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While the constitutional reform was underway, Torje was undertaking secret negotiations with [[Caphiria]] to rebuild relations with its northern neighbor. Technical and economic assistance from Levantia had dwindled since 1960 and had ceased with beginning of [[Operation Kipling]], and the benefits to Volonia were dwindling. Trade with Caphiria would significantly boost the Volonian economy. Torje extracted a promise from Caphiria to recognize Volonia's sovereignty and even issue a statement of apology for the Era of Retribution and atrocities committed during the [[Ash War]]. With a popular mandate established, Torje announced on 18 August 1970 that Volonia would be leaving the [[Levantia and Odoneru Treaty Association]] and would no longer recognize the [[Emperor of Aciria]] as worthy of [[Continental Obligations]]. Volonia would be joining the new [[Continental Diplomatic Arrangement Organization]] with [[Caphiria]] and [[Pelaxia]] and would offer its obligations to the [[Imperator]] once more. While this decision was controversial, and the United Volonia Movement lost its majority in the House of Tribunes in the 1974 election, the economic benefits to Volonia were undeniable. Torje remained in power through the 1986 elections, when he retired. Despite the limitations of the Constitution, Torje received considerable criticism for his heavy handed authority exercised over the government of Volonia, and many modern scholars believe the "true" democratic era only began with the inauguration of the first non-UVM National Tribune in 1987. | While the constitutional reform was underway, Torje was undertaking secret negotiations with [[Caphiria]] to rebuild relations with its northern neighbor. Technical and economic assistance from Levantia had dwindled since 1960 and had ceased with beginning of [[Operation Kipling]], and the benefits to Volonia were dwindling. Trade with Caphiria would significantly boost the Volonian economy. Torje extracted a promise from Caphiria to recognize Volonia's sovereignty and even issue a statement of apology for the Era of Retribution and atrocities committed during the [[Ash War]]. With a popular mandate established, Torje announced on 18 August 1970 that Volonia would be leaving the [[Levantia and Odoneru Treaty Association]] and would no longer recognize the [[Emperor of Aciria]] as worthy of [[Continental Obligations]]. Volonia would be joining the new [[Continental Diplomatic Arrangement Organization]] with [[Caphiria]] and [[Pelaxia]] and would offer its obligations to the [[Imperator]] once more. While this decision was controversial, and the United Volonia Movement lost its majority in the House of Tribunes in the 1974 election, the economic benefits to Volonia were undeniable. Torje remained in power through the 1986 elections, when he retired. Despite the limitations of the Constitution, Torje received considerable criticism for his heavy handed authority exercised over the government of Volonia, and many modern scholars believe the "true" democratic era only began with the inauguration of the first non-UVM National Tribune in 1987. | ||
===Modern era=== | ===Modern era=== | ||
Volonia's modern period is traditionally attributed to the victory of the Justice and Progress Party, the first party besides the United Volonia Movement to elect a National Tribune in the history of the nation. The first decades of this period largely focused on institutional reforms. The incoming Justice and Progress Party found that, though the nation had shifted to democracy, many state contractors and benefactors of public projects had been politically connected UVM members or their friends and allies, and as a result, the nation's institutional outcomes were weak in many sectors, including healthcare, education, and the economy. The significant infrastructure investments from abroad in the 1950s had been largely consumed as {{wp|Graft (politics)|graft}}, leaving the nation's rail networks, ports, and highways in much worse condition than the public was even aware of. The 1990s in Volonia saw a dual focus on new investments in these sectors as well as a sweeping and controversial anti-corruption campaign. The UVM and other minority parties criticized the mass firings and investigations as politically motivated witch hunts. Several highly publicized incidents of Justice and Progress Party members investigating and prosecuting their political enemies were recorded, but by 2000 most international observers suggested corruption in Volonia's political administration had been greatly reduced. Infrastructure, education, healthcare, and other similar social institutions had been greatly transformed in the intervening decade and a half. Despite these successes, the often caustic approach of the Justice and Progress Party to reform alienated many voters who sought normalcy and stability, and the United Volonia Movement won a landslide victory in 2002. The half | Volonia's modern period is traditionally attributed to the victory of the Justice and Progress Party, the first party besides the United Volonia Movement to elect a National Tribune in the history of the nation. The first decades of this period largely focused on institutional reforms. The incoming Justice and Progress Party found that, though the nation had shifted to democracy, many state contractors and benefactors of public projects had been politically connected UVM members or their friends and allies, and as a result, the nation's institutional outcomes were weak in many sectors, including healthcare, education, and the economy. The significant infrastructure investments from abroad in the 1950s had been largely consumed as {{wp|Graft (politics)|graft}}, leaving the nation's rail networks, ports, and highways in much worse condition than the public was even aware of. The 1990s in Volonia saw a dual focus on new investments in these sectors as well as a sweeping and controversial anti-corruption campaign. The UVM and other minority parties criticized the mass firings and investigations as politically motivated witch hunts. Several highly publicized incidents of Justice and Progress Party members investigating and prosecuting their political enemies were recorded, but by 2000 most international observers suggested corruption in Volonia's political administration had been greatly reduced. Infrastructure, education, healthcare, and other similar social institutions had been greatly transformed in the intervening decade and a half. Despite these successes, the often caustic approach of the Justice and Progress Party to reform alienated many voters who sought normalcy and stability, and the United Volonia Movement won a landslide victory in 2002. With corruption having been mostly eliminated, the Justice and Progress Party became victims of their own success, as reform issues were no longer a winning political issue. The party dissolved in 2010, with many of its key constituencies moving to the rival United Volonia Movement or the upstart Commonwealth Party. | ||
The decade and a half of reform lead to significant social and cultural changes within Volonia, as the economic returns of democracy and liberalization finally came to fruition in the early 1990s. This era saw the rise of major sports leagues within Volonia as well as the levels of disposable income necessary for the pursuit of popular media forms, including a television and novel writing boom in the mid-1990s. During this period, popular [[Music in Urcea|Urcean music]] began to spread to the country, becoming popularized and adapted by local artists. | |||
==Government and politics== | ==Government and politics== | ||