Imperial Diplomacy (Sarpedon)

Imperial Diplomacy, also known as the Caphiric Model, is a political system of diplomatic and domestic relationships between Caphiria (The Imperium) and other countries on Sarpedon (Imperial States), the vast majority of which are former territories of the Imperium. The primary functions of Imperial Diplomacy are to set forth guidelines for the relationship between Caphiria, and the space states, including Continental Obligations.

Imperial Diplomacy is not only related to the actions between states but also provides domestic political and social interventions that the members may take within Caphiria and vice versa. Within this system, Caphiria receives nominal submission from the other states in the form of Continental Obligations as well as broad military and diplomatic latitude over the actions of its neighbors. In exchange, the Imperial States significantly influence the domestic affairs of Caphiria. To the extent that Caphiria views foreign influence within the Imperial space to be unacceptable, the system also partially obligates Caphiria to defend nations on Sarpedon generally and within the space specifically from foreign interference, but also generally allows Caphiria to implement to remove foreign influences. These "rights and obligations" were among the primary drivers of the theory of Levantine Creep.

History
Caphiria's relationships with nations within the Imperial Space originate with, which stressed the hierarchical but mutual nature of client-patron relationships. These concepts exist widely throughout Caphirian society and have been employed in diplomacy since the First Imperium. Imperial Diplomacy emerged organically throughout the medieval period following the collapse of the First and Second Imperiums, establishing how the Third Imperium interacted with states and tribes sitting on previously Imperial-controlled land. Over time, the system and expectations of Imperial Diplomacy became more formalized before reaching their current state in the mid-19th century. Nearly all nations within the Imperial Space adhered by its terms, excluding Talionia - even Veltorina before the Tyrian Revolution adhered to it, despite having just won its independence in the Veltorine War of Independence fought against Caphiria. The unwillingness of the post-revolution socialist government of Veltorina to participate in the Imperial Diplomatic system was one of the leading causes of the First Great War. Following Caphiria's victory in that conflict, it began to tighten the obligations of the states within the Imperial space, which had primarily been reduced to just Aciria, Pelaxia, and Cartadania. These states began to chafe under Caphiric hegemony and prepared for the eventual opening to strike back at Caphiria, which would come in the 1930s with the Second Great War.

Between the end of the Second Great War in 1943 and the Treaty of Gornja in 1970, Caphiria was essentially excluded from the Imperial Diplomatic system. Having been defeated by a coalition that included all other remaining states in the sphere, Caphiria both lost a viable mandate for hegemony while eliminating any chance it had with productive relations with its neighbors. During this period, many of the traditional hallmarks of Imperial Diplomacy were exercised by Aciria instead within the conceptual Western Imperium. Caphirian hegemony was restored with the 1970 Treaty of Gornja, which returned Pelaxia and Volonia's recognition of Caphirian imperium. Cartadania would return in 1973. Aciria maintained its claims of Western Imperium through 2014, remaining effectively outside the system. The Assumption Accords ended claims of a separate Western Imperium and brought Aciria and Talionia back into the Imperial Diplomatic system, bringing full participation to the Imperial space for the first time in nearly a century.

Imperial space
The Imperial Space, also known in Caphiria as the "broader Empire," refers to a geographical area that represents the maximum extent of direct control by Caphiria throughout its history. Consequently, these areas are considered part of a broader "Caphiric civilization." These nations - Aciria, Pelaxia, Cartadania, Volonia, Talionia, and Caphiria itself - are the ones subject to Imperial diplomacy. The term, as well as its extent, has varied over time. Still, its current extent covers an anachronistic combination of the Third Imperium and Fourth Imperium at their respective heights. Many locations in Sarpedon - especially those in Istroya - are considered to be "adjacent to" or "in orbit of" the Imperial space without being a part of it. Nations that are part of the Imperial Space are informally called "Imperial States."

As a consequence of the development of the Imperial space, much of the infrastructure of western Sarpedon is integrated into multinational systems which tend to be centered within Caphirian territory. The economies of most of the space are also deeply integrated, and most of Caphiria's borders within the space are practically indistinguishable due to extensive economic, demographic, and other ties that have formed in border regions.

Diplomatic interactions
The most visible element of Imperial Diplomacy is the Continental Obligations, a form of symbolic acknowledgment of Caphirian hegemony as well as an act of submission and tribute to the Imperator. The Obligations serve as the central legitimizing ritual of Imperial Diplomacy, formally creating the ties under which other relationships can exist. As part of the Obligations, and in exchange for the various privileges the nations enjoy within Sarpedon, a separate agreement is arranged between Caphiria and the Obligated on "equal footing," with both parties negotiating as equals. Volonia has historically submitted to a Caphirian veto over migration agreements with other countries, and its visa and foreign travel policy are subject to Caphirian review. Pelaxia allows for the Imperial Armed Forces of Caphiria to travel through its borders with prior notice given, though it does not permit Caphirian bases within the country. Cartadania also allows the Caphirian military to transit, albeit with strict limitations. Aciria, due to its nominal status as a junior partner of Caphiria, has no outward-facing diplomatic obligation but instead has a responsibility to pursue a diplomatic solution concerning the Montanaro population in its country. Due to its non-participation in Caphirian domestic affairs and the influence of Urcea, Talionia has no specific obligation. All nations, to some extent, allow access to Caphirian corporations and economic interests that they would not otherwise allow to foreign firms.

Domestic interactions
Imperial Diplomacy allows for a broad scope of access by states within the Imperial Space to the domestic affairs of Caphiria. In contrast, Caphiria's access, in return, is limited to specific actions. States within the Imperial space are free to lobby the Government of Caphiria, contract with influential leaders and corporations, establish firms intended to exert influence over public affairs, and compete with one another for status as the most favored partner of Caphiria. All states within the Imperial space except Talionia maintain an influence with the Imperator himself. Imperial Diplomacy also allows the somewhat rarely exercised right of citizens of the space states to stand for public office in Caphiria. Informal political factions within Caphiria - as well as some of its official political parties - maintain special ties to different sponsoring nations within the Imperial space. Due to its unique status as a state in a with Urcea, Talionia receives no rights within the Caphirian political system beyond that of being able to maintain normal diplomatic relationships. Its participation within the Imperial Diplomatic system primarily relates to this and its ability to participate in shared infrastructure within the Imperial space.

Caphiria has few reciprocal rights or privileges concerning the domestic affairs of space states. Among the benefits it does enjoy, many of them are tied to specific, functional applications, such as authority over economic development projects in areas directly bordering Caphiria.

Before the Second Great War, Caphiria maintained its right to veto the selection of candidates for high office of nations within the Imperial space, a right that its neighbors rejected and was never functionally exercised. Following the War, as Imperial authority shifted to Aciria, the rights of space states in domestic affairs were limited due to Acirian claims of sovereignty, effectively leading to an imbalanced situation that contributed to the Western Imperium's end.

Interpretation
Imperial Diplomacy is viewed as an institution and set of relationships unique to Sarpedon, with participants therein viewing it either as a source of pride due to its collegiality or as a source of Caphirian dominion. Many political scientists and scholars have claimed that the permissions Imperial Diplomacy allows, as well as the general looseness of borders under its parameters, makes Caphiria "not a state as strictly understood by modern definitions," a claim which some have extended to the other members of the Imperial space.

Criticism
Imperial Diplomacy has been criticized by international observers and by several political parties within space states as being a form of "soft" domination of Sarpedon by Caphiria and a means of control over territories which it does not possess. Some political parties in Cartadania and Pelaxia in particular call for their nations' unilateral withdrawal from the system. Mainstream parties in these countries, however, favor replacing Imperial Diplomacy with continent-wide political unions modeled on the Levantine Union or similar organizations where all members are equal partners; UNESARP is the most successful example of this goal.