Austeria
Republic of Austeria Official names
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 Flag
 Coat of arms
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| Anthem: Liberty "Libertate"  | |||||||||
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| Capital and largest city |  Kartha | ||||||||
| Official languages | Tethian | ||||||||
| Recognised national languages | |||||||||
| Ethnic groups (2020) |
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| Religion (2020) |
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| Demonym(s) | Austerian | ||||||||
| Government | Unitary semi-presidential republic | ||||||||
| Nertilian Bushaj | |||||||||
• Premier | Alexandru Minovici | ||||||||
| Xhuàn Patrè | |||||||||
| Legislature | Senate | ||||||||
| History of Austeria | |||||||||
• End of Arciluco rule | 7th century | ||||||||
• Apolitan Kingdom | 1431 | ||||||||
• Annexation into Etruria | 1789 | ||||||||
| 1801 | |||||||||
• Reannexation into Etruria | 1854 | ||||||||
• Independence from Etruria | 1946 | ||||||||
• First republic | 1947 | ||||||||
• Second republic | 1990 | ||||||||
| Area | |||||||||
• Total | 62,532 km2 (24,144 sq mi) | ||||||||
| Population | |||||||||
• 2020 estimate | 12,270,164 | ||||||||
• Density | 182.75/km2 (473.3/sq mi) | ||||||||
| GDP (PPP) | 2022 estimate | ||||||||
• Total | $278.2 billion | ||||||||
• Per capita | $22,767 | ||||||||
| GDP (nominal) | 2022 estimate | ||||||||
• Total | $146.4 billion | ||||||||
• Per capita | $11,938 | ||||||||
| Gini (2020) | 42.4 medium | ||||||||
| HDI (2020) | 0.850 very high | ||||||||
| Currency | Flori (RAF) | ||||||||
| Date format | dd/mm/yyyy | ||||||||
| Driving side | right | ||||||||
| Calling code | +101 | ||||||||
| ISO 3166 code | AUS | ||||||||
| Internet TLD | .au | ||||||||
Austeria (Tethian: Austeri), officially the Republic of Austeria (Tethian: Republika e Austeria), also known as Galenia, is a sovereign state located in southern Euclea bordered by Etruria to the north and surrounded by the Acheloian Sea to the south and west and the Solarian Sea to the east. Austeria's location at the southernmost point of Euclea and its proximity to Rahelia has contributed to the country's rich history and has shaped a complex national identity. Austeria has a population of 12 million people, which includes the largest Irfanic population in Euclea. The capital and most populous city is Kartha.
Historically, Austeria has been controlled by different civilisations over time, mainly the Piraeans, Solarians, Amathians, and the Etrurians. The first recorded settlements in Austeria was originally inhabited by the Gadishullorian tribes, but the first walled settlement was founded by Piraeans in the 5th century BCE, which would become the city of Kartha. In the 3rd century BCE, Irfan arrived by oceanic trade networks from Coius beginning its long influence in the region. Local states would be in regular conflict with Pirean city-states until it was conquered by the Solarian Empire in the 2nd century BCE. Under the Solarian Empire and its successor the Empire of Arciluco, the peninsula was a major center for trade from Coius. The Marolevic migration in the 6th century marked the end of direct rule by the Arciluco Empire, which was replaced by many Tethian and Montsurian principalities. During the Iconoclast Wars, the Principality of Senturèn took over the peninsula and established the Apolitan Kingdom. The Apolitan Kingdom clashed with Povelia until they were both were annexed by the Etrurian First Republic during the Etrurian Revolution.
The region briefly gained independence as a league of allied city-states in 1801 before it was reannexed by the restored monarchy of Etruria in 1855. However this brief period of independence sparked a national awakening known as the Austerian Renaissance, beginning a period of cooperation between the Tethians and Montsurians. The rise of the functionalist Greater Solarian Republic, led to the formation of a resistance movement led by Omer Kotta that fought for independence. Following the end of the Solarian War, the modern state of Austeria declared independence in 1946 as an Equalist socialist republic. The new Austerian state was relatively stable until the large-scale outbreak of a period of intense social turmoil, political violence and upheaval from the early 1970s to the late-1980s marked by a wave of ethnic and religious terrorism and violent clashes. The conflict culminated with the Olive Revolution and the fall of Equalism in Austeria and eventually the signing of the Morwall Agreement and the establishment of the second Republic.
As of the current constitution, Austeria is a unitary semi-presidential constitutional republic with a President elected every six years as head of state. Legislative power is vested in the unicameral Senate, led by a Premier, appointed by the President, who serves as as head of government. The country's political history since the end of Equalism was largely characterized by additional outbreaks of ethnic and sectarian violence, economic turmoil, and political instability; however since the mid-2010s the country has largely stablized. Nevertheless the country continues to face additional challenges such as corruption, poor diplomatic relations with Etruria and Zorasan, refugee crises, and interference by the security establishment in politics. The Austerian economy is heavily based in the service sector, international trade, and tourism. Austeria is considered one of the most visited countries in Euclea and the world due to its lush beaches and summer resorts. Other major sectors of the economy is agriculture, especially wine production, and beer brewing. The government has a considerable control on the country's economy, holding shares in key-sectors of the economy. Austeria is an active member of the Community of Nations, International Council for Democracy and the International Trade Organisation. The country is currently in the process of joining the Euclean Community.
Etymology
The two common names for the country, Austeria and Galenia, both originate from the same ancient myth. In the common mythos, Austeria was an island in the Acheloian Sea that drifted around the sea and posed a hazard to seafarers and oceanic life. In frustration Poseidon, the Piraean god of the sea, used his trident to affix Austeria to the Euclean mainland. In ancient Piraean mythology, the action settled the previously rough seas and led to the birth of Galênê, the personification of calm seas. The earliest attestation of this name is by the Piraean poet Argyros, during the 7th century BCE, when he referred to the western coast of Austeria, near the city of Halinos, as “the land of Galênê (Piraean: Γαλανεια).” The same myth appears in Solarian mythology, but instead the region was associated with Auster, the Solarian god of the south wind and one of the Venti (wind-gods). For millennia, Austeria was often the first landmass sailors saw while returning from voyages in the Acheloian Sea. Despite popular belief, the name of Austeria does not directly refer to its southern location but is instead derived from the wind god.
Both names are often used interchangeably, although Austeria is more widely used. Since the Austerian Renaissance, "Galenia" is often used to specifically refer to the coast and coastal islands of Austeria.
History
Prehistory
Antiquity
Medieval Age
Etrurian rule
Equalism
Second republic
Geography
Climate
Environment and biodiversity
Government and Politics
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Austeria, since the founding of the Second Republic in 1990, is a unitary semi-presidential republic with aspects of consociationalism based upon the principles established by the Morwall Agreement. The current constitution of Austeria is the National Constitution of 1990, the provisional constitution established after the Olive Revolution. It establishes the President of Austeria as head of state, which is currently held by Nertilian Bushaj. The executive is lead by the Premier of Austeria, currently held by Alexandru Minovici who serves as head of government and leads the Council of Ministers. The legislature of Austeria is the unicameral Senate of Austeria. The country has an independent judiciary with the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court at its apex.
Political system
The head of state of Austeria is the President, elected to a six-year term by direct, universal suffrage in a modified two-round system. The President’s traditional powers include appointing the Premier and members of the Council of Ministers, vetoing legislation, and declaring a state of emergency or state of war. The President is ex officio Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and chairperson of the National Security and Defence Council. The office also wields significant reserve and supervisory powers as it was originally perceived to be a figurehead position.
The executive Government of Austeria is the Council of Ministers, which consists of the head of the executive ministries and other officials, led by the Premier. As head of government, the Premier is the country's de jure chief executive and serves to execute policy. In addition to its executive powers, the Premier has limited legislative powers when authorized by the Senate. Unlike traditional parliamentary systems, the Council serves as an advisory council and to implement decisions made by the executive, instead of collectively deciding and approving policy.
The legislature of Austeria is the Senate, commonly known as Congress. It is a unicameral body composed of 131 Senators of which five seats are guaranteed for the country’s national minorities. The Senate is elected by universal suffrage according to a system of open party-list proportional representation to a term of four years. The Senate is described by the constitution to be the highest state authority, although its sovereignty is not absolute. Nevertheless, the Senate has the sole authority to propose and pass legislation.
Political culture
Since the 2005 economic crisis, Austeria’s political culture has been sharply polarized between two major political camps, the April Bloc and the July Bloc. The April Bloc, led by the Kuvendi Party, are skeptical of joining the Euclean Community and closer ties with Euclea as a whole, in favor of engagement with northern Coius. The July Bloc, led by the National Republican Party, supports the country’s ascension to the Euclean Community and stronger ties with the rest of Euclea. The majority of political parties in Austeria are loosely representative of a certain ethnic and or religious community instead of ideological principles. Unlike traditional political alliances and coalitions found elsewhere in Euclea, the Blocs are loosely defined political camps who are aligned only by their stance towards Euclea and their opposition to each other instead of ideology. As a result, unity within the bloc is nonexistent and cross-alliance cooperation between parties on many issues are very common.
During the fall of Equalism in Austeria, the Socialist government established a provisional constitution based upon the Estmerish political system. This was meant to serve as a temporary measure until a new permanent constitution could be drafted, but this never occurred and the 1990 constitution remains in force, albeit with major reforms. According to it, Austeria is a de jure a parliamentary system based upon the Northabbey model. In practice, the country has shifted toward a de facto semi-presidential republic. Observers have largely traced this to three political trends present in Austeria during the 2000s; no clear ideological blocs in Congress, the appointment of Premiers based on consensus instead of ideology, and a heavily divided Council of Ministers. As a result, the President has become the main political authority of the country, relying on the office’s reserve powers to conduct the affairs of government. Meanwhile, the Premier has been weakened into a minor role in government and the Council of Ministers has been reduced to an advisory role instead of a collective decision making body.
Judiciary and Law enforcement
The judicial system of Austeria is based upon a modified form of the General Code, inherited with major changes from the Equalist era. The country maintains a three-tiered hierarchical court system, with the County Courts as the primary trial courts, the Courts of Appeal as the primary appellate courts, and the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court at the apex.
The primary law enforcement agency of Austeria is the civilian National Police, which operates throughout the entire country. The agency is the successor to the Militia during the Equalist era, a decentralized agency that disintegrated during the Years of Blood. The National Police is subdivided into five branches with specialized units for specific law enforcement roles. The General Police is the general law enforcement agency, especially within urban areas. The Road Police administers road safety and also serves as the main force in the rural areas. The Border Police oversees the crossing of goods and people over the nation’s borders and through the country’s ports and airports. The Force for Armed Response serves as the country’s counter-terrorist and critical incident response unit. The Reserve Force responds to large-scale security operations and other major incidents that overwhelm other units such as natural disasters.
Like Etruria to the north, organized crime and other criminal organizations are active across Austeria, the most notable being the Talax Organisation. They are usually organized through blood ties through families or clans that allows them to maintain their internal cohesion and ability. The crime groups participate in a diverse range of criminal enterprises including racketeering, prostitution, and the trafficking of drugs, weapons, and humans. Following the collapse of the Etrurian mafia after Operation Gladio in 2018, they seized control of a significant portion of the drug trade into Euclea, especially in heroin and cocaine. The National Police have historically struggled with rooting out corruption within its ranks, but recent anti-corruption campaigns have rooted out many elements that have collaborated with the mafia. Alleged collaboration between some mafia families and Zorasani intelligence services have led to the Austerian State Security Service taking an active role in cracking down on organized crime.
Foreign relations
Austeria is a member of the Community of Nations, Global Institute for Fiscal Affairs, International Council for Democracy and the International Trade Organisation. The country is also a member of the Aurean Forum, which oversees the affairs of the Aurean Straits. It was formerly a member of the Association of Solarian Nations, an organization of countries with ties to the Solarian language and culture, but withdrew in 2018. Austeria was also formerly a member of the Association of Emerging Socialist Economies and its successor the Association for International Socialism, until the country withdrew from the AIS in 1991.
Austeria and Etruria have had difficult relations since ancient times but also significant cultural exchange, with Austeria acting as a gateway between Coius and Etruria. Contemporary perceptions of Etruria, which are largely negative, are still largely defined by Etruria’s colonization of Austeria, especially during the National Solarian era from 1937 to 1946. Relations remained extremely cold after the Solarian War, especially after the beginning of the Western Emergency and the 1960 military coup d'état. The two countries did not have formal relations until 1989 after the Olive Revolution and the reconciliation process that followed. Diplomatic ties improved in the two decades that followed, but Etruria’s denial of war crimes and genocide during the Solarian era significantly hindered deeper ties. Relations worsened after the Tribune Movement’s victory in the 2016 election and further deteriorated after the passing of the 2018 National Dignity Act in Etruria, which banned any mention of historic war crimes in education. Shortly thereafter Austeria withdrew from the Association of Solarian Nations in protest. Nevertheless, Etruria is Austeria’s largest trading partner by volume.
Austeria has held aspirations to join the Euclean Community since the 1990s. However Austeria’s internal issues, especially ethnic tensions and corruption, are significant obstacles to the country’s ascension. As of 2024, the process continues to be stalled since the failure of the 2016 EC referendum in Etruria paused the organization’s southern expansion. Despite this, the EC and Austeria signed a comprehensive trade agreement in 2011 and the organization is Austeria’s second largest trading partner and is a major source of investment and business in the country today.
Austeria and Piraea share close relations since the 1980s, largely due to common animosity with Etruria and the Piraean diaspora in Austeria. Since the end of border restrictions, the Piraean community renewed their ties to their homeland and has led to a cultural renaissance in the Austerian Piraean community. In 1997, the two countries signed a free trade agreement with both countries lowering trade barriers. In 2011, the two countries signed an agreement for cooperation between the militaries of both countries. Austeria recognized Piraea’s claim over Tarpeia until 1994. Today, Piraea is one of Austeria’s largest trading partners by volume, third only to Etruria and the Euclean Community.
Austeria’s diplomatic ties with Tsabara are the country’s oldest, established shortly after socialist forces in both countries seized power in 1948. Relations were briefly suspended after the fall of the socialist government in Tsabara in 1986 but ties were restored following the fall of Equalism in 1990. Tsabara is a major source of natural gas and a major exporter of manufactured goods to Austeria. Tasabaran relations are also influenced by domestic politics, as Galeneism promotes stronger economic and political ties with Irfanic countries. Austeria opposed Atwan al-Tughluq’s attempts to dismantle the confessionalist system, but openly supported the government during the Tsabaran Civil War. Austeria has provided small arms and ammunition to Tsabara throughout the conflict.
Relations with Zorasan are very negative and the two countries have had no formal ties since 2007. Austeria has historically opposed Zorosani interests, starting when the Equalist government accepted political refugees fleeing the Zorasani Unification and the Sattarist consolidation of power in the 1980s. Today Austeria hosts one of the largest dissident communities in Euclea, which further grew in the aftermath of the Turfan. Relations further deteriorated after the Austerian government accused Zorasani intelligence services of attempting to build an intelligence network in the country by cooperating with the local mafia. The Tsabaran Civil War brought both countries into indirect conflict, with Austeria supporting the government and Zorasan supporting the Irfanic rebel forces, the Supreme Political and Resistance Committee. In 2021, the National Security and Defence Council warned that the Zorasani government had intensified its propaganda efforts against Irfani Austerians and its activities against Zorasani dissidents.
Armed forces and intelligence
Austeria’s military and security is overseen by the National Security and Defence Council, the highest state institution for national security, intelligence, and defence matters. Although the President has ultimate authority as commander-in-chief, the Council wields significant influence over determining security policy. In addition, since the military and the security services report to the Council directly, they are only under indirect civilian control. Its influence is so great that academics consider that it forms a crucial part of a deep state formed by the Austerian security and defence establishment known as Trident.
The Austerian Armed Forces is the military of Austeria, which is divided into three branches; the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Austerian military personnel totals around 327,000 of which 115,000 are active and 212,000 are in reserve. Mandatory military service is generally one year for 19 to 45 year olds. According to the Constitution, the Armed Forces are tasked with protecting the country’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity from both domestic and international threats. The former clause has been used to justify the presence and influence of the military in Austerian society. The mission of the Armed Forces has also expanded during peacetime to include supporting the government during emergency situations such as natural disasters and providing forces for peacekeeping missions.
The Austerian State Security Service, commonly known as the Sigurimi, is the primary intelligence and security agency of the country, specializing in counterintelligence, intelligence gathering, and internal security. The Sigurimi is responsible for a broad range of domestic and foreign matters, ranging from investigating organized crime, to monitoring ethnic paramilitaries, to counterterrorism and espionage. Despite its broad mandate, the Sigurimi does not have prosecutorial and detention powers, which are left to the National Police. The Sigurimi is part of the wider Austerian intelligence community, which it heads due to its influence on the National Security and Defence Council. The agency has been associated with several controversies due to its central role in Austerian security, the lack of direct civilian control, allegations of various abuses within the country, and its significant role in domestic politics.