Arthasthan

Peoples' State of Birenstan بىرېنستان جئامئاھۇرىيېت Birenstan Jamahuriyet (Biren)
Flag Emblem
Motto: بىر ئاۋتئان، بىر ئاسبئاب Bir vatan, Bir sabab One homeland, One cause
Anthem: ۋئاتئاننمىز Vatanımız Our Homeland
Capital and largest city	Taglikend
Official languages	Biren
Demonym(s)	Biren
Government	Unitary people's state
• Great Leader	Erkin Sabir
• Secretary-General of the Assembly	Pernille Urksal
• Premier of the Council	Anvar Almas
Legislature	General People's Assembly (Committees)
Independence from Xiaodong
• Declaration of Independence	1934
• First Constitution	1936
• July Coup	1951
• Declaration	1953
Area
• Total	334,422 km2 (129,121 sq mi)
• Water (%)	3.7%
Population
• 2015 estimate	23,424,000
• Density	168/km2 (435.1/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2016 estimate
• Total	$ 374.68 billion
• Per capita	$ 15,995
GDP (nominal)	2015 estimate
• Total	$147.92 billion
• Per capita	$6,315
Gini (2016)	27.237 low
HDI (2016)	0.710 high
Currency	Soʻm (BRN)
Date format	yyy-mm-dd
Driving side	right
Internet TLD	.bc

Birenstan (Biren: بىرېنستان, Birenstan), officially the Peoples' State of Birenstan (Biren: ببىرېنستان جئامئاھۇرىيېت, Birenstan Jamahuriyet), is a landlocked country in Coius with a population of 24 million people. Straddling the regions of South Coius and Rahelia, it borders Xiaodong to the south, Kumuso to the east, Zorasan to the north, and Dakata to the west.

The region comprising modern-day Birenstan was originally inhabited by various South Coius cultures up until the 5th century. In the early 500s, the Great Khan Soll united several tribes into one tribal confederation known as the One Tribe, from which the name Biren is derived. In the Great Migration, the Khan lead his people in the 540s through the Southern Gate to the Tepaliklar highlands, south of the Shalegho Mountains where they settled. The One Tribe continued to exist until Xiaodong reunited under the Tao dynasty and expanded into the region in the late 600s. When the Tao dynasty declined, the Biren gained independence as a series of small kingdoms. Xiao influence would ebb and flow throughout the centuries as the next two dynasties rose and fell and the Biren gained and lost their independence. Nevertheless Xiaodong is able to permanently establish some state institutions in the form of zohist clergy. In the 19th century, the Heavenly Xiaodongese Empire invaded and Birenstan became a protectorate under nominal direct control of the emperor. The Biren people would live as subjects of the empire stirring nationalistic sentiments.

Tensions would grow until it exploded during the Great War. In 1934 with Xiao forces in retreat, Biren rebels rebelled and overthrew the protectorate government and declared the independence of the Biren Republic in 1934. The Biren Revolutionary War would continue during the Great War, until its end in 1935 where it would be granted formal independence with the Treaty of Keisi. The Xiaodongese Civil War to the south caused economic and political turmoil which contributed to the weakening of the Republic. It ultimately fell to a military coup by nationalist forces in 1951 which was followed by a countercoup by republican forces, and the country fell into a brief civil war. It would end in less than a year when General Nurlan Sabir, a commander in the armed forces, defected from the republicans and rode a wave of public support to defeat the liberal republicans and the nationalists in a year of fighting. In 1953 he declared the establishment of the Peoples' Union, a democratic state based upon his ideological principles of "Theory for a Democratic Homeland."

Birenstan implemented socialist economics during the 1950s and 1960s, but has since shifted away from socialist economics within the last several decades after the market reforms of the 1980s. Today the Biren economy functions under what is called neo-Sabirist economics, a form of state capitalism where the central government works with the workers of major workers cooperatives to determine economic policy. While the government's pro-market policies have initially resulted in significant economic growth, corruption in the Corporations has hampered effective growth. As a result, government officials have increasingly relied on formations from the Labour Corps of the Biren Army to fulfill government contracts and implement economic policies.

The country was founded as a people's union following Nurlan Sabir's ideological principles. It established a unitary state governed by a single hierarchy of assemblies from the national level down to the municipal level. Despite its democratic principles, the system has entrenched pro-Sabir factions, leading it to be widely considered to be a classic example of a Southern democracy. The country considered a middle power in Kylaris despite its population and geographic location, due to geopolitics of Coius. Due to its historical animosity with Xiaodong, it is closely allied with Senria and is a member of COMSED. As a result, it maintains a large military for its population. It is also a member nation of the Community of Nations and the International Trade Organization.

Etymology

The name Birenstan is derived from the Öroqic word for one, referring to when Khan Soll united the six tribes into one confederation before the Biren migration in the 6th century. Literally, Biren means "one people." Meanwhile "-stan" is a word in the Pardarian language meaning "place of" or "country". Thus the full name literally means country of one people.

The current name of Birenstan, "Birenstan Jamahuriyet" was adopted after the declaration of the union in 1953. The word jamahuriyet, literally "state" or "nation of the masses", is derived from jumhūriyet, which is the usual Öroqic translation of "republic". It was coined by changing the component jumhūr—"public"—to its plural form, jamahir—"the masses". In other languages, it is usually translated as "peoples' state".

History

Prehistory

The Biren people can be traced to the Öroqic tribes of the Great Steppe, which has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. Pastoralism developed during the Neolithic, as the region's climate and terrain are best suited for a nomadic lifestyle. Much like the other peoples of Steppe, the pre-Biren would have been largely nomadic and would have seen considerable migration around the region. By the 1st century CE, the pre-Biren people adopted a semi-nomadic lifestyle in the southeast region of the Great Steppe. While they didn't completely abandon a migratory lifestyle, they largely remained in one region. Their settlement resulted in the organizations into tribes known as Ilkhanates, with each one headed by their own "Ilkhan", or minor horde leader. By the 5th century CE, there were six such Ilkhanates.

Before the 5th century CE, Xiaodong under the Xiang and Sun dynasties exerted nominal control over the Tepaliklar highlands and the tribes that inhabited it, in the form of tributary states. The extent of Xiaodongese influence depended on the stability of the current dynasty, with declining power resulting in a decline of influence in the region. The decline of influence between the Xiang and Sun dynasties were brief, but the collapse of the Sun dynasty resulted in the Four Kingdoms period, a period of civil war. During that time Xiaodongese presence completely receded for two centuries and local tribes reasserted their independence. These tribes took advantage of the protracted civil war to the south and conducted raids against the Xiaodongese states. In general however, they largely raided each other and remained fragmented.

The Great Migration

• The Biren are forced out of their traditional homeland
• Khan Soll unites the six Ilkhanates
• Migrates down south through the Great Pass
• Settles in the Tepaliklar highlands

Early Xiaodongese period

• Rise of the Tao Dynasty
• The Tribal confederation maintains independence at first
• Tributary state is eventually established by 900s
• Xiaodong establishes piecemeal creation of institutions of state
• Conversion to Zohism
• The Biren tribes breaks free when the Tao Empire declines
• Largely keeps the institutions founded

Later Xiaodongese period

• Rise of the Jiao dynasty
• Tributary reestablished
• More institution building
• Breaks free after decline of Jiao dynasty
• Conflict with the Toki dynasty
• Formation of the Biren Khanate

Protectorate of Xiaodong

• Khanate annexed by Xiaodong
• Attempt by Xiaodong to assimilate
• Rise of nationalism
• Great War and independence war
• Independence granted in 1935

Independence

• Foundation of the Republic
• Stable at first
• Xiaodongese Civil War destabilizes the Republic
• Refugee crisis
• Nationalist military coup & Republican countercoup
• Sabir leads the Revolution

Peoples' State

• Sabir founds the Peoples' State
• Sabir's decade of rule
• Socialist economics, cultural revolution,
• Revolutionary institutions keeps things in line
• Fighting the notTibetans
• Reform is achieved, weakening the revolutionary institutions.
• Alignment with Senria and COMSED membership.
• Full democratization & liberalization

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Birenstan

Great Leader Erkin Sabir

Secretary-General Pernille Urksal

Premier Anvar Almas

Birenstan's political system is outlined by a constitution known as the Declaration of the Peoples' State, based upon Nurlan Sabir's Theory for a Democratic Homeland. The Declaration establishes Birenstan as a non-partisan direct democracy, governed by the Biren people through a hierarchy of popular councils and communes from the national level to the local level. Although the system shares similarities with socialist council republics, it is a unique system in its own right. Foreign commentators have described it as a unitary parliamentary state with elements of a constitutional monarchy.

Unlike in most other countries, Birenstan does not have the traditional division of government into executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Instead the government is divided into three "sectors" of government which are the "peoples' sector", the "revolutionary sector", and the "service sector". Furthermore the system does not enshrine the separation of powers, instead promoting the fusion of powers between the Peoples' and Revolutionary Sectors.

Although the country's system was designed to be democratic, the Birenstan government is classified as a flawed democracy by international observers. This is largely due to corruption that has become entrenched in the country's political process and state institutions, as well as for the power the unelected revolutionary sector wields.

Peoples' sector

The people's sector is comprised of the General People's Assembly and 235 People's Districts of Birenstan. The Assembly does not function as a traditional elected legislature, instead it consists of 11 separate committees, representing functional groups, that largely work independently of each other. Each committee passes laws independently of each other, but they often work together on issues that involve the interests of multiple committees. The Assembly only meets in full annually, or when requested by a majority of any three committees. Furthermore each committee is a gathering of delegates from the People's Districts throughout the country. Delegates serve at the pleasure of the Districts they serve and must act as they are directed. Delegates are recallable at almost anytime, thus the Assembly is a continuous body and has no legislative periods. Each district is allocated 11 delegates that can be sent to the Assembly. Delegates theoretically can be evenly allocated across the 11 functional constituencies. However allocation is usually weighted by the eligible voting population of each constituency, with more delegates for a larger constituency.

The Assembly is led by the Secretary-General, who serves as head of government and commander in chief of the Armed Forces. The Secretary-General is elected by a majority vote at the joint session and remains in power as long as they have the confidence of the GPA to govern. The Secretary-General is assisted by a council of ministers, known as the Executive Committee, who are appointed by the Secretary-General and approved by the majority of the committees of the General People's Assembly. Together they coordinate proposals and policies with the Ministers and the rest of the Assembly, as well as ensuring the smooth operation of government.

Despite the lack of formal political parties, delegates are often members of assembly member organisations, which are groups of delegates who meet to pursue common legislative objectives. Some types of organizations are single issue organizations centered around addressing a single issue, or geographical organizations which group together delegates from a certain region, or ideological organizations which group together ideologically aligned delegates. Since members are not limited to membership to a single organization, membership is fluid and organizations can emerge and disband in a few years. However ideological organizations are the largest and most prominent; as of February 2021 they are the National Movement, Reform & Progress, Peoples' Labor Coalition, Stronger with COMSED, Sons of Sabir, and Communists of Birenstan. However as membership is not restricted to one group, it is common for delegates to be a part of two or more ideological organisations, mostly with the aim of promoting cooperation. So in order to determine support in the Assembly, delegates are often divided into Pro-Government, Left Opposition, and Right Opposition factions, depending on their last confidence vote on the General-Secretary. As of February 2021, the national liberal Reform & Progress is in power led by Pernille Urksal, supported by 1610 delegates.

The People's Districts of Birenstan are the smallest level of administration, equivalent to a municipality; however larger cities may have multiple governments. The main institution of the District is the Local People's Council, consisting of a 11 member council which is responsible for the District. Ten members are each elected by a functional constituency based upon societal groups such as teachers, factory workers, and police personnel who live within the District, with the eleventh member elected by those who don’t qualify to vote for the other groups. Each member is supported by the Local People's Assembly consisting of directly elected members and any voters from the respective functional constitency. Allowing voters to participate effectively turns it into a forum for their local community, allowing them to propose laws, elect delegates to the General People's Assembly, submit a report of current issues, and more. While the LPC and the LPA are the main authority, they are assisted by the Local People’s Committee which implements policies and ordinances proposed by the local council.

Revolutionary sector

The titular head of the Revolutionary sector is the Great Leader, who acts as head of state of Birenstan. Appointed by the Supreme Council of the Revolution until death, dismissal or retirement, the office is a largely ceremonial position, vested with representative responsibilities and powers. The Leader of Honor de jure chairs the Supreme Council of the Revolution, but only acts as a neutral, non-voting presiding officer. The office was not part of Sabir's Theory, but instead it was created as a title awarded to Nurlan Sabir by the Supreme Council when he retired from politics. Since then the Council has only appointed men from Sabir's family to the position for life, leading many to consider the office as a monarchial institution.

The Supreme Council of the Revolution is the highest institution in the Revolutionary sector, serving as a constitutional court and de facto upper house for the General People's Assembly. Under the principles laid out in the Declaration, the Council serves as the constitutional guardian of the People's State, tasked with ensuring that actions by the Assembly or the Local Government do not violate the constitution. Thus as part of its mandate, it has the power of judicial review and the ability to strike down any laws or actions that it believes that violates the principles of the Declaration with a majority vote. The Council may issue rulings whenever it sees fit on any institution of the Peoples' State. In addition it wields some legislative powers, with the authority to veto legislation from the General People's Assembly and theoretically from any People's District Assembly. Originally the Council held an absolute veto, but this power was weakened during constitutional reforms of the 1990s. Nevertheless the Council's veto power is still important, as the Assembly needs a two-thirds majority vote to override.

The serving members of the Council are appointed by the Leader of Honor on advice of the Secretary-General and approved with a simple majority vote of the General People's Assembly. Councilors are allowed to serve until they face mandatory retirement at age 75. The number of Councillors have varied over its existence, reaching a height of 58 members in the 1990s. Today there are currently 1 presiding member and 39 serving members of the Council. The 39 members are divided into three political groups; the Old Guards, Reformists, and the Centrists. The Old Guards represent the nationalist, Sabirist conservatives of Birenstan and traditionally had control of the Supreme Council for decades. However since then moderate Centrists and more liberal Reformists have been appointed. While a less conservative council and constitutional reforms have reduced obstacles for ruling governments, the Council's will is still highly respected and represents a moderating force in Biren politics.

While the Supreme Council is technically led by the Great Leader, it is only in a presiding manner. The highest ranking serving member is the Premier of the Council, who wields the most power. While the Premier is technically primus inter pares among their peers, they have significant influence in deciding the Council's agenda, presides when oral arguments are held, and leads the discussion on the current vote among the Councillors. Additionally, when the Council issues a ruling, the Premier, if in the majority, chooses who writes the Council's opinion. When voting however, the Premier's vote counts no more than that of any other councillor. The Premier is elected for a five year term by the other members of the Council of the Revolution; they cannot be elected more than once consecutively and must wait until the next term to run again.

The last major branch of the Revolutionary sector are the 235 Revolutionary Committees, with one assigned to every single District. The Committees were originally designed to serve as an ideological check on the Districts and to build a Sabirist grassroot movement that could ensure control of their governments. However as part of the constitutional reforms of the 1990s, its powers to enforce ideological orthodoxy and loyalty were stripped away. Today, the Committees largely serve to support the function and operation of the local District such as by encouraging popular participation and assisting in the implementation of laws. While the Supreme Council still is the leader of all the Committees, the Council's control is largely nominal and each committee operates at the directions of its local District.

Service sector

The Council of Justice

The Committee of Civil Service

The Service sector is divided into the judiciary and the bureaucracy, which are headed by the Council of Justice and the Committee of Civil Service respectively.

The highest judicial authority in the country is technically the Supreme Council, which officially delegates responsibility of managing the judicial system to the Council of Justice. Its members are appointed by the Supreme Council and confirmed by the General People's Assembly. The Council of Justice is not a court, but serves to organize the judicial system of the country by hiring, firing, promoting, and assigning judges. Although the Council of Justice is an independent body, it cooperates closely with the Justice Minister of the Executive Committee and the Committee of Civil Service to ensure the law is applied fairly and consistently.

In turn the Council delegates non-constitutional judicial powers to the Supreme Court of Justice. The Court of Justice is the highest court for criminal and private law and has supreme appellate jurisdiction as well as supreme original jurisdiction over non-constitutional cases. The Council of Justice also manages several high courts that serve regional judicial circuits. The Council also appoint the judges that serve the courts of the People’s Districts, although it usually appoints a judge recommended by the local District.

Unlike in most countries where the bureaucracy is most often subject to the direction and control of different institutions, in Birenstan the Committee of Civil Service is an independent organization with considerable autonomy over its own affairs. The Committee is composed of the directors of branching departments who are appointed by the Supreme Council and confirmed by the Assembly from a number of qualified candidates. It is a strict meritocracy, with promotions and appointments based upon past performance, practical knowledge, or the results of entrance exams. Each department manages a specific sector of public administration and serves to implement the policies decided by the General People’s Assembly, without reservation. The Committee closely works with the Executive Committee and the Council of Justice.