(Vision Statement) Rìoghachd Aonaichte na Gaellicia

[Gaellicia]

I envision the Rìoghachd Aonaichte na Gaellicia (United Kingdom of Gaellicia) as a once prosperous and active nation that has fallen on hard times and shrunken from the wurld stage. Gaellicia is culturally mostly Geltic with a significant indigenous minority within the nation. The RA's economy has been steadily declining since the 1980s mostly due to Government austerity and inefficiency. The fact that Gaellicia was once influential on a global scale, and is now relegated to at most regional significance has led to varying responses. There is a growing number of ethnic Gaels who are looking to the past for answers. These groups seek to glorify the Gaellicia of the past. They seek to militarize, increase the powers of the monarch (the Ríog), and even restrict who can be considered Gaellician. These voices belief more in Gael than in unity. There are other voices who say that change and reform is needed if the nation is to have a future. These voices believe in a big tent, in upturning the established order, and in embracing anyone and everyone who wants to build a 21st Century Gaellicia. Change can be dangerous however, the outcome of forging a new path cannot always be predicted. The two sides do agree one one thing: The current state of things cannot continue. Gaellicia is at a crossroads and the fate of the nation will be determined in the coming moments.

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Statistics (Subject to change depending on feedback.)

Population: 1 | 28 million

Land Area: 2 | Between 260,000 and 350,000 depending on where I end up on the map.

GDP: 1 | 10,000

Geography

Gaellicia is located in either Europa or Argis. Gaellicia is kingdom of four united nations, the Siorrachds. The Siorrachds are the Kingdoms of Prettany and Gael, the Principality of Ilwyn, and the Nunuvat lands. The RA is on a peninsula and only shares a land border with 1 nations or it is located on an island.

Prettany is a traditionally maritime and agricultural region. Three sides of it are bordered by the sea while one side is a land border with Gael and a small portion of Ilwyn. There are also some small islands that are part of Prettany. The coastline is mostly dunes and cliffs while the land border is where the rolling Pretan hills impact the highlands of Gael and the mountains of Ilwyn. The majority of Gaellicia’s agricultural sector resides in the inland parts of Prettany. The rolling hills and climate have led to very fertile soil. Prettany was once one of the largest agricultural exporters in the wurld, but, in the 21st century the region has fallen behind. A significant yield of crop is still produced, but innovations in technology and technique have passed the nation by resulting in it no longer residing in the top percentage wurld wide. The natural deep water port on Cath Bay has given Prettany a significant amount of maritime trade. The majority of Gaellicia’s maritime sector is based in Prettany. Woodlands interrupt the fertile Pretan landscape and stretch across the country. Prettany’s woodlands provided for Gaellicia’s maritime excellence during the age of sail. 

Gael comprises dramatic grassy highlands and mountains. Its terrain is cut and divided by large valleys and lochs. Gael’s coastline is also composed of many lochs and steep cliffs. One of Gaellicia’s largest naval bases is located on Gael’s coast, burrowed into the strong granite. High maintenance costs have resulted in much of the base lying cordoned off and derelict, yet the engineering marvel is a testament to the power of Gael’s gnarly terrain. The valleys and grassy highlands of Gael are home to grazing highland cattle and sheep. Though the grazing livestock are a popular image of Gael, they are actually only a small portion of the modern economy. Much of the still extant manufacturing sector of the RA is located in Gael. In the past few decades Gael has also, controversially, begun drilling and exporting natural gas from its shores. 

Ilwyn is a mountainous environment with portions sharing Gael and Prettany’s marine climate while the more northern portions experience far colder winters. Ilwyn holds large deposits of coal and slates. A significant amount of heavy industry was once located in the nation’s lower terrain, valleys, and along the Bryn river. Recent decades have seen the closure of much of the nation’s industry and coal mines. Though coal mines and slate quarries still contribute to the economy, it is a shadow of former numbers. 

The Nunuvat lands consist of tundra, rocky coast, and islands that wrap around two sides of Ilwyn and the top of Gael. Nunuvat lands are arctic and subartic in climate. Swaths of taiga and coniferous forest reach through these lands. 

Economy

Gaellicia’s economy is built on maritime trade and agriculture. Mining and heavy industry have been significant economic contributors in the past and could potentially be so in the future with investment. The RA’s shipyards have been renowned for the quality of ships produced, and though they are significantly smaller in output than historically, they continue to produce top quality and wurld renowned vessels. 

The past four and a half decades have been a period of sustained economic stagnation. To summarize, the current issues facing the nation are an anti competitive economy, resulting in poor quality goods and services, and a low supply of cash.  

Nominally the RA is a free market capitalist economy, but due to social and political structures, the economy has oligopolic elements. The presence and position of clans in Gaellician society has been disruptive to free market economics. Much of the land within the nation is owned by clans and the privileges afforded to clan members has reduced market competition. The significant position of Riogan Corporra, crown corporations, in the nation’s economy has created inefficiencies. The privileged status of clans has allowed their members to create an anti competitive economy due to easier access to Corporra information for their members. Regulating an economy and maintaining a competitive space is a vast amount of work for the Ríog and their advisors. The legislature has ultimate power of the purse, the complicated bureaucracy and vast scale of the economy for individuals of the nation’s government makes ministries sluggish and Riogan advisors detached and uninformed about economic realities. 

The dominant political force for this time period has been the ADC which has implemented a policy of austerity, limited government spending. The supply side economics of the modern ADC has created high interest rates and reduced the amount of money in the pocket of the average citizen, and thus, reduced spending overall. The average Gaellician household restricts spending to purchases of work and essential goods and services only. 

History

The modern Kingdom of Gaellicia states its founding as $year though some historians consider the modern nation to have been founded on April 4th, 1833, the date the Tshiuetin Treaty was signed. This treaty officially recognized the Nunuvat people as citizens of the nation and permitted them self governance.

In recent history the nation has seen decline. The mining industry, once a significant economic contributor has been hollowed out and what remains only produces a token amount of minerals. Much of the nation’s heavy industry has been outsourced, reducing the capabilities as well as the economic prospects of the nation. The RA was historically a notable naval and maritime power. Gaellician shipyards continue to produce excellent quality ships, however, the nation’s navy is significantly restricted in its blue water capabilities. The agriculture sector continues to be a strong economic cornerstone, however, innovation and reform is needed.

For 30 years an ethnic and sectarian conflict and war was waged in the northern reaches of the nation, with bouts of violence in major cities and locations. Violent action has been carried out by the right wing Gaelic National Front and the separatist Nunuvat Liberation Army. The former wanted to see the continued subjugation of people of the Nunuvat ethnicity while the latter sought complete independence from the RA. The political wing of the NLA, Okkar, is still present in the Dáil as a separatist and abstentionist party. The conflict was brought to an end through the New Spring Agreement of 2010.

The continued austerity and political failures of the modern ADC has created a political opening. If a coalition can be formed, the progressive wing of Gaellician politics could implement much needed reforms. 

Government and Politics

Gaellicia is a Federal Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy. The Government is divided into three levels, the Federal level, the four Siorrachds, and the Cantons within each Siorrachd.

The Federal Government of the RA comprises two distinct branches. The legislative branch, the Dáil, and the executive branch, the Riogan. The latter also oversees the judicial process of the nation. Elected representatives debate and pass laws in the Dáil while the Ríogan enforces existing law. Responsibility for managing ministries and researching policy is split between the two branches with the exact limits of each branch’s power being a matter of constant debate and interpretation throughout the RA’s history; However, the Dáil is the sole holder of the power of the purse. The nation’s Cyfansoddiad (constitution) is only semi codified. There are several major political themes that have been present throughout the history of Gaellicia. They are: the limits of the Ríog’s powers, the extent to which clans can participate in and have influence over government, the inclusion of Nunuvat in society, and the ownership and rights to use land.

Gaellicia’s government is overly bureaucratic and top heavy. Reform is needed to more clearly define the roles and responsibilities of the two branches. The most overburdened sector of the nation’s government is the ministry of the treasury. Though the ministry is headed by a Dáil selected minister, the officials in charge of the central bank of Gaellicia, which is placed under the ministry’s purview, are entirely appointed by the Ríog.

The major political parties of the RA are the center right Aon Duthaic Criosid (ADC), the center left Talamh, and the leftwing Ataqatigiit. Other parties are the green party, Okkar, Naiseanta Gaellic, and the Laird Riochdaire. 

 

Edited October 27, 2022 by Legnut (see edit history)