Syara

The Commonality of Syara Сијара
Flag
Motto: All-Mother Guide us.
Anthem: To Our Homeland
Capital and largest city	Zovahr
Official languages	Syara
Demonym(s)	Syara
Government	Parliamentary Federal Republic
• Executive	Anita Beleska
Area
•	1,030,029 km2 (397,696 sq mi)
Population
• 2015 estimate	163,520,400
• 2013 census	161,578,224
GDP (PPP)	2020 estimate
• Total	$6.81 trillion (4th)
GDP (nominal)	2020 estimate
• Total	$6.13 trillion (5th)
Gini (2020)	33.65 medium
HDI (2020)	0.889 very high
Currency	Drachma

Syara (Syaran: Сијара), known officially as the Commonality of Syara (Syaran: Заедништво на Сиара), is a country lcoated in northwest Siduri. It's population is approximately 164.5 million as of 2020; Zovahr, the nation's capital, is its largest city.

Sitting at the northwestern top of the continent of Siduri, Syara forms the southern half of the 'mouth' of the Sundering Sea, which splits the continents of Siduri from Eracura in the north. It shares a land border with only two states; Ruvelka to the east and Delkora to the north, via the shared island of Libov. The Syaran Sea lies to the west, the Nuadan Ocean to the south, and the Sundering Sea to the north, which to the Syarans is often called "The Divide". Syara's coastline extends for nearly 11,000 kilometers, the fourth longest in Siduri.

Syara is considered to be a cradle of civilization, having been continuously inhabited since the third millennia BCE. Ancient Syara was noted for it's numerous contributions to philosophy, histroiography, political science, as well as scientific, mathematical, and ecological principles. Starting around the 9th century BCE Syara was divided into numerous city-states and small kingdoms which competed for power alongside warlike tribes the Bastarnae. The rise of the Makedonian Empire in the 3rd Century BCE unified most of Syara under Makedonian rule, while the Empire would expand it's borders across Siduri, reaching as far east as Knichus. Makedonian rule began to decline not long after it's apex in the 9th century, losing it's outlying rebellions to Quenminese rebellions and the rise of Islam in the south. The rise of the Arkoennite Empire in north central Siduri further weakened Makedonian rule. By the 14th century Makedon itself was subjugated the Arkoennites, though reduced to a tributary state the Makedonians retained a noticeable degree of autonomy, possibly reflective of their own treatment of their subjects. The decline the Empire saw the steady reduction of Hellenic culture in Syara and a steady rise of Slavonic linguistics from Scitaria and Galania. Despite it's occupation Syara continued it's position as a major trade partner, allowing it to serve as the crucible of an industrial revolution beginning in the 18th century. The fall of the Arkoennite Empire resulted in Syara's independence in 1715, after which Syara was transformed into four independent states vying for control. The threat of neighboring Ruvelka led to the Unification of Syara and the foundation of the Republic of Syara in 1875, which steadily grew in power and wealth as it continued to industrialize. Conflicts with Ruvelka and the Cacertian Empire profoundly impacted the development of the young Republic, and Syara's unexpected victory in the Divide War against the Cacertians served to inspire rampant Syaran nationalism. Syara's growing power and nationalist sentiment led to the outbreak of the Siduri War, which ended in Syaran defeat. The economic and psychological impact of the war contributed to the Broken Years, which undermined the stability of the Republic and resulted in the Refusal War. The rise of the nationalist and religiously fundamentalist Wardens overthrew the Royal Families of Syara's milennia old dynasties, re-establishing Syara as a Commonality in 1988. Under the leadership of Saša Mlinarić Syara rebounded from the war to become a major economic power throughout the 1990s, and by the 21st century boasted the largest economy in Siduri. Syara's economic fortune during this time, coupled iwth it's relative prosperity, is often referred to as the Warden Golden Years. Simmering tensions with neighboring Ruvelka led to two conflicts; the six day long Imerti Conflict that largely ended in Syara's favor, and the much more destructive Zemplen War which Syara lost and is considered to have ended the Golden Years.

Syara is a federal parliamentary republic and developed country with an advanced high-income economy, a high quality of life, and a high standard of living. It's economy is the largest in continental Siduri, and is a major international investor. Syara is member of the Organization of Tyrannic States, and observor state to the Commonwealth of Sovereign Nations, and boasts strong ties with Æþurheim.

Etymology

The exact origins of the name "Syara" are not fully known, but modern historians believe the term originates from the Archaic Galanian "Sebera", meaning "our land" or "our home". In modern Syaran the country is called Sijara (Сијара) casually, or Siara (Сиара) formally, when in conjunction with the term "Commonality of". When Syara came to be commonly used by the majority of the population to describe their home is unknown, but by the 1875 the name was officially recognized as the name of the nation in the Conference of Pella, although it had been in use for centuries by then.

Geography and Climate

Syara is located in north-western Siduri, forming a "corner" of the continent. Mainland Syara is roughly 250 kilometers from Eracura, forming the western "mouth" of the Sundering Sea. The Syarans have called the Sundering Sea the "Divide" since antiquity. Syara borders only one another nation on the continent, Ruvelka, with whom Syara has long running territorial disputes. Syara's border with Ruvelka is approximately 1,953 kilometers long. Syara itself has a total land area of roughly 2,100,000 million square kilometers. It has the third largest coastline in Siduri, behind Nalaya and Gylias. Syara's tallest mountain is Mount Xena located in Makedon, while it's longest river is the Rioni, which originates in the Ruvelkan Kurilla Mountains and runs south-west through Zemplen into Galania before depositing into the Thanor Bay.

Syaran topography varies by Realm. Makedon is dominated by the Makedonian Highlands which contain Mount Xena and form the origin of many of Syara's northern rivers. The Highlands have historically formed the boundary between Makedon and Galania. The Highlands sprawl westward into the Lycian Mountains that form the "spine" of Scitaria and lead into the Mysian Peninsula. The Makedonian Highlands stretch north until they level out and form the Desopya Coastal Plain along Makedon's northern coast with the Sundering Sea.

The Makedonian Highlands fade quickly south, forming what has been termed the "Great Valley" of Galania, which are domianted by seasonally flooded plains fed by multiple rivers, the largest of which is the Rioni. Galania is the flattest territory in Syara, which extends west into Scitaria and contains Syara's largest interior body of water, Lake Amant. The gentle rolling hills and plains of Galania form Syara's breadbasket, and the core of Syara's extensive agricultural industry.

The Great Valley extends south until it ends in Hayreniky, where the Southern Highlands begin. Known simply as the Hayreniky Highlands, or the Clan Mountains, Hayreniky is the extension of the Matra Mountains that define the border between Ruvelka and Mansuriyyah. The coast of Hareniky is dominated by marshes and lagoons.

Politics

Government

Syara is a Parliamentary Federal Constitutional Republic. The Syaran Commonality's political leadership is divided into three separate branches; the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative. The Government of Syara refers to the Executive Branch, which is led by the Executive of Syara. Syara's Executive is picked by the ruling party in the High Council of Syara, the Parliament which serves as Syara's legislative body. Although the Executive is selected (though not technically required to be) from the High Council, the Executive relinquishes their role in the High Council and may not vote on High Council, although the Executive retains the right to propose legislation. The Executive is responsible for forming domestic and foreign policy for Syara, enforcing the laws of the High Councils and rulings of the National Tribunal, and overseeing the daily operations of civil affairs.

The High Council is a bicameral legislature consisting of the National Assembly and the Federal Council. The National Assembly is the lower house composed of 300 members who's distribution is based on population statistics as provided by the Syaran National Census. The National Assembly primarily handles domestic affairs, including setting the federal budget, passing domestic legislation, creating impeachment proceedings, and issuing votes of confidence. The Federal Council is composed of 100 representatives, 25 from each of Syara's four Realms. The Federal Council has the exclusive powers to declare war, sign treaties, and approve of cabinet and judicial appointments. The High Council is responsible for appointing of an Executive to lead the Government after elections, which occurr every four years.

The National Circuit serves as the judicial branch of government and is headed by the National Tribunal, which is the supreme arbiter of law in the Commonality. The National Tribunal consists of 15 Senior Justices who are appointed by the Executive to 12 year terms. The National Tribunal is the supreme appelliate court in Syara and has the power of judicial review over the Commonality Constitution. The National Tribunal also has the sole power to resolve disputes between the Realms.

Economy

The Syaran economy is a highly developed social market and market-oriented economy. It is the fifth-largest national economy in Tyran by nominal GDP, the fourth largest by purchasing power parity, and sixth highest GDP per capita.

Syara is a export based economy dominated by the service sector, but with sizeable industrial and agricultural sectors. It is the fourth largest goods exporter and sixth largest goods importer. Much of Syara's wealth and trade is based on its strategic location at the western 'mouth' of the Sundering Sea. Syara's economy is diversified, with a historically strong agricultural base that has long been the staple of Syaran wealth and exports; today Syara is one of the largest food producers in Tyran, producing over 143 million tons of wheat, barley, and rye in 2019. Syara's industrial base produces chemicals, machinery, automobiles, metals, and electronics and comprises almost a quarter of the economy. The service sector of Syara is heavily involved in retail, transportation, information technology, health and pharmaceuticals, financial services, and tourism. Tourism has become a major facet of Syara's economy, with more than 11 million unique visitors annually to Syara's various ruins from the Makedonian Empire.

Syara began industrializing rapidly in the aftermath of the fall of the Arkoennite Empire, and grew even faster following the Unification of Syara in 1875. The Republic of Syara rapidly become one of the major economic powers of Siduri following the Divide War, but suffered from economic downturn after the Siduri War in what became known as the Broken Years. The outbreak of the Refusal War further damaged Syara's economy, but the establishment of the Commonality and and the tenure Saša Mlinarić saw Syara undergo an economic miracle during the 1990s that saw Syara become the largest economy in Siduri. Syara continued to enjoy steady economic progress until deteriorating relations with Ruvelka led to the brief Imerti Conflict and much more destructive Zemplen War, which threw Syara's economy into disarray. After his appointment in 2010 Executive Melkon Isagholian began a series of "shock programs" to resolve Syara's financial situation. While these helped keep Syara's economy afloat, the resulting inflation undermined the Drachma while Isagholian tried to repay Syara's war debts. In 2012 Executive Kire Steriovski began employing major subsidies into Syara's service sector while battling inflation and instituting financial reforms, and despite a recession in early 2016 Syara experienced a mid-decade boom under Radovan Kostović. After assuming office in August 2020, Executive Anita Beleska announced her economic plan to further expand and refine Syara's service sector, while limiting Syara's deficits.