Cyrassinia

Cyrassinia
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: 'Umat wahidat , shaeb wahid , 'amir wahidi. ("One Nation, One People, One Emir")""
Anthem:  "The Great Homeland" Cyrassinian National Anthem Royal anthem:  "Cyrassinian Royal Peace" Cyrassinian National Anthem
Location of Cyrassinia (dark green) - in Scipia (dark grey)
Status	Emirate
Capital	Alhadara
Largest city	Queyma
Official languages	Arabic
Ethnic groups (2015)	89% Gharib 11% Other
Religion	State religion: Azdarin Other recognized: Christianity, Judaism
Demonym(s)	Cyrassinian
Government	Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Emir	Farooq bin Mahdi al-Hatem
• Prime Minister	Nasir Irfan
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	Consultative Council
Area
•	673,295 km2 (259,961 sq mi)
Population
• 2015 estimate	20,325,580
• 2015 census	20,325,580
• Density	52.6/km2 (136.2/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	estimate
• Total	$5.1 trillion
GDP (nominal)	2019 estimate
• Total	$608,734,842,000
• Per capita	$29,900
Gini	32.1 medium
HDI	0.784 high
Currency	Poir (POR)
Driving side	right
Calling code	+892

Cyrassinia, officially the Emirate of Cyrassinia, is a Gharib country in the north of Scipia, a cultural and economic bridge between various ethnic groups. It is a constitutional monarchy with Azdarin as its state religion. Its head of state is the Emir, the head of the royal family, who wields far reaching political power, including the ability to declare war, peace and dissolve parliament. Its history can be traced back thousands of years, its current royal family with a lineage dating back to the 10th century. There is evidence of human habitation in Cyrassinia as far back as the Paleolithic Age, up to 200,000 years ago.

Etymology

Cyrassinia's name is derived from the land's first settlers, known as the Cyras people, who lived some time during the Neolithic era. Little is known about the first civilization, but it is believed they were primarily fishers and farmers. Several canal systems have been excavated along the banks of Cyrassinia's largest river, and several villages thought to date back to the Cyras age.

The demonym for Cyrassinia is Cyrassinian.

History

Despite the first known civilisation dating back to the Neolithic Era, there is evidence of human habitation in Cyrassinia as far back as the Paleolithic Age, up to 200,000 years ago. Various kingdoms laid claim to the territory of Cyrassinia as part of their holdings and empires, its water ways proving a vital hub of trade and culture.

The Qabali Empire ruled the territory for some 300 years before Latin conquests brought new culture to the land. Conquests saw Cyrassinia further trade hands until it was conquered by Azdarin forces in 998 AD, and settled as part of a new caliphate. This caliphate laid the foundations for modern Cyrassinia, including the current royal family whose heritage goes back as far as the 10th century.

The Royal Family was ousted in the 19th century by a syndicalist coup, but was later reinstated during a widespread revolt. However, the monarchy did not enjoy the freedoms it once did, and was shackled by a unitary "supervisory" council that sought to limit its power and influence in Cyrassinian society. This new order proved unpopular however, and in the face of a poor harvest from a combination of drought and mismanagement, public condemnation and calls for direct monarch rule saw the council dissolved and the Emir reinstated as head of state.

Since then, Cyrassinia has been ruled as a constitutional monarchy, the constitution being ratified in 1943. It has played an important role in regional politics, growing its influence through uranium exports and attracting foreign investment in industry and infrastructure such as transport facilities and engineering projects. This has cemented Cyrassinia as a hub of specialised geologic engineering and manufacturing.

Geography

Cyrassinia is located in North Scipia, sharing borders with Tyreseia to the west, Alanahr to the east, and Charnea to the south. Its one coastline in the north is on the Periclean sea.

The geography of Cyrassinia is diverse depending on the region. While the Fashir steppe and shrub desert ranges separate the northern and southern governates, it is interspersed with forestry, mountains and waterways. Once free of the Fashir region, sizeable arable land populates the southern and eastern districts of the Emirate, where irrigation and agricultural technologies play an important role in sustaining an independent food source for the nation.

The forestry of the southern highlands are comprised of temperate broadleaf and mixed forests dotting the mountainous Zefras steppe. The west is home to various waterways and sees adequate amounts of rainfall for the region, allowing temperate greenery to grow.

The eastern district is home to Cyrassinia's highest peak at 3,263 metres, Mt Hashamish. Beyond there are various valleys which have played host to important battles and trade routes throughout Cyrassinia's history.

The climate of the Emirate varies wildly between the regions. Generally, the further north you go, the climate becomes more of a dry summer climate, while further east is arid desert. Summers are generally hot and dry, lasting from May to September, with temperatures averaging around 31 °C, but can go as high as 40 °C. Winter lasts between November and March, and is marked by cool evenings, more frequent showers and the occasional snowfall.

Government

Cyrassinia is governed as a unitary state, under a constitutional monarchy. The constitution of Cyrassinia sets the framework for legal governance of the Emir, government, legislature and judiciary. The Emir enjoys wide executive power, including the ability to dismiss the government and dissolve parliament, declare war and peace, ratify laws and treaties, call and postpone elections.

The Emir is the head of state and commander in chief of the Armed Forces. A vote of no confidence by the parliament can also dismiss the government. If the government wishes to pass a bill, it must be voted on by the parliament (consisting of the Consultative Council and the Senate) and be ratified by the Emir to become law. The Emir may veto laws, but this veto can be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote by both houses.

The Upper House (Senate) is appointed directly by the Emir, often consisting of experienced judges, politicians, military officials and previous government officials. It consists of 68 seats. The Lower House (Consultative Council) has 138 seats and its members are elected to four year terms by party-list proportional representation. There is a minimum quota that 20 seats must be held by women, and at least 10 by religious minorities and 5 by ethnic minority groups.

The Courts are divided by civil and religious. Civil comprises criminal and civil court cases, including those brought against the government, while religious deals only in personal matters such as divorce and inheritance. Religious and personal freedoms are guaranteed by the constitution, enabling freedom of religion despite the Emirate having a state religion. Freedom of expression and speech are guaranteed, although some of the platforms in which citizens express themselves are subject to censorship, such as on state news broadcasts.

Foreign Relations

Cyrassinia has often played the role of peacemaker in the region, being a neutral ground for the ratification of numerous treaties and truces between rival nations. It maintains strong ties with other Arabic-speaking countries as a matter of policy, and seeks good diplomatic relations with other Gharib and Azdarin nations.

In a bid to attract foreign investment, Cyrassinia has special economic zones with favourable tax rates for businesses. This has given Cyrassinia a high rating for "ease of doing business."

Being seen as a nation of stability and temperance, Cyrassinia enjoys good relations with democracies, while also retaining ties with more autocratic states such as absolute monarchies and authoritarian states. This allows the Emirate to retain its global position of trade, maximising profits with various government types. It does draw the line however when a nation is recognised as an international pariah. There are some states where embargoes are placed that Cyrassinia will not break.

Military

The Cyrassinain Armed Forces' formation has changed dramatically since the 1950s, going from divisions and light infantry formations to brigade size combat and maneuver units assigned to regional commands. These commands are split between Norther, Central, Eastern and Southern commands.

The Emirate's military is comprised of a combination of cutting edge and aging equipment. Older equipment has been gradually replaaced since the late 90s in an effort to thoroughly modernise the Armed Forces. Part of this initiative is introducing new capabilities that the Emirate did not previously have, such as unmanned aerial reconnaissance, C4i integrated command infrastructure, strategic air lift capabilities, anti missile defence, active protection systems, counter-drone systems and anti-ship coastal batteries. In addition, it has sought to replace its old stock of weapons for modern systems utilising intermediate cartridges, and equip its brigades with modern anti-tank munitions.

The CAF is comprised of several branches: The Cyrassinian Ground Forces, The Royal Cyrassinian Navy and the Royal Cyrassinian Air Force. They number some 110,000 personnel in total, with the majority (75,000) assigned to the Ground Forces, while 20,000 serve in the Air Force and 15,000 in the Navy. In wartime the Emirate can call up its 65,000 reserves, all of whom are former military who undergo yearly retention training for a period of 4 years. In wartime the Emirate can call up its 150,000 reserves, all of whom are former military who undergo yearly retention training for a period of 4 years.

Manpower is made up of professional soldiers. Men between the ages of 18-26 are eligible for a loose form of conscription. Those who are properly motivated are selected, while those who object to military service can be assigned to civil services such as firefighter brigades, where they will be assigned to in reserve after their training is complete. Women are eligible to volunteer for military service, where they may select any branch and serve in non-combat roles. The key exception to this is in the Quick Reaction Forces, a Special Operations Capable rapid deployment infantry brigade. There, they may serve in female engagement teams which carries the risk of frontline combat. Students of professional subjects (doctors, psychologists, pharmacists, dentists, etc.) may serve their conscription after completing a six weeks course, receiving lieutenant ranking when they begin their service.

The CAF's yearly expenditure is 3.1% of GDP, or $18,000,000,000 annually. A large portion of this is spent on administration and training. The average pay grade for an enlisted service member is a competitive $62,495, with housing and higher standards of healthcare guaranteed. Basic recruit training is 15 weeks, costing an average of $56,200 per service member, while advanced placement training takes an additional 15 weeks and costs on average $73,500 per service member. It has 5,100,000 citizens who are fit for military service.

Economy

While mining and uranium exports make up a large part of Cyrassinia's economy, it has diversified significantly towards an advanced service sector. It is home to a robust manufacturing industry that produces domestic automobiles and heavy machinery under foreign licence, as well as an engineering sector in fields of geological engineering specifically, with contributions from metal fabrication. As Cyrassinia's middle class expanded, so too did its disposable income, and market for consumer goods and entertainment. The nation's capital Alhadara has become a significant hub of designer jewelry, as well as fashion made with imported textiles.

The Emirate is a widely popular tourist destination both within Scipia and internationally. Its rich history and blossoming entertainment industry attracts tourists from all over Ajax, while its religious status brings in religious tourism from Azdarin pilgrims. Cyrassinia's government has gone to great lengths to highlight its national artists and musicians, to show its individual culture, separate from a commonly perceived hegemony. Tourists can also experience a "traditional Cyrassinian nomadic experience", riding camels and visiting some of the oldest settlements in the country, experiencing a taste of Cyrassinian cuisine and folk music.

Despite its many museums exploring its rich history and excavation sites of ancient settlements, Cyrassinia is home to a number of art schools and music venues. Numerous hotels and resorts dot Cyrassinia's various beauty spots, especially along its coast and inland towards the forested regions of the eastern and southern governates. There is a vibrant night life in the more populated cities, especially the entertainment centre of the country in Queyma, where some of North Scipia's most popular television shows and movies are filmed.

Science and technology is a rapidly emerging sector of the Cyrassinian economy, with ICT becoming one of the fastest growing industries in the country. Various government programmes aim to enhance this progress, through scholarships in engineering and computer sciences, and the funding of grants and construction of research facilities.

Cyrassinia's key challenges include its continued suppression of free speech and troubled human rights record. It has a high human development index for the region, and has the status of "partly free" according to independent observers. Cyrassinia has a high quality of life, in part thanks to extensive investments in infrastructure and the establishment of a welfare state. This in turn has led to a sizeable middle class and a domestic market for various consumer and luxury goods with brands from abroad.

Demographics

Population

Cyrassinia's population of 20,325,580 people is comprised of approximately 51% female and 49% male. Approximately 1.3 million residents are foreign nationals. The predominant ethnic group are Gharibs, making up some 89% of the population. The average life expectancy in Cyrassinia is 76.4 years.

Language

Gharbaic is the dominant language of Cyrassinia, being spoken in the legislature, courts, business, education and daily life. Despite this, a second language is often taught at schools, and fluency in a foreign language is somewhere around 42%. Being able to speak a second language is especially common in tourist cities, and taught as a useful skill for international trade.

Religion

Azdarin, specifically ‘Iifae Azdarin, is the official religion of Cyrassinia. It is taught in schools as part of the curriculum for ages 6-15, and there are many religious institutions dedicated to Tashbith and wider Azdarin study. Despite this, there is a sizeable population of Christians living in Cyrassinia, as well as some Jews and. Cyrassinia's tolerance towards other religions makes the Emirate an attractive place for tourism, business and education. Freedom of religion is enshrined in the constitution, and some of the oldest Christian churches can be found in present day Cyrassinia.

Culture

As a historical hub connecting many countries across the regions, Cyrassinia's cuisine is incredibly diverse, highlighting both Northern Scipian flavours and West Ochran dishes. Olive oil is the predominant cooking oil which informs many of the nation's dishes. Hummus is also very prevalent as an appetiser and side dish.

Football is the most popular sport in the country, though many team and individual sports are enjoyed, with special funding given to sports programmes and facilities such as gymnasiums and stadiums. Motor sports, gymnastics and interestingly enough, skateboarding, are among a rising trend of non-traditional sports that have been gaining traction in recent years.

Infrastructure

The infrastructure of Cyrassinia has been described as thoroughly modern. The Emirate has spent a significant amount of money attracting foreign experts, not to build infrastructure, but to bring expertise and train a generation of indigenous civil engineers and architects. There are several important irrigation projects in the western regions of the country, while significant attention is paid to transportation and city planning.

Due to challenges posed by geography and climate, cities must be resilient, and transportation options diverse and flexible. The Emirate has invested a significant amount of money in public transportation projects to connect the cities and regions across the country.

High speed rail is an important factor in this, enabling regional and national travel, while an abundance of international and regional airports ensures that settlements across the country are accessible. Regional and metropolitan bus routes ensure easy access to some of the more remote regions and neighbourhoods, improving social mobility and access to civil amenities. Cities are designed to be built for people, to allow foot traffic and reduce congestion among its more populous cities. This is done through initiatives such as no car zones and person-focused civil engineering, such as building cycle lanes separate to car lanes, making roads have sharp and winding routes to reduce speed and the risk of accidents and raised roads when intersecting with pedestrian foot traffic to increase driver awareness.

In addition to this, sanitation and refuse collection are central focuses of city planning. Desalination plants address water shortages, while underground garbage compactors keep litter off streets. An ambitious aquifer project pumps millions of gallons of water from underneath the Fashir steppe and distributes it among the urban population centres. Recycling also plays an important role in reducing waste and pollution, to protect the precious arable lands the Emirate has.

Cyrassinia faces the key issue of water access, and is spending billions of dollars annually on a aquifer project that pumps millions of gallons of water from underneath the Fashir steppe and distributes it among the urban population and agricultural centres. Desalination plants also address water shortages, costing more money and leaving less for projects such as military modernisation.

Energy

Cyrassinia has invested heavily in renewable energy resources, including in nuclear energy. The first nuclear power plant opened in Cyrassinia in 1975, and since then more have been constructed throughout the country.

Other key energy sources are solar energy, wind energy and hydroelectricity, with significant civil engineering projects in each aiming to diversify the Emirate's energy production. Natural gas power plants make up some 35% of Cyrassinia's energy sources, while the rest are made up predominantly by nuclear energy, with significant contributions from solar, wind and hydro.