Syara

The Commonality of Syara Сијара
Flag
Motto: All-Mother Guide us.
Anthem: To Our Homeland
Capital and largest city	Zovahr
Official languages	Syara
Demonym(s)	Syara
Government	Parliamentary Federal Republic
• Executive	Anita Beleska
Area
•	1,030,029 km2 (397,696 sq mi)
Population
• 2015 estimate	163,520,400
• 2013 census	161,578,224
GDP (PPP)	2020 estimate
• Total	$6.81 trillion (4th)
GDP (nominal)	2020 estimate
• Total	$6.13 trillion (5th)
Gini (2020)	33.65 medium
HDI (2020)	0.889 very high
Currency	Drachma

Syara (Syaran: Сијара), known officially as the Commonality of Syara (Syaran: Заедништво на Сиара), is a country located in northwest Siduri. It borders Ruvelka to the east, the Sundering and Sanguine Seas to the north, and the Nuandan Ocean to the west and south. Syara is located at the north-west corner of the continent of Siduri, forming the southern half of the "mouth" of the Sundering Sea, which splits Siduri from Eracura in the north. Syara itself covers 2,100,000 million square kilometers, and the Syaran coastline extends for nearly 11,000 kilometers, the third longest in Siduri. Syara occupies half of the island of Chryse, which is splits with Bosrei.

Ancient Syara was the birthplace of many cultural and social aspects including democracy, and made major contributions to science, philosophy, mathematics, and the arts. The rise of the Makedonian Empire in Makedon led to the subjugation of much of Siduri from the 3rd Century BCE to the 10th Century CE. The Burning Plague in the 9th Century devastated Syara's populace and contributed heavily to the Fall of the Makedonian Empire, resulting in the conquest of Syara by the Arkoennites in 1305. Cultural exchange with the Kingdom of Dragovita led to the Slavization of Syaran culture and language, and the rise of Zobethos established the Titan Gaia as Syara's principal deity. The formation of the Rioni Union in 1579 marked the transition away from Arkeonnite rule, made official in 1711 before the splintering of the Union resulted in the Syaran Successor States, which unified in 1875 into the Republic of Syara. Conflicts with Ruvelka and the Cacertian Empire in the Divide War resulted in the rise of President Sasko Anastasov, who promoted Syaran ultranationalism and eventually led to the Siduri War in 1934, which ended four years later in a Syaran defeat. The resultant Broken Years spurned significant social change in Syara, noticeably a shift away from the autocratic and conservative Monarchist tendencies of Makedon and Galania to the Zobethos-fundamentalism of Scitaria and Hayreniky, which resulted in the Refusal War from 1983-1987, which dissolved the Republic and established the Commonality. Conflict with Ruvelka in the Imerti Conflict and Zemplen War dominated the early 21st Century for Syara, but 2020 the Commonality remains a major international player and economic power.

Syara is a federal parliamentary republic and developed country with an advanced high-income economy, a high quality of life, and a high standard of living. It's economy is the largest in continental Siduri, and is a major international investor. Syara is member of the Organization of Tyrannic Nations, and observer state to the Commonwealth of Sovereign Nations, and boasts strong ties with Æþurheim, Tennai, and Cacerta. The capital and largest city is Zovahr.

Etymology

The exact origins of the name "Syara" are not fully known, but modern historians believe the term originates from the Archaic Galanian "Sebera", meaning "our land" or "our home". In modern Syaran the country is called Sijara (Сијара) casually, or Siara (Сиара) formally, when in conjunction with the term "Commonality of". When Syara came to be commonly used by the majority of the population to describe their home is unknown, but by the 1875 the name was officially recognized as the name of the nation in the Conference of Pella, although it had been in use for centuries by then.

History

Syara is considered a Cradle of civilization owing to its early rise as a major cultural and scientific center, with major contributions to philosophy and the arts. The first inhabitants of Syara, the Segelen, are of unknown origin but inhabited the region from as early as 9,000 BCE. Modern Syaran culture and language is primarily descended from the Erani-Eracurans, who arrived in Syara around 3,000 BCE with the Khotoi culture. Following the Bronze Age Collapse in western Siduri, the remaining Aleitians, Gaetlii, and Dovossians gradually expanded across Syara. The Aleitians would later give rise to the Kydonian League, which became the birthplace of democracy in Tyran. Conflict with barbarian tribes like the Bastarnae paved the way for the rise of the Makedonian Empire in the 3rd Century BCE, which proceeded to conquer all of Syara under the leadership of Orestes II. Orestes proceeded to expand Makedonian control into Mansuriyyah, Ruvelka, and Arkoenn before ending his campaign.

Over the course of the next several centuries the Makedonians steadily expanded their realm through colonial and mercantile means, expanding into Eracura along the Bosrei Peninsula and southward along the Siduri coast following the decline of the Hannashka Empire. Beginning in the 4th Century CE the Makedonians began expanding westward into central and eastern Siduri, leading to conflict with the Acrean Empire over north-east Siduri and the eventual conquest of Quenmin, the latter of which led to the Sabrian Wars with the Sabrian Empire. The rise of the Zobethos faith in late antuquity saw the transition of Syaran religious beliefs from Hellenic polytheism to worship of the Titan Gaia as a sacrosanct "All-Mother", which became Syara's de facto religion. At its peak the Empire stretched from Scitaria to Knichus, but just after its zenith the outbreak of the Burning Plague crippled Makedon, paving the way for military defeats against the Rideva Empire and Quenminese rebellions. The rise of the Arkoennite Empire and the Rawwadid Sultanate triggered the Fall of the Makedonian Empire, eventually ending in Makedon's subjugation by the Arkoennites and the establishment of the Makedonian Khanate in 1305.

The end of Makedonian supremacy began a major shift in Syaran culture away from the Hellenic customs of Makedon due in large part to close cooperation and communication with the Kingdom of Dragovita. The increasing Slavization of Syara effectively marks the transition of Syaran culture from antiquity to modern, which was further driven by the formation of the Rioni Union in 1579. The Union, formed by aligning the Baligov Dynasty of Galania with the Prohászka Dynasty of the Principality of Debrecen, united Syara and Ruvelka under a single banner and resulted in massive economic growth for both nations. The decline of the Arkoennites in the 17th Century led to the Union's brief war of independence in 1711, however underlying territorial and political disputes led to the collapse of the Union and the formation of the Syaran Successor States. Industrialization in the 18th and 19th Centuries, spearheaded by the resurgent Kingdom of Makedon, saw the revitalization of Syaran-Hellenic nationalism, further cultivated by conflict with the Ruvelkan Socialist Republic in the Ruvelkan-Makedonian War, which ended in a decisive Makedonian victory. The continued threat of communist Ruvelka resulted in the Unification of Syara in 1875, officially established the Republic of Syara and uniting the Syaran nation under sovereign rule for the first time since 1305.

The united Syaran Republic rapidly industrialized and grew owing to its strategic location, and by the 20th Century had become a major political power in Siduri. Continued conflicts with Ruvelka in the Syaran-Ruvelkan War dampened Syaran growth and contributed to the Cacertian Empire's instigation of the Divide War. The Republic's unexpected victory over the premier superpower of the era resulted in a massive outpouring of Syaran nationalism, culminating in the election of Sasko Anastasov in 1924. Anastasov's presidency and embracing of Syaran nationalism would be the primary drive behind the outbreak of the Siduri War in 1934, which would end in Syaran defeat four years later in 1938 with the signing of the Treaty of Debrecen. The resulting economic and political hardship, known collectively as the Broken Years, remained in place until the mid-1950s, after which the Republic began to re-assert itself as a major political player in Siduri. Concerns over Syaran ambition led to the outbreak of the Granika Border War with Ruvelka, twice escalating into conventional conflict during the Seven Day War and the Hayren War, the latter which exasperated the growing tensions between the autocratic Royalists and the nationalist, Zobethos-fundamenalist Wardens. The death of President Krunislav Mircevski in 1983 triggered the resulting Refusal Crisis and in turn the Refusal War, which the Wardens won and resulted in the formation of the modern-Commonality.

Despite the death of over 2 million Syarans, the Commonality recovered from the civil war and once more began a major economic expansion, becoming the largest economy on the continent of Siduri in the early 2000s. Persistent territorial issues with Ruvelka led to the brief Imerti Conflict in 2005 and the much more destructive Zemplen War between 2008-2010, which ended in Syaran defeat and the signing of the Treaty of Aragon. Modern Syara remains a major economic and political power in Siduri, and more recent peace overtures between Syara and Ruvelka such as the Syaran-Ruvelkan Commercial Trade Agreement have provided a foundation for more peaceful relations.

Geography and Climate

Syara is located in north-western Siduri, forming a "corner" of the continent. Mainland Syara is roughly 250 kilometers from Eracura, forming the western "mouth" of the Sundering Sea. The Syarans have called the Sundering Sea the "Divide" since antiquity. Syara borders only one another nation on the continent, Ruvelka, with whom Syara has long running territorial disputes. Syara's border with Ruvelka is approximately 1,953 kilometers long. Syara itself has a total land area of roughly 2,100,000 million square kilometers. It has the third largest coastline in Siduri, behind Nalaya and Gylias. Syara's tallest mountain is Mount Xena located in Makedon, while it's longest river is the Rioni, which originates in the Ruvelkan Kurilla Mountains and runs south-west through Zemplen into Galania before depositing into the Thanor Bay.

Syaran topography varies by Realm. Makedon is dominated by the Makedonian Highlands which contain Mount Xena and form the origin of many of Syara's northern rivers. The Highlands have historically formed the boundary between Makedon and Galania. The Highlands sprawl westward into the Lycian Mountains that form the "spine" of Scitaria and lead into the Mysian Peninsula. The Makedonian Highlands stretch north until they level out and form the Desopya Coastal Plain along Makedon's northern coast with the Sundering Sea.

The Makedonian Highlands fade quickly south, forming what has been termed the "Great Valley" of Galania, which are domianted by seasonally flooded plains fed by multiple rivers, the largest of which is the Rioni. Galania is the flattest territory in Syara, which extends west into Scitaria and contains Syara's largest interior body of water, Lake Amant. The gentle rolling hills and plains of Galania form Syara's breadbasket, and the core of Syara's extensive agricultural industry.

The Great Valley extends south until it ends in Hayreniky, where the Southern Highlands begin. Known simply as the Hayreniky Highlands, or the Clan Mountains, Hayreniky is the extension of the Matra Mountains that define the border between Ruvelka and Mansuriyyah. The coast of Hareniky is dominated by marshes and lagoons.

Politics

Syara is a Parliamentary Federal Constitutional Republic. The Syaran Commonality's political leadership is divided into three separate branches; the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative. The Government of Syara refers to the Executive Branch, which is led by the Executive of Syara. Syara's Executive is picked by the ruling party in the High Council of Syara, the Parliament which serves as Syara's legislative body. Although the Executive is selected (though not technically required to be) from the High Council, the Executive relinquishes their role in the High Council and may not vote on High Council, although the Executive retains the right to propose legislation. The Executive is responsible for forming domestic and foreign policy for Syara, enforcing the laws of the High Councils and rulings of the National Tribunal, and overseeing the daily operations of civil affairs.

The High Council is a bicameral legislature consisting of the National Assembly and the Federal Council. The National Assembly is the lower house composed of 300 members who's distribution is based on population statistics as provided by the Syaran National Census. The National Assembly primarily handles domestic affairs, including setting the federal budget, passing domestic legislation, creating impeachment proceedings, and issuing votes of confidence. The Federal Council is composed of 100 representatives, 25 from each of Syara's four Realms. The Federal Council has the exclusive powers to declare war, sign treaties, and approve of cabinet and judicial appointments. The High Council is responsible for appointing of an Executive to lead the Government after elections, which occurr every four years.

The National Circuit serves as the judicial branch of government and is headed by the National Tribunal, which is the supreme arbiter of law in the Commonality. The National Tribunal consists of 15 Senior Justices who are appointed by the Executive to 12 year terms. The National Tribunal is the supreme appelliate court in Syara and has the power of judicial review over the Commonality Constitution. The National Tribunal also has the sole power to resolve disputes between the Realms.

Syara is often described as "quasi-theocratic" state owing to the heavy influence Zobethos plays in politics; it is the national religion of Syara and membership is required to hold public office.

Legal code

Syara has a codified legal system of which the highest source of law is the Commonality Constitution. The Commonality Constitution lays out the framework of Government of Syara as well the structre of the High Council of Syara and the National Tribunal. The National Tribunal is the third and highest tier of Syara's three-tiered judicial system, above the National Appeals Court and the Commonality Court, which is the lowest of the three. Each Realm has its own court system known as the Realm Circuit. Syara as a civil law legal system.

Foreign Relations

Syara's position along the western mouth of the Sundering Sea has often resulted in the Commonality playing a major role in international politics in Tyran. Since the foundation of the Commonality Syara has alternated between a non-interventionist to a proactive role in international affairs. Executive Radovan Kostović embarked the Commonality on a major push in foreign affairs that resulted in Syara hosting talks to end the Arzell Crisis, which were mediated by Kostović.

Syara maintains diplomatic relations with every sovereign nation in Tyran. It is a member of the Organization of Tyrannic Nations and an obsesrvor state to the Commonwealth of Sovereign Nations. Public opinion of Syara varies significantly from country to country, often dependent on the country's views on Ruvelka-Syara Relations. Syara is an ally to Æþurheim and maintains close ties with Tennai and Cacerta, while relations with Gylias, Acrea, and Mansuriyyah are more strained. Syara's long-standing disputes with Ruvelka have often played a major role in foreign affairs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for handling Syara's international network of embassies, consulates, and ambassadors.

Administrative Divisions

Syara is divided into four Realms, centered around historical regions of Syara. The four Realms are Makedon, Galania, Scitaria, and Hayreniky, ordered by population. Each Realm is further divided into provinces and then districts. Syaran federalism entails that each Realm is responsible for its government, legal code, law enforcement, commerce, defense, and judicial system.

Military

The Syaran Commonality Armed Forces (Syaran: Vooruženite sili na zaedništvo na Sjaran, VZS) are the unified military forces of Syara. They are composed of the Syaran National Army, the Commonality Air Force, and the Syaran Commonality Navy. Per the Commonality Constitution, the four Realms of Syara are obligated to help provide for the defense of the Commonality and maintain their own military forces, which are legally distinct from the VZS. The Executive of Syara in the commander-in-chief and the Ministry of Defense is responsible for the oversight of the VZS, while the Realm Defense Forces answer to their repsective Viceroys and Realm governments. The VZS is the largest military force in Tyran by number of troops. Syara males are viable for conscription upon reaching the age of 18; conscripts form roughly 55-60% of the VZS.

Per the Commonality Constitution, the VZS cannot be employed as an internal security force, nor can it be used for border security or national law enforcement, which falls under the Ministry of Security. Syaran law forbids that the position of Minister of Defense be held by a retired military servicemember.

Economy

The Syaran economy is a highly developed social market and market-oriented economy. It is the fifth-largest national economy in Tyran by nominal GDP, the fourth largest by purchasing power parity, and sixth highest GDP per capita.

Syara is a export based economy dominated by the service sector, but with sizeable industrial and agricultural sectors. It is the fourth largest goods exporter and sixth largest goods importer. Much of Syara's wealth and trade is based on its strategic location at the western 'mouth' of the Sundering Sea. Syara's economy is diversified, with a historically strong agricultural base that has long been the staple of Syaran wealth and exports; today Syara is one of the largest food producers in Tyran, producing over 143 million tons of wheat, barley, and rye in 2019. Syara's industrial base produces chemicals, machinery, automobiles, metals, and electronics and comprises almost a quarter of the economy. The service sector of Syara is heavily involved in retail, transportation, information technology, health and pharmaceuticals, financial services, and tourism. Tourism has become a major facet of Syara's economy, with more than 45 million unique visitors annually to Syara's various ruins from the Makedonian Empire.

Syara began industrializing rapidly in the aftermath of the fall of the Arkoennite Empire, and grew even faster following the Unification of Syara in 1875. The Republic of Syara rapidly become one of the major economic powers of Siduri following the Divide War, but suffered from economic downturn after the Siduri War in what became known as the Broken Years. The outbreak of the Refusal War further damaged Syara's economy, but the establishment of the Commonality and and the tenure Saša Mlinarić saw Syara undergo an economic miracle during the 1990s that saw Syara become the largest economy in Siduri. Syara continued to enjoy steady economic progress until deteriorating relations with Ruvelka led to the brief Imerti Conflict and much more destructive Zemplen War, which threw Syara's economy into disarray. After his appointment in 2010 Executive Melkon Isagholian began a series of "shock programs" to resolve Syara's financial situation. While these helped keep Syara's economy afloat, the resulting inflation undermined the Drachma while Isagholian tried to repay Syara's war debts. In 2012 Executive Kire Steriovski began employing major subsidies into Syara's service sector while battling inflation and instituting financial reforms, and despite a recession in early 2016 Syara experienced a mid-decade boom under Radovan Kostović. After assuming office in August 2020, Executive Anita Beleska announced her economic plan to further expand and refine Syara's service sector, while limiting Syara's deficits.

Industry

Syara's industrial base grew considerably following the foundation of the Republic of Syara, and ranked among the top three manufacturers at various points between 1900-1930. Manufacturing today counts for approximately 23% of the Syaran economy. Syaran manufacturing largely focuses on telecommunications, steel fabrication, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, chemicals, ships, rail cars, and automobiles.

Agriculture

Syara has historically been a major food producer owing to the extensive fertility of the Galanian Valley. Agriculture remains a larger part of the Syaran economy than most industrialized states, accounting for around 4% of the economy. Syara produces over 150 million tons of cereals and grains annually and total production of foodstuffs surpasses 230 million tons. Syara leads Tyran in the production of olive oils and wines by volume.

Tourism

Syara's extensive history and various ruins dating from the Makedonian Empire make it a significant tourist destination, with more than 45 million unique visitors annually.

Energy

Syara's energy comes from a wide variety of sources. Syaran Electric Domain is the largest utility company in Syara and provides electricity to most Syaran homes. Approximately 40% of Syara's energy is produced by nuclear power, the single largest source. An additional 25% is provided by hydroelectric dams, while 20% is provided by fossil fuels, specifically natural gas. The remaining 15% is provided by various renewable energy means, including solar and wind power. Total Syaran energy production amounts to 1,362.4 TWh.

Transportation

Syara's rail network is managed by Syaran Railways, a partially-stated owned enterprise which manages the bulk of Syara's 47,384 kilometers of railroad. Syara has four high-speed rail networks, one connecting all four Realms and one each in Makedon, Galania, and Scitaria. Syara's road network consists of 1,651,417 kilometers of usable road, defined as local, provincial, and national. The Syaran highway system connects virtually all major Syaran urban centers.

Demographics

Syara's population as of 2021 is estimated to be 167,350,450. It is the sixth most populated nation in Tyran after Quenmin, Acrea, Cacerta, Ossoria, and Ruvelka. Syara's fertility rate has varied considerably since the Refusal War, from 2.7 in 1990, 1.3 in 2005, to 2.3 in 2016.

Language

The Syaran language is the official language of the Commonality, and the language in which all laws, public statutes, and official records must be kept it. The Government of Syara recognizes four distinct dialects of Syaran in accordance the three Realms of Makedon, Scitaria, and Galania. The Hayren language is the only recognized minority and regional language, spoken within the Realm of Hayreniky. The Syaran language is descended from the Erani-Eracurans and is most closely related to Svinian. Syara formerly recognized the Karvelebi language of Zemplen region prior to 2010. Syaran language policy and the refusal of the national government to recognize minority languages based on a failure to reach a "minimum threshold" has been a source of criticism in some cirlces.

Ethnicity

The Government of Syara officially recognizes four main ethnic groups within Syara. These are based on the historical Realms of Syara and constitute the Makedonians, Galanians, Scitarians, and Hayren. Syaran refusal to recognize the ethnic minorities of Zemplen and Imerti has been a source of conflict and tension within Syaran history. Most of Syara's population fall within the four major ethnic groups, though an estimated 3% of the population do not. Most ethnic minorities are Ruvelkans, Karvelebi, and Imertan.

Religion

Syara's national faith is Zobethos, which is the official state religion of the Commonality. Approximately 97-98% of the Syaran populace are Zobethians, and membership in the faith is a requirement to hold public office in Syara.

Urban areas

Syara is heavily urbanized, with about 89% of the population residing in cities and suburban areas in the immediate metropolitan areas. The largest city in Syara is the capitol Zovahr, which also serves as the largest city in Makedon. Other major urban centers are Myzova in Galania, Moddra in Scitaria, and Dateva in Hayreniky. There are a total of 92 designated urban areas in Syara, which posses most of the population and economic activity of the Commonality.

Education

The Ministry of Education is responsible for the oversight and implementation of education in Syara. Syara divides education into three levels; primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. Syaran education is heavily influenced by the nation's historical Hellenic influence, and children began studying civics at the age of 10. Syaran education is largely public and compulsory for children between the ages of 4-12. Secondary education, more informally known as high school, begins at the age of 13 and lasts until 18. Post-secondary school education can be attended through two means; upper schooling or vocational-technical. This is the only part of the education field where private schools operate, who typically specialize in specific fields, especially cultural aspects like art and music. Syara has four levels of university degrees; Standard (associates), Optimal (Bachelors), Exemplary (Masters), and Doctorate (Self-explanatory). Between 77-80% of Syaran adults have completed some level of tertiary education, either on par or higher than the regional average based on who you bribe.

Health

Syara has universal health care for all citizens ran through a mandatory national heath insurance program. Approximately 3 million Syarans are employed in the health sector of the economy. Private health care systems exist as an alternative for some Syarans. Syara spends approximately 6% of its GDP on healthcare, with an average life expectancy is 83 years and a low infant mortality rate of 4 per 1,000 live births.

Culture

Syaran culture is heavily based on the country's Hellenic past, mixed with Slavization that occurred during the Medieval period and the rising influence of the Zobethos religion throughout the Makedonian Empire.

Religion

Zobethos is the state religion of the Commonality of Syara, where the majority of its followers inhabit, with several million more scattered throughout Tyran. Zobethos is defined as a monotheistic religion with elements of pantheism.

Zobethos, the worship of the Titan Gaia, originated in the Makedonian Empire during the 6th Century in the form of a manuscript which became known as the Chronicles of the All Mother. Written by an author known only as the Chronicler, the Chronicles proposed the supremacy of Gaia, the mother of all creation, over the Hellenic pantheon that permeated throughout Syara and the Empire. Zobethos, as it came to be called between the 7th and 8th Centuries, gradually replaced the various Hellenic dieties, in large part to the popular appeal the faith had over Syara's traditional belief system. By the 9th Century Zobethos had become the de facto national religion of the Empire, and continued to exist past the decline of Makedon. Zobethos was named the national faith of the Republic of Syara following its unification in 1875. Zobethos saw an upsurge in popularity in the decades following the Siduri War, and enjoyed a particularily strong revival during the Broken Years. The resurge in Zobethos fundamentalist became a major component of the revolutionary Wardens, who would later overthrow the Royal Families of Makedon and Galania during the Refusal War. After the war ended Zobethos was named the state religion of Syara in the Commonality Constitution, membership of which became a requirement for holding public office.

Zobethos postulates the supreme diety of Gaia, the mother of all creation who is all-powerful, merciful, and pervasive throughout the cosmos. Gaia, whom is ageless and timeless, is responsible for the creation of the universe and all things within it. Although she does not play an active role in the lifes of humanity, worshipers of Gaia are encouraged to live virtuous lives of piety, seflessness, compassion, and venerate the natural world. Followers of Zobethos (sometimes called Zobethians) who actively worship the All Mother and live righteously are awarded with eternal salvation in the afterlife, while the wicked are cast into the Void, a senseless and meaningless existence without cause or reason. Those who live neither wicker or virtuous lives are continuously reincarnated until they accept the All Mother. Those who do worship Gaia are often called the Chosen Children, a term that has occasionally been used to advance Syaran nationalism.

Followers of Zobethos typically gather weekly at designated temples for mass prayer, which is led by a Predicant. The faith is managed in part by the Ministry of Faith, but inhouse oversight is done through the Temple of the All Mother. The highest mortal authority of the Temple is known as the Grand Oracle, who oversees the Temple and appoints lower Oracles and Predicants. Numerous temples, shrines, and holy sites belonging to the Zobethos Faith are cared for by the Temple, and procted by the Sacred Guard.