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[[File:Wilton Smyths Axis of Evil.png|400px|thumb|Wilton-Smyth | [[Category:Foreign policy of Estmere]][[Category:Politics of Estmere]][[File:Wilton Smyths Axis of Evil.png|400px|thumb|The axis of evil as described by [[Reginald Wilton-Smyth]], comprising [[Shangea]] and [[Zorasan]] (red). The illiberal forces described by Wilton-Smyth are included, comprising [[Champania]], [[Chistovodia]], [[Dezevau]], [[Mabifia]], [[Lavana]], [[Valduvia]], [[Siamat]], [[East Miersa]] and [[Yemet]] (orange). [[Estmere]] is in black.]]The phrase '''axis of evil''' was first used by [[Estmere|Estmerish]] [[Prime Minister of Estmere|prime minister]] [[Reginald Wilton-Smyth]] in his {{wp|New Year's|New Year's address}} on 1 January 2020.<ref name="New Years Address">{{cite web |url = https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?ns=1&f=5&t=476098&p=36583953#p36583953 | title = New Year's Address of the Prime Minister | date=1 Jan 2020 | work= [[Prime Minister of Estmere|Office of the Prime Minister]] | access-date = 20 May 2023}}</ref> After this initial mention, it was frequently used by Wilton-Smyth and members of his government in addition to the Estmerish press.<ref name="Axis of evil 3 years review">{{cite news |date=1 January 2023 | title=Three Years of Evil |url=https://iiwiki.us/wiki/Panorama_(magazine) |work=[[Panorama (magazine)|Panorama]] |access-date=21 July 2023}}</ref> It was associated with the similar term "illiberal forces", describing perceived associated countries.<ref name="New Years Address"/> | ||
The phrase | |||
== | The phrase was used to describe the governments of [[Shangea]] and [[Zorasan]] for their opposition to {{wp|liberal democracy}}, repression of {{wp|human rights}}, support of {{wp|terrorism}} and obtainment of {{wp|weapons of mass destruction}} outside of international conventions. Historically, the two nations had formed the [[Rongzhuo-Zahedan Axis]] for decades and have maintained close ties as part of [[ROSPO]] and the [[IFDS]]. The rhetoric was not new, and [[Estmerish-Zorasani relations|relations between Estmere and Zorasan]] had been deteriorating since the [[November 1 attacks|1/11 attacks]] in 2006.<ref name="Estmerish-Zorasani relations 2020">{{cite journal| last1 =Young| first1 =David | title = The nadir of Estmerish-Zorasani relations: are we there yet? | journal = Foreign Policy Review | volume = | issue = | pages = | date = 2020 | url = | access-date = }}</ref> In the same speech, Wilton-Smyth also outlined a number of "illiberal forces" who he believed aided and abetted the axis.<ref name="New Years Address"/> These were [[Champania]], [[Chistovodia]], [[Dezevau]], [[Mabifia]], [[Lavana]], [[Valduvia]], [[Siamat]], [[East Miersa]] and [[Yemet]]. | ||
==2020 New Year's | It was hoped that putting the idea of this axis into words would make it clear who the common enemies of Estmere and its allies were and to rally support among the Estmerish population and democratic governments for Estmere's actions in the [[2019 Estmere-Zorasan Crisis|Estmere-Zorasan Crisis]].<ref name="Benett axis of evil criticism">{{cite news |date=1 January 2023 | title=Three years on, Bennett says she warned against "axil of evil" speech as deputy |url=https://iiwiki.us/wiki/The_Standard |work=[[The Standard]] |access-date=21 July 2023}}</ref> | ||
The idea has been subject to some criticism for inflaming tensions.<ref name="Axis of evil 3 years review"/> The related idea of "illiberal forces" was also criticised for combining a number of nations with little relevance between them.<ref name="AFR Criticism of the axis of evil">{{cite journal| last1 =Lins| first1 =Gloria | title = Illiberal forces? Wilton-Smyth needs to check his own backyard | journal = Foreign Policy Review | volume = | issue = | pages = | date = 2021 | url = | access-date = }}</ref> | |||
==History== | |||
===Background=== | |||
[[File:2008 Mumbai terror attacks Taj main dome burned.jpg|right|thumb|The damaged Trident Hotel after the [[2019 Yeruham attacks|2019 attack]].]]Reginald Wilton-Smyth became prime minister in April 2018. He was known for his views on Zorasan and beliefs in a {{wp|neoconservative}} foreign policy. The [[2019 Estmere-Zorasan Crisis|Estmere-Zorasan Crisis]] then began in July 2019 following the assassination of [[Assad Erekat]], a former Zorasani dissident politician who had sought refuge in Estmere, on 6 July in the Estmerish city of [[Kingchester]].<ref name="Police publish information">{{cite news |date=8 Jul 2019 | title=Police publish information about Kingchester incident as counter-terrorism agency joins investigation |url=https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=418954&p=35914823#p35914823 |work=[[The Standard]] |access-date=20 May 2023}}</ref> Outrage at the violation of Estmerish sovereignty and the extrajudicial murder inflamed pre-existing tensions between the two countries<ref name="Blaming Zorasan">{{cite news |date=12 Jul 2019 | title=It is "without question" that Zorasan is behind Kingchester incident, PM says |url=https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=418954&p=35930809#p35930809 |work=[[The Standard]] |access-date=20 May 2023}}</ref>, and tensions continued to escalate as international governments declared support for either side. This culminated in a naval confrontation on 15 July in which Estmerish frigates violated Zorasani territorial waters and were confronted by the [[Zorasani Irfanic Revolutionary Navy]].<ref name="Shangea naval confrontation">{{cite news |date=25 Jul 2019 | title=Defence Minister - Further Estmerish violations of Zorasani waters would merit a "firm response" from ROSPO |url=https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?p=35998215&sid=c83f37b5f657b430fbf8dcec2479e59e#p35998215 |work=[[Shangea|Shangea Observer]] |access-date=20 May 2023}}</ref> | |||
As the [[Tsabaran Crisis]] continued to unfold, the influence of the radical Irfanic Sheik [[Faizan Salah]] grew. Salah was backed by prominent voices within Zorasan. The death of Tsabaran president [[Atwan al-Tughluq]] accelerated the crisis and attempts by then-premier [[Yayha al-Aboud]] to consolidate power. This was denounced by northern governments, including Estmere. Several majority [[Atudism|Atudite]] provinces threatened secession of al-Aboud's attempt to circumvent the constitution. His suspensions of the constitution and implementation of marshal law worsened tensions between the [[Irfan|Irfanic]] and Atudite communities. Supporters of Nazim al-Qutayni, a powerful government minister, resulted in al-Aboud's deposition. However, Irfanic hardliners opposed the [[2019 Tsabaran coup d'état|coup]] that installed al-Qutayni as acting president.<ref name="Primer: The Tsabaran Crisis">{{cite web|url = https://iiwiki.us/wiki/Tsabaran_Civil_War | title = Foreign policy primer - Tsabara | date = 23 November 2020 | publisher = [[Global Institute for Fiscal Affairs]] | access-date = 21 July 2023}}</ref> | |||
In an attempt to cause the collapse of al-Qutayni's interim unity government, a terrorist group called [[Al-Isbah]] launched a series of [[2019 Yeruham attacks|terrorist attacks]], in [[Yeruham]], Tsabara's largest city. 197 people were killed and 398 were injured. The attacks were denounced by the international community.<ref name="2019 Yeruham attacks Le Federaliste">{{cite news |date=27 December 2019 | title=Special Edition {{!}} Yeruham Attack: Nation in shock as dust settles |url=https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?p=36578212#p36578212 |work=[[Tsabara#Media|Le Federaliste]] |access-date=21 July 2023}}</ref> Wilton-Smyth among world leaders to condemn the attacks, dubbing them "an attack on the civilized world itself".<ref name="2019 Yeruham attacks The Standard">{{cite news |date=28 December 2019 | title=Wilton-Smyth: Attacks in Yeruham are "an attack on the civilised world" |url=https://forum.nationstates.net/viewtopic.php?p=36578748#p36578748 |work=[[The Standard]] |access-date=21 July 2023}}</ref> | |||
===2020 New Year's Address=== | |||
[[File:Rws cropped.png|right|thumb|150px|Wilton-Smyth at a press conference in 2021.]]In his 2020 New Year's Address, Wilton-Smyth denounced the Yeruham attacks a second time. He also blamed Zorasani leaders [[Vahid Isfandiar]] and [[Farzad Akbari]] for "the atrocities committed in Yeruham" as a result of their support for "radical, hard-line Irfanic extremists" in Tsabara. He also accused them of being "rogue actors" and "sponsors of extremism, violence, and terrorism" on the world stage. Wilton-Smyth stated that the Zorasani government had "unleashed unprecedented violence upon its civilian population, starved its population for access to a clean and safe water supply, upended the constitution to take full control of the legislature, arrested hundreds of dissident lawmakers and political opponents, and has launched a functionalist-style purge against those who are not ultra-loyalists."<ref name="New Years Address"/> | |||
Wilton-Smyth would also cite reports from the [[Special Intelligence Bureau]] which appeared to show that Zorasan had obtained {{wp|weapons of mass destruction}}.<ref name="Axis of evil 3 years review"/> | |||
He was also highly critical of the Shangean government for [[Normalisation (Shangea)|Normalisation]], for its handling of the [[2016-17 Shangean Protests|2016-17 Shangean protests]] and for {{wp|electoral fraud}} in the [[2017 Shangean legislative election|2017 legislative election]]. He was also highly critical of Chairman [[Yuan Xiannian]] and Shangea's [[Operation Eastern Protection|intervention in Kuthina]]. He stated that the "end of democracy in Shangea marked its rise as the leading force of illiberalism."<ref name="New Years Address"/> | |||
Wilton-Smyth stated that the two nations were "bound by their hatred of democracy, their rejection of fundamental human rights, and their desire to establish their supremacy not just over the whole of Coius, but the world". He called on democratic governments to oppose Shangea and Zorasan. In addition, Wilton-Smyth also argued that other nations presented threats as "illiberal forces". He identified [[Champania]], [[Chistovodia]], [[Dezevau]], [[Mabifia]], [[Lavana]], [[Valduvia]], [[Siamat]], [[East Miersa]] and [[Yemet]] as these illiberal forces.<ref name="New Years Address"/> It was noted by observers that these countries were largely members of the [[IFDS]] aligned to Shangea and Zorasan, or of socialist organisations such as [[MASSOR]] and the [[Brown Sea Community]].<ref name="Axis of evil 3 years review"/> | |||
==Criticism== | ==Criticism== | ||
The phrase, wider idea and the speech itself have been subject to criticism.<ref name="Axis of evil 3 years review"/> | |||
It was criticised at the time by opposition leader [[Zoe Halivar]], who felt that the term alienated potential regional partners who could have been persuaded to act against Zorasan and Shangea.<ref name="Halivar axis of evil criticism">{{cite news |date=10 January 2020 | title=Wilton-Smyth speech "alienating regional partners" says Halivar |url=https://iiwiki.us/wiki/The_Standard |work=[[The Standard]] |access-date=21 July 2023}}</ref> Wilton-Smyth was privately criticised by [[Cabinet of Estmere|deputy prime minister]] [[Esther Bennett]], who revealed in 2023 after she left office that she thought the phrase was "red meat to [his] base and hell on the world stage". She did not express this criticism publicly, but said she had advised Wilton-Smyth against the speech beforehand.<ref name="Benett axis of evil criticism"/> | |||
The related idea of "illiberal forces" has been criticised for combining a number of nations with little relevance between them. It was noted that [[Champania]], [[Chistovodia]], [[Valduvia]] and [[East Miersa]] had no deeper relations with Shangea or Zorasan than any other members of the world stage; and it was presumed they were only included due to Wilton-Smyth's {{wp|anti-socialism|anti-socialist}} agenda.<ref name="Axis of evil 3 years review"/> | |||
[[Shangea|Shangean]] [[State Chairman of Shangea|President]] [[Yuan Xiannian]] stated that the speech was "unacceptable" and "should be condemned by those who oppose imperialism and support truth and freedom over colonial tyranny." Yuan also stated the speech showed Wilton-Smyth was "intent on global imperialism".<ref name="Yuan criticism of axis of evil">{{cite news |date=13 January 2020 | title=Yuan Xiannian: Estmerish PM speech "should be condemned by those who oppose imperialism and support truth and freedom over colonial tyranny". |url= https://iiwiki.us/wiki/Shangea |work=[[Shangea|Shangea Observer]] |access-date=21 July 2023}}</ref> In a later meeting with the Zorasani premier Yuan stated that the speech "attempted to threaten peace in Coius as well as indicate increasingly aggressive intentions from Estmere".<ref name="Yuan criticism of axis of evil 2">{{cite news |date=19 January 2020 | title=Yuan Xiannian and Zorasani counerpart say Estmerish PM speech "threatens peace in Coius". |url= https://iiwiki.us/wiki/Shangea |work=[[Shangea|Shangea Observer]] |access-date=21 July 2023}}</ref> Yuan also criticised allegations of Shangean collusion in Zorasani nuclear weapon development stating "no nuclear proliferation in Zorasan with our nuclear scientists" existed and called claims of Zorasani nuclear weapon development as a "fabrication".<ref name="Yuan criticism of axis of evil"/> | |||
Asterian academic [[Gloria Lins]] criticized the use of the term "illiberal forces" for only including leftist and Coian illiberal forces, such as Valduvia and Chistovodia, while ignoring the threat of illiberal forces from the right in Euclea and the Asterias such as the [[Etruria|Etrurian]] [[Tribune Movement]], the [[Paretia|Paretian]] [[O Povo]] and the [[Asterian Federative Republic|Asterian]] [[Party of National Regeneration]].<ref name="AFR Criticism of the axis of evil"/> | |||
==See also== | |||
*[[Entente]] | |||
*[[2019 Estmere-Zorasan Crisis]] | |||
==References== | |||
{{Reflist}} | |||
Latest revision as of 16:12, 21 July 2023
The phrase axis of evil was first used by Estmerish prime minister Reginald Wilton-Smyth in his New Year's address on 1 January 2020.[1] After this initial mention, it was frequently used by Wilton-Smyth and members of his government in addition to the Estmerish press.[2] It was associated with the similar term "illiberal forces", describing perceived associated countries.[1]
The phrase was used to describe the governments of Shangea and Zorasan for their opposition to liberal democracy, repression of human rights, support of terrorism and obtainment of weapons of mass destruction outside of international conventions. Historically, the two nations had formed the Rongzhuo-Zahedan Axis for decades and have maintained close ties as part of ROSPO and the IFDS. The rhetoric was not new, and relations between Estmere and Zorasan had been deteriorating since the 1/11 attacks in 2006.[3] In the same speech, Wilton-Smyth also outlined a number of "illiberal forces" who he believed aided and abetted the axis.[1] These were Champania, Chistovodia, Dezevau, Mabifia, Lavana, Valduvia, Siamat, East Miersa and Yemet.
It was hoped that putting the idea of this axis into words would make it clear who the common enemies of Estmere and its allies were and to rally support among the Estmerish population and democratic governments for Estmere's actions in the Estmere-Zorasan Crisis.[4]
The idea has been subject to some criticism for inflaming tensions.[2] The related idea of "illiberal forces" was also criticised for combining a number of nations with little relevance between them.[5]
History
Background
Reginald Wilton-Smyth became prime minister in April 2018. He was known for his views on Zorasan and beliefs in a neoconservative foreign policy. The Estmere-Zorasan Crisis then began in July 2019 following the assassination of Assad Erekat, a former Zorasani dissident politician who had sought refuge in Estmere, on 6 July in the Estmerish city of Kingchester.[6] Outrage at the violation of Estmerish sovereignty and the extrajudicial murder inflamed pre-existing tensions between the two countries[7], and tensions continued to escalate as international governments declared support for either side. This culminated in a naval confrontation on 15 July in which Estmerish frigates violated Zorasani territorial waters and were confronted by the Zorasani Irfanic Revolutionary Navy.[8]
As the Tsabaran Crisis continued to unfold, the influence of the radical Irfanic Sheik Faizan Salah grew. Salah was backed by prominent voices within Zorasan. The death of Tsabaran president Atwan al-Tughluq accelerated the crisis and attempts by then-premier Yayha al-Aboud to consolidate power. This was denounced by northern governments, including Estmere. Several majority Atudite provinces threatened secession of al-Aboud's attempt to circumvent the constitution. His suspensions of the constitution and implementation of marshal law worsened tensions between the Irfanic and Atudite communities. Supporters of Nazim al-Qutayni, a powerful government minister, resulted in al-Aboud's deposition. However, Irfanic hardliners opposed the coup that installed al-Qutayni as acting president.[9]
In an attempt to cause the collapse of al-Qutayni's interim unity government, a terrorist group called Al-Isbah launched a series of terrorist attacks, in Yeruham, Tsabara's largest city. 197 people were killed and 398 were injured. The attacks were denounced by the international community.[10] Wilton-Smyth among world leaders to condemn the attacks, dubbing them "an attack on the civilized world itself".[11]
2020 New Year's Address
In his 2020 New Year's Address, Wilton-Smyth denounced the Yeruham attacks a second time. He also blamed Zorasani leaders Vahid Isfandiar and Farzad Akbari for "the atrocities committed in Yeruham" as a result of their support for "radical, hard-line Irfanic extremists" in Tsabara. He also accused them of being "rogue actors" and "sponsors of extremism, violence, and terrorism" on the world stage. Wilton-Smyth stated that the Zorasani government had "unleashed unprecedented violence upon its civilian population, starved its population for access to a clean and safe water supply, upended the constitution to take full control of the legislature, arrested hundreds of dissident lawmakers and political opponents, and has launched a functionalist-style purge against those who are not ultra-loyalists."[1]
Wilton-Smyth would also cite reports from the Special Intelligence Bureau which appeared to show that Zorasan had obtained weapons of mass destruction.[2]
He was also highly critical of the Shangean government for Normalisation, for its handling of the 2016-17 Shangean protests and for electoral fraud in the 2017 legislative election. He was also highly critical of Chairman Yuan Xiannian and Shangea's intervention in Kuthina. He stated that the "end of democracy in Shangea marked its rise as the leading force of illiberalism."[1]
Wilton-Smyth stated that the two nations were "bound by their hatred of democracy, their rejection of fundamental human rights, and their desire to establish their supremacy not just over the whole of Coius, but the world". He called on democratic governments to oppose Shangea and Zorasan. In addition, Wilton-Smyth also argued that other nations presented threats as "illiberal forces". He identified Champania, Chistovodia, Dezevau, Mabifia, Lavana, Valduvia, Siamat, East Miersa and Yemet as these illiberal forces.[1] It was noted by observers that these countries were largely members of the IFDS aligned to Shangea and Zorasan, or of socialist organisations such as MASSOR and the Brown Sea Community.[2]
Criticism
The phrase, wider idea and the speech itself have been subject to criticism.[2]
It was criticised at the time by opposition leader Zoe Halivar, who felt that the term alienated potential regional partners who could have been persuaded to act against Zorasan and Shangea.[12] Wilton-Smyth was privately criticised by deputy prime minister Esther Bennett, who revealed in 2023 after she left office that she thought the phrase was "red meat to [his] base and hell on the world stage". She did not express this criticism publicly, but said she had advised Wilton-Smyth against the speech beforehand.[4]
The related idea of "illiberal forces" has been criticised for combining a number of nations with little relevance between them. It was noted that Champania, Chistovodia, Valduvia and East Miersa had no deeper relations with Shangea or Zorasan than any other members of the world stage; and it was presumed they were only included due to Wilton-Smyth's anti-socialist agenda.[2]
Shangean President Yuan Xiannian stated that the speech was "unacceptable" and "should be condemned by those who oppose imperialism and support truth and freedom over colonial tyranny." Yuan also stated the speech showed Wilton-Smyth was "intent on global imperialism".[13] In a later meeting with the Zorasani premier Yuan stated that the speech "attempted to threaten peace in Coius as well as indicate increasingly aggressive intentions from Estmere".[14] Yuan also criticised allegations of Shangean collusion in Zorasani nuclear weapon development stating "no nuclear proliferation in Zorasan with our nuclear scientists" existed and called claims of Zorasani nuclear weapon development as a "fabrication".[13]
Asterian academic Gloria Lins criticized the use of the term "illiberal forces" for only including leftist and Coian illiberal forces, such as Valduvia and Chistovodia, while ignoring the threat of illiberal forces from the right in Euclea and the Asterias such as the Etrurian Tribune Movement, the Paretian O Povo and the Asterian Party of National Regeneration.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "New Year's Address of the Prime Minister". Office of the Prime Minister. 1 Jan 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 "Three Years of Evil". Panorama. 1 January 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ↑ Young, David (2020). "The nadir of Estmerish-Zorasani relations: are we there yet?". Foreign Policy Review.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Three years on, Bennett says she warned against "axil of evil" speech as deputy". The Standard. 1 January 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lins, Gloria (2021). "Illiberal forces? Wilton-Smyth needs to check his own backyard". Foreign Policy Review.
- ↑ "Police publish information about Kingchester incident as counter-terrorism agency joins investigation". The Standard. 8 Jul 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ↑ "It is "without question" that Zorasan is behind Kingchester incident, PM says". The Standard. 12 Jul 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
- ↑ "Foreign policy primer - Tsabara". Global Institute for Fiscal Affairs. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ↑ "Special Edition | Yeruham Attack: Nation in shock as dust settles". Le Federaliste. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ↑ "Wilton-Smyth: Attacks in Yeruham are "an attack on the civilised world"". The Standard. 28 December 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ↑ "Wilton-Smyth speech "alienating regional partners" says Halivar". The Standard. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Yuan Xiannian: Estmerish PM speech "should be condemned by those who oppose imperialism and support truth and freedom over colonial tyranny"". Shangea Observer. 13 January 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ↑ "Yuan Xiannian and Zorasani counerpart say Estmerish PM speech "threatens peace in Coius"". Shangea Observer. 19 January 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2023.