmunds, who had effectively ruled the country since 1966, died in 1984 without a clear and obvious successor. This paved the way for years of factional infighting and the dissolution of the WUP as a compromise position. Hardline communists were booted to the opposition and moderate reformists took charge through a new governing coalition. In 1988, after 40 years, the Grusslander People's Republic was officially dismantled and succeeded by the Democratic Republic of Grussland, which began a gradual path of economic, political, and civil liberalization without resorting to crash capitalism.

WIP -1990s reforms

WIP -2000s & tech?

Geography
Main article link

WIP -Geography overview

WIP -Ecology

WIP -Climate & protections

Government
Main article link

Officially, Grussland is a multi-party constitutional parliamentary democracy with a decentralized executive in the form of the State Council. In practice it's a dominant-party pseudo-democracy (or hybrid regime) where opposition parties are tolerated provided they do not criticize the President of the Presidium of the Chairs of the State Council. Despite this, the media is open to report and criticize events and politicians and the people have access to foreign broadcasting. There is, however, a relatively pro-government narrative in the media.

Suffrage is universal, with any citizen aged 18 and over eligible to vote. This includes Grusslander abroad, who are automatically registered with their previous constituency. Parliament is unicameral, consisting only of the Volkskammer, and members are elected via a mixed-member proportional system; electors vote for their local MP via first-past-the-post, but each party also wins an extra number of representatives per region based on their overall share of the votes in that region. Elections must be held at least once every five years and the Volkskammer must meet four days a week for a total of 160 days a year, unless special wartime measures are implemented.

WIP -Executive

WIP -Legislative

WIP -Law & Judiciary

WIP -Politics

Administrative Subdivisions
The country is divided into 15 Districts (Bezirk), and two which each have small elected assemblies to effectively administer centrally-determined policies and spending priorities. These assemblies thus oversee a number of powers delegated by the central government (i.e. education), but the central government has authority to override the District. Each District is further divided into Counties (Landkries) and Municipalities (Gemeinde), and, while the Landkries are higher in the hierarchy than Gemeinde, the two sometimes overlap each other in terms of roles and service delivery.

Economy
Main article link - some of this overview could be placed there.

Grussland is essentially a market socialist economy with a multitude of state operated enterprises, cooperatives, and small worker-owned businesses. Previously a communist command-economy, the gradual liberalization of the 1990s sought to recognize the importance innovation and hard work by introducing some decentralization and worker ownership structures to replace the state. While still seeking to prevent the gross inequities of capitalism, market mechanisms for price setting are now the norm with profits plowed back into society.

The economy is highly digitized, with technical proficiency and AI integration creating a strong degree of efficiency and precision in timing and transactions. This technological capital enables the populace to enjoy relatively high productivity and, as such, the work week is a comparatively short 30 hours over a 5 day work week with overtime kicking in at 33 hours. Workdays are fairly flexible with some workers choosing the standard 6-hour work days and others opting for a few longer days in exchange for a shorter day or two. This is largely dependent on the operational requirements of their work.

The country operates a quasi-autarky, preferring to produce locally as much as possible, with the goal of imports and export netting out in terms of financial value. In some cases, goods are directly traded (i.e. $x million of cars for export in exchange for the equivalent value of ores or rare earth elements). Import substitution policies are common in most sectors, assuming Grussland has the capacity. Tourism is a strong and important sector, providing foreign currency to balance trade shortfalls and/or international market price fluctuations for areas in which the country actually does engage in trade.

Ownership Structures
Most medium and large companies are organized as either cooperatives or as "Publicly Owned Enterprise(s)" (Volkseigener Betrieb; abbreviated VEB). Cooperatives are wholly owned by their workers or clients (or both) and are especially common in construction, finance, mining, and agriculture. VEBs on the other hand are owned by a combination of shareholders and are typical industrial, research, medical, IT/software firms or other industries where cooperative ownership and management is generally ill advised. Foreigners cannot own a share of cooperatives or VEBs beyond their capacity as workers.

Small businesses, restaurants/cafes/pubs, and "mom & pop" shops are encouraged and are considered worker-owner-operated. While they may hire additional workers, they are subject to strict profit-sharing and pay scale regulations that, while recognizing the founder may be the hardest worker, aim to prevent large inequities.

While cooperative ownership structures are dependent on their charters, VEBs typically have the following ownership structure, with a few exceptions: VEB profits are split among shareholders. It is possible for employees and investors to outvote the government, providing a degree of independence for for VEBs. The WIB in particular acts as a national social dividend for all workers of any age and students over the age of 16. Profits from cooperatives are split among workers and members and all profits from VEBs, cooperatives, small businesses, or other dividends count towards taxable income.
 * Government of Grussland (12.5%)
 * Worker's Investment Board (12.5%)
 * State pension fund (7.5%)
 * Employees (30%)
 * Grusslander investors (including cooperatives, individuals, and other VEBs) (37.5%)

Foreign firms and goods are still an active part in the economy, but in most cases production costs must be mostly realized within Grussland through joint ventures. An example of this are blue jeans, where foreign clothing chains and brands often ship nearly completed pants for final stitching and branding to Grussland for local sale. The state or Worker's Investment Board must always be at least a plurality shareholder. The state pension fund and employee share typically bumps collective ownership to 50% +1 vote for joint ventures.

Property & Real Estate
Private property is legal, but direct land ownership is not. In other words, a building and its contents may be privately owned, but the land it sits upon is leased from the state. Mortgages are not uncommon, nor are large residential developments; construction and real-estate cooperatives are highly active. While all persons are guaranteed a home upon entering the workforce, these are typically small 1-bedroom units in medium and high density state-owned developments. Many workers upon marriage (combined incomes) or career advancement seek to move into larger units; these may be with the state or with housing cooperatives, both of which usually have a waiting list, or through private purchase/building through the real estate market. Indeed, there is a wide array of housing styles and sizes available on the "private" market. Rent seeking is illegal; there are no direct landlords beyond housing cooperatives. Families may only own two units at a time - a primary residence and either a vacation residence or a needs-based residence (for frequent remote work, familial care, etc.)

WIP -Sectors

WIP -Work guarantees

Major exports: automobiles and automotive components, precision machinery, medical equipment, dairy products, alcoholic goods, pharmaceutical products, computers and chipsets.

Major imports: automobiles and automotive components, miscellaneous consumer products, computers and chipsets, foodstuffs, oil and gas products, ores & rare earth elements.

WIP -Taxation & Finance

WIP -AI Integration

WIP -Energy

Demographics
WIP -Language: German

WIP -Ethnicity & breakdown

WIP -Religion

WIP -LGBTQIA+

Culture
WIP -Overview: has an open-minded and generally relaxed culture. The people have relatively inclusive and neighbourly attitudes with a strong tradition of sharing food and drinks. Indeed, the people take pride in their good food and high quality beers and wines.

WIP - Early culture:

-Paganism/East Gothic Faith

-Slavery

-In more primitive times, human sacrifices were made to various gods and deities. Human sacrifice was largely forgotten in the region by the time the Kingdom of Hoffstadt formed in 215, though some areas may have continued the practice sporadically. The founding articles of the Commonwealth of Crowns of 968, which formed a coalition of local kingdoms, principalities, and city-states, explicitly forbade the practice in reaction to a popular fear that marauding Christian crusaders would crucify people in the name of their lord and savior. This belief was unfounded but illustrates the thinking of the time.

WIP -Cuisine: Wine and meals, cheese/baguettes/cured meats and snacks, work ethic, mountains and culture, etc.

WIP -Natural landscapes: mountains, forest mythology

WIP -Art, Music, Literature

WIP -Religion: Surpression under People's Republic

WIP -Education & Healthcare

WIP -Media: The media is open to report and criticize events and politicians. The people have access to foreign broadcasting. There is, however, a relatively pro-government narrative in the media.

WIP -Effects of Socialism/Communism: work ethic & balance, cultural healing

Military
Grussland has a relatively efficient and advanced, albeit small, military with a budget equivalent to about 0.7% of GDP. The focus is on defense and advanced warning capabilities over offensive capability. The country officially follows a policy of self-defense and neutrality. There are approximately 25,000 active military personnel 10,000 reservists and conscription has been phased out.

Infrastructure
WIP -Transportation: Bahn&Autobahn

WIP -Communications