Arco Determinism: Difference between revisions

[[File:Cowboy 1.jpg|thumb|Arco cattle ranchers round up some of their herd in the late 1800s.]]

== Etymology and Philosophy ==

The term is essentially two distinct parts, that being Arcerion and the philosophy of Determinism. In essence, this is the philosophical doctrine that every state of affairs, including every human event, act, and decision, is the inevitable consequence of antecedent states of affairs. In layman's terms this is referenced as cause-and-effect. Arcers believe that their settlement and nation building have determined that they are the rightful owners and caretakers of much of the Southeastern Cronan Peninsula. The cultural belief itself is blended with ethnic and social values from the settlement of the Arcer plains and lowlands, in which bands of settlers would forage together and set up communities, battling disease, Indigenous peoples, wildlife, famine, and inclement weather to forge a new state. It is in this vein that the Arco people see themselves - a frontier spirit wherein their effort and toil determine them to be the civilization that has dominion over Southeastern Crona.  

The other side of Arcer Determinism's two-sided coin is conservative beliefs that place a higher value on social ties and traditional Arcer cultural norms. What this translates to is modern legislation or foreign policy being shaped almost directly, and in most cases described as linearly, by past events or cultural trends. For example, with the rise of gun crime in Oakham Governate in the 1960s due to the rise of communist and socialist gangs and revolutionaries, some called for more strict gun laws to restrict the use of weapons. This however failed overwhelmingly in the Confederate Parliament, as traditional Arcer values of firearms ownership are a key tenet of the Frontier Spirit. The emphasis on traditional values such as leadership, authority, and agrarianism. Leadership is inherent in frontier settlements, and this places an emphasis on smart, informed community leaders protecting and governing their respective jurisdictions.[[File:Northlea Flag.png|thumb|Flag of Northlea Governorate, representing the blend of Carnish Monarchy (red lion), Arco agriculture (yellow), and the Cronan landscape (green). ]]

The emphasis on decentralized governance and community consensus is no more prevalent that in the official name of Arcerion, the Confederated Provinces of Arcerion. Arcerion is technically still a grouping of provinces (the Governorates) that observe the Constitution and are joined in a common union, that to protect the fate and right to self-govern of the Arcer peoples.  

=== Overall Core Principles ===

* Limited federal or centralized government ('small government');

* Strong agrarian roots and environmental protectionism;

* Strong national security apparatus (military, gendarmerie, national intelligence services);

* Foreign policy based on a blended approach of politics, commerce, and use of force;

* Individual liberties are balanced in government with strong societal requirements;

* Strong emphasis on education (up to and including the post-secondary level);

* Caretaker or 'paternal state' philosophy decentralized to the governorate-level.

== Role in Arcer Society ==

In Arcer society the lack of a defined code has caused issues historically, with some believing that Arco Determinism has a single define Agrarian focus, wherein others believe that it relies on rapid industrialization and exploitation of the nation's natural resources. However, culturally there has always has been a focus on three main tenets: agrarianism (and herein environmentalism in the modern context), community, and family. These three tenets form a trinity upon which most of Arcerion is built. From strong families come strong communities, and strong communities form the backbone of Arcerion.  

One of the major impacts this has is the Arcer birth rate, as traditional family values have helped keep the annual birth rate at a steady 1.2-1.4, with the population not having a modern Occidental problem of declining birth rates and aging population. As well, the frontier spirit also has placed an incredibly important placement on the role of nature and the outdoors in everyday life. Arcer cities are usually greener than their Cronan counterparts, both in terms of civic amenities such as parks, public places, and waterways, and in terms of their sustainability, carbon impact, and overall ecological footprint. For example, while Easthampton's mines produce a fair amount of pollution as do the mineral refineries, the city makes efforts to ensure the air is clean and smog free. Inland, small towns have tractor parking and some of the oldest establishments in Arcerion still have hitching posts for farmers or citizens who ride into town, as seen at the Presdale Post Office.  

== Lasting Impacts and Modern Interpretations ==

In modern society there is a general trend to fall back onto the more conservative principles of Arco Determinism. Progressive movements such as socialism, communism, and new liberalism all have had starts and rather quick ends in Arcer culture. This usually ends with a dual Arco diaspora, those that were rejected from the fabric and monolith that is Arcer society, and those that are ambassadors and caretakers of national values who moved abroad to seek other opportunities or to spread such values. In modern Arcer culture, these groups are respectively called those who are 'Afly' (ie. leaving to gain extra skills or in good cultural/societal standing), or those who are 'Astray,' (those who do not consider themselves Arcer.