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Kingdom of Afalia Aafaaliiaa | |
|---|---|
Flag
Coat of arms
| |
| Motto: Incepto Ne Desistam | |
| Anthem: Build Me A Blessed Land Royal anthem: God Save The Queen | |
| Map of Afalia. Map of Afalia. | |
| Capital | Blackdon |
| Official languages | None |
| Recognised national languages | English Traditional Aafaaliiaan |
| Ethnic groups (2013) | Anglo-Afalian 60.6% Traditional Aafaliiaan 19.7% Mixed Race 8.6% Black 6.3% Others 4.8% |
| Demonym(s) | Afalian |
| Government | Unitary Parliamentary Democracy Under Constitutional Monarchy |
• Monarch | Amelia |
| Jessica Shaw MP | |
| Establishment | |
• Unification under Daavnd | c.1712 |
• Anglican Colony | 1757 |
• Unification as an Anglican Empire Realm | 1814 |
• Independence | 1952 |
| Area | |
• | 3,570,265 km2 (1,378,487 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2013 census | 25,451,354 |
• Density | 6.7/km2 (17.4/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2012 estimate |
• Total | $1.100 trillion |
• Per capita | $43,361 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2012 estimate |
• Total | $1.367 trillion |
• Per capita | $47,747 |
| HDI | 0.897 very high |
| Currency | Chand (CAF) |
• Summer (DST) | Various |
| Date format | dd/mm/yyyy |
| Driving side | left |
| Calling code | +152 |
Afalia, officially known as the Kingdom of Afalia, and as Aafaaliiaa in Traditional Aaafaliiaan, is a large island nation located in southeastern Ajax that consists of the sovereign mainland island of Afalia, two smaller major islands of Harling and Winlock and thousands of smaller islands. Alongside its sovereign territory Afalia maintains one autonomous overseas dominions, Ghiswall located across the world. As an island it has no land neighbours and is relatively isolated within Ajax. Its closest neighbour is the state of Chosen Gohogoku, thousands of miles to the north.
Humans inhabited Afalia for at least 45,000 years before the first establishment of colonial settlements in the 18th century. Before the arrival of colonists Afalia was inhabited by Traditional Aaafliians, who comprised hundreds of different tribal groups. Whilst largely isolated they engaged in internal trade from the 1500s onwards. A tribal kingdom, unified by the Traditional Aafaliiaan leader Davnd, saw Afalia theoretically though not practically unified in the early 18th century. In 1757 Afalia was discovered and claimed in the name of the Arthuristan Empire and colonisation began, with relative peace remaining between the indigenous Traditional Aafaaliiaan tribal speakers and Athuristan colonists. Arthurisation was fast and widespread turning Afalia into a modern, economically developed realm of the empire and ensuring its status as a mature liberal democracy. As calls for representation grew a series of home rule bills led to successive regional assemblies and in turn a Parliament of Afalia.
Following a referendum Afalia was granted independence, becoming an independent nation and kingdom from the Arthuristan Empire in 1952. A period of political isolation followed until the beginning of a period of trade and economic investment in the late 1960s. The liberalisation of immigration laws in 1973 diversified Afalia and vastly increased its population, leading to a semi-isolationist stance. In 2013 it was attacked by the fascist totalitarian state of Titanica, but with support from a coalition of democratic states from the International Coalition for Expansion, it defended itself and preserved democracy. The end of the Titanican War brought about massive changes in Afalian politics and society, particularly foreign and defence policy with large defence spending increases and membership of international defence organisations. The population of 25.4 million are highly urbanised and concentrated around the eastern counties and coastline of the country whilst much of the centre is harsh wilderness and unsettled bushland known as the outback.
Afalia is a unitary parliamentary representative democracy, with a constitutional monarch, Queen Amelia as its head of state since 13 December 2013 and a Prime Minister Jessica Shaw, as its head of government who holds real power. The seat of power rests in the sovereign Parliament of Afalia and the Blackdonian palace, residence of the monarch, in the capital and largest city of Blackdon. Afalia is a developed country with the fifth or sixth largest economy in Ajax, depending on sources. It is a highly globalised economy with a large, post-industrial service sector making up the majority of the economy supplemented by a large mining and mining-related sector, a growing manufacturing sector and an international financial sector centred in the Blackdon Jiinving. Tourism is an integral part of the Afalian economy and it is one of the most visited locations in Ajax. Afalia ranks highly in rankings of ease of business and has very low levels of corruption.
The country maintains a robust welfare system that provides universal healthcare and tertiary education free to most citizens. It ranks highly in many international comparisons of national performance, including health, education, civil liberties, political and economic freedom. It is often described as a middle power and pursues a policy of multilateralism, nuclear non-proliferation and support for global institutions as the foundation of security and prosperity. Afalia employs the native Chand as its currency and its national animal is the Volo, a kangaroo-like creature native to the island, which still thrives due to strong environmental law. Afalia has been a member of the Security Council of the International Coalition for Expansion since 2013. It is also a member of the World Assembly and a number of other regional and international organisations.
Etymology
The name Afalia derives from the native language of the country, Traditional Aafaaliiaan. 'Aafaaliiaa' first appeared in records in circa 900AD and is roughly translated into English as, 'Beautiful, Endless, Sacred Plains'. The English speakers which came from Arthurista romanised and adapted the name, removing the double vowels used in Aaafaaliiaan and calling the land Afalia. Citizens of Afalia are reffered to as Afalians, or as Aafaaliiaant in the traditional language. Most people use the word Afalia when referring to the country, although the use of the word, 'the kingdom' is sometimes used in rare circumstances. During colonial times when Afalia was a realm of the empire Afalians were sometimes known as 'Arthur's Cousins' referring to the joke that Afalia was so much like Arthurista. Afalians are sometimes informally referred to as 'Afs' or 'Afas' both within and outside the country.
History
Pre-Colonial History
Humans began inhabiting Afalia sometime between 45,000 and 65,000 years ago. Hunter gatherer tribes, who spoke the Traditional Aafaaliiaan language lived in the forests and woods of Afalia, expanding out into the shores and coastlines to become fisherman and learn new trades during the first and second centuries. The question over where Traditional Aafaliiaans came from is unanswerable. It is believed that many of the Traditional Aaafaliiaan tribes originated near Lake Pippin, but current popular theories suggest that people arrived from the Aenean continent of Carpathia via boats. Little is known about pre-colonial history in Afalia as most of the Aafaaliiaan tribes recorded oral history and passed history down to their successors by word of mouth. Recorded history first began to appear in around circa 900AD where descriptions of the hundreds of different tribes occupying Afalia were first recorded. It is estimated that around 500 different tribes claimed different areas of land and occupied them during pre-colonial times. Whilst they all nominally spoke Traditional Aafaliiaan, various dialects and differences have been recorded.
In around 956AD the land known as Afalia today was united under an advanced tribe known as the Geenviins, whose rule lasted around two hundred years. Using ships and the shorelines of the north they had also learnt advanced agricultural techniques and the ability to win battles in new ways. Their period of power led to significant advances within Afalia with regards to agriculture, writing and other areas. They fell in the thirteenth century after the delicate balance of power within Afalia between tribal leaders and the Geenviins broke down and open revolt ensued. This was sparked by an attempted coup from the rivalling Duutra tribe in 1223. The coup was quickly put down by loyal Geenviin forces. Due to their failure the Duutra sent infiltrators to the Geenviins Royal court under the guise of Duutra defectors. In 1225 the Geenviin monarch Haaloonee was assassinated, via poison, and the collapse of Geenviin role came quickly.
Their fall led to a dark ages in Afalian history with little solid recorded history between circa 1250AD and 1600AD as the different tribes returned to their oral record keeping practices. What little is known suggests tribal wars and the merging of many smaller tribes into larger kingdoms. By around 1600 various tribes had merged into the two largest kingdoms, the northern Yuutwaan and the southern Klaa. The smaller tribes were dominated by these two powers. Tensions between the two rose leading to a series of wars between the Yuutwaan and Klaa's which lasted for almost a hundred years. The so-called War of the Plains led to the eventual defeat of the kingdom of Klaa to Yuutwaan, which defeated its enemy through more advanced techniques and ships due to its northern coastlines, just as the Geenviins had done hundreds of years before.
Aaafaaliiaa was unified under Yuutwaan in 1712AD with the king of Yuutwaan, Daavnd, declared liiooh oog Aam Aafaaliiaa (King of All Afalia). Despite the appearance of a unified modern kingdom, in reality most of the still individual tribes scattered across the plains of Afalia knew nothing of the governance, which Daavnd reputedly carried out in his self-proclaimed capital on the shorelines. Afalia was still very much a tribal society, isolated from most of the outside world and from each other.
Discovery and Early Modern History
Regnum Albion engaged in trade with the native Traditional Aafaliiaan population from the early 1500s onwards, using the mineral resources of the eastern lands. The relationship was limited in nature however and Afalia remained largely isolated, except from Regnum Albion. In 1757AD a Royal Navy expedition from Regnum Albion was set out to claim Afalia in the name of the Anglican empire. The captain, Timothy Barton-Wright sailed around most of the northern half of Afalia, charting the coastline and landing at what is today the city of Blartleo, proclaiming the land for Albion. After the discovery of tribal documents the name of Aafaaliiaa was romanised into Afalia and the country became a part of the Anglican empire. As per usual with Anglican colonial practices Albion's newly dispatched colonists and governors met with King Daavnd and other tribal leaders and prevented them from outright war by bribing them with advanced agricultural practices and technology. In 1758 the Treaty of Faaloonaa was signed effectively granting Anglican control over Afalia but granting Traditional Aafaliiaan equal rights to Anglican subjects and settlers and ensuring they maintained control over their tribal lands. Daavnd's position and authority was lost, although his name and family remained notable and important, especially after they married into a wealthy colonist's family in the 19th century.
Relations between colonists and natives were relatively peaceful across the 18th century as the initial wave of colonisation and establishment of settlements began. However as colonists expanded into the southern territories of Afalia some violent outbreaks occurred, with traditional Aafaaliian culture purposefully destroyed and eradicated in some cases. In 1795 the Traditional Aafaliiaan tribal leader Niilee Csooxm led an uprising in the southwestern Tendrigland comprising nearly 5,000 Traditional Aafaliiaan men. They killed a local colonial settling and proclaimed the land around themselves as an independent Aafaliiaan Kingdom. In response the governor of Tendrigland Elliot House, realising any attempts to use soldiers to put down the uprising could cause further revolts, pursued an operation to disband the Aafaliiaan Kingdom using Traditional Aafaliiaan volunteers. Through a combination of economic bribery and investment in Traditional Aafaliiaan tribal farms House raised 8,000 Traditional Aafaaliiaan volunteers who promptly put down the uprising. The campaign helped win the hearts and minds of many Traditional Aafaliiaans in the south and set the tone for relations between colonists and natives for the next fifty years, despite the violent uprising at the beginning. For the most part however as the 19th century began colonists and natives lived peacefully alongside each other, with some natives and colonists even marrying and forming the first Afalian mixed-race families. All the while the process of Anglicanisation continued, bringing Anglican culture, including language, political and legal systems and religion to Afalia. The uptake of Anglican culture and ideals was quick and widespread as living standards increased as a result of the changes. Many Albions saw Afalia simply as an extension of their own country, a view shared by many Afalians themselves. The growing number of Anglican settlers led to a formal consolidation of the Afalian colony in 1769 into four provinces-the northeastern Wrightland, the northwestern Kingland, the southwestern Tendrigland and southeastern New Territories.
19th Century
The 19th century brought further advancements for Afalia as immigration from Regnum Albion continued, as well as from other Anglican colonies. The industrial revolution, which had already occurred in Albion, spread to Afalia. As cities grew larger and trade increased between Afalia and mainland Albion, calls for some sort of home rule grew. In 1814 with the need for a more centralised form of administration necessary the four individual colonies and provinces of Afalia were unified together under the Unification (Afalia) Act 1814. Afalia's status as a colony was modified to that of an Anglican empire realm and the four provinces individual colonial governments were centralised. The unification of the country was largely supported by ordinary Afalians and led to a desire for more Afalian involvement in the governance of the Anglican realm. The Great Railway scheme of 1844-1853 only strengthened the resolve for domestic representation. The coastline of Afalia was linked, alongside railways linking the north and south. The expansion of the railways also led to a re-awakening and re-discovery of traditional Aafaaliiaan culture as southern Afalia, still containing many Aafaliiaan speakers became better linked with the more Anglicanised north.
In 1859 a drought struck Afalia, particularly the south. Whilst sea links between the two countries were effective, communication between Afalia and Albion were slow. This resulted in a great delay between the outbreak of the drought and the news reaching the Anglican parliament in Port Royal. The failure of the Albion government therefore to respond quickly and effectively led to angry demonstrations within Afalia and calls for a colonial parliament grew quickly. In the capital, Blackdon, a group of young students stormed a crown building and held a number of people hostage. The so-called Drought Rebellion was soon put down by local constabulary and the students arrested. It was not a significant event, with only a 100 or so students taking part. None the less the event aroused fears in Port Royal of a more significant rebellion against the Anglican establishment. With the drought's end in early 1860 the Anglican parliament made provisions for 15 different regional assemblies to be established in Afalia, based on the current counties. The Regional Assembly (Afalia) Act 1860 established the fifteen different assemblies to discuss regional Afalian matters. Their power was extremely limited, they were more forums than any legislative bodies, but their popularity soon grew as elections took place.
By 1875 the regional assemblies were demanding more powers and the Anglican parliament responded with the Home Rule (Afalia) Act 1875. Whilst debate in the House of Commons was fierce the bill was passed, granting the regional assemblies power over a few small areas. Afalians took to it well. Anglicansation had resulted in a generation of young people passionately embracing democracy, particularly women, who looked with disdain to other countries who had not yet enfranchised women. Political blocs and forerunners to parties were formed and further co-operation between the regional assemblies occurred. Perceived differences between the children of colonists and the children of natives were largely put to rest as the two communities co-operated in the assemblies and became one.
The winds of change were becoming obvious when the speakers of the regional assemblies again requested more powers, this time a wide range, from parliament in 1901. Feeling that Afalians were entitled to their democratic rights, due to their similarity to the homeland, Port Royal undertook measures to construct a national parliament to be elected from all corners of Afalia, in the Home Rule (Afalia) Act 1901. The regional assemblies were bound together under a pre-parliament in 1901 before the Parliament of Afalia was officially inaugurated on the 1st of September 1903 following a general election. A coalition government was formed to oversee the first acts of the new parliament and an elected MP, known as the First Minister, was chosen to represent Afalia on certain matters domestically and abroad. Afalia's development of a separate political system and national identity from the Anglican homeland was being established and the first ideas of home rule began to be discussed over the course of the first few parliaments. Afalia's nationalist political movement however was stopped, temporarily, in its tracks with the onset of the Great War.
Great War 1912-1915
In April 1912 the Kingdom of Palatine, a pariah state generally considered brutal and oppressive, invaded the Gallic Republic and Rossiyan Empire. The unwarranted invasion, which was met with disgust by Regnum Albion also generated vast swathes of concern and anger in Afalia. Within a month the Anglican empire had been pulled into the war when Palatine forces attacked the dominion of Damaraland and public and government opinion across the empire, including amongst Afalia's elites and commoners, forced Albion to declare war on Palatine on the 12th of May 1912. Within days general mobilisation orders had been signed which saw nearly ten thousand Afalians join their Anglican and fellow colonial citizens in fighting against Palatine and to liberate its captured territories.
Over the course of the next three and a half years almost a million Afalian troops would take part in a variety of campaigns, liberating other Anglican dominions and colonies and fighting on the front line with Anglican and empire troops against Palatine. The number of soldiers conscripted during the war increased steadily with a large number of Afalian troops having volunteered. Traditional Aafaliiaan troops were given entry to formerly all Anglo-Afalian regiments for the first time in 1913, and vice versa with Anglo-Afalians allowed to enter formerly all Aafaliiaan regiments. The war advanced the cause of race relations and saw Traditional Aafaliiaans become accepted into other areas of mainstream society, including the military, but also universities, business and skilled professions for the first time. Although many Traditional Aafaliiaans served in these industries it was not until the Great War that Aafaliiaans became accepted in these areas in large numbers.
Eventually in 1915 Afalian troops, alongside Anglican and other dominion troops, would be victorious and invade Palentine itself bringing an end to the war. The Palentine government's systematic torture of those it considered inferior shocked the public conscious and gave renewed support to Afalia's war effort. Over 100,000 Afalians died in the Great War, Afalia's single greatest loss of life until 2013 and the Blitzen Bomb in the Titanican War.
Although the war highlighted the vast importance and unity of the Anglican empire it also inspired others in Afalia that the country 'could do it alone.' The war itself was very widely supported by the general public of all classes who saw it as a necessary fight against evil. The belief that Afalia could go her own way stemmed more from the management of the country by parliament and the government who oversaw the home front and domestic affairs in the war. Widely considered a success the administrative capabilities of the Afalian government helped pave the way for independence although political and cultural affinity with Regnum Albion remained very strong.
Post-War 20th Century Colonial History
In the wake of the Great War as successive parliaments were elected an independence movement began to establish itself, unofficially at first, before its official founding on the 7th of September 1929. Its prestige grew both within and outside Afalia, mainly down to its hot-headed but politically skilled leader Oliver King. Elected as an MP to the Parliament of Afalia in the 1912 general election he rose quickly to lead the independence movement and was chosen as the First Minister in 1935. He quickly demanded more powers for the parliament and made his intentions clear that he wanted an independent Afalia. Responding relatively positively to King's demands, the Anglican parliament passed the Home Rule (Afalia) Act in 1937, which was followed by more powers in the Home Rule (Afalia) Act in 1943.
Afalians did not unilaterally support Independence. Many saw themselves as Anglican citizens rather than Afalian citizens and bitter fights in the chamber of the Afalian Commons characterised many policy decisions, especially when moved towards more devolved powers to Afalia, away from Albion. Slowly however the independence movement began to win the hearts and minds of the majority of Afalians. King was careful not to demand independence too quickly, knowing that if the people did not back him he could blow his chances forever. On the 19th of April 1949, however, King sensed the time was right and asked the parliament to back him in a parliamentary motion, calling for the independence of Afalia from the Crown Commonwealth, in a sensible time frame. The Commons backed the motion with a healthy majority whilst the upper appointed chamber, the House of Lord-Lieutenants, more reluctantly, backed the motion eventually.
King was summoned to Port Royal to discuss the motion. Anglican MPs said that the consent of the Afalian people would be needed before any moves towards independence could be made. With a referendum set to be held in the new year King knew that he needed a proposal, which would satisfy the middle classes, in order to win the referendum. The upper class had always supported Albion rule and been opposed to most of the Home Rule bills, whilst the working class had always traditionally supported Afalian independence. The large and growing middle class however were marginal with many swaying on their opinions concerning independence.
Knowing that a proposal for an independent republic would alienate middle class voters, whilst a popular, constitional monarchy of the current Albion kind would attract them, King tracked down the oldest descendant of the first Afalian king, Daavnd, whose family had remained prominent after marrying into a colonist's family. The descendant was a young banker living in the capital, named George Blackdon. The capital city had been named in his family's honour. As a descendant of Daavnd he was considered Afalian nobility. After meeting with him numerous times King slowly persuaded Blackdon to take up the position of a King of the Afalians, should independence be successful. Reluctantly Blackdon accepted and began campaigning for an independent Afalia alongside King.
The February 1950 referendum resulted in a small but measurable vote for independence with 53.5% supporting King's proposals for an independent Kingdom of Afalia. The Anglican parliament dutifully responded by holding its own referendum on the matter of Afalian independence in December 1950 to which a small margin said yes to independence. The results of the Afalian referendum seemed to persuade most Anglicans that Afalians should have what they wanted. In early 1951 the Anglican parliament passed the Afalia Independence Act 1951, giving a handover date for independence of the 1st of June 1952. Preparations were made and at midday on the 1st of June 1952 Oliver King read the 'Proclamation of Independence' outside the steps of the Parliament of Afalia. At midday Afalia successfully became an independent nation, the Kingdom of Afalia.
20th Century Post-Colonial History
The new King, George, was crowned on the 1st of June 1952 and celebrations in the capital marked independence. The 1952 general election which had been held in February saw the three new political parties-the Afalian Liberal Party, Afalian Conservative Party and Afalian Labour Party form a national unity government. Whilst Oliver King remained First Minister within the Liberal party, private meetings of the new unity cabinet came to the conclusion that King was unsuited to the position of Prime Minister, despite his toning down of his rhetoric since the passing of the Independence Act. The cabinet urged King George not to appoint King as prime minister, a decision the King reluctantly accepted. Upon independence on the 1st of June King George appointed King's deputy in the Liberal party, Michael Rogers, as Prime Minister.
Newly independent Afalia began life on a wave of popular patriotism and optimism, which gripped Afalia and all of its politicians. This patriotism led directly to Afalia's involvement with Ghiswall, the communist dictatorship. In 1957 in the face of popular protests and sit ins by students and other opponents, Ghiswall's one party state collapsed, flinging Ghiswall into anarchy and chaos. The patriotism in Afalia, combined with paternalism and a sympathetic approach to the Ghiswall people caused Michael Rogers to order the new Security Wing of the Royal Blackdon Police to prepare for an intervention. Alongside this the Afalian Intelligence Service, unbeknown to the rest of the Afalian cabinet and the King, began secret guerilla operations inside Ghiswall in preparation for the Afalian security intervention.
In September 1957 with the People's Republic having fall a month before, Afalian security teams intervened and established control and rule over the capital. Proclaiming the new head of state as His Majesty King George of Ghiswall, Defender of the Faith, Protector of the People, Afalia had essentially claimed Ghiswall as a colony. A Governor-General was quickly installed and a provisional government set up. The government itself gave some credibility and legitimacy to the Governor General but in reality Afalia ruled Ghiswall directly as a colony. In Afalia, especially Blackdon, the general public was outraged at what they saw as old fashioned imperialism. In parliament calls for an inquiry were made and the opposition Labour party demanded the resignations of the Prime Minister, the whole cabinet and a general election. The foreign secretary resigned and an inquiry was avoided, but the episode forced Afalia into a state of isolation, a move which most Afalians now agreed with. Despite the end of the issue at home in Ghiswall the new Afalian government began a programme of de-communisation, removing all the old communist structures, officials and politicians attempting to turn Ghiswall into a loyal colony. The shaky authority of the Governor General was transferred to a very basic, weak Ghiswall parliament following the first parliamentary elections in 1959, satisfying the remaining critics of the Ghiswall episode.
Despite the quieting down of the Ghiswall issue and the beginning of an isolated foreign policy stance, Rogers' premiership was not without its controversies. Building upon his socially liberal upbringing Rogers championed and pursued the end of capital punishment, strict firearms laws and a whole host of LGBT rights, which Albion had adopted previously but certain Afalians had been resistant to. The isolationism of Afalia led to large amounts of spending on social areas like education, the Afalian Health Service and the welfare system which expanded greatly under Rogers. The new Prime Minister took state visits to some regional neighbours, including Albion and agreed certain trade deals, but Afalia remained politically isolated from the rest of Aeneas and the world following the Ghiswall incident.
In 1959 a strike by coal miners in the key industrial city of Granville slowly formed into a general strike by workers all across the city. Protests on the streets turned into riots with demands for better pay and bigger pensions. Rogers, fearing the worst, asked his home secretary to order the police to put down the strike. Reluctantly the home secretary did and police restored order to Granville. The use of force to put down the riots isolated Rogers and meant his bill to create a new armed forces failed, beginning a wave of popular pacifism reflected in Afalian culture. The pacifist movement began around the same time as the Afalian New Wave cinema and the global export of Afalian films and other culture.
The sixties were a low point for the pacifist movement with Michael Rogers' successor James Mack finally oversaw the creation of an armed forces and prime minister Frederick Dawson oversaw the successful testing of a nuclear weapon. But in 1972 increasing public sector spending caused a recession and Dawson was criticised for responding with spending packages. This led to the abolition of the armed forces as part of austerity measures. A great victory for the pacifist movement, the end of the armed forces led to a 1970s re-birth of the cultural and political movement. The recession of 1972-1974 also led to the liberalisation of immigration laws with the previously tight regulations replaced with relaxed, pro-immigration stance. Immigration divided politics in Afalia but was seen as essential to strengthening the economy, something most economists agree it did. The population of Afalia grew substantially and diversified the ethnic and religious makeup of the state leading to something of a social revolution in Afalian society. This was personified by Frederick Dawson's 1973 speech in a Blackdon harbour where he said, 'Afalia welcomes the world.'
The diversity which immigration brought with it was relatively well received by the socially liberal populace of Afalia. On Harling Island, the large island off the western coast of Afalia, immigration brought more and more Catholics onto the island. A Catholic sense of proto-national identity was established, with the majority of catholics feeling isolated and distant from the predominantly Anglican establishment and local councils on the island. In 1974 a peaceful independence movement was established, stating its goals as establishing a catholic independent Republic of Harling. It pressured the government to hold a referendum on independence, but Frederick Dawson refused, saying that the independence movement was young and it was far too early to even consider a referendum. He was backed up by parliament.
Failure to gain a referendum caused the independence movement to set up its own terror wing, the Harling Freedom Army (HFA) and turn violent. From mid 1974 until late 1975 the HFA engaged in small but deadly terrorist attacks against police forces on Harling Island and on the mainland. Five people were killed and many more injured. In December 1975 the HFA threatened the democracy of Afalia in an attempted coup. The 17-D event saw HFA terrorists break into the House of Commons in order to try and force the chamber to grant independence to Harling. The Commons and the prime minister refused and after a short firefight between the terrorists and police the HFA terrorists surrendered.
The failure of the attempted coup led to a renewed campaign of violence on Harling. By mid-1976 with the campaign of violence increasing a divided House of Commons, at the urging of the prime minister, voted to launch an armed police operation in Harling to tackle the HFA. Operation Crossing saw the special Counter-Terrorism squad and Special Branch of the Royal Blackdon Police deploy 1,500 armed police officers, whilst the Afalian Intelligence Service supported the operation through intelligence gathering and counter-intelligence means. Operation Crossing lasted for three years between 1976 and 1979 with over a hundred police officers killed, fifty civilians and around twenty five HFA terrorists. By mid 1979 the HFA campaign was crumbling with the key leaders arrested and police presence preventing large scale attacks. The HFA officially disbanded in August 1979 and the independence movement disappeared. Although Afalia had succeeded in its mission in ending the terrorism in Harling, many islanders felt more isolated and disillusioned with the mainland than ever.
The issue of Ghiswall had continued to dominate Afalian politics since 1959. Protests from the pacifist movement had seen the transfer of some very basic powers from the Afalian parliament to the Ghiswall parliament in 1965. But to most in Ghiswall and Afalians the country was ruled like a colony. In 1971 at a meeting in Blackdon between Frederick Dawson and the Ghiswall First Minister resulted in a historic granting of significant powers to Ghiswall including control over its budget such as tax varying powers, social policy and a limited control over foreign affairs. In the Afalian parliament a group of MPs known as the 'Dominion Group' called for dominion status for Ghiswall and practical independence. Backed by the pacifist movement the Dominion Group garnered increased support over the 1970s, eventually leading to the support of Frederick Dawson. In 1977 twenty years after the collapse of the communist dictatorship the Afalian parliament passed the Dominion (Ghiswall) Act and Ghiswall became a dominion, with complete control over all of its affairs and policy areas. The monarch of Afalia remains the monarch of Ghiswall and a Governor General acts as the royal representative in the country.
During the Charles Hawkins premiership and continuing Liberal government between 1980 and 1984 the economy crashed in the worst recession in Afalian history. In 1984 the strain of a housing market burst, very high inflation and large public debt caused a recession where GDP fell by 2.8% in a single quarter. Nicknamed the 'Great Fall', due to the fall in GDP, politics in Afalia radicalised. Those on the left claimed that capitalism, at least in its current form, was dead. Whilst those on the right attributed the crash to the high levels of public spending, high levels of taxation and general state intervention in the economy which had existed in Afalia since the very beginning of post-colonial times. In the 1984 general election the young and ambitious Nicholas Christie, a fiscally conservative monetarist led the Conservatives on a programme of 'liberating Afalian markets', alongside many socially conservative policies. The Conservatives were easily elected in a landslide victory ending 21 years of Liberal government. Under Christie's premiership Afalia shifted, in economic terms to the right. Three of the four nationalised companies of Frederick Dawson's era were privatised, public spending was cut dramatically, Blackdon's stock exchange modernised and finally gained its way into international markets. The results were mixed-inflation went steadily down, the economy grew, but unemployment increased and wages fell. Afalia as a nation was almost perfectly split down the middle on Christie's economic policies, challenged from both sides.
None the less Christie won four more elections. Besides his economic policies Christie finally brought Afalia out of total isolation from Aeneas and onto the world stage, somewhat. His period of office which saw more financial, economic and cultural treaties signed is described by most historians as 'semi-isolationism'. But Christie was not unopposed on his foreign policy. Like most other prime ministers, he tried and failed to create a new armed forces. His 1992 Armed Forces Bill, which included a provision for national service for the new forces, was heavily defeated following mass lobbying and protests from the pacifist movement, youth groups and charities. The heir to the throne, Prince Frederick, died in 1992 from lung cancer which saw a spike in support for republicanism and worries over the future of the monarchy. Christie's leadership following the death helped restore faith in the Royal family.
He was at the centre of a constitutional crisis on the 14th of July 1997 when, after taking a walking holiday in the centre of Afalia in the vast forests and woods near Verena City, he disappeared along with his wife and two children. Police manhunts began all over Afalia but after two days Christie was nowhere to be seen. Two days after his disappearance he was officially classified as missing and the King asked the deputy prime minister William Potter and the leader of the opposition for advice. Police believed that a full sweep of the vast forests would take two weeks-but warned the King that it was very possible Christie and his family had died. The uncertainty over Christie's whereabouts forced the threat level in Afalia to go up significantly and the Chand lost significant value on the currency markets. On the 17th of July, three days after Christie's disappearance the King asked parliament for an interim prime minister until police concluded their search of the forests. In the ensuing political fallout the deputy prime minister William Potter and the Christie's home secretary and First Secretary of State Ben Macgown both claimed they had the right to act as interim prime minister because of their respective positions. Across the 17th of July both Potter and Macgown made various attempts to persuade the King to appoint them as prime minister to no avail. A number of other Conservative and even Liberal and Labour MPs also offered themselves as prime minister but the King refused them all.
Finally, with the Conservatives split on the right course of action the King called the father of the house of commons, the MP in the Commons with the longest unbroken service. The father of the house at that time was Labour MP Richard Saunders-a 85 year old member of the House who had served since the 1950 general election when Afalia was still an Anglican Empire realm. The King asked Saunders to form a government, until police had found Nicholas Christie or pronounced him dead. Saunders reluctantly accepted and became prime minister that afternoon. The decision sparked outcry from both the Conservatives and Liberals and led to a motion in the House, which was narrowly defeated, condemning the King for his 'unwarranted involvement in the democratic politics of this country.' The King responded with a speech on television, addressed to the Commons, defending his actions as necessary.
Saunders became acting prime minister and kept the current Conservative cabinet in place, whilst asking the deputy leader of the Conservatives to prepare for a leadership election if Christie was assumed to be dead. On the 21st of July however, exactly one week from when he and his family had disappeared, Nicholas Christie, along with his family, turned up in Verena City-located in the very heart of Afalia. After getting separated from his bodyguards Christie's family had become lost in the forests after it started to get dark. They slept overnight in the forest before desperately searching for a way out. Luckily they had been found by a Traditional Aafaaliiaan speaking hunter who led Christie and his family out of the forest to Verena City where he made his whereabouts known. Christie later described his so-called 'adventure' with the Traditional Aafaaliiaan hunter as a 'spiritually enlightening' one. Following his disappearance Christie became a more devout Christian. Saunders stepped down on the 22nd of July and the King re-appointed Christie as prime minister, ending the crisis.
Assessments of Christie's premiership and the overall societal changes of the Christie era are mixed. His premiership marked a sudden change in Afalian society from a largely community based co-operative one, to a more individualistic society. By the new millennium Christie's brand of economic policies were supported by the now reformed and modernised Liberal party and a more economically and international Afalia had been created. The shift in Afalian society and politics since Christie's election in 1987 had been described as Christieism.
21st Century
In 2000, after 13 years in power, Christie announced his retirement as leader of the Conservatives. He would remain as prime minister until after the general election where he hoped his successor would succeed him as PM. Despite Christie's hopes the Liberals were elected for the first time in 13 years and the era of Christie came to an end. Patrick Collins, the first modernising leader of the Liberals began his premiership positively. He won re-election in January 2003. However by September following an insider trading scheme linked with Collins brother, who worked in the city, the new prime minister had been defeated in a no confidence motion and lost an election to the new leader of the Conservatives, Zach Douglas. The 2003 trading scandal seriously damaged credibility in Afalia's political system. Mass protests in Blackdon and other major cities had been part of the cause of the success of the no-confidence motion which saw Collins government dissolved and defeated in the September election. Political activism, of the kind of the pacifist movement of the 1960s, became increasingly popular in the months and years following Collins resignation.
In 2005 drilling companies, hired by the government, found oil in the sea surrounding Harling island. A bill to drill the area was narrowly backed by MPs and drilling operations began in earnest in early 2006. The beginning of drilling re-ignited the Harling Independence Movement in both its political and terror form. In March 2006 the Harling Freedom Army (HRA) once more announced their reformation and the start of a second Harling Terror campaign began. Within the first year of their terrorism on Harling five civilians were killed. In the 2007 general election the Harling Independence Party won two seats on Harling island and calls inside the Commons for some sort of peace deal were made. The prime minister, now more secure following his election victory, refused, much to the anger of many of his own MPs. Instead he put forward plans for a police operation, as his predecessor Frederick Dawson had done, but was defeated. The Harling terror campaign dragged on with minor attacks, all of them on Harling itself. In 2009 Zach Douglas Conservatives' suffered a dramatic loss when the Liberals returned to government under Christopher Kelly in a landslide victory.
In 2013 Afalia was attacked by the fascist imperialist dictatorship, the United Ditorates of Titanica. In a bomb attack 130,000 people were killed. Despite the overwhelming force of the UDT a coalition of democratic ICE members, known as the Coalition of Democratic Forces defended Afalia and prevented the invasion. The shock of the war finally ended hopes for an isolationist Afalia in the modern world. Since then Afalia has engaged with other regional neighbours and foreign powers. Dramatic changes in Afalian society itself occurred, including a re-emergence of film noir, jazz, blues and modernist art to express the pain of the war. An armed forces was created, massive increases in defence spending occurred and Afalia formed new security and defence based alliances, joining the ICE in July 2013 and a separate defence pact with the Empire of Itailia and the Blackdon Security Treaties with Regnum Albion and later the Aenean Triple Entente. The vast changes in Afalian foreign policy which have taken on a realist, liberal internationalist, more military centred outlook were spearheaded by Christopher Kelly. The new policies of the government and the prime minister in particular have led to the description of Kellyist foreign policy or Kellyism.
In November 2013 Afalia suffered its worst terrorist attack ever as the Harling Freedom Army attacked Blackdon subway stations and hijacked an airplane on a day since known as 8-N. The increase in HFA activity led to the deployment of 1,500 troops to Harling and the start of a new military campaign in order to deter HFA terrorism. In December 2013 the monarch King George died ending a 61 year reign which had begun upon independence in 1952. Princess Amelia's ascension to the throne was described as the beginning of a new era in Afalia as she became Queen of the Afalians. In June 2014 the Prime Minister Christopher Kelly was assassinated by the HFA sparking an increase in troops and the appointment of the first woman, first mixed race and first Catholic Prime Minister of Afalia Jessica Shaw.
Geography
Afalia sovereign territory includes the 'Afalian mainland,' two other major islands of Harling and Winlock and thousands of smaller islands. As a whole it has an area of around 3,570,265 km2. The longest river running through Afalia is the Lughnasa river, which runs from the south east corner to Verena City in the centre of the country. Afalia also hosts two lakes-Lake Pippin, the largest, and Lake Jacob.
Most of the populated areas are on the edges of the country where towns and cities are densely populated. The eastern counties are much more populated than the west. The cities are usually located on the coast, except for Verena City which lies on the Lughnasa River. The centre of Afalia, bar Verena City, is mostly large areas of protected forests and jungle and sparsely populated farmland known as the Afalian bush and outback.
Administrative Divisions
Administratively Afalia is split into counties and cities. As a unitary state power is concentrated in parliament, with the sub-divisions of county and city councils having moderate amounts of powers. Calls for a federal Afalia have so far been rejected by politicians although no referendum has ever taken place. Afalia's unitary state status emerged from the Anglican tradition of unitary states. There are ten cities in Afalia with city authority status-the capital Blackdon, Blartleo, Granville, Denlan, Marshton, Newport, Murraymont, Port Wright, Corve and Verena City. Each of these has their own elected mayor and city council, with powers over various local matters and areas. Whilst the cities, barring Blackdon which is part of Greater Blackdon, are part of other counties the county councils have no power over their decisions.
There are 28 counties in Afalia, each with an elected county council, led by a Council Leader-Shirston, Wrightshire, Polyloone, New Scotia, New Caledonia, Lilipop, Grangeton, Greater Blackdon, Foxelson, Winlock Island, Caantoonaa, New Gallis, Harling Island, Viinooloo, Wooliin, Keelaa Islands, Highlands, New Anglia, New Monmouth, Helmsford, Goonaton, Tooliibaa, Anneland, Sinabond, Jacobshire, Pippinshire, Arthurshire and Lowerlands. All the counties fall under the four ceremonial provinces-Wrightland (W), Kingland (K), Tendrigland (T) and the New Territories (NT), which were originally the four Anglican colonies in Afalia until unification in 1814. The provinces have no political significance and are simply used for historical and ceremonial purposes.
Dependencies
Afalia maintains an overseas dependencies, officially titled Overseas Afalian State. Ghiswall is the only such state. It has a great deal of self-government, with its own elected legislature and an elected head of government, First Minister of Ghiswall. Ghiswall maintains the democratic power over all areas of governance, except in certain cases foreign affairs and defence. In order to strengthen the ties between Afalia and Ghiswall, a Governor-General is appointed as a representative of the Royal Family and Her Majesty's Government. As the official Royal representative, the Governor-General appoints new governments and acts as the official messenger of the Queen. The choice of who to represent as Governor-General is officially the Queen's, but in practice it is down to the leader and Parliament of Ghiswall to appoint the Governor-General as they see fit.
Ghiswall's historia status as an Overseas Afalian State is a result of the legacy of the Ghiswall Incident and a post-independence foreign intervention. Historians have characterised the Ghiswall Incident as a result of an 'overabundance of confidence in Afalia immediately after independence.'
Environment
Across Afalia's coast a mostly marine climate is enjoyed, with warm summers and cool winters, but with temperatures not in the extreme range. Afalia's moderate temperatures on the coast have contributed to the urbanisation of Afalia with the majority of cities and towns located on the considerably large coastline. In the centre of Afalia much more varied temperatures are experienced with the summer months considerably hotter than on the coasts and the winter months considerably colder, with snowfall in many places. Across Afalia there are marine, tropical, equatorial and subtropical environments. The urbanisation of Afalia on the coastline has led to much of the centre of Afalia dominated by forests and jungle, called the Afalian Bush and outback.
The Bush is made up of dense forests, jungles and woods, filled with a diverse eco-system-especially various types of Volos and Creekers, a type of wild dog. Very strong environmental laws brought in in the 20th century led to the modern status of the bush as a 'specially protected area of outstanding beauty'. Only very few people actually live in the bush, most of them Traditional Aafaliiaans who know their own area well. To Traditional Aafaliiaans, especially those who hold Traditional Aafaaliiaan religious beliefs, the bush has many mythical and religious associations.
The popularity of the bush has led to many domestic and foreign tourists taking hiking and car journeys through the bush, known as 'bush ramblers'. The considerably isolated and uninhabited nature of the bush means that around 45,000 people are reported missing in Afalia in the bush every year. Almost all of those are rescued by local police and the regular Bush Patrol helicopters, but around 500 are never found.
Politics
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Afalia is a unitary state under a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy that follows a variant of the Westminster system, modelled after the Anglican system of government. The monarch of Afalia, styled as the King or Queen of the Afalians after its historic Traditional Aafaliiaan predecessor, currently Amelia, is the head of state. The Monarch is formally a ceremonial figurehead but does posses several reserve powers. The Monarch may also exercise the Royal Prerogative, but only on the advice of the Prime Minister and/or Cabinet, which is a committee of the Privy Council of Afalia. In practice however the monarch does not exercise her powers in Afalia. In Afalia the monarch has, 'the right to be consulted, the right to encourage and the right to warn.' These rights are confirmed each week with meetings with the prime minister and privy council. The country is rare in the fact it has no codified constitution-only a bill of rights and collections of other constitutional documents, creating an uncodified constitution. Instead Afalia operates mainly on the principle of parliamentary sovereignty, in which parliament is supreme over the crown and other government institutions and can do anything and everything, except bind future parliaments.
The Parliament of Afalia is the supreme legislature of Afalia. It is made up of three parts-the House of Commons, the House of Peers and the monarch, officially known as the Queen-in-Parliament. The democratically elected and supreme lower house, the Commons, consists of both Afalian members of parliament. The cabinet and prime minister are drawn from Parliament. Convention in the modern day means all cabinet members are democratically elected MPs from the Commons, including the prime minister. Legislation is created in Parliament and once it has been voted on it is sent to the monarch for Royal assent however the monarch merely acts as a 'rubber stamp' and is expected to approve all legislation proposed by Parliament otherwise a constitutional crisis would follow and the monarch would most likely lose the right of Royal assent.
The Prime Minister is appointed by the Monarch after a general election, and by convention is the leader of the largest political party. The Monarch must appoint someone who can maintain the confidence of Parliament, which is why the leader of the largest party is usually appointed, although sometimes the leader of a coalition is appointed. The Prime Minister nominates the Cabinet of Afalia, traditionally drawn from members of the same political party in Parliament, to which they are responsible, which forms the decision-making body of Her Majesty's Government. All Cabinet Ministers are also Ministers of Crown, and as such are members of the Privy Council of Afalia, a body which formally "advises" the Monarch.
Overseas Governments
Afalia has several dominions, Ghiswall, Bractonia and Insulam. Each dominion has its own government (executive) and legislature. The Afalian Monarch is represented in each of these dominions by a Governor-General, who he appoints, usually on the advice of the head of government of the dominion. Dominions send representatives to Parliament, however these representatives do not sit and cannot vote but merely act as people who convey the interests of the dominions.
Law and Criminal Justice
Most of the Afalian Legal System is based on common law which Afalia's former rulers, Regnum Albion, created over time. Some law does derive from statue, but this is usually limited to specific areas. The highest court in the land is the twelve law lords of the House of Peers, the upper house of the parliament of Afalia. This situation has led to some criticise Afalian legal system as a fusion of powers, although in practice the twelve law lords remain completely separate from the politics in the Peers. Crime is very low in Afalia which most think thanks place down to the high level of public spending on education and welfare. In comparison spending on police and other law and order areas is relatively low to most other developed Western nations.
Foreign Relations
Afalia enjoys mostly peaceful relations with most countries. Afalia has official and unofficial relations with hundreds of different countries. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs is responsible for foreign policy and diplomacy, although the Prime Minister has unofficial power and authority. The current foreign secretary is Jonathan Charles MP. In its role as a middle power Afalia seeks multilateral solutions to diplomatic and international problems, has a high degree of civic and non-governmental involvement in its foreign policy and reflects its natural identity as a largely peaceful country through its history of peacekeeping operations in various regions. Afalian foreign policy is formed on the basis of multilateralism, diplomacy above all else, a military doctrine based on responsibility to protect basic human rights in conjunction with other countries, multilateral nuclear disarmament and support for global trade and global institutions such as the World Assembly as the basis of peace, security and prosperity.
For much of its history, since independence in 1952, Afalia followed a policy of semi-isolationism. Whilst it allied itself to certain organisations and countries, it did not get internationally active or involved. This was helped by a policy of armed neutrality. During this period Afalia also pursued a nuclear weapons programme and came 'within a screw's turn' of producing and testing a nuclear weapon before the Liberal government ended the programme and pursued a policy of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament worldwide. This period, defined by some as 'Quiet Neutrality', began to end under the premiership of Nicholas Christie who pursued more active World Assembly involvement and international trade and intelligence gathering, particularly within regional neighbours in the mid 1990s.
The Titanican War in 2013 and the shock of the Blitzen Bomb, led to massive defence increase spending to create a modern and fully equipped armed forces. Whilst primarily for defence purposes the creation of the armed forces has begun a new period in Afalian foreign policy of both diplomatic and military interventionism. The Afalian Foreign Office states the goals of Afalian foreign policy are, 'to serve the interests of the Afalian people, the region and the international community through the pursuit of democracy, free trade, respect and dedication to civil rights and human rights, economic and social prosperity and other goals.' The Afalian Foreign Office also lists a large number of areas where Afalian foreign policy is focused on, including terrorism, nuclear proliferation and more.
Whilst Afalia has diplomatic, often friendly relations with many countries there are only a select few which are deemed by the foreign office to be Afalia's allies. Most of these became allies following the Titanican War in 2013. These include the Empire of Itailia, Arthurista, Eagleland, Emmeria, Phonencia, Lyncanestria and others. Afalia is said to have a special or exceptional relationship with its former rulers Regnum Albion due to the shared heritage and cultural, political and foreign policy similarities. It enjoys generally positive relations with most fellow Aenean countries. This was demonstrated in 2013 with the signing of the Blackdon Security Treaty and the formation of a joint task force of the two countries' respective armed forces. It is a member of the World Assembly, Pentagram Bloc, the Stonewall Alliance and the ICE. It is one of four signatories to the Beaufort Memorandum and also a signatory of the Amistad Declaration on Slavery and has ratified the declaration.
Military
The Afalian Armed Forces, officially Her Majesty's Armed Forces of Afalia, are the armed forces of the Kingdom of Afalia. The forces comprise three different branches, the Royal Afalian Army, the Royal Afalian Navy, and the Royal Afalian Air Force. The George Branch, Afalia's marines, are part of the Royal Afalian Navy.
Traditionally Afalia was a pacifist nation, abolishing its armed forces in the 1960s after just a few years of active service. Instead it was guarded by a security wing of the Blackdon Royal Police force, comprised of just 100,000 men and women which took part in peacekeeping operations throughout the 20th century but never saw active service in conflict except for a brief deployment to Harling Island in the late 1970s. Following the outbreak of the Titanican war in 2013, conscription was put into effect and millions of men called up for active duty to defend Afalia against the fascist UDT. It never saw duty as the Coalition of Democratic Forces, made up entirely of International Coalition for Expansion nations, destroyed the naval invasion fleet after just a few weeks.
Following the end of the war most conscripts were de-mobilised whilst some decided to stay on and become the first members of the new armed forces. King George inaugurated the armed forces at a special ceremony on the 1st of April 2013 and large increases in defence spending are occurring as a defensive force is built up. Debates are also taking place regarding conscription.
Afalia is a recognised nuclear weapon state, a signatory of the Nuclear Non-profiliation treaty. The number of its warheads are low, with estimates at around 125 warheads. As part of defence build up the deployment of nuclear weapons was transferred to the Arthuristian produced Styx Class nuclear ballistic missile submarines, from land-based deployment. The four Styx class submarines now form the Afalian nuclear deterrent.
In July 2013 Afalia applied for membership of the International Coalition of Expansion and was welcomed as the 35th member of the organisation, a major event in Afalian security and defence history. Before that it had already signed a mutual defence pact with the Empire of Itailia. Major Afalian security allies include ICE members the Empire of Itailia, Arthurista, Eagleland, Emmeria, Phonencia and the Empire of Valyria. It has a special relationship with its former ruler Regnum Albion which was demonstrated with the signing of the Blackdon Security Treaty in 2013 which formed a joint task force and joint naval task force of the two countries' respective armed forces and later the East Aenean Triple Entente.
Economy
The Afalian economy is a partially regulated market economy. Her Majesty's Treasury, headed up by the Treasurer of Afalia holds the responsibility for developing and executing the government's financial and economic policy, both fiscally and monetarily. The Bank of Afalia acts as Afalia's central bank and issues notes and coins, for the Chand, Afalia's currency. From the discovery and colonisation of Afalia from 1757 onwards until the mid part of the 19th century Afalia was a primarily agricultural based economy. Industrialisation occurred rapidly during the mid to late 19th century as advanced techniques from Albion made their way into Afalia and from the mid-twentieth century the service and financial sector overtook industry and manufacturing as the nation's primary economic sector, although a large mining sector remains. The liberalisation of the economy under Nicholas Christie as prime minister ensured the service and financial sectors as the predominate areas of the Afalian economy.
Today Afalia is primarily a service based economy, with the sector accounting for 67% of the nation's GDP. In addition to this Afalia has a large mining sector making up 21% of its GDP when all mining related sectors are included. Blackdon is a key international financial centre, hosting numerous trans-global investment banks, the headquarters of numerous corporations, Port King-one of the busiest and largest ports in Aeneas and the Blackdon Stock Exchange. Afalia excels in exporting items of entertainment and art, to the point many consider it an entertainment superpower. Cinema is particularly popular and exported widely across Aurora and other regions. Publishing, film and music production and other art-based practices are large sectors in Afalia, largely part to favourable tax credits. Afalia mines and exports coal, natural minerals, petrol, iron, copper, zinc, uranium and oil. The mining industry has historically been the cause of mass immmigration into Afalia with the gold rushes of the 19th century contributing to a large rise in population. The deicison to adopt much more nuclear power in 1998 and discovery of oil in Harling in 2005 allowed for a large increase in mining sector exports. The mining sector, in contrast to the other key sectors of the service economy, finance and tourism, is found predominantly in the sparsely populated centre and bushland of Afalia. Tourism is also an important part of the economy with around eight million people visiting each year. Innovation and competition is essential to the economy and Afalia plans to become an education hub to encourage more international students into its universities. Foreign direct investment is high in Afalia, helped by low corruption and the relative ease of doing business.
Afalia's corporation tax rate is low, at 25%, and has been cut consistently since the early 1990s. Under the Shaw government it has maintained the 25% rate despite earlier plans to cut. Capital gains tax is also low. Tax credits to encourage foreign investment have also been increasing in numbers in recent years. In comparison to low business based tax rates, income tax operates on a progressive scale and is considerably higher than contemporary liberal democratic states, used to support its large welfare system. The personal Allowance is 10,250.00 chands, with the lowest tax rate, levied at 10% starting from 10,250 to 50,000 chands. The tax rate rises steadily from 10% to 20%, 30%, 40%, 45%, 50% until the top tax rate of 53% charged once a person reaches 1,500,000 chands income.
The high levels of income tax have allowed for the continued extension of the Afalian welfare system to include growing levels of population. Income inequality is relatively low due to high income tax levels, though unemployment levels are higher in the south than the north. The overall national unemployment rate stands at 7.8% as of the second quarter of 2014. It has been a policy of successive governments since Frederick Dawson in 1965 to pursue full employment and current government policies are said to reflect this.
Demographics
Every ten years law complies a census to be taken across Afalia. The most recent census was in 2013. Dominions are responsible for taking their own censuses. The Office of Statistics is responsible for complying data for Afalia. The 2013 census listed the total population of Afalia, excluding dominions, was 25,451,354 people. In 2013 the average total fertility rate was 3.99 children per woman. Gold rushes during the 19th century and the liberalisation of immigration laws in 1973 massively increased Afalia's population. The growth began to decline in the 1980s and 1990s. The birth rate has been on the rise since the early 2000s, but remains below what is considered 'baby boom' levels. Immigration into Afalia has remained at steady levels since a large boom in the late early 2000s.
Ethnic groups
Afalia's ethnic makeup is diverse and generally considered a multicultural society. The two major ethnic groups in Afalia are Traditional Aafaliiaans and Anglo-Afalians. The former are the indigenous peoples of Afalia who arrived in the country, most likely via boats, at least 45,000 years ago. They are believed to be descended from people in Afrosia with modern theories suggesting a mixture of the two. Anglo-Afalians are the descendants of Anglican settlers and colonists who first settled in the country 300 years ago. The onset of mass immigration and colonisation into Afalia led to a large number of mixed race marriages across the 19th century and into the present day. Since 1973 and the liberalisation of immigration laws Afalia has had a massive influx of immigration from all around the world in most major continents. This influx of immigrants has turned Afalia into a truly multi-cultural society with a variety of so-called 'hyphenated Afalians' or politically active ethnic diaspora groups.
| Ethnic group | Diaspora | Homeland (est.) | Nationalist movements | Domestic lobby | Concerns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Aafaliians | None | Afalia (ancient) | Aafaliiaan Nationalist Movement (Aafaaliiaan Iiooneemaaooee) | Traditional Aafaliiaan Rights Union | Traditional Aafaliiaan languages recognition, Political status of Traditional Aafaliiaan people, Recognition as First People of Afalia, Compensation for colonial settlement, Fighting negative ethnic stereotypes, |
| Afrosian Afalians | Afrosian Diaspora | Various Former Colonial Afrosian States (1958-1966) | Various | Afrosian Afalian Lobby | Foreign aid to Afrosia, Closer economic links with Afrosian states, Support for de-colonised Afrosian states, Closer relations with Florys, Mediterreania, Songhia, South Arturia |
| Anglo Afalians | Anglican Diaspora | Regnum Albion | None | Descendants of Arthur | Relations with Regnum Albion homeland, Economic links, Undocumented immigration, Integrity of Anglican culture, Afalian role in Anglican Empire, Historical accuracy concerning colonial settlement, |
| Astholmian Afalians | Astholmian Diaspora | Astholm | None | - | Relations with Astholmian homeland, Economic links with Astholm, Integrity of Astholmian culture, Motoring and car industry and foreign car tariffs, |
| Asto-Indian Afalians | Astholmian Diaspora | Astholm | None | - | Relations with Astholmian homeland, Economic links with Astholm, Fighting negative ethnic stereotypes, Racism and ethnic equality concerns, |
| Cheltish Afalians | Cheltish Diaspora | Chelta (1707) | None | - | Economic links with Chelta, Diplomatic relationship between Afalia and Chelta, Undocumented immigration, |
| Jewish Afalians | Jewish Diaspora | Israel (1948) | Zionism | Jewish Afalian Lobby | Zionism, Arab-Israeli Conflict, Anti-Semitism, The Holocaust, |
| Kēng Afalians | Kēng Diaspora | - | Kēng National Revolutionary Front | Kēng Afalian Lobby | Support of Kēng Independence, Human Rights in Titanica, Cultural uniqueness of Kēng people, Fighting negative ethnic stereotypes, Post-Titanican war charity and rebuilding efforts, |
| Mizuyukian Afalians | Mizuyuki Diaspora | Mizuyuki | Alliance of Mizuyuki-jin/Mizuyuki-jin Renmei | - | Relations with Mizuyukian homeland, Economic links with Mizuyuki, Integrity of Mizuyukian culture, Undocumented immigration, |
| Ohyayian Afalians | Ohyayian Diaspora | - | Ohyayian Front | Free Ohyay | Military occupation of Ohyay, Support for Ohyayian independence, Humanitarian efforts in Ohyay, |
| Theimis Afalians | Themiclesia Diaspora | Newes Lelutokonos | The Soup Society | The Theimioi Club | Economic links with Themiclesia, Diplomatic relationship between Afalia and Themiclesia, Undocumented immigration, Integrity of Theimis culture, Recognition as a major Afalian ethnic group, |
| Tinchalian Afalians | Greater Tinchalian Diaspora | Various Former Tinchalian Empire States (1903-1927) | Various | - | Various national unification movement support, Economic links, Security of Aurinsula against Skorzenia, Integrity of Tinchalian culture, Fighting negative ethnic stereotypes, |
| Valyrian Afalians | Valyrian Diaspora | Valyria | None | Valyrians in Afalia | Democratisation of Valyrian regime, Valyrian Civil War aftermath and support for veterans, Economic links with Valyria, Royal Family-Imperial Family relations, Political dissidents and asylum, |
Languages
Afalia has a de facto official language of English. The vast majority of Afalians speak just one language, usually English. Alongside English, Traditional Aafaaliiaan is the second largest language in the country, with almost 15 million speakers, predominantly in the south of the country where Anglican colonists did not settle as much. It uses the Roman alphabet but in a uniquely different way to English. Every vowel is written twice to add stress, as well as the use of different letters to standard English. The use of repeated vowels makes Aafaaliiaan vowel heavy. For example, English: 'Hello, I'm an Afalian.' Traditional Aafaaliiaan: 'Iieeloo iin aao Aafaaliiaan.' English: 'How do you do today?' Traditional Aafaaliiaan: 'Iioox eoo zoouu eoo uuooeeaaz?'
Names, including people and places, in Aaafaaliiaan are written with vowels top heavy and the consonants removed. For example-English: 'The name of the Prime Minister of Afalia is Christopher Kelly. Traditional Aafaaliiaan: Christopher Kelly becomes 'Iiooee Ee' These short names sometimes make it hard to distinguish between different people so Christian saint names are often added on in Aaafaaliiaan speaking families. For example-Christopher Kelly becomes 'Iiooee Ee Christopher' If the English name of the individual is already a Biblical name that is often used, if not a Saint is often chosen. The first ten numbers (1-10) in the Aafaaliiaan language. One=Oooee. Two=Uxoo. Three=Uitee. Four=Goouut. Five=Giiwee. Six=Tiiy. Seven=Teeweeo. Eight=Eeiihiu. Nine=Oiioee. Ten=Ueeo
English was brought over from Albion during the initial waves of settlement during the late 18th century and spread quickly across the rest of Afalia. French is the third most spoken language in Afalia, mainly down to immigration from Valyria. Other notably spoken languages are German, Cantonese, Spanish and Japanese as a result of liberal immigration policies. It is compulsory for students in Afalian schools to study a second and third language up to the age of 18. The second language is almost always Traditional Aafaaliian, whilst the third is usually a modern foreign language such as French, Spanish, German or Italian. In schools where Traditional Aafaaliian is taught at the main language English is usually the second language.
Religion
Afalia has high levels of religiosity and weekly attendance at religious worship, unusual for a Westernised country. Christianity is the dominant form of religion in Afalia. Records suggest that early missionaries brought Christianity over during the 15th or even 14th century, long before the discovery of Afalia by Albion. But the first main wave of Christianity came as part of Anglicanisation and settlement on Afalia. Christianity spread quickly. The Church of Afalia, Afalia's established church was founded as the Episcopal Church in Afalia in 1757.
The Church of Afalia is the established Church of the Kingdom. It is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, with historical ties to the Episcopal Church of Albion. Despite being established, the Church of Afalia, has little effect on the politics of Afalia. Despite opposition to the establishment of the church during the 1980s from the Afalian Socialists, the Church remains as it has been since independence.
Theologically the Church of Afalia is considered a very liberal Christian Church. Women clergy were voted for and brought in during the late 1970s. Women bishops were introduced during the late 1990s, and despite tensions the Church did not split. Since the early 90s, the church has accepted homosexuality as something an individual is born with rather than chooses. It has, since 2008 allowed vicars who wish to, perform and bless same sex marriages within their own parishes. The very liberal attitude of the Church is usually accounted for by the tolerant, liberal Albion.
The 2013 census indicated that 80.4% of Afalians were religious, with the vast majority answering as Christians (72.3%). Besides the Church of Afalia and the Catholic Church, by far the largest Christian denominations in Afalia, other large and notable denominations in Afalia include Methodists (who are in partial communion with the Church of Afalia), Quakers, Lutherans, Calvinists, Mennonites, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and Orthodox Churches. The other largest religious groups were Islam (3.5%), Judaism (3.2%), Hinduism (0.9%) and all other religious groups at 0.5%. According to a private poll conducted in 2006 7/10 Afalians attend church or some other place of worship on a weekly basis.
Healthcare
Afalia has a single payer two tier universal healthcare system, free at the point of use, funded by taxes. Healthcare in Afalian dominions varies. The Afalian Health Service (AHS) provides healthcare to all Afalian citizens, including citizens of the dominions. It is funded and overseen by the Department of Health, but is an independent agency, with much freedom in medical choices. The AHS is regulated by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Hospitals & Hospices, which is in turn overseen by the parliamentary health select committee. Healthcare spending is high, a result of the high social spending levels pursued by successive Afalian governments.
Alongside the public healthcare system a number of private providers exist with varying costs. Private providers have become less popular in recent years, due to both increases in insurance prices and the raising of standards within the AHS. The 2013 Census suggests that 84% use the AHS and AHS GPs as, 'their first point of call on medical matters' with only 7% stating a preference for private healthcare.
Culture
Most Afalian culture has been greatly influenced by Albion culture, so much so that in many cases, up until the mid late 1950s and early 60s, it was impossible to tell the difference between the two. Following independence however a new spirit of independent culture, fuelled by the Traditional Aafaliian culture which still existed, was created with the Afalian New Wave in the late 1950s. Afalian culture is best observed within cinema, viewed by many Afalians as, 'the ultimate Afalian artform', although literature, music, art, philosophy and other areas have also seen many famous and notable Afalian individuals and a spread of Afalian culture. Culture in Afalia can often be separated into English, mainly Anglican style culture and Traditional Aafaaliiaan blocs, culture from the native tribes.
Traditional Aafaaliiaan Culture
In comparison to many other colonised countries Traditional Aaafaaliian culture, the culture of the indigenous people of Afalia, was preserved relatively well. This was down to a number of factors-the generally cordial and peaceful relations between Anglican colonists and Traditional Aaafaliiaans, the large number of mixed race families who grew in numbers as colonisation continued and the cultural rebirth, following the Drought Rebellion, in the 19th century. Relatively little was known about Traditional Aafaaliiaan culture until the late 19th century when Aafaaliiology, the study of traditional Afalian culture and people, was popularised as a result of a number of prominent anthropologists and naturalists. Despite the cultural rebirth spreading cultural practices across Afalia very little detail was actually known about the vast complexities of Traditional Aafaliiaan culture. Due to the lack of written records of history Anglican colonists found it difficult to decipher the various Traditional Aafaliiaan languages and regional dialects. It wasn't until the early 20th century that a number of the languages were fully translated and Anglo-Afalians were able to understand traditional Aafaaliian culture properly. This led to the spread of cultural practices and their adoption as mainstream Afalian customs. For example the Traditional Aafaliiaan greeting Iioooooouushseeeeuu has become, along with the handshake, the most common form of greeting for both Traditional and Anglo Afalians.
Practices and Ceremonies
Iioooooouushseeeeuu-A Traditional Aafaaliiaan greeting designed to ensure all the people greeting each other are viewed as equals. To greet people Iioooooouushseeeeuu individuals approach the person they are meeting and, in unison, bow their heads so they are staring directly at their feet. Keeping their heads in this position they place their right arm on their left shoulder and then, in a smooth movement, move their right hands away from their shoulders until they are outstretched with their palms open and facing the person they are greeting. The custom, as well as ensuring everyone is viewed as an equal, also demonstrates openness and trust between persons. The greeting was adopted by Anglo-Afalians in the early 20th century and became commonplace alongside the handshake. Nowadays both Anglo-Afalians and Traditional Aafaliiaans will perform both Iioooooouushseeeeuu and a handshake when greeting people, regardless of the ethnicity of the person they are greeting.
Naaooii-An initiation ceremony in which boys become men. Males usually undertake Naaooii when they are 17 or 18 years old beginning by learning the history of the tribe orally. By the end of Naaooii they should be able to, by memory, recall their tribe's history and recount its history verbally through the passing on of information and storytelling. This process of study is then followed by a period of isolation where most boys will spend a month in the Afalian bush isolated, in an attempt to better understand the earth and nature. When they return they are considered to have become men. Young Traditional Aafaliiaan men were often sacked from their jobs when they disappeared for a month until the passing of the Traditional Aafaliiaan Rights Act in 1961 which gave all Traditional Aafaliiaan men the right to 'embark upon an isolated period of no more than three months during the process known as "Naaooii"'.
Quusiiuuz-An annual secular ceremony in which Traditional Aafaliiaans 'make their peace' with nature and honour animals they view as sacred-especially the native Afalian Volo or Vooloo. Though it is often associated with the Traditional Aafaliiaan religious beliefs, Quusiiuuz is actually a secular ceremony, purposefully designed as secular to include every tribal member. This arose out of the small, but important distinctions between tribal groups with regards to matters of religion.
Uuootyiiuuz-A Traditional Aafaliiaan marriage ceremony in which the couple are united by their tribal elders and blessed as one, rather than two people, as previously. The ceremonies usually take place in the middle of the individual tribes tribal land-although in the modern day they often take place anywhere in the bush.
Eeooeeiiooh-A reputed Traditional Aafaaliian 'end of life' or suicide ceremony. Aafaaliiologists have been skeptical about the existence of Eeooeeiiooh with some claiming that the ceremony was an invention by anti-Traditional Aafaliiaans to create a scary myth about the people. Eeooeeiiooh is reputedly a ceremony in which Traditional Aafaliiaans who had brought great shame or committed great crimes against their tribe would kill themselves via self immolation, surrounded by their tribal elders. The Traditional Aafaliiaan Party has denied the existence of Eeooeeiiooh calling it a 'colonist's invention', but the Centre of Studies for Traditional Aafaliiaan Peoples and Cultures has said that amongst some tribes Eeooeeiiooh did exist.
Beliefs System and Religion
Traditional Aafaaliiaan religions across tribes are wildly different. Even with the unification of Afalia under the Geenviins and again under King Daavnd hundreds of years later, religious beliefs were not uniform. Some common threads running through all Traditional Aafaliiaan religions were a belief in the sanctity of the Volo, seen as a sacred animal and messenger of God. A commonly held belief appears to be that God created the various plains and hills of Afalia and allotted each of them to their particular sector. Aafaliiaaologists claim that most Traditional Aafaliiaan religions are monotheistic. The arrival of Anglican colonists and Anglicanisation of Afalia meant the majority of Traditional Aafaaliiaans converted to Christianity. In the 2013 census 78% of Traditional Aafaliiaans listed their religion as Christian, 18% listed Traditional Aafaliian Religions/Beliefs, 0.5% listed other religions and 3.5% listed no religion.
Traditional Aafaaliiaan Cinema
Traditional Aafaaliiaans were early adopters of cinema, in many cases long before their fellow Anglo-Afalians approved of it as a culturally acceptable and intellectually stimulating form of art. The first Traditional Aafaaliiaan film was made in 1906 and consisted of a documentary of tribal life in a Lake Jacob tribe largely untouched by modern Afalian society. Many early Traditional Aafaaliiaan films were documentaries-made by Traditional Aafaliiaans to explain their culture and traditions to those Anglo-Afalians who had little contact with the secluded southern tribes. The translation of various Traditional Aafaaliiaan languages in the early 20th century coincided with a rise in popularity for Traditional Aafaaliiaan films, with films made in Traditional Aafaaliiaan languages now translated with English subtitles. This led to a great increase in their popularity in Afalia, especially the north and major cultural city Blartleo.
With the popularity of Traditional Aafaaliian documentaries Traditional Aafaaliiaan filmmakers began breaking into mainstream fictional cinema. Touching on an Afalian niche various Traditional Aafaaliiaan films in the 1960s and 70s were crime and thriller films, which were often set in Traditional Aafaaliiaan communities or focused on Traditional Aafaaliiaans in large cities, touching on themes of loneliness, isolation and identity. In 1972 Traditional Aafaaliian cinema had a breakthrough when 'The Sails' or 'Uuiiee Taaiimt' won Best Picture at the annual AFA Cinema Awards. By the 1980s Traditional Aafaaliian films in both Aafaaliiaan languages and English had become mainstream and were exported abroad along with their Anglo-Afalian counterparts. Traditional Aafaaliiaan cinema has evolved across the years, first as a form of liberation, then reconciliation and finally as a form of art like its English language counterpart.
Cinema
Afalia has a long history of filmmaking and a significant film industry. Film production began in 1900, with Afalia's first film being exported abroad into worldwide markets in 1907. Since then the Afalian film industry has been one of the largest and most successful in the world, (although it has experienced periods of failure and decline), particularly in the English language market where it ranks closely alongside the leaders in the market. Afalian films, with their independent and avant-garde mysterious style have also ranked well in foreign language speaking markets. Afalian films have produced massive box office takings, including most notably the David King police thriller series. A number of box office breaking actors have also come from Afalia and the industry collaborates with foreign companies to make many films per year. The Afalian Film Institute in 2012 said that 300 films were made in Afalia that year with 60% of those films being exported abroad.
Modern film critics and cinephiles argue that the golden age of Afalian cinema is or is about to take place, with increasing respect and admiration of Afalian work. Afalian cinema specialises in thrillers and film noir, crime dramas and other mystery based genres, whilst the surreal and avant-garde genres and styles of films are also hugely popular. Afalian films are usually classified into two categories, with regards to their cinematography, 'City' films which have quick, narrow focus and heavy use of jump cuts, and 'Country' films which have long shots, establishing shots and little camera movement. The distinctions arise out of the typical setting of both types. In 2012 Afalian films grossed around 3.5 billion universal standard dollars in box office takings worldwide. The Afalian Film Institue, (AFI), has produced a poll ranking what they consider to be the 10 greatest Afalian films of all time, published every three years. The international magazine Sight & Sound's once a decade poll has also ranked, within its top 100, a number of Afalian films. The Afalian Film Academy hosts the annual AFA Cinema Awards, the Afalian equivalent of the Oscars.
Notable and famous Afalian films include the David King police thriller series-most notably the box office record breaking 'Rooftop', the comedy 'Today's Children', the drama 'Fear of Forgetfulness', the action film 'Guard', the documentaries 'A Family In 1994' and 'A Family In 2004', the Traditional Aafaaliiaan documentaries 'The Sails' and 'Vooloo', surreal dramas such as 'Naaooii' and political thrillers such as 'Click Draft' all of which won numerous awards and broke box office records. The horror film 'The Black Town', which won Best Picture amongst a host of other AFA Cinema awards was controversial due to its psychological horror themes and terror sequences and led to a period of resentment towards Afalian cinema during the 1960s in many socially conservative countries, before a symbolic cinematic 're-birth' in the 1980s.
Its horror and scary nature came as a shock to audiences, especially foreign audiences in the 1950s and resentment of Afalian cinema was the result in many countries. In some instances some states put a virtual or actual ban on all Afalian films. During the late 50s and early 60s Afalian cinema had its largest success in English language markets, particularly Regnum Albion. The beginning of the Afalian New Wave in the 1960s, which was a result of the birth of the pacifist movement, also led to cultural spending increases and the granting of the cinematic tax credit in 1966 which led directly to the 'Afpolitation' era of filmmaking. Afploitation films were usually low budget thrillers, horrors and dramas which were shown in so-called 'Escapist' cinemas, because people would watch the films out of pure escapism. As well as leading to a whole generation of new Afalian filmmakers various foreign producers, attracted by Afalia's tax breaks for filmmaking, made various Afpolitation films during the late 60s and 70s. Whilst these films began as poorly made box office pieces, (with some exceptions), their quality increased over the course of the 1970s and many Afpolitation works 'graduated' from escapist cinemas to mainstream and arthouse cinemas. By the 1980s the combination of growing quality and liberalisation of many foreign censorship laws saw Afalian work become international once more. The end of the Titanican War has led to the so-called 'War Boom' in cinemas in the present day with hundreds of films being produced around the events of the war, particularly the Blitzen Bomb and the post-war effects on Afalian society and people. In the modern day Afalian cinema is continuing to expand, with many predicting a golden age of Afalian cinema.
Sport
Afalians play a variety of traditional and foreign sports. There are two national sports-the Traditional Aafaliiaan culture game of Haaraal Cooxm and cricket, brought over from Albion. Haraal Cooxm is played mostly in the south of Afalia whilst cricket is more popular in the north. A poll in 2009 found that cricket was the most popular sport, followed closely by Haaraal Cooxm and association football.
The Afalian National Cricket team is a test team and has taken part in many tournaments and matches, including the Cricket World Cup, the Twenty20 world cup and more. The most famous, and to most Afalians, most important tournament the Afalian team takes part in is the Blade series where Afalia and Regnum Albion play each other every two years in each of their countries. The series began in 1894 during a tour by the Anglican cricket team of the Anglican Empire. In a surprising result Afalia beat the Anglicans and in celebration the captain of the Afalian team claimed the Anglican captain's bat. Regnum Albion vowed to return to win back their captain's bat and the series has continued since then with each team attempting to win 'the blade', referring to the actual blade of the cricket bat. Cricket is played on a professional county level and broadcast on ABC television for free on most weekends and during county matches which last for four days. Haaraal Cooxm is played on most Saturdays, especially in the south, during the national Championship league, split into First, Second and Third Division. The sport is remarkable for being both a summer and winter sport and is usually played for around 40 of the 52 weeks in a year, regardless of weather. Haaraal Cooxm is increasingly popular abroad, especially since the adoption of Afalian dominions.
In school students are required, up to the age of 16, to have at least two hours of physical exercise a week which usually includes a sport. Sports funding, excluding the area of cricket, is relatively low with most athletes dependent on private funding to get ahead.
National Symbols
Afalia is represented by a number of symbols and people. The flag of Afalia is known officially as the Flag of Joy, after a parliamentary motion declaring it to be as such. It combines the Royal colours of blue and orange with the Royal coat of arms superimposed whilst the four small stars represent the individual provinces and the largest star represents the unified Afalian nation. The national anthem of Afalia is 'Build Me A Blessed Land' a melodic piece of 19th century classical music with lyrics later set in the early 20th century by Afalian poet Edward Lawrence. It first became the national anthem in 1961 after a referendum in which it beat out other popular choices 'God Bless Afalia' and 'I Vow To Thee Afalia'. Until 1961 Afalia used God Save The King as its national anthem. The Royal anthem is the commonly used 'God Save The Queen', used by many monarchies around the world. The word 'King' will be used when the monarch is a man.
Verena, the Queen of a small tribe, who led her forces against a local Geenvin monarch and successfully defeated them, is the considered the national symbol of Afalia. As a result of Anglo-Afalian schools of painting she is often portrayed as a beautiful, young woman with golden hair, despite her Traditional Aafaliiaan ethnicity. Verena's portrayal as a symbol of defiance grew in the face of Titanican aggression during the war and has been associated with King George. Verena is seen on the front of the 10 Chand note and numerous statues of her have been erected across Afalia, most notably in Blackdon on Parliament Green and at the gates of Verena City. The volo, the native Afalian creature is also sometimes used to symbolise Afalia and appears as the cricket team's logo.
National Holidays
Afalia celebrates a number of national and bank holidays where citizens are entitled to the day off. The Queen can proclaim a national holiday, just as with a day or week of mourning, which he has, on occasion, done in consultation with the government. The following sets out the list of bank holidays in an annual calendar year.
- 1st January - New Year's Day
- 5th January - Remembrance Day-Marked one day after the dropping of the Blitzen bomb, during the Titanican War, it remembers all fallen Afalian service personnel and those who have died in war.
- 6th January - Epiphany
- 25th March - Freedom Day - Celebrates the official end of the Titanican War.
- Good Friday - Dates vary from year to year.
- Easter Monday - Dates vary from year to year.
- May Bank Holiday - Dates vary from year to year.
- 1st June - Afalia Day - Celebrates the official date of independence for Afalia in 1952.
- August Bank Holiday - Dates vary year to year.
- 18th November - Discovery Day - Celebrates the official day Afalia was discovered by Captain Timothy Barton-Wright's expedition and his landing at modern day Blartleo.
- 13th December - Accession Day - Celebrates the official accession of Queen Amelia to the throne in 2013.
- 24th December - Christmas Eve
- 25th December - Christmas Day
- 26th December - Boxing Day
- 31st December - New Year's Eve
In 2014 an additional bank holiday on Friday 20th of June took place to commemorate Queen Amelia's coronation.