Factbook of The Democratic Republic of Grussland

Grussland

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From the Encyclopædia Grussia

Grussland, officially the Democratic Republic of Grussland (Grussland German: Demokratische Republik Grussland), is a nation in the north-west of [REDACTED], occupying territory north of the Immitis mountain range. Occupying roughly 440 thousand square kilometers and with an estimated population of just under 60 million, Grussland is a moderately sized country known for its swirling northern seas and famous with eco-tourists for its temperate rain forests, alpine mountains, and great coastal plains. The climate is generally continental and oceanic, with some alpine or tundra landscapes at higher elevations.

Originally founded in the 14th century, Grussland can trace its modern lineage to a number of small pagan kingdoms and city-states. Many of these small predecessor lands were self-declared kingdoms, principalities, or lands controlled by violent warlords, the majority of which evolved from bronze-age Germanic settlements in the resource-rich forests and foothills of the area. The capital, Talheim, was founded in 215CE and was a kingdom in its own right, with political maneuvering by the ruling Anderberg dynasty leading to the foundation of Grussland.

Grussland is a developed, industrious, and scientifically-advanced country. Its socialist economy is driven by high-tech, automotive, and other knowledge-based and capital intensive industries with tourism proving to be a major player. Socially, the people enjoy numerous personal freedoms, but the political atmosphere is more restricted. In general, the nation often ranks highly in international scientific, economic, civil, health, and happiness indexes.

Etymology

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The name 'Grussland' first appeared in texts from the fifth century and originally referred to the pagan lands west of the Immitis mountain range and Aurus river, though today has expanded to cover the modern country's entire territory.

Historians and linguists believe the name is of German origin, with "gruss" referring to a common greeting in the area at the time. Given the multitude of city-state and a strong culture of hospitality, it is likely the name of "Grussland" is derived from texts referring to the area as a "land of greetings" for travelers.

History

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WIP
Prehistory
-Iron age nomads

Early Settlement
Settlement started in the south of Grussland in the late bronze age and slowly spread north as agriculture and trade spread. Early settlements preferred riverbanks and foothills, and settlement patterns can be traced this way gradually heading north along the coast. One theory states early Pagan merchants and storytellers brought their beliefs and agricultural practices to the region with them, which convinced the nomadic tribes to settle along predominantly river-based trade routes.

The earliest known settlement is the town of Charbon, near the southern border of Grussland. Supposedly founded in 2100BCE with the creation of a granary and several simple stone houses, the town is also the site of an early Pagan temple worshiping the god of the harvest. Temple inscriptions outline prayers and some laws regarding the grain trade; indeed, records of the granary's stock, customers, and measurement laws remain written in the temple's stone. Dating around 1000BCE, these are among the earliest texts in the country.

The capital of Grussland, Talheim, was itself founded in 215 on the Bay of [tbd]. Originally a port founded on a sheltered inlet, the city thrived on the wine and pottery trade. As its wealth and influence grew, Talheim became a focal point for the area. The city quickly became its own independent Kingdom and the ruling dynasty became the richest and most powerful family in Grussland. The last members of the Anderberg dynasty could trace their lineage to the first King of Talheim.

As an influential mercantile city with many land holdings in the area, The Kingdom of Talheim later served as the seat of the Commonwealth of Crowns. This Commonwealth was founded in 968 as an assembly of local Pagan kings, princes, dukes, and so forth in response to missionary activity and invasions by Christians. In order to fight the onslaught of religious soldiers, the Commonwealth of Crowns effectively raised armies from among its constituent lands to form a unified front against invaders. An elective monarchy, leadership originally rotated between the more powerful city-states on 6-year terms. In early years no household outright ruled it beyond their respective constituent lands. By the year 1000, the Commonwealth had evolved from a purely militaristic alliance to a trade and social union or sorts; it passed numerous trade laws and outright banned foreign religious worship over its constituents.

Foundation
At the Commonwealth of Crowns Conference of 1322, the Anderbergs were re-elected for a fifth consecutive 6 year term. However, by this time, many Grusslander had converted to Christianity and, pressured by a renewed onslaught of organized Christian invasions, much political maneuvering by the Anderbergs, and a ludicrous amount of noble inbreeding, the conference voted to unify the Commonwealth into a cohesive Christian Kingdom before the next scheduled conference (1328). The Treaty of Rochlitz of 1326 cemented the foundation of Grussland with the Anderbergs firmly in control.

Middle Ages
-Slavery
-Expansion

Early Modern
-Industrialization 18thC
-Democracy 18thC
-Nationalism v liberalism 19thC

Modern
After a very productive and vibrant 1920s, Grussland suffered an economic meltdown in the 1930s, with the agrarian east of the country hit hardest. Compounding the economic collapse was the death of King Rudolf VI in 1933 and the end of the royal line. With no successors and only a smattering of minor nobility, the dissolution of the incredibly inbred House of Anderberg plunged the country into tumultuous parliamentary rule with frequent (and flawed) elections. Populist politicians used the now-ubiquitous radio to air their messages, fomenting unrest and political radicalism, creating deep divisions in society.

1930s-1940s civil war: warring states

In 1945, the Social Democratic Party, Socialist Party, and Communist Party merged to become the Worker's Unity Party (WUP) which held a plurality of seats in Parliament and seized on the popular discontent and economic inequities suffered by the masses. Two years later, after the 1947 election, it formed the first majority government in 13 years in coalition with the Farmer's Front. Less than year later, the government declared a People's Republic and, by 1955, opposition parties were banned.

While the country was surprisingly productive and advanced for a communist state, by 1980 the black market was larger than the official economy. WUP General Secretary Hans Sigmunds, who had effectively ruled the country since 1966, died in 1985 without a clear and obvious successor. This paved the way for years of factional infighting and the dissolution of the WUP as a compromise position. Hardline communists were booted to the opposition and moderate reformists took charge through a new governing coalition. In 1988, after 40 years, the Grusslander People's Republic was officially dismantled and succeeded by the Democratic Republic of Grussland, which began a gradual path of economic, political, and civil liberalization without crash capitalism.

1990s&2000s WIP

Geography

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TBA

Government

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Officially, Grussland is a multi-party constitutional parliamentary democracy with a decentralized executive in the form of the State Council. In practice it's a dominant-party pseudo-democracy (or hybrid regime) where opposition parties are tolerated provided they do not criticize the President of the Presidium of the Chairs of the State Council.

Despite this, the media is open to report and criticize events and politicians. The people have access to foreign broadcasting. There is, however, a relatively pro-government narrative in the media.

Suffrage is universal, with any citizen aged 18 and over eligible to vote. Grusslander abroad also have the right to vote and are registered with their previous constituency. Elections must be held at least once every five years and the Volkskamer (parliament) must meet four days a week for a total of 160 days a year, unless special wartime measures are implemented.

Parliament is unicameral, consisting of the Volkskammer. Locals elect members via a mixed-member proportional system, wherein they vote for their MP via first-past-the-post, but each party also wins an extra number of representatives per region based on their overall share of the votes in that region.

See also: Composition of the Volkskammer

Administrative Subdivisions
The country is divided into 8 Bezirk, which each have small elected assemblies to effectively administer centrally-determined policies and spending priorities. These assemblies thus oversee a number of powers delegated by the central government (i.e. education), but the central government has authority to override the Bezirk.
WIP

Economy

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Overview
Grussland is essentially a market socialist economy with a multitude of state operated enterprises, cooperatives, and small worker-owned businesses. Previously a communist command-economy, the gradual liberalization of the 1990s sought to recognize the importance innovation and hard work by introducing some decentralization and worker (instead of state) ownership. While still seeking to prevent the gross inequities of capitalism, market mechanisms for price setting are now the norm with profits plowed back into society.

The economy is highly digitized, with technical proficiency and AI integration creating a good degree of efficiency and precision in timing and transactions. This technological capital enables the populace to enjoy relatively high productivity and, as such, the work week is a comparatively short 30 hours over a 5 day work week with overtime kicking in at 33 hours. Some workers choose the standard 6-hour work day, while others work 7 or 8 hour days for 3 or 4 days a week and take a shorter day or two. This is largely dependent on the operational requirements of their work.

The country operates a quasi-autarky, preferring to produce locally as much as possible, with the goal of imports and export netting out in terms of financial value. In some cases, goods are directly traded (i.e. $x million of cars for export in exchange for the equivalent value of ores or rare earth elements). Import substitution policies are common in most sectors, assuming Grussland has the capacity. Tourism is a strong and important sector, providing foreign currency to balance trade shortfalls and/or international market price fluctuations for areas in which the country actually does engage in trade.

Ownership Structures
Most medium and large companies are organized as either cooperatives (especially in construction, finance, mining, and agriculture) or as "Publicly Owned Enterprise(s)" (Volkseigener Betrieb; abbreviated VEB, typically industrial, research, medical, and IT/software firms). While cooperatives are wholly owned by their workers or users (or both); VEBs are owned by a combination of shareholders; foreigners cannot own a share of cooperatives or VEBs beyond their capacity as workers.

The Worker's Investment Board acts as a national social dividend for all workers of any age and students over the age of 16. VEB profits are split among shareholders. VEBs typically have the following ownership structure, with a few exceptions. It is possible for employees and investors to outvote the government, providing a degree of independence for for VEBs:
-Government of Grussland (12.5%)
-Worker's Investment Board (12.5%)
-State pension fund (7.5%)
-Employees (30%)
-Grusslander investors (including cooperatives, individuals, and other VEBs) (37.5%)

Small businesses, restaurants/cafes/pubs, and "mom & pop" shops are encouraged and are considered worker-owner-operated. While they may hire additional workers, they are subject to strict profit-sharing and pay scale regulations that, while recognizing the founder may be the hardest worker, aim to prevent large inequities. Profits from cooperatives are split among workers and members. Profits from VEBs, cooperatives, small businesses, or other dividends count towards taxable income.

Foreign firms and goods are still an active part in the economy, but in most cases production costs must be mostly realized within Grussland through joint ventures. An example of this are blue jeans, where foreign clothing chains and brands often ship nearly completed pants for final stitching and branding to Grussland for local sale. The state or WIB must always be at least a plurality shareholder. The state pension fund and employee share typically bumps collective ownership to 50% +1 vote for joint ventures.

Property & Real Estate
Private property is legal, but direct land ownership is not. In other words, a building and its contents may be privately owned, but the land it sits upon is leased from the state. Mortgages are not uncommon, nor are large residential developments; construction and real-estate cooperatives are highly active. While all persons are guaranteed a home upon entering the workforce, these are typically small 1-bedroom units in medium and high density state-owned developments. Many workers upon marriage (combined incomes) or career advancement seek to move into larger units; these may be with the state or with housing cooperatives, both of which usually have a waiting list, or through private purchase/building through the real estate market. Indeed, there is a wide array of housing styles and sizes available on the "private" market. Rent seeking is illegal; there are no direct landlords beyond housing cooperatives. Families may only own two units at a time - a primary residence and either a vacation residence or a needs-based residence (for frequent remote work, familial care, etc.)

Imports & Exports
Major exports: automobiles and automotive components, precision machinery, medical equipment, dairy products, alcoholic goods, pharmaceutical products, furniture.
Major imports: automobiles and automotive components, miscellaneous consumer products, computers and chipsets, foodstuffs, oil and gas products, ores & rare earth elements.

Demographics

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TBA

Culture

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Early:
-Paganism
-Slavery
-In more primitive times, human sacrifices were made to various gods and deities. Human sacrifice was largely forgotten in the region by the time the Kingdom of Talheim formed in 215, though some areas may have continued the practice sporadically. The founding articles of the Commonwealth of Crowns of 968, which formed a coalition of local kingdoms, principalities, and city-states, explicitly forbade the practice in reaction to a popular fear that marauding Christian crusaders would crucify people in the name of their lord and savior. This belief was unfounded but illustrates the thinking of the time.

Modern:
has an open-minded and generally relaxed culture with a good work-life balance. The people have relatively inclusive and neighbourly attitudes with a strong tradition of sharing food and drinks. Indeed, the people take pride in their good food and high quality beers and wines.

The media is open to report and criticize events and politicians. The people have access to foreign broadcasting. There is, however, a relatively pro-government narrative in the media.

Wine and meals, cheese & bread & cured meats, work ethic, mountains and culture, etc.

Military
Grussland has a relatively efficient and advanced, albeit small, military with a budget equivalent to about 0.7% of GDP. The focus is on defense and advanced warning capabilities over offensive capability. The country officially follows a policy of self-defense and neutrality. There are approximately 25,000 active military personnel 10,000 reservists and conscription has been phased out.