Murmusa
The Socialist Republic of Murmusa Социјалистичка Република Мурмуса | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
| Motto: Умираме како стоиме (Narendian: We die standing) | |
 Murmusa in Northwest Meridon | |
| Capital and Largest City | Belakarpa |
| Official languages | Narendian |
| Ethnic groups |
|
| Demonym(s) | Murmusan, Murmusans |
| Government | Single Party State |
• General Director | Valentin Mladenovski |
• Chief of the Self Defense Force | Zoran Klimentina Pandev |
• Autark | Slobodan Grozdana Ivanovski |
| Legislature | Directorate |
| Establishment | |
• Independence from Göke | 18th of November, 1928 |
• Establishment of the Triumvirate | 8th of April, 1984 |
| Area | |
• | 46,082 km2 (17,792 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2019 estimate | 6,708,432 (18) |
• 2012 census | 6,692,221 |
• Density | 145.576/km2 (377.0/sq mi) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2019 estimate |
• Total | $45,395,959,344 NSD |
• Per capita | $6,767 NSD |
| Currency | Suveren |
| Date format | dd-mm-yyy |
| Driving side | right |
| Internet TLD | .ma |
The Socialist Republic of Murmusa (Narendian: Социјалистичка Република Мурмуса) is a one party state located on the Murmus Plateau in Northwestern Meridon, and a Narendian ethnic exclave, and with heavily restricted migration to and from the nation, largely imposed by its neighbor Göke. The Murmusan state, since the end of the 1978-1982 Gökan invasion, and the 1983 Coup of the Triumvirs, the Murmusan state has become increasingly authoritarian in nature; with the state authorities intensely marshaling resources for the defense of Murmusa from invasion.
Humans would arrive on the plateau of Murmus shortly after the arrival of modern humans to the Gökan Plateau, roughly 9,800 years ago, primarily as nomadic herders in transit through the plateau to other, more evidently verdant areas. No permanent settlements would exist on the plateau until the mid-900s when proto-Narendian prospectors began to form small mining towns on the mineral rich Murmus plateau. These towns were initially small, with limited access to food being a significant factor in slowing their growth and spread. However, by the 1300s, settlements became more widespread as nomadic herders became more settled into the region of the plateau, and farmers managed to tap into an aquifer for irrigation.
The plateau was seized by the Second Gökan Empire in the late 1480s; and became herding grounds for a number of significant Gökan clans even after the Empire disintegrated. The Murmus plateau was, as a result incorporated into the Gökan Confederation, in spite of its extraordinarily high population of non-Gökan citizens. This was initially a small issue during the high times of the 1870s and 1880s. Increasingly however, ethnic tensions rose, particularly as Göke leaned increasingly hard on the ethnic Narendian population as a source of conscripts for their army. This came to a head during the Valden War, when, spurred on by a revolution in Walakia revolted against the Gökan state, sparking the Morning War, and the Narendian genocide, at the conclusion of the turmoil, and with the intervention of Narendia however, an independent state on the Murmus Plateau, Murmusa was established under the rule of a handful of leftist and centrist political parties.
The next few decades of uneasy peace between Murmusa saw the socialist republic rebuild from the damage caused by the Morning War, as well as kickstart the process of industrialization in Murmusa. Narendian ethnics and the Gökan army engaged in a number of border clashes in the late 1970s resulting in full scale war; and the occupation of Murmusa by Göke, ending only after years of brutal guerilla war, and the intervention of Narendia. It was after this disastrous conflict, that the Triumvirs, rallied the remnants of the Army to oust the government; and establish a stronger, centralized, single-party Socialist Republic, that according to the new leadership would be better equipped to resist invasion, and death at the hands of the Gökans.
Murmusa is one of the poorest nations in Meridon, having the sixth smallest economy in the region. As a result of this, the damage caused by conflict with Göke (including the ongoing sanctions and blockade of the state), and prioritization of the military over civil infrastructure, it is also critically underdeveloped, suffering from shortfalls of several resources and services. The Triumvirate and indeed the entire Murmusan state is focused almost entirely on preparation for a Gökan invasion, and Murmusa has something of a reputation as a hermit republic, and is not a member of the Meridonian Union.
Etymology
The term Murmusa is a permutation of a term used in ancient Kumurz to describe the plateau that is the defining geographic feature of the nation, the term Mumus meant high plain in the langauge; but was itterated into Murmus over time and contact with Proto-Narendians; with the term Murmusa (literally land of the high plain) being coined by Narendian ethnonationalists in Murmusa in the mid 19th century. The demonym for citizens of Murmusa is Murmusan or Murmusans.
History
Antiquity and Gökan Period
Though the Murmus Plateau had seen human migration as early as the 900s BCE, it was largely limited to migratory herders moving over the plateau to better grazing lands in the Gökan Steppe. The first permanent settlements would not be established until the proto-Narendian expansionary period 900 CE, these early settlements were extraordinarily small until local settlers managed to successfully tap into the underground aquifers of the plateau, resulting in the spread of agriculture, and encouraging settlement of some of the nomadic herders over the course of the next few centuries. Many nomadic clans however, did not settle in the plateau, and conflicts arose when herders and settled farmers came to blows over land usage. Eventually, this would result in the Gökan Empire Efendisi Dynasty and the settlers engaging in conflict throughout the 1300s, the Gökans would be largely driven off during this period, as their empire collapsed.
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The Murmusan Plateau would come under long term Gökan control during the rise of the Second Gökan Empire as the spread of Răscumpărare through the Gökan Plateau. The Gökan Second Empire would collapse nearly as quickly as the first, however, the newer, more settled Gökan peoples would never let go of the Plateau completely, instead integrating into quasi contiguous patchwork of clans, city-states, and semi-nomadic settlements that would dominate the Gökan interstate period. Despite this integration, the largely ethnic Narendian population would maintain strong cultural relations with the Narendian states to the south. The Murmusan Plateau would be integrated into the Gökan Confederacy in 1866. Initial relations between the ethnic Narendians and the new, more centralized, Gökan Confederation, as the Plains wars began, and the Narendian Kingdom became the enemy of Göke.
During and after the Plains Wars, the ethnic Narendian and ethnic Gökan populations would come increasingly into conflict. This ethnic conflict would give rise to the ethnic Narendian nationalist movement in Göke, which agitated for independence from the Confederacy and reintegration into Narendia itself. The nationalist movement would reach its zenith during the Valden War as Murmusan soldiers were used largely as expendable troops on the more static fronts in the conflict, taking high losses in the process. Towards the end the war, socialist revolts would spread throughout Göke, most were crushed, the revolt on the Murmus Plateau however, would successfully result in the independence of Murmusa from the Gökan Confederacy, though it would also mark the beginning of the Morning War.
Republican Period
The Socialist Republic of Murmusa was founded in conflict, declaring independence during the Valden War, and immediately becoming involved in the Morning War as the Gökans end their involvement in the former to forcefully reintegrate the fledgling Murmusan state. The Murmusan forces were initially outmatched, though as they were pushed onto the plateau itself, they managed put up a stronger defense, the war bogged down to a bloody stalemate. Göke, during the final phases of the war began to round up, and kill ethnic Narendians in the territories that it had occupied. Despite strong Narendian protests and invasion in response to the Narendian Genocide, it was only after mounting causalities that saw further dissent and the threat of further revolts, that the Morning War ended in an armistice. Though no formal treaty was signed, and Gökan recognition of Murmusan independence was not forthcoming, most in the Murmusan government considered the war over, as the Gökan Confederacy was in no position to continue the war, beset by mass unrest, and a permanent Murmusan government was formed from the coalition of centrist and leftist parties that had managed the state during the war, which oversaw economic recovery from the war, and the processing of a flood of ethnic Narendian refugees flowing into the region from Göke.
During the forty years of uneasy peace between Göke and Murmusa, the Murmusan government focused on the industrialization of the plateau, and establishing a largely self-sufficient economy. For most of these years however, Murmusa was largely dependent on foreign trade, particularly with Walakia, Narendia, and to a lesser extent Datchlia to sustain its economy. By the late 1950s and early 1960s however, some native industries were established enough to largely provide for the needs of the populace. Peace would come to an end in the 1970s as escalating border clashes with Göke would lead to open war after the Yketrin Incident in 1978. In the opening months of the conflict, the Murmusan Army was overwhelmed and the entire country occupied. Over the course of the next three years, Murmusan resistance fighters would wage a long and bitter guerilla war against the occupying Gökan armed forces. Intervention by Narendia in 1981 brought an end to the conflict, and the formal recognition of the Murmusan state in 1982. After the conflict came to an end, Murmusa was devastated, and its government weak. A movement from radical parties arose in 1983 that sought to remake Murmusa as a much stronger, centralized state. This movement, spearheaded by the Triumvirs staged a coup with the remnants of the Murmusan Army in 1984, seizing power and establishing a single party state organized almost wholly around the defense of the nation.
As Göke itself saw a change in government towards one even more hostile to Murmusa, conflict once again arose. Göke, still unable to prosecute a third war of reintegration opted instead to economically cut off the nation in an attempt to starve the nation into submission. Murmusa was severely impacted by this blockade, incapable of trading with its key partners. Murmusa focused inwardly as a result, the Autark of Murmusa planning the economy around national defense almost completely. Despite formally being at peace with the Gökan Federation, both nations increasingly began to act as if another war was ongoing. Murmusa has in recent years sought out permanent alliances with Göke's neighbors in an attempt to secure the nation against further Gökan invasion even as Murmusa itself was rebuilt in preparation for another war. After decades of constant war preparation however, dissent has begun to rise in Murmusa, and even though some protests and riots have been repressed, the Triumvirate is worried about an open revolt against their government.
Geography
Murmusa is a small nation in Northwest Meridon, entirely surrounded by the nation of Göke. Murmusa's territories are 46,082 square kilometers in size with an additional 8,101 square kilometers claimed by the nation, but held by Göke, which also claims sovereignty over the territory. Almost all of the landmass of Murmusa is semi-arid steppe, with more verdant areas dispersed throughout the plateau, though largely concentrated in the South and West. The Murmusan steppe is a comparatively desolate area with species of animals and vascular plants native to Murmusa running in the dozens rather than the hundreds, with many species being wild grasses. Murmusa's highest point is at the city center of Pekol Balka at 1,878 meters in height, and its lowest is near the village of Helkarpa near the Murmus-Gökan border, which is 605 meters above sea level. Murmusa has few rivers, and no particularly large ones, with most of the fresh water coming from underground aquifers and small springs.
Demographics
The Socialist Republic of Murmusa has a population of 6,708,432, and is growing at a rate of .0000102% per anum. Murmusa is an ethnostate populated almost entirely by ethnic Narendians. 85% of the population lives in the largest urban centers, and in cities generally; with those outside these cities tending to live in small, scattered, agricultural settlements; primarily in the sparsely populated Northern and Western divisions of Murmusa. Nearly the entire populace speaks Narendian as their native language. Most of the population practices Răscumpărare, with many more having no religious affiliation. 82% of the population reports as being lgbt, with the overwhelming majority living withing traditional Răscumpărare family structures.
Largest cities or towns in Murmusa
2015 Census | |||||||||
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| Rank | Division | Pop. | Rank | Division | Pop. | ||||
 Belakarpa  Vilkbreg |
1 | Belakarpa | Južen | 1,301,250 | 11 | Shishevo | Južen | 110,410 |  Pekol Balka  Strana |
| 2 | Vilkbreg | Istok | 752,125 | 12 | Dolna Matka | Južen | 71,612 | ||
| 3 | Pekol Balka | Centralno | 746,812 | 13 | Arnakija | Centralno | 58,710 | ||
| 4 | Strana | Južen | 742,941 | 14 | Semenishte | Severno | 52,101 | ||
| 5 | Volkovo | Centralno | 485,124 | 15 | Chajlane | Zapaden | 41,750 | ||
| 6 | Badovsti | Severno | 262,181 | 16 | Bukovikij | Centralno | 40,885 | ||
| 7 | Severtočka | Severno | 251,810 | 17 | Rashche | Južen | 40,486 | ||
| 8 | Krushopek | Centralno | 249,110 | 18 | Gornjane | Istok | 40,399 | ||
| 9 | Vodno | Zapaden | 240,850 | 19 | Pobozhje | Južen | 36,288 | ||
| 10 | Grchec | Istok | 142,110 | 20 | Brodets | Istok | 35,213 | ||
Government
The Socialist Republic of Murmusa is a Unitary Single Party Socialist State in which near absolute authority is held by the Murmusan Socialist Party and the Murmusan Triumvirate. Power is vested almost entirely in the Triumvirate; with the legislature being effectively being a token body. The Triumvirate is made up of three offices; the General Director, who acts as Chief Diplomat, primary legislator, and Head of State, the Chief of the Self Defense Force who is Commander in Chief of the Murmusan armed forces, and the Autark who is the primary director of economic and internal affairs. Each of the Triumvirs are appointed by the National Assembly, one of the few powers given to the legislature; and underneath them is the state bureaucracy which maintains the day to day affairs of the Murmusan state. Since the 1983 coup of the Triumvirs, parties other than the Murmsan Socialist Party have been banned from public political activity, and all members of the Triumvirate are party members, as are most National Assembly members, barring a few nonpartisan officials.
Economy
Economic Indicators
| Monetary Unit: Suveren (Су)
Conversion Rate: Cy1 = $.02 NSD Fiscal Year: Calendar Year Nominal GDP: $45,395,959,344 NSD GDP per Capita: $6,767 NSD Labor Force: 5,031,324 Unemployment: Records of unemployment not publically available |
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Murmusa operates a highly centralized, Planned Economy, under the direction of the Murmusan Autark. It is mostly self contained in nature in large part due to the heavy economic sanction and blockade of Murmusa by Göke, as well as the intermittent establishment of no fly zones over the country. Most of the labor force of 5,031,324 works in industries that produce goods that provide for the Murmusan people, or construct and maintain armaments for the Murmusan law enforcement and armed forces, with other industries being minor at most, meaning agriculture, heavy manufacturing, and medical sectors are by far the largest and most important sectors of the economy, with transport, light manufacturing, and other infrastructure industries also being important. Poverty is extraordinarily high in Murmusa, with nearly the entire population considered impoverished to some extent by Meridonian indexers, though Murmusa itself does not publish statistics about national poverty and unemployment rates. Most of the economy, nearly 80%, is controlled by the state, largely through state control of industry with government funding being directed towards economic development and the maintenance of Murmusan armed forces and law enforcement agencies.
Military
The armed forces of the Socialist Republic Murmusa, known as the Murmusan People’s Self Defense Force (MNSZS), is headed by the Chief of the Self Defense Force, as part of the Triumvirate. As a landlocked nation, the MNSZS has no maritime branch instead being divided into two branches, the Popular Militia, and the Air Defense Force. The MNSZS is funded and equipped by the state entirely; with private production of arms being criminalized by the Murmusan state, and is staffed by persons conscripted by the state, with volunteers being mixed into the military, largely within the command structure, with 67,084 persons serving in the armed forces; overwhelmingly in the Popular Militia, with a comparatively token force of personnel in the Air Defense Force. The MNSZS operates with a budget of $2,723,757,560 NSD, roughly 6% of the Murmusan GDP.
Law Enforcement
Most law enforcement in Murmusa is handled by Murmusan Civil Protection (GZM) which operates both as a national investigative branch while simultaneously working on street level law enforcement, to be supplemented by local law enforcement organizations in most urban areas, in addition to providing for riot control operations. GZM is distributed throughout Murmusa with high concentrations in rural areas; where there are often no local law enforcement organizations. There are currently 67,084 persons serving in GZM, and another 20,125 working in localized law enforcement. All law enforcement organizations operate on a combined budget of $226,979,796 NSD.
Human Development
The Socialist Republic of Murmusa is a Critically Underdeveloped nation according to the Meridonian Economic Development Index, in large part due to conditions imposed as a result of its economic isolation. Major contributing factors to this are the lack of access to many critical medicines, shortages of resources, and the heavy economic emphasis production of war materials. Education is however, actually better than a few of its neighbors, with a nearly 100% adult literacy. The healthcare system is operated by the state, though health outcomes are significantly worse than other national health systems, due resource shortfalls. The life of a Murmusan citzen is comparatively spartan with few pleasures, and almost unceasing preparation for attack from the outside.
Culture
Murmusan culture is one synthesizing elements from its neighbors; though the average Murmusan would insist that Murmusa is purely Narendian. Though the Socialist Republic insists on a policy of State atheism, practice of Răscumpărare remains quite common. Sport is quite common in Murmusa, encouraged by the state to ensure the fitness of the populace; with Track and field being quite common as is The annual Biathalon. Most buildings in Murmusa are built in the Pragmatist style, often with a focus on resistance to enemy attack. Cuisine relies on staples, with cultivation of Potato being widespread, and potato based dishes being common. Arts exist in Murmusa, though under heavy state influence, with Ortegan realism being the favored artistic style.