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===Early Modern=== | ===Early Modern=== | ||
The turn of the 14th century established the Kingdom of Septemontes as a major component of western Almadaria; the turn of the 16th century established it as a major power of Vallos. The | The turn of the 14th century established the Kingdom of Septemontes as a major component of western Almadaria; the turn of the 16th century established it as a major power of Vallos. Bolstered by a close and bordering on parternalistic relationship with the Vagercatores, or Merchant Kingdoms, and itself under the maritime umbrella of the [[Oustec]], the Kingdom of Septemontes traded along the western shores of [[Vallos]], reaching even far enough to access the sophisticated luxury resources of mainland [[Sarpedon]]. Silver, limes and spices, and leathers from the burgeoning rancher culture forming in the Astol Plains were loaded onto indigenously-built trade ships, sent across the sea in exchange for luxury textiles, new crops, and ideas readily taken in by the advantage-seeking Kingdom of Septemontes. The dogma of the Kingdom was changed, and with the Catholic Church and increasing sophistication of the monarchy, the newly-coronated House of Duque seemingly embraced the example of the [[House de Weluta|de Welutas]]. The Kingdom of Septemontes, under Asunción Duque I and Asunción Duque II, underwent reform to streamline royal authority within the Kingdom and amalgamate its constituents, including the Kingdom of Auctodoria, the Vagercatores, and more recent territorial additions. | ||
Riding the boom in prosperity in the early half of the 1500s, the Kingdom of Septemontes set its sights to Vallos as a whole. Near-modern [[Oustec|Oustecian]] ships loaned in exchange for Septemontes textiles and cattle bolstered the navy of the Kingdom, giving them an edge against what was perceived to be the most logical route for expansion; the Polynesians. The extent of the so-called 'Polynesian Kingdoms' as they were homogenously called, stretched south beyond the territory of the [[Neo-Tainean Empire]] and the Gulf of Natsolea which until that point had been the foremost barrier to invasion, and with the land also came cash crops, more mineral wealth, and labor (which beyond the economic benefit, also lay a reward in converting the heathens). The 'Polynesian Kingdoms' were primarily the Riiti Kingdom in the north, the Poutu Kingdoms in the east, and Whakaparu Kingdom in the southwest; the first came under attack in 1553, starting the [[Polynesian Wars]] (1553-1668). Unlike earlier conquests of Septemontes, the cultural and religious differences led to a drastically different result. The soldiery were not only warriors, but explorers and proponents of Catholicism; conversion and massacre went hand in hand. The Royal Army of Septemontes sent heavily armed raiders that easily overwhelmed their southern neighbors, weakened from lack of trade and the Septemontes advantage of gunpowder and horses, as a vanguard for the settlers, missionaries, and administrators that followed. | |||
The relative success of the Polynesian Wars bolstered the image of the Kingdom of Septemontes, allowing ''Rei'' Asunción Duque II to incorporate the Neo-Tainean Empire under their tutelage through the Barrienda Compact of 1588 and expand their influence over Vallos subcontinent. Riding this wave of power and influence, the Reis of Septemontes rapidly involved themselves, mostly in conflicts, in the affairs of Vallos as a whole, ranging from interventions on behalf of the Kingdom of Oustec to participation in the Southern Route, often selling Polynesians conquered during war to depopulate and remove resistance to Septemontes settlement. | |||
Meanwhile, many monarchs of the House of Duque chose to look inward. Against the backdrop of expansionism and prosperity, Catholicism became more of a driving force in Septemontes. In order to bridge the divide between the Tainean and ex-Latin populations, the Catholic Church of Almadaria in full support with the House of Duque sought to embrace the hybrid culture of the two living in Septemontes lands; this new force, compacted around the Church, became ‘cuasliatino’. The Decree of Asunción Duque I of 1538 made Latino-Tainean the language of the royal court and that of the land, though often pidgins between Latin and Tainean languages were used in day-to-day life. Developing in tandem, however, with the cultural programs and movements of Cuasilatino-ism and the ethnic alliance between Tainean and Latin was a more volatile racial supremacist ideology predicating itself on Cuasilatino– in this view, Cuasilatinos were bestowed the right to rule over the stretch of Undecimvirate-controlled Vallos (as there were no direct, ‘pure’ descendents of the Latin invaders), the evidence of this being the success of rapidly-unifying Septemontes over all other groups in Vallos with the rise of the pirate kingdoms. Moreover, the ''Rei'' of Septemontes, by the workings of the court, was not necessarily a privilege afforded to royal heritage but rather on ethnic grounds– hence the usage of common names in their rulers. This worked to further solidify the Kingdom by legitimizing itself not only on religious but racial grounds. | |||
This is not to say that, despite the outgrouping of all others, that the ethnic alliance that fell under the umbrella ‘Cuasilatino’ was by any means on even ground. ''Rei'' Godofredo Velasquez (1619-1649) instituted a system of ''Herasure'', or ‘Fairness’, which is to mean a system of preferentially appointing fair-skinned (typically those that fall more on the ‘Latin’ side of the Cuasilatino spectrum) denizens over their more Tainean counterparts. This policy, eventually turned ''de facto'' law of the land, extended towards even provincial administrators and bureaucrats, reserving most government positions for Latin-passing subjects. This pressed many Taineans, mixed Cuasilatinos, and long-since naturalized Polynesians to the bottom of the social hierarchy that extended from the royal gardens to agricultural settlements. This system of discrimination was especially prominent in the unification of the Neo-Tainean Empire, where many Neotaineans saw their lands seized and their status lower than even the Kingdom of Septemontes’ Taineans. | |||
====Oustec Entanglements==== | ====Oustec Entanglements==== | ||
The positive relationship between the Kings of Oustec and the Reis of Septemontes was important to both, but it necessarily demanded compromise on both sides. Security on their southern and northern frontiers respectively was a mutual goal; in 1598 the Kingdom of Septemontes lended portions of its Royal Army to the capture and handoff of Arona. Once this was completed, and Septemontes looked beyond its Polynesian borderlands, the tax instituted by Oustec on their foreign policy became their agricultural support for their ally and involvement in their wars. In 1601, the Kingdom of Septemontes entered the long-running Levantine Resistance War (1598-1684), a low-intensity conflict against encroaching Burgundii groups on the side of the Kingdom of Oustec. Meanwhile, | |||
====Barrienda Compact and Unification==== | ====Barrienda Compact and Unification==== | ||
====Meridonial War and Collapse of the House of Duque==== | |||
===New Republic=== | ===New Republic=== | ||
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===Executive=== | ===Executive=== | ||
The [[1995 Constitution of Almadaria]] re-establishes the Executive Branch as headed by a popularly elected President, who selects their Vice President and cabinet. As a balance to the judicial branch, the Ministry of Justice (clearly delineated under the executive branch), responsible for areas of national law enforcement and administration of law, is headed by the Attorney General, answers to and represents the [[First Court of Almadaria]] in Presidential affairs. | The [[1995 Constitution of Almadaria]] re-establishes the Executive Branch as headed by a popularly elected President, who selects their Vice President and cabinet. As a balance to the judicial branch, the Ministry of Justice (clearly delineated under the executive branch), responsible for areas of national law enforcement and administration of law, is headed by the Attorney General, answers to and represents the [[First Court of Almadaria]] in Presidential affairs. The Executive Branch exists in a state of dual legitimacy with the Legislative branch, both having democratic features and the ability to shape policy. The constitutional amendments caused by the 1995 Constitutional Plebiscite shaped this relationship to have the President be more subservient to the National Legislative Council, largely removing the veto power of the President for bills, creating a need for the President to form close relationships with their opposite, the Council Governor, and thereby preventing large divisions in government. Despite this, the President is still solely responsible for forming government, though as previously mentioned, unapproved Cabinet choices or policy decisions would lead to the CLN severely limiting the power of the Executive, reducing the position's powers to stalling actions. | ||
The President of Almadaria, serving as head of state and head of government, is elected by popular vote in a nonpartisan 'rat-cage' election to serve a single five-term term, a precedent established in the so-called [[1995 Constitution of Almadaria|'stripping down']] of the executive. At the regional level, executive power is vested in Provincial Governors (Almadarian: prefecto), then municipal ''alcaldes'' (mayors). | The President of Almadaria, serving as head of state and head of government, is elected by popular vote in a nonpartisan 'rat-cage' election to serve a single five-term term, a precedent established in the so-called [[1995 Constitution of Almadaria|'stripping down']] of the executive. At the regional level, executive power is vested in Provincial Governors (Almadarian: prefecto), then municipal ''alcaldes'' (mayors). | ||
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The Cabinet of Almadaria is made up of nine ministries, whose heads are selected, without Legislative veto, by the President. The Ministries and their senior official serve not only as administrators of their respective national focuses, but in an advisory role to the President and Vice President in implementing policy. Subject to frequent government restructuring, the members of the Cabinet as of 2032 are: the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs]], the [[Ministry of Trade]], the [[Ministry of Environmental and Resource Concerns]], the [[Ministry of Defense]], the [[Ministry of Science and Technology]], the [[Ministry of Culture and Tourism]], the [[Ministry of Justice]], the [[Ministry of Education]], and the [[Ministry of the Interior]]. | The Cabinet of Almadaria is made up of nine ministries, whose heads are selected, without Legislative veto, by the President. The Ministries and their senior official serve not only as administrators of their respective national focuses, but in an advisory role to the President and Vice President in implementing policy. Subject to frequent government restructuring, the members of the Cabinet as of 2032 are: the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs]], the [[Ministry of Trade]], the [[Ministry of Environmental and Resource Concerns]], the [[Ministry of Defense]], the [[Ministry of Science and Technology]], the [[Ministry of Culture and Tourism]], the [[Ministry of Justice]], the [[Ministry of Education]], and the [[Ministry of the Interior]]. | ||
===Legislative=== | ===Legislative=== | ||
The [[National Legislative Council]] is the sole national legislative body of [[Almadaria]]. As a unicameral entity, the National Legislative Council (CLN) consists of a frequently-held, XXX-seat convocation. The seats on the CLN are elected democratically from | The [[National Legislative Council]] is the sole national legislative body of [[Almadaria]]. As a unicameral entity, the National Legislative Council (CLN) consists of a frequently-held, XXX-seat convocation. The seats on the CLN are elected democratically from provincial districts every two years. Ideally a proportional representative system, the party makeup of the CLN is directly related to the winnings of those parties in provincial elections (as there are no legislative bodies in Departments); even against one another. For better or for worse, this 'rat-cage' electoral process prevents urban population buildup from overwhelming the legislature due to forced party infighting to make the first four candidates 'past-the-post'-- this also makes it more practical for elected parties to form ever-shifting coalitions in order to form government. Departments, having no organic legislature, source legal authority from the National Legislative Council while having vested executive power from the President. | ||
The National Legislative Council is presided over by the Council Governor, voted into power by the unicameral body, in order to oversee the institution and the management of its numerous parasite agencies. In order to be eligible for Council Governor, one must have already been elected into the CLN. There are no term lengths. The Council Governor is held responsible by the larger legislature, ensuring flexible and responsive representation of the will of the chamber. The Council Governor is able to control the agenda of legislation, which is voted upon in assembly and then referred to the Executive to pass the bill. | The National Legislative Council is presided over by the Council Governor, voted into power by the unicameral body, in order to oversee the institution and the management of its numerous parasite agencies. In order to be eligible for Council Governor, one must have already been elected into the CLN. There are no term lengths. The Council Governor is held responsible by the larger legislature, ensuring flexible and responsive representation of the will of the chamber. The Council Governor is able to control the agenda of legislation, which is voted upon in assembly and then referred to the Executive to pass the bill. Prior to 1995, a 60% bill approval rate in the CLN was needed in order to override a presidential veto; now, the . | ||
The large body of the National Legislative Council is only summoned in its entirety for major policy proposals; otherwise, it is not uncommon for handfuls of councilmen/women to meet in committees, smaller semi-permanent organizations to research and develop policy. Most of these committees are impermanent, although there are committees, named [[Popular Agencies]], which are long-standing; many of these exist as oversight bodies and liaisons to their executive Ministry counterpart, though other concern standing issues, including ones such as anticorruption, intelligence oversight, and constitutional debate. | The large body of the National Legislative Council is only summoned in its entirety for major policy proposals; otherwise, it is not uncommon for handfuls of councilmen/women to meet in committees, smaller semi-permanent organizations to research and develop policy. Most of these committees are impermanent, although there are committees, named [[Popular Agencies]], which are long-standing; many of these exist as oversight bodies and liaisons to their executive Ministry counterpart, though other concern standing issues, including ones such as anticorruption, intelligence oversight, and constitutional debate. | ||
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===Federal subdivisions=== | ===Federal subdivisions=== | ||
At the national level, Almadaria is divided into twelve Departments and one capital district, separate from the municipality it forms. The departments are divided into provinces, ran by prefects (Almadarian: ''prefectos''). These are further divided into subnational entities of municipal districts, or municipalities. | At the national level, Almadaria is divided into twelve Departments and one capital district, separate from the municipality it forms. The departments are divided into provinces, ran by prefects (Almadarian: ''prefectos''). These are further divided into subnational entities of municipal districts, or municipalities. The [[Pardos Act of 1997]] reformed the system in the cases of low-population municipalities to fit together in larger municipal systems in order to better distribute funds, leading to the derisive call, "''Uno freno, doce caballos''" (one bit, twelve horses). | ||
Each of the levels has a local government with a governor (in provinces, prefects; municipalities, alcaldes), though deprived of legislative bodies. At sub-national levels, most positions are directly elected, unlike the President's Cabinet. | Each of the levels has a local government with a governor (in provinces, prefects; municipalities, alcaldes), though deprived of legislative bodies. At sub-national levels, most positions are directly elected, unlike the President's Cabinet. | ||
===Politics=== | ===Politics=== | ||
The voting age in Almadaria is set at 18, having traditionally been set at 25 until the mid-twentieth century. The existence of a unitary legislature simplifies and galvanizes voter participation around singular elections and candidates, where party politics largely come into play. The National Legislative Council is divided at any one time, necessitating the creation of coalitions to win a majority of the legislature, decisively choose a candidate for Council Governor with which to introduce and pass policy. The 1995 Constitutional Plebiscite revolutionized the political landscape of Almadaria, breaking the deadlock between the emplaced and traditionally conservative [[Valverdian Popular Front]] and the shackled and traditional opposition party of the [[Almadarian National Union]]. The changing of the electoral process signaled an end to the VPF domination of government and thrust the legislature into a multi-party democratic system. Forming into coalitions with similar-policy parties (such as the center-right [[Democratic Liberties Alliance]]) not only ensures smaller or similar parties a higher chance to win government office, but also serves to exclude extremes (such as the right-wing [[Liberal Party (Almadaria)|Liberal Party]] or the left-wing [[Civic National Party]]) from controlling significant portions of government. | |||
The current state of affairs of the legislature shows the major poles of power; that being the big-tent left-wing [[Almadarian National Union]] facing off between the variable makeup of the [[Democratic Liberties Alliance]] coalition, optionally including the minority issues-focused [[Justice and Development]] party and swing [[Congress of Freedom]] party depending on policy focuses. With the founding of the [[Liberal Party (Almadaria)|Liberal Party]] in 1982 under the right-wing government and the increasingly extremist views enshrined by the party platform, it has created a debate in constitutional and legislative circles whether the government has the ability to ban political parties (even if members of that party have won local, and even Presidential office). | |||
===Foreign Affairs=== | ===Foreign Affairs=== | ||
===Military=== | ===Military=== | ||
Established by the Constitution of Almadaria, the basis of national defense is embodied by the [[Armed Forces of Almadaria]] (FAA). Tracing its lineage from the twentieth-century Republican Army and the Royal Army of Septemontes, the Armed Forces of Almadaria comprises of the Almadarian Land Forces, the Navy, and the Air Forces as its main components. Control of the FAA lies under the jurisdiction of the President and the [[Ministry of Defense (Almadaria)|Ministry of Defense]], though as an institution it is obliged to defend and protect the Constitution. | |||
==Demographics== | ==Demographics== | ||
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==Economy== | ==Economy== | ||
Almadaria has an emerging, upper middle-income mixed-market economy, ranked as the 17th largest economy, or 19th largest by GDPPC. The Almadarian economy is highly developed, with an equally as high standard of living. This is helped in part by policy-minded government intervention by the Ministries of Trade and Ministry of Environmental and Resource Concerns. As well, due to the government's policy of courting foreign investment, the Almadarian currency sports a high [[:en:Purchasing_power_parity|PPP]]; since late 20th century, the Almadarian [[Valverde]] has been a competitive currency on the foreign exchange, hovering near or around the value of a Levantine [[Taler]]. Foreign investment is partly incentivized and partly kept under control through the [[International Trade Interest Regime]] (ITIR/RICI); this policy establishes laissez-faire geographic zones for foreign companies to operate, with the added benefits of exemption from value-added taxes, among others. This makes it possible for domestic businesses to operate without strangulation from their foreign competition. Almadaria scores well on the Human Development Index, is known for its inventive | Almadaria has an emerging, upper middle-income mixed-market economy, ranked as the 17th largest economy, or 19th largest by GDPPC. The Almadarian economy is highly developed, with an equally as high standard of living. This is helped in part by policy-minded government intervention by the Ministries of Trade and Ministry of Environmental and Resource Concerns. As well, due to the government's policy of courting foreign investment, the Almadarian currency sports a high [[:en:Purchasing_power_parity|PPP]]; since late 20th century, the Almadarian [[Valverde]] has been a competitive currency on the foreign exchange, hovering near or around the value of a Levantine [[Taler]]. Foreign investment is partly incentivized and partly kept under control through the [[International Trade Interest Regime]] (ITIR/RICI); this policy establishes laissez-faire geographic zones for foreign companies to operate, with the added benefits of exemption from value-added taxes, among others. This makes it possible for domestic businesses to operate without strangulation from their foreign competition. Almadaria scores well on the Human Development Index, is known for its inventive and internationally competitive financial services and banking, which operate in cooperation with both the Almadarian government as well as having influences in the [[Vallosian Economic Association]]. | ||
A proponent of economic liberalism from its foundation, Almadaria has formed a cornerstone and historical anchor of the economic heart of [[Vallos]] when its primary peers suffered from instability. Almadaria's (formerly the Kingdom of Septemontes) lasting economic centrality to Vallos and sweeping development occurred in the 18th and 19th centuries as a result of the country's role in [[the Southern Route]], the cause of many historical controversies. In the modern era, Almadaria has been a founding member of the [[Vallosian Economic Association]] (VEA), as well as signatories to [[PROSPER Program]] and other international initiatives. | |||
A | A major controversy in the calculation of economic wellness of Almadaria is the inclusion of the Department of Capiraso, a political department located in the larger Carrediaz/Karetia'asu region. This region has historically experienced significant political and criminal turmoil and additionally a low-intensity conflict since the mid-2020's, largely in the wake of the start of the [[Akanatoa War]]. This instability, despite the intervention of state forces, has significantly degraded the economic well-being of the area compared to the rest of Almadaria. Many voices in legislature have called for its exclusion from official statistics, and even censuses -- others have called for its exclusion from the nation as a whole. | ||
=== Employment, Growth Rate, and Inflation === | === Employment, Growth Rate, and Inflation === | ||
The LFPR (labor force participation rate) since 2010 for Almadaria has hovered around 83.2%, or a labor pool of approximately 40,600,000, largely in part due to early employment (the average Almadarian typically acquires a job around age 16) and an abundant minimal-labor job market which suits itself for longer life and later retirement. Since the economic recovery from the 2018 recession, unemployment has maintained consistent around 11%, contributed to by expansive government-funded social networks, including healthcare. Inflation has historically been a problem of the Almadarian economy, afflicting the nation periodically in the 20th Century, but increased financialization and government regulation have minimized the variation in value of the [[Valverde]], limiting inflation by 3.55% every year. Growth in the public sector of the economy typically trails behind the normally-successful private sector, due to government focus and investment being prioritized there. | The LFPR (labor force participation rate) since 2010 for Almadaria has hovered around 83.2%, or a labor pool of approximately 40,600,000, largely in part due to early employment (the average Almadarian typically acquires a job around age 16) and an abundant minimal-labor job market which suits itself for longer life and later retirement. Since the economic recovery from the 2018 recession, unemployment has maintained consistent around 11%, contributed to by expansive government-funded social networks, including healthcare. Inflation has historically been a problem of the Almadarian economy, afflicting the nation periodically in the 20th Century, but increased financialization and government regulation have minimized the variation in value of the [[Valverde]], limiting inflation by 3.55% every year. Growth in the public sector of the economy typically trails behind the normally-successful private sector, due to government focus and investment being prioritized there. | ||
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===Industries and Sectors=== | ===Industries and Sectors=== | ||
The services sector of the Almadarian economy is its strongest, led first and foremost by its financial services industry, as well as the telecommunications industry and information technology industry, followed closely by a mature retail industry and real estate market. Initially agricultural, Almadaria experienced a brief period of industrialization before rapidly financializing in the later period of the 20th Century. The core of the sudden shift towards financialization lies in the early origins of the Almadarian banking system in the ''Vagercatores'', or the Merchant Kingdoms, that emerged after the fall of the Caphirian Undecimvirate, with the first bank in Almadaria founded in Interumina in 1549. After the [[Second Great War]], the Edmundo Virgen Administration (1948-58) led the charge towards increased financialization of the economy in an attempt to sidestep increasing agricultural and mineral preponderance of Almadaria's neighbors and the developed and first-class manufacturing economies of the Burgoignac [[Equatorial Ostiecia]]. This way, necessary political and societal reforms that made up President Virgen's administrative platform could be funded without being dependent on mineral, energy, or up-till-then uncompetitive industries. It was during this time the CLN passed several banking secrecy laws in the 1950's, which began to attract futures contracts for the real mineral resources of Almadaria. The increased investment was then used to double down on financial infrastructure, beginning the so-called cycle of a 'runaway' financial economy while the government used the dividends for small, sophisticated projects. | |||
==== Agriculture and Fishing ==== | |||
==== Mining ==== | |||
==== Energy ==== | |||
==== Manufacturing ==== | |||
==== Construction ==== | |||
==== Financial Services ==== | |||
The financial services economy collects the lion's share of domestic and foreign investment, growth, and policy focus. There are more than 411 distinct financial firms and cooperatives in Almadaria, from which come seven of the ten richest Almadarian citizens. The financial services come primarily in the form of banking in its commercial and investment forms, as well as financial exports, insurance, foreign exchange brokerage, as well as advising and analysis. [[Grupo Caballero]], an Almadarian firm worth 34.6 billion [[Universal Standard dollar|USD]], provides accounting services to international organizations such as the [[Vallosian Economic Association]]. | |||
==== Telecommunications ==== | |||
==== Information Technology ==== | |||
==== Retail ==== | |||
==== Real Estate ==== | |||
==== Education ==== | |||
==== Research and Development ==== | |||
==== Public Sector ==== | |||
Transportation, public health and healthcare | |||
{{Vallos topics}} | |||
[[Category: Countries]] | [[Category: Countries]] | ||
[[Category: Vallos]] | [[Category: Vallos]] | ||
[[Category: IXWB]] | [[Category: IXWB]] | ||
{{Template:Award winning article}} | |||
[[Category:2023 Award winning pages]] | |||