Region/Arctic

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The Independent Region of the
Arctic

photo 320px-Arctic_Govt_Ban_zps2ec98b06.png

photo 150px-New_Arctic_Flag_zps030e6890.png photo 110px-Arctic_COA_zps387111b6.png
Regional Flag Regional Coat of Arms
Regional Motto:
The land whose skin is of ice but whose heart is of fire.
Economic Statistics NSEconomy
Forum Forum Link
Time Zone UTC +0
photo Wa_member_zps802146cc.gif 10 Nations
Region Founded November 14, 2004
Founder The Kingdom of The Ice Bears
Delegate The Far North Republic of Crockerland
Sovereign Nations (January 2020) 40 nations

The Arctic is a region located at the northernmost part of the Earth. Founded by The Ice Bears in November of 2004, it is one of the oldest regions in NationStates. The region as a whole includes parts of North America, Eurasia, Europe, and major outlying islands.
Socially and politically, the Arctic region supports a wide range of territories and states, although much of its regional territory can be described as subarctic. The Arctic region is unique among Earth's ecosystems. The native cultures in the region range from the Nordic, Inuit, Evenki, and Ugric peoples. These peoples and latter settlers have adapted to conditions most would deem unsuitable. Life in the Arctic includes organisms living in the ice, zoo-plankton and phytoplankton, fish and marine mammals, birds, land animals, plants, and human societies.

Etymology

The word Arctic comes from the Greek ἀρκτικός (arktikos) meaning, "near the Bear, arctic, northern," which comes from the word ἄρκτος (arktos), meaning bear. The name refers either to the constellation Ursa Major, the "Great Bear", which is prominent in the northern portion of the celestial sphere, or to the constellation Ursa Minor, the "Little Bear", which contains Polaris, the North Star.

Geography

The Arctic’s boundaries have historically fluctuated with the rise and fall of member nations. The region is centered on the North Pole, and its southern edges extend to include roughly all land above 55 degrees north latitude. Some more southerly areas, notably the Korean Peninsula, are often identified with the region.
Terrain in Arctic varies widely among different geographic sub-regions. Much of the region is covered in ice sheet, tundra, taiga, and steppe, with a number of rivers, lakes, glaciers, and mountain ranges punctuating the landscape. Permafrost is a common soil feature. Although the region is developed and relatively populous, many member nations take environmental conservation very seriously, and the geography still retains its wild and remote character.

History

The Arctic is varied and is not defined by time. Its history has to date been comprised of five eras, defined by the prominence (or interceding lack) of a dominant political order.

First Era: The Polar Union

The first major era, brought on in large part by Mark Wung's reforms of Prussiatopia, was one in which communism was by and large the only ideology endorsable within the region. This was combined with a huge industrialization program to raise Arctic from the prehistoric conditions that had existed since its founding. From Prussiatopia, the word of industrialization and communism spread throughout the Arctic and the polar world. During this time, the Arctic was the center of the Polar Union, which supported the prevailing communist ideology.
During the first era, the schism between Prussiatopia and Freetopia occurred, an event which still has a role in the region’s political situation. After the founding nations of Freetopia were established in the Arctic, tensions were high with Prussiatopia, which the Freetopians claimed held too much power within the region. After many debates and heated arguments between the politicians of both sides, the Freetopian founders left the Arctic to found Freetopia in an attempt to put their more liberal political views into practice. Freetopia was for some time allied with the Arctic, but it suffered decline and has faded into obscurity.
The Polar Union eventually collapsed under the leadership of Itsmineallmine (a successor nation to Prussiatopia) and the new nation of Trueysingi Audjofur. The Union was reorganized as the Polar Congress, which ultimately failed. After a vote led by Trueysingi Audjofur the Polar Congress was renamed the Polar Monarchy. This reform was short-lived; within 5 NationStates years Itsmineallmine had regained power in a coup against Trueysingi Audjofur.
By the end of the first era, there existed no real organized government within Arctic. Trueysingi Audjofur and its many colonies (including Greater Antarctica) were destroyed and many were taken by the DEN. Several influential nations left the region for Feudal Japan, leaving Itsmineallmine and Ohrder to fight over the power vacuum.

Second Era: The Glacial Empire

The second era saw the Arctic under the “fascesque” rule of the regional organization known as the Glacial Empire, which was founded under Ohrder with aid from The Ice Bears. Ohrder never held an official regime, though his rule had many qualities of benevolent dictatorship—generally dissidence from the status quo was discouraged, creating a totalitarian environment.

Third Era: Interregnum I

The third era began with the demise of Ohrder and the collapse of the Glacial Empire and its administrators, giving rise to a “free” era where no officially recognized power existed and nations could go about their business. The region took on a generally capitalist (or sometimes market-socialist, as with The Ice Bears) economic tenor, although apathy for advancement or economic growth led to an industrial decline. A small faction of hard-core socialist nations, including Test Icicle and Industrial Manchester, remained, while newer nations such as Nanisivik and Amzos arrived in the region and began to accrue influence.

Fourth Era: The Juche Idea

The fourth era was defined primarily by a rivalry between two major political groups within the region. The primary catalyst for this change was the rise of Novyy Utopiya, a successor state to Prussiatopia. Novyy Utopiya, with Amzos as the primary supporter and with some assistance from The Ice Bears, advocated a regional government modeled on the Juche philosophy on the North Korean social, political, and economic model. The opposing nations, derided as the “Liberal” group by Juche adherents, consisted of most of the region’s World Assembly members, ambassadors from other regions, and several others skeptical of the Juche Idea; of these; the Juche group generally recognized Nanisivik, the World Assembly delegate at the time, as their chief opponent.
The two sides clashed in a series of military and economic conflicts, notably including a skirmish over the sovereignty of Aahz ambassador nation and Liberal group member TULTIME. Novyy Utopiya created and developed the Arctic Korean Soviet Broadcasting Company (AKSBC) as the mouthpiece of the Juche group. Over time, the Juche cause developed strong antipathy toward its “neurotypical” opponents, advocating their inferiority to the citizens of Novyy Utopiya, who were said to be genetically predisposed to Asperger’s Syndrome.
The Juche group attempted to expand its influence over other mostly smaller and/or new regions, although several regions, such as Aahz, continued to support the Liberal group. The Juche group’s ambitions eventually included plans to wage war against approximately 200 other regions simultaneously. The fourth era came to a sudden end when Novyy Utopiya and its dependencies suddenly collapsed.

Fifth Era: Interregnum II

The fifth era began with the region reconsidering its common purpose after the sudden disappearance of Novyy Utopiya. The early years saw the reorganization of Prekrasnaya Zemlya and its dependencies into a [[The Hipwell states|Hipwellian] axis, as well as the rebirth of Ohrder. New efforts were also made during this time to develop a renewed regional identity through development of a new map, regional forum, flag, and the Arcticvision song contest. While the flag and song contest were generally viewed as successful developments, the regional forum has seen little traffic and the region’s cartographer, Sheewatawata, has faded from the region.
During this era, Nanisivik’s Fourth Era dominance of the World Assembly delegacy ended. Ohrder retook the position, boosting a regime not dissimilar to previous periods of Ohrder’s rule. Prusiatopia, yet another successor to Novyy Utopiya and the original Prusiatopia, was founded. The new nation enjoyed improved relations with several nations in the region, particularly with Nanisivik, which sided with Prusiatopia during a series of wars between Prusiatopia and the Hipwell states. Prusiatopia itself later dissolved, while most of the PZ nations realigned themselves with other regions.

Sixth Era: Nex quod Licentia

The region thereafter entered a period of apparent decline, as many nations faded into obscurity and regional activity grew quiet. However, as several new nations arrived in the region, this trend appeared to reverse itself. The relatively high frequency of newer nations with World Assembly membership contributed to the nation of Arctacion becoming delegate. Arctacion quickly seized the opportunity, altering the flag, rewriting the region’s factbook, expelling and banning a number of nations, and warning those that remained to fall in line or depart the region. Arctacion’s regime quickly fell, however, when Balasite and Nanisivik retracted their endorsements of Arctacion; Kzoz obtained the delegacy and The Ice Bears rescinded Arctacion’s bans. Arctacion quickly departed the region to live in isolation.
After months of regional inactivity the Arctic faded into a new low, highlighted with the exit of Genomita. These lack of actions allowed Arctacion to return from obscurity under the veil of reform. Arctacion then endorsed Balasite who quickly obtained the delegate position and proceeded to expand regional bureaucracy to shore up falling regional activity and drive recruitment. With the Balasite Delegacy still in its infancy, Arctacion, while a key supporter of Balasite, was ejected and banned for reasons still considered controversial. These actions heightened the once cool relations between nations with Lutacia and Nanisivik withdrawing their endorsements of Balasite; Kzoz regained the delegacy, albeit only for a short while, and Arctacion was allowed back into the Arctic. Balasite refused to apologize for its actions and based its rationale that the sudden ascension of Arctacion posed a risk to Arctic stability. Following the controversy Arctacion led a wave of new World Assembly nations into the Arctic; at the same time the region was under diplomatic pressure to eject a nation who was considered a rogue from the Crusaders of Justice. Following a rapid flurry of endorsements aided by the new nations, Lutacia was confirmed as WA Delegate—later this position was transferred to Arctacion. As a precaution, The Ice Bears instituted restrictions on the delegacy, and, under the watchful eye of Yanya, a conspiracy was exposed which identified the majority of the new nations, including Lutacia, as puppets of Arctacion. With the coup d'etat stopped, Arctation fled with its personality cult to found an illegitimate rival region, and Nanisivik was awarded the Delegacy.

Seventh Era: The New Arctic Democracy

The stewardship of this new era started under the Delegacy of Nanisivik, which, although it brought stability, was paired with an extreme amount of apathy following the events prior. Coupled with a possible shut down of Arctic politics, the nation of Nanisivik instituted the first of what would become a tenant of Arctic society, elections. Scheduled on sixty-five day terms and infinitely renewable, nations scrambled to be the first elected delegate in Arctic history. Ultimately two candidates emerged from the field, Genomita and Balasite. As elections closed, Balasite became delegate and, under the guidance of Nanisivik and The Ice Bears, enhanced Arctic government and attempted to increase recruitment and immigration into the Arctic. Although largely unsuccessful, these efforts helped lay a blueprint for the duties of the elected Arctic Delegate. As the Delegacy of Balasite ended, the continued peaceful transfer of power through elections prevailed as Genomita became the new Arctic Delegate and with it reinforced the new Arctic democracy.

Eighth Era: The Recruitment Age

The Eighth Era is seen by many as a relief from the turbulent times of the preceding the previous eras; a new time of relative peace. It was in this age that the Kingdom of the Ice Bears and Prekrasnaya Zemlya began to send recruitment telegrams to newly founded nations, specifically those that landed in the North Pacific. The telegrams targeted nations with the names of Arctic territories as their nation names, as well as those of which names included the words "North", "Snow", "Polar", "Igloo" and "Kayak". The welcome telegram was also changed by Kingdom of the Ice Bears from a short, self-deprecating message insulting the respective nation to a longer, positive message detailing the politics and roleplay of the region. As a result of this change, the region rose from a low of 8 nations, the 1592nd highest, to 42 nations, the 469th most in the world.

Ninth Era: The Age of Peace

Also called the Golden Era A period of peace harmony stability and prosperity during this age peace and harmony prevailed watched over by Troekochi, Witty Penguins, and Crockerland. Some nations that had been dormant for most of the era like Kubrath referred to it as the forgotten era and some new nations such as Luleaa simply referred to the old era as Bob.

Tenth Era: The Commonwealth of Arctic

The beginning of the Tenth Era is seen when Etlantiss, a nation made of the descendants of the ancient nation Trueysingi Audjofur was voted as Regional Delegate and begun a number of reforms.


Etlantis inspired us to start a new era of commonwealth and constitution but like many politicians did not manage to follow through on his promises, the regional assembly grew weary and deposed him electing Troekochi as unofficial leader Troekochi only wished to be interim leader and we held an election electing Kubrath as Prime Minister.

The Arctic Constitution was drawn up for us by Nyaryaga and was added to and amended by members, Kubrath made us a new forum but it remains virtually unused, at the end of the Prime Ministerial term we held an election but we were unable to raise any votes to elect a new Prime Minister. Maas was elected Minister of Finance and is going a fantastic job.

One positive thing about this new era is at the time of going to press we have 41 Nations only one away from our all time record of 42.

Culture

The Arctic’s presence on three different continents contributes to vast cultural and ethnic diversity within the region, bolstered by substantial immigration from southern regions over the course of the region’s history.
As such, many factions within the region have identified strongly with particular ethnic groups, although other nations have downplayed this sort of identity. Prussiatopian historians have grouped the Arctic’s inhabitants into four large cultural groups: “Manchu-Koreans” (which Prussiatopia claims to represent), “Germano-Slavs” (presumably most continental Europeans, including Scandinavia and eastern Europe; Prussiatopia cites Ubi Ubi and the Hipwell nations as primary nations of this group), “Anglo-Saxons” (possibly including the British Isles and parts of Arctic North America, reportedly originally aligned with Freetopia), and Native Arctic cultures, including Inuit, Yu'pik, and other groups in Arctic North America and parts of Asia (who, Prussiatopian historians aver, were a relative nonentity in regional politics until the rise of Nanisivik).

ArcticVision

Over time, a pan-Arctic culture developed, founded mainly on a grudging enjoyment of the cold. The region has twice held an ArcticVision Song Contest in celebration of the range of talent the Arctic culture has to offer. For about a decade, one annual event had been planned but never received a follow-up due to nations either joining or leaving the Arctic Regional Government, or because of serious internal affairs of several member states. The climate has also often proven itself as an obstruction to such an event: with the region spanning over three continents, some nations have found their local weather conditions impossible to traverse during the proposed dates, while others have been preoccupied with celebrating their own cultural holidays.

The ArcticVision Song Contest is a competition in which every participating nation puts forward one candidate, usually decided with a national competition, that goes on to represent them. Voting for the regional winner proceeds as follows: every nation casts one vote, decided by an internal selection process in which the candidate with the highest support from citizens is selected as the nation's choice. The songs range from modern styles of music to classical melodies, with many focused around the culture of the Arctic, often sparking popularity outside of the region. The most recent winner of ArcticVision was the candidate from the Sunny Balkans of Kubrath with the song 'Transarctic', which saw a late surge of votes, making this regional event the most successful in Arctic history.

Sports

Association football

By international comparision, the popularity of football is rather limited in the Arctic. Only two nations are known to have competed in the World Cup - Aexalla took part in World Cup 61, and Witty Penguins participated in World Cups 73 and 77. The Penguinites' third place finish in Group 18 of the WC 73 Qualifiers - which saw them reach number 94 on the world ranking - remains the best performance of an Arctic side in the tournament.

Other international appearances include Aexalla in Baptism of Fire 48, Witty Penguins in Baptism of Fire 60 and the 65th Cup of Harmony. As for domestic football, Witty Penguins and Luleaa are currently the only Arctic nations known to have prominent functioning professional football leagues. The All-då-Luleaa is the top-tier of association football in Luleaa with some of the most successful teams in the region, having competed at the international club level regularly. These include ASK Nàkàkoräsä (the current domestic title holder), Syriànsä KVK, and VK Corinthians.

Ice hockey

The Arctic has enjoyed some success in international hockey over the years, most notably Alphatheta winning gold in the women's hockey tournament at the XI Winter Olympics, as well as Novaya Zemlya's third place finish at World Cup of Hockey 32. Additionally, Novozemlyan club Metallurg Matochkingrad won the fifth edition of Hockey Champions League, the top international club tournament.

There is currently only one operational professional league in the region, the Novaya Zemlya Elite League, which also includes clubs from Witty Penguins and The Ice Bears. A regional federation, The Arctic Hockey Association, has been founded to promote ice hockey in the region.

The Greenland Crisis

The Greenland Crisis, as it came to be known, was one of the largest political events to occur in Arctic history, with the vast majority of nations splitting over the issue and supporting different sides. The dispute occurred when three nations, the (then) Republic of Greenlandic Arctic, the Kingdom of Ottorrestisia and the Republic of Mertosklund all claimed portions of Greenland. At the same time as the Republic of Greenlandic Arctic declared sovereignty over the entire island, Ottorestisia and Mertosklund both claimed areas in the north of Greenland. Greenlandic Arctic dismissed the two Northern states as terrorist separatist entities that, "possessed no cultural or ethnic contrast with the rest of Greenland", and that were declaring independence, "for the sole purpose of not paying due taxes". The two Northern states, in turn, condemned the "expansionist regime" of Greenlandic Arctic and refused to surrender their land claims.

At the same time, the dormant nation Arctacion was re-established and declared Greenland as well as Iceland its rightful territory. This lead to further disarray, as another nation, Arkista-Woven, was already in control of Iceland. A vicious argument broke out on the Regional Message Board. It was now that Greenlandic Arctic dispatched paramilitary forces to arrest several citizens of the Northern states for not paying taxes. This incursion resulted in near-war, only just prevented by World Assembly forces from the International Peace Act (now repealed) arriving to prevent war.

The Referendum

The situation was critical, and regional leadership was forced to act. It was decided to hold a referendum on the issue for all Arctic members to vote on. The majority of member states voted in favor of Option Six, which meant splitting Greenland among Mertosklund, Ottorestisia and Greenlandic Arctic while Iceland would remain under Arkista-Woven's control. The region was deeply divided, however, and some prominent members of regional government took a different stance. WA delegate Aexalla backed Arctacion's territorial claims, while Vice-Delegate Kubrath supported Greenlandic Arctic's claims to the entire island.

Eventually, Greenlandic Arctic accepted defeat and voted for Option Six, as did Kubrath. Immediately, a demilitarized zone was established between Greenlandic Arctic and the two Northern states. However, Greenlandic Arctic repeatedly campaigned against the decision, for reasons ranging from puppet nations to WA Membership at the time. The country's Home Minister produced a 500-page document detailing the "Unique and incomprehensible fraud committed by a multitude of nations."

Aftermath

The region had avoided military conflict and things slowly returned to normal. The nation of Canadian Arctic Territories (CAT) had played a constructive role during the conflict, trying to mediate between the different sides, and as a result they were elected to replace Aexalla - who faced criticism for being overly passive during the dispute - as Minister of Regional Affairs. Aexalla would remain the WA delegate, however. Unfortunately, the newfound peace did not last long. A disagreement on government policies between newly elected CAT and Vice-Delegate Kubrath evolved into a bitter conflict, which eventually resulted in CAT leaving and founding a breakaway region, known as High Arctic.

Arctacion, still dissatisfied with the outcome of the regional referendum, left for the High Arctic and has not been seen since. Despite some early recruitment success, the breakaway region was unable to sustain its membership. Arctacion disappeared, and an effort from CAT to normalize diplomatic relations with Arctic was unanimously rejected by Arctic membership. Eventually, CAT and their illegitimate breakaway region faded into oblivion.

A few years later, the two Northern states of Mertosklund and Ottorestisia collapsed. The government of Greenlandic Arctic, still respecting the outcome of the regional referendum, never laid any further claims to the territory. Instead, the land was incorporated into The Confederacy of the Arctics, under whose control it has remained since.