Gylias: Difference between revisions

The Republic of Gylias
*L'République d'Gylias*
The Republic of Gylias; L'République d'Gylias;
	Flag Seal
	Motto: The People's Will Shall Be Sovereign
	Anthem: "The National Anthem of the Republic of Gylias"; (instrumental)
	Gylias in Tyran.
Capital	Mişeyáke
Largest city	Velouria
Official languages	English; French;
Recognised regional languages	List Rezakan; Tomesian; Zineran; Ŋej; Yaska; Erlan; Aréş; Eşari; Dalak; Aðun; Varan; Tananyad; Lusitan; Hellenic; Hayeren; German; Miranian; others; ;
Ethnic groups (2015)	60,13% Gylic peoples; 39,87% Non-Gylic peoples;
Demonym(s)	Gylian
Government	Federal semi-direct democracy, organised as a republic
• President	Ravy Egiði
• Prime Minister	Toni Vallas
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	Chamber of Deputies
Formation
• End of the Liberation War	2 January 1958
Area
• Total	1,728,328 km2 (667,311 sq mi)
• Water (%)	4.73%
Population
• 2015 census	22,169,200
GDP (PPP)	2015 estimate
• Total	NSD 274 billion
• Per capita	NSD 12,077
Gini (2015)	22.5; low
HDI (2015)	0.903; very high
Currency	Þaler (Ŧ) (GTH)
Date format	dd-mm-yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+28
Internet TLD	.gls

Revision as of 14:43, 18 March 2019

Gylias ([ɡɨˈʎas]), officially known as the Republic of Gylias (French reformed: L'République d'Gylias), is a sovereign country in Tyran. Situated on the eastern end of Siduri, most of its territory is on the continent, and it also includes an insular part. It borders the Ruádak Sea to the east, the Nanshe Ocean to the south and west, and Cacerta and Knichus to the north.

Human settlement in Gylian territory dates back to the Upper Paleolithic, and by 1000 BCE, the Gylic peoples and other populations had established a permanent presence. Their states constituted the Liúşai League in 390 BCE, which endured until the 16th century CE. The League bound member states into mutual alliances, encouraged closer ties between different ethnicities, and maintained their independence in the face of threats such as Arkoennite expansionism, Viking raiders from Acrea and Æsthurlavaj, and the Southern missions of Nordkrusen. The stability of the Liúşai League and its maritime culture led to a degree of affluence that attracted migrants.

The League was destroyed by the Colonisation War of 1695-1704, and the states annexed into Xevden, which ruled for two centuries through minority rule. The struggle against institutional discrimination and economic exploitation played an important role in the development of the country's politics and national identity. Under the pressure of mounting political radicalisation, social strife, and external isolation, Xevden gradually disintegrated in the 20th century. The Free Territories were constituted during the Liberation War, and, following the victory of the People's Army, evolved into present-day Gylias.

Gylias is a federal republic that combines mechanisms of direct democracy and parliamentary democracy, characterised by a high degree of popular participation in governance, policymaking, and planning. It is a multinational country whose demographics, linguistics, and culture derive from diverse origins.

Gylias is a developed country with a market socialist economy and extensive public services. It ranks highly in numerous quality of life indicators such as income equality, safety, health, education, human development, civil liberties and political rights. It has high levels of social engagement on average, and a vibrant civil society. Gylias is a member of the Organization of Tyrannic Nations and Common Sphere, and is regarded as a middle power in international affairs, with a degree of influence in Siduri.

Etymology

The name "Gylias" originates from Anca Déuréy's 1848 poem "My Country (A Ballad)", in the passage "Narn-ku rias mieru-là", which loosely translates as "between the Naryn[s] and the beautiful sea". The spelling "Gylias" comes from a dialectal pronunciation which rendered the line [narˈgɨ ʎas merɨ la].

The name achieved acceptance during the Gylian ascendancy as a common term of identification for the popuations oppressed by Xevden. It was adopted as the country's name at independence, perceived as a neutral term. In turn, it led to the adoption of "Gylic people" as the term to refer to the ethnic groups indigenous to Gylias.

History

Prehistory

The first people inhabited Gylian territory circa 20.000 BCE. Several ancestors of the Gylic people moved towards south-eastern Siduri due to the emergence of more complex societies elsewhere, including Arkoenn, Tennai, Quenmin, and Mubata. The Eşari and Dalak, who arrived by sea and settled on the Iárus and Daláyk islands, have an unclear provenance.

A transition from nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyles to settled agriculture took place between the 7th and 4th millennia BCE. The Gylic peoples consolidated distinctive identities and intermingled with newly-arrived settlers. Movement by land was initially limited by the Salxar and Naryn Mountains in the north, which were the strongholds of the Yaskan people. The Yaskans' control over these gateways was lost in 9th century wars, allowing further arrivals. By 500 BCE, the states that would form the Liúşai League were in place.

Liúşai League

The flag of the Liúşai League

Hypatia, ancient Hellene philosopher, astronomer, and mathematician, in a 1909 portrait

Various alliances among the Gylic states formed over the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, in response to the pressure of Bronze Age collapse and the expansionism of Arkoenn and the Ainetui. These alliances were consolidated into the Liúşai League in 390 BCE.

The League proved remarkably resilient: it endured for over a millennium, and defended Gylic independence against Arkoennite ambitions, and later against Viking raiders. With low population, maritime-oriented cultures, and broad prosperity, the Gylic states developed in a direction of decentralisation and democratic governance. The multicultural nature of the League was reinforced by migration, which brought in significant minorities such as Miranians, Syaran Hellenes, Lusitans, and Hayeren.

The economy of the League developed from an alliance between coastal city-states and the agricultural inland. Several Gylic peoples, such as the Eşari, became renowned as navigators, extending trade routes and contact far into Tyran. Concordianism was adopted through syncretisation of religious practices, and became a significant civil religion and stabilising influence. During this period, contact with Cacerta and Kirisaki laid the foundation for future close ties.

The League continued to thrive after the transition from antiquity to pre-modernity. Democratic currents consolidated into directorial systems and elective monarchies. Advances in shipbuilding and close relations with Kirisaki influenced cultural and technological developments, while the development of infrastructure benefited the economy. The appearance of the Abrahamic religions caused long-lasting tension and conflicts, particularly due to Nordkrusen's Southern missions.

Kingdom of Xevden

The Colonisation War, launched in 1695, pitted the Liúşai League against Xevden. The war lasted until 1704 and was ruinous: Xevden annexed the Gylic states, but lost its homeland to foreign invasion in the process.

Xevdenite rule resulted in the marginalisation of the native populations, the installation of a ruling alien elite, and the transformation of the economy along feudal lines. The state could barely suppress native unrest, which manifested in the proliferation of bandits and guerrilla fighters known as kyðoi, and flared up in the Rebellion of 1749. The rebellion caused a palace coup that brought Senalta on the throne. She negotiated a peaceful end to the rebellion in 1754, signing the Treaty of Adhnat with the rebels. The Republic of Makarces, established by Gylic and Megelanese mercenaries, was left alone, and continued to exist until 1760.

Senalta oversaw a centralisation of the state and consolidation of administration, establishing a tenuous peace. An enlightened despot, she introduced modernising reforms, and transformed Xevden into a nominal constitutional monarchy. An official hierarchy was imposed on society: native populations received limited benefits — the most significant being the right to teach in their own languages — but lacked citizenship. Senalta's adoption of christianity as the state religion was meant to strengthen its foundation, but instead deepened religious strife: Gylics and others clung tenaciously to their traditional religions, while christians underwent schisms.

Senalta's death in 1804 allowed the nobility to reassert their power, putting Xevden down a path of pervasive corruption and administrative decay. The nobility adopted a racist and social spencerist worldview to justify their rule, and the authoritarian course hardened.

Remaining excluded from society and absent serious efforts at cultural assimilation, the native populations underwent the Gylian ascendancy in the 19th century, forming a common Gylian culture and flexible identity. The process included clandestine education, the creation of mutual organisations and cooperatives to improve their economic condition, and the dissemination of radical ideas, such as feminism, communism, socialism, and anarchism.

The Gylian ascendancy's successes at creating institutions and culture outside the Xevdenite state were complemented by the evolution of kyðoi into more organised and modern freedom fighters. The Glorious Rebellion, lasting from 1856 to 1868, underlined the international and domestic weakness of the Xevdenite state. The growing crisis split the conservative ruling class, allowing Prime Minister Raţiáş Keýmer to govern between 1890 and 1897, leading a coalition of moderate conservatives, liberals, and nationalists. His reforms, while significant, proved to be too little for the increasingly radical Gylians, and emboldened the agitation of the ultra-reactionaries.

The victory of Gezy Nemáz's liberals in the 1900 election was met with intrasigence and obstructionism, culminating in a September 1902 coup that brought Karnaz to the throne. Karnaz seized autocratic power, dissolved the legislature, and attempted to suppress threats to his rule. The heavy-handed repression destroyed the Xevdenites' remaining non-elite support, and also proved ineffective due to the toll of decades of corruption, nepotism, and cronyism. An unofficial civil war took place during the period, with growing insurgencies and some regions gaining de facto independence. The Cacerta-Xevden War of 1904-1908 compounded the disaster, bringing Alscia into the Cacertian Empire. Under Cacertian rule, the province experienced rapid economic growth and democratic development, becoming a crucial base for Gylian resistance and radicalisation.

Upon his death in 1934, Karnaz was succeeded by the moderate Láaresy. He ended official repression, released political prisoners, restored rights, and organised a new election. By this point it was too late for a constitutional resolution. Extreme polarisation and the proliferation of paramilitaries characterised Xevden's last years. The 1935 elections were tainted by political violence and fraud, and were followed by a failed coup and similarly violent and inconclusive elections. Factions increasingly prepared themselves for all-out armed struggle.

Liberation War

People's Army artillery at the Battle of Mytin (1945)

The Liberation War broke out on 1 January 1938, after a successful rebellion by the People's Army in northern Gylias. Láaresy blocked attempts to crush the rebellion by force and attempted to negotiate a peaceful settlement. The PA stalled negotiations, and violence spread as paramilitaries and newly-armed rebel groups seized territory. By 1939, Xevdenite control was limited to just the Nerveiík Peninsula.

The first phase of the war was dominated by Gylian factions fighting for control. The Free Territories were proclaimed in the north, and gradually expanded through alliances and aid for other rebellions. They were organised along anarcho-communist lines, and attracted support due to their robust supply network and anarchist framework, which could accommodate multiple factions and ideologies. The dissolution of the Cacertian Empire led Alscia to join the Free Territories in 1939.

Láaresy's overthrow by Tymsra launched the second phase in 1948. The Xevdenite army launched a large counteroffensive, which initially pushed back the rebels. Prudent retreats, attrition warfare, foreign backing, and two spectacular victories at the battles of Nerazur and Mytin Pass on 14-15 April returned the initiative to the PA. The offensive strengthened the Free Territories by uniting the other factions behind them, turning the conflict into a straightforward battle between the Free Territories and Xevden.

The PA slowly but steadily advanced and liberated the rest of the country. The upcoming victory prompted internal reorganisation and preparation for the post-war period. The war ended on 2 January 1958 when Velouria was captured, and Darnan Cyras proclaimed the independence of Gylias.

Republic of Gylias

The transition from the Free Territories to Gylias was gradual, and preserved much of the former's anarchist heritage. Conventionally, the transition is dated from 1958 to 1962. It involved reconstruction and reorganisation amid economic challenges, strengthening of local self-governance, and the maturation of Gylian cooperative democracy. The Constitution of Gylias and six codes of law were drafted through popular participation and adopted in 1960-1961.

Some state-like institutions remained in existence, defined as a combination and delegation of local governance structures for the purpose of management and coordination at the federal level. This included the Executive Committee of Gylias, which would be renamed the "Cabinet" by the Constitution.

The Darnan Cyras government became the first federal government of Gylias, in office from 1958 to 1976. It supported and to an extent indirectly guided the Golden Revolution, a profound transformation of Gylian society. Former Xevdenite elites were prosecuted for war crimes, power was invested in communal assemblies, and the political system was opened to small parties. The economy was socialised and organised on the basis of Lange model market socialism, with cooperatives and workers' self-management becoming the new foundation.

An economic boom during the 1960s and 1970s coincided with the height of the Golden Revolution. Living standards rose, and inequality and poverty fell. Aided by cybernetic decentralised planning through the Hermes Programme, the economy relied on light industry, tourism, services, cash crops and production of consumer goods. Several new industries became significant to the economy, including clothesmaking, jewelry, publishing, and musical instruments.

The affluence supported a complex and energetic social revolution, carried out by a profusion of sociopolitical mass movements with assistance and occasional guidance from the government. Society was profoundly liberalised and reformed. Public education was established on progressive and democratic principles, a sexual revolution took place, and a thriving civil society emerged. Culture and the arts flourished as a result of public education and government support, and Gylian music, cinema, animation, and literature achieved regional renown.

Gylias joined the Organization of Tyrannic Nations and Common Sphere, and maintained good relations with many Tyranian states. Its stature as Tyran's most high-profile far-left success story served as inspiration, while its sustained economic growth and high quality of life attracted migrants and refugees.

The spirit of revolutionary exuberance gradually ebbed away by the time the 1976 federal election produced the fragile and fractious Aén Ďanez government. Aén Ďanez sought to move Gylias towards a model of greater industrialisation, central planning of the economy, and greater revolutionary mobilisation. This engendered conflicts with her coalition partners, civil society, and cooperatives. Her time in office was a period of negative economic, political, social, and diplomatic effects for Gylias.

Following a near-outbreak of war with Ossoria, a galvanised opposition deposed Janez in 1986 and installed Filomena Pinheiro as Prime Minister, leading a national unity government of all parties against the authoritarian far-left and far-right. She helped remedy the effects of the wretched decade, restore the effectiveness of public services and civil service, and begin to arrest economic difficulties. Her tenure saw realignments in politics, including the splintering of the economically neoliberal Union for Freedom and Prosperity from the centre-right National Bloc, the emergence of new independent parties, and established blocs rebuilding their reputations.

Following the 1990 federal election, Mathilde Vieira became Prime Minister, leading a flexible coalition government until 2008. Her term was characterised by economic rejuvenation, modest reforms to the Gylian consensus framework, ambitious public works programs to make Gylian infrastructure and energy more sustainable, and the extensive growth and spread of the Internet and personal computing, which would come to be harnessed for governance and planning purposes. She was succeeded by Kaori Kawashima, who only served one term between 2008 and 2012.

In 2012, Toni Vallas became Prime Minister after winning a federal election.

In recent decades Gylias has continued to benefit from steady economic growth, and achieved some successes in foreign policy, among them the special relationships it has cultivated with Kirisaki and Cacerta, and its cooperation with fellow Common Sphere member states.

Geography

Topographic map of Gylias

At 1.728.328 km², Gylias is the fifth-largest country in Tyran. Much of the country is dominated by low-lying tropical landscapes. The Salxar and Naryn Mountains are in the north, forming part of the country's borders, and the Kackar Mountains are in the east, separating the Laişyn and Niavelin plains. Hilly areas occur in Paksas, Sykéir, and Saŋ.

The majority of Gylian territory lies on the Sidurian continent, and it also possesses several islands. Iárus Island is the largest of these, followed by the Daláyk Islands archipelago (both in the south-east), and the Kuas Islands (in the north-east).

Owing to the large land area and comparatively low population, more than half of Gylian territory is not used for agricultural, industrial, or residential purposes. Much of this uninhabited territory is maintained as protected areas, national parks, and nature reserves.

Climate

Gylias lies on the Tropic of Cancer, and possesses a general tropical savanna climate, except for the northern and eastern areas that have an alpine climate. The climate has two distinct seasons: a lengthy wet season (roughly corresponding to winter), and a relatively short dry season (roughly corresponding to summer). Influenced by currents from the Ruadak and the prevailing winds in the Slahar and Knaryn Mountains, the climate is warm and winterless, with only 7 °C difference between the warmest and coolest months.

Gylias is often sunny, averaging approximately 2.500 hours of sunlight annually, and receives steady rainfall throughout the year. Due to the presence of mountains on its northern border and oceanic currents, the country is often cooled by moderate winds, reaching a maximum speed of 25 km/h or number four on the Beaufort scale. The generally pleasant and predictable climate is a well-known feature of Gylias, which has influenced the settlement patterns and lifestyles of its residents.

A Peleides Blue Morpho in Nazar National Park

Flora and fauna

Gylias is home to a diverse variety of plants and animals. Vegetation is largely tropical, including moist broadleaf forests, grasslands, and temperate mixed forests in the mountainous areas.

Gylian fauna is typical of a tropical climate country. It consists of approximately 200 mammal species, 620 species of birds, 130 species of amphibians, 270 species of reptiles, and nearly 330 species of fish. The country's national animal is the Morpho peleides, or Peleides Blue Morpho butterfly. Seagulls and cicadas are also unofficially regarded as "national animals" due to their presence in local culture.

Environmental issues

Gylias has in place numerous and comprehensive environmental policies, which have been introduced gradually, with two particular waves occuring in the 1970s and 1990s. Cooperativisation has been credited with mitigating environmental issues, through the absence of rampant industrialisation and the nationalisation of the timber industry.

Initial environmental actions focused on controlling pollution and quality of life issues, emerging out of the demopolitan and environmentalist movements. The 1990s saw the adoption of the most radical policies. They included banning fishing in favour of aquaculture, transitioning to sustainable energy, restraining and changing consumption patterns to minimise waste, stricter regulations and overhauls of lighting plans to preserve high-quality night skies, introduction of Pigovian taxes, and implementation of nationwide recycling and waste-to-energy programs.

Gylias has high rankings for environmental sustainability in Tyran. The country has many national parks and nature reserves, dark-sky preserves, well-preserved fauna and flora, and urban planning based on principles of the sustainable city.

Landscapes of Gylias

Nanshe (Nanşe) Ocean coast, Tomes.
Ţikona River, on the outskirts of Paksas.
Beach on Gylias' eastern coast.
Tropical rainforest in the Nevrise National Park.
Ramye Gulf.
Rural road, southern Aðuna.

Demographics

Gylias had a population of 22.169.200 in the 2015 census. Density is approximately 12,5 people per km², with most of the populace clustered around rivers and coastal areas. Nearly 76% of the population is urban.

Between 1960 and 2015, Gylias' population increased by 291%. Factors fueling this growth include a stable rate of natural increase, the settlement of refugees, and migration due to economic, social, or cultural factors. The total fertility rate has remained steady between 3.00 and 4.00. Widespread sex education and family planning coexist with lower working hours, prevalent communal methods of child-rearing, and multiple family models.

Gylias is a majority minority country, in which no ethnic group forms a majority by itself. Gylic peoples constitute approximately 60% of the population. Other significant populations include Miranians — Gylias' largest non-Gylic group and a significant influence on Gylian society and history —, Italians (Cacertians and Megelanese), Ruvelkans, Nordics, Hayeren, Germans, Hellenes, and Lusitans. Intermarriage between diverse groups is widespread. Certain groups have accumulated significant prestige due to their contributions to Gylian society, culture, and economy, including Miranians, French, Italians, and Hellenes.

Gylians commonly have olive complexions, with both lighter and darker skin colours being present.

Approximate distribution of Gylian ethnolinguistic groups (2015)

Gylic peoples	60.13%
Aðunese	6.71%
Aréş	10.09%
Dalak	1.20%
Erlan	4.82%
Eşari	1.49%
Ŋej	5.02%
Rezakan	7.39%
Tanan	4.44%
Tomesian	5.15%
Varan	6.35%
Yaskan	2.05%
Zineran	5.42%

Non-Gylic peoples	39.87%
French	4.52%
German	2.74%
Hayeren	2.94%
Hellene	3.72%
Italian	2.78%
Lusitan	2.85%
Miranian	9.79%
Mubatan	1.06%
Nordic	2.80%
Ruvelkan	3.01%
Quenminese	1.11%
Others	2.55%

Languages

Gylias' official languages are English and French. The latter had previously been a lingua franca during the 19th and 20th centuries, and it retains a degree of importance in society today. Both official languages are strongly represented across public services, education, and broadcasting.

There are a wide variety of other languages spoken and recognised regionally, from Gylic languages to international arrivals. Owing to this variety and public policies in education and broadcasting, Gylians are typically bilingual or multilingual, and commonly speak using code-switching.

Non-Gylic languages spoken in Gylias have at times developed separate dialects influenced by their interaction with Gylic languages, as well as the Gylian languages reform of 1958-1959.

The Languages Board is the main consultative body for languages in Gylias, complemented by various private organisations. Language policy is based on egalitarian and multicultural principles, emphasising lexical modernisation and linguistic maintenance.

Religion

Gylias is officially a secular country, where religious beliefs are regarded as a private matter. Religion-related questions are absent from the census, and it is difficult to accurately estimate the proportions of religious adherence and irreligion.

The most traditionally prevalent practice in Gylias is Concordianism, characterised by decentralisation, syncretism, an emphasis on orthopraxy, and civic orientation. Estimating membership is difficult: participation in practices and rituals does not require faith, and is done more for cultural and societal reasons.

The most successful non-Gylic religions in the country are Cacertian Monotheism and Kisekidō. Both have proven easy to reconcile with Concordianism, due to their similar harmonious and ethnic character, and benefit from the presence of sizeable Cacertian and Miranian minorities in Gylias.

A historical hostility between the Gylic peoples and Abrahamic religions was reinforced by Xevden's adoption of christianity as a state religion. The contrast between the universalist and proselytist character of Abrahamic religions and the ethnic and decentralised majority of religions practiced in Gylias has been a lasting source of antipathy.

Largest cities

Economy

Economic ownership in Gylias (2016)

Public ownership (12.30%)

Cooperative ownership (70.15%)

Communal ownership (9.50%)

Other forms of social ownership (8.05%)

Gylias is a Lange model market socialist economy, characterised by decentralised planning and workers' self-management. It is a post-industrial economy where the service sector contributes to 70,7% of the country's GDP, followed by industry with 25,2% and agriculture and mining with 4,1%. Significant aspects include strongly-regulated markets, generous social security, low inequality, a large public sector, and cybernetics-based coordination and distribution, which form the Gylian consensus.

The Gylian economy is based on cooperatives. By law, any firm established in Gylias must be organised as a cooperative. Private property does not exist in Gylias, while the right to personal property is inviolate. Possession is governed by usufruct rights. Gylian companies are owned and managed by their workers, using various models of workplace democracy. Profits that may accrue to the firms are distributed to their employees equally as social dividends. Companies are affiliated to larger cooperative federations, constituted based on economic sector or activity, which in turn are federated into the National Cooperative Confederation.

Lyrnal Offshore Wind Farm, in the Ţikona Gulf

Public policy

Gylias has a large public sector, constituting 52,7% of the GDP in 2015. As of 2017, 4% of the population lives below the poverty threshold, when adjusted for taxes and transfers. Inequality has remained low, as a result of egalitarian social mores, public policy, and cooperativisation. Several sectors of the economy remain in public ownership, including postal services, railways, highways and airports, pharmacy, energy, and water. The overall level of taxation is among the highest in Tyran, at 51,9% of GDP as of 2015. The Gylian tax system is broad-based, and reliant on direct taxation and Pigovian taxes.

Decentralised planning is carried out through the Hermes Programme, a distributed decision support system that allows real-time collection of accurate information on the economy. The population takes part in planning through the Cybervote system and communal assemblies. Prices are set by the National Prices Board based on existing supply and demand, with the aim of achieving Pareto efficiency. The National Capital Investment Board directs domestic capital and foreign investment on the basis of social priorities.

The unionisation rate is 90%, one of the highest in Tyran. All trade unions and workers' associations are federated into the General Council of Workers' Unions and Associations (GCWUA), the national trade union centre. Closed shops and union shops are the norm for workplaces, and workers in large companies elect supervisory boards to supervise the executive boards. Annual average working hours are among Tyran's lowest. Wages are set by collective bargaining, and the gaps between the wages of ordinary workers and executives are small or nonexistent.

Economic sectors

Gylias' sizeable mineral reserves were nationalised at independence and remain in public ownership. The public organisations in question maintain a monopoly on extraction of raw materials, and their profits are redistributed as social dividends to Gylians. Forests play a key role in the country's economy, making it one of Siduri's leading producers of wood and timber products. Most of Gylias' electricity is provided by renewable sources. The major sources of energy are hydroelectricity, solar power, wind farms, and nuclear power.

The agricultural sector is highly subsidised and protected. It is dominated by tropical agriculture, and is split into domestic and export-oriented sectors. About 40% of the country's land is used for crop cultivation and animal husbandry. The fishing industry was gradually shut down starting in the 1990s. Aquaculture is now the main source of fish and seafood for domestic consumption and export. A system of supply management for agricultural goods is in place, administered by the Directorate of Supply Management with a mandate to ensure stable prices for farmers and consumers.

A clothes workshop in Aðunas, Aðuna

Gylias' industrial sector is dominated by light industry, with comparatively little heavy industry. The only significant heavy industries in Gylias are shipbuilding and shipping, the energy industry, metalworking, and some automobile manufacturing. Major industries include clothesmaking and textiles, jewellery manufacturing, food and beverage processing, musical instruments manufacturing, toy manufacturing, cement and fertiliser manufacturing, woodworks and paper mills, construction, pharmaceuticals, consumer electronics, and biotechnology.

Gylias is a significant nation in Tyran's computer and electronics industries. Its computer and IT industries possess several traits that set them apart, including the dominance of free and open-source software and operating systems, existence of public platforms for digital distribution, and use of cryptocurrencies.

Average spending on research and development is high. Much Gylian research has focused on using technology and innovations to increase productivity in order to reduce work and maximise free time. The Institute for the Protection of Leisure is the leading institution in this field, and the pursuit has produced significant Gylian contributions to cybernetics, sociology, and life sciences.

Major components of the service sector are the creative industries and cultural industry, publishing, transportation, telecommunications and IT, education and healthcare, banking, retailing, and the leisure industry.

Finance is dominated by cooperative banking, with credit unions, mutual organisations, and savings banks being the main institutions. Banking institutions are organised into regional cooperative federations, which in turn form the National Popular Banking Association of Gylias. Gylian Post and Telecommunications also offers postal savings and banking services.

Tourism is an important component of the Gylian economy. Gylias is one of the more popular tourist destinations in Siduri, attracting 20,73 million international tourists in 2015. Factors driving tourism include the country's tropical climate, numerous national parks and reserves, beaches and seaside resorts, skiing and winter sports in mountainous areas, cities and areas of high cultural interest, and liberal stances on regulated recreational drug use and prostitution.

Currency

Gylias' national currency is the Gylian þaler (Ŧ). Introduced in 1958, the þaler suffered from a comparatively high level of inflation during the National Obligation period, while the National Prices Board began setting prices by trial-and-error. To this day, it remains one of Tyran's less valued currencies. No redenomination has ever been undertaken.

The þaler has coexisted with various complementary currencies since independence. This creates an unofficial dual or parallel currency system in the country. Many local currencies exist in Gylias, often time-based or demurrage-based, and are used in local exchange trading systems. They operate at parity with the þaler, and function as the base of a widespread system of mutual credit.

The þaler is a managed float currency, with its value pegged to those of other Common Sphere member states as a result of economic coordination. In February 2017, its exchange rate was 1 NSD = 296,79 Ŧ.

Distribution

Gylian markets are the sum of all voluntary exchanges, monetary or non-monetary. They are governed by the norm of reciprocity and thus manifesting traits of gift economy. Manifestations include the widespread use of local currencies, alternative currencies, local exchange trading systems, mutual credit and mutual aid, and numerous organisations and voluntary associations that facilitate such exchanges.

Permanent markets coexist with community markets: periodic community gatherings where participants bring unneeded items and food, as well as skills, talents, and knowledge, which are shared, exchanged, or bartered. Both community and public markets can be organised anywhere and anytime, with Friday being traditionally used as a market day.

Merchants, those who sell goods and food in urban areas, are a profession with a significant position in Gylian communities and the economy.

The strength of Gylias' public and community distribution systems have allowed convenient access to consumer goods for Gylians, contributing to a high quality of life despite the country's relatively low GDP per capita (NSD 12.077 in 2016). The Gylian economy is characterised by relatively high velocity of money and near-equalisation of wages and prices in practice, leading some theorists to consider it Tyran's only functioning example of social credit.

Trade

Gylias' main trading partners are its fellow Common Sphere member states, particularly Cacerta and Kirisaki. Significant non-CS trading partners include Allamunnika, Schottia, Ossoria, and Acrea.

The main exports are clothing, electronics, cement, musical instruments, pharmaceuticals, sugar, foodstuffs, timber, paper and pulp, rubber, coffee, chocolate, tobacco, and various other consumer goods.

The main imports are automobiles, machinery and equipment, thorium, raw materials and semimanufactures for industry, iron and steel, and chemicals.

Foreign trade is affected by strongly-regulated domestic markets, which favour local companies, and the maintenance of capital controls and foreign exchange controls. Foreign investment is discouraged by high tax rates, although it has increased beginning in the 1990s.

The relative isolation of the Gylian economy from the regional economy has resulted in the phenomenon of a strong focus on the domestic market, which affects Gylian companies' international competitiveness. The different evolution of Gylian society similarly tends to discourage international work placements among Gylian workers.

Government

Ravy Egiði, President of Gylias

Toni Vallas, Prime Minister of Gylias

Gylias is a federal republic. It is notable for the strong influence of anarchism, manifested in the extensive bill of rights and governance based on principles of grassroots democracy. The three main governing bodies at the federal level are the Gylian Parliament (legislative), the Cabinet of Gylias (executive), and the Court of Cassation and Constitutional Court (judicial).

The President is the "main counselor and arbiter of the people", according to the Constitution. They are elected by Gylian voters in presidential elections. The President fulfils a mainly ceremonial figurehead role, and carries out representative and practical functions with the advice of the cabinet.

The Gylian Parliament consists of two houses: the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The Chamber of Deputies is elected using single transferable vote from local circonscriptions. The Senate is chosen by a combination of sortition and appointment. The Parliament serves more of a deliberative and delegative role within the political system. Its members are subject to imperative mandates and recall from their constituents, and serve part-time under the principle of popular legislature.

The Cabinet of Gylias constitutes the federal government, chaired by the Prime Minister. The cabinet functions according to a collegial system, where ministers share equal prominence and autonomy in carrying out their duties. The Prime Minister's main role is thus the formation of the government and establishing its direction. The cabinet sets the governing agenda and prepares preliminary resolutions and decisions for the Parliament to consider.

All Gylian governments since independence have been coalition governments. A record number of parties have legislative representation, which confederate into electoral blocs based on ideology. Regionalist parties, localist parties, and independent candidates and organisations are dominant at the regional and local level. All legislatures are popular legislatures, which has contributed to a trend of non-politicians — academics, artists, representatives of civil society and other notables — being chosen as legislative candidates and taking part in governance.

Public administration is dualistic: the government establishes policy, but the civil service carries it out of its own accord, through administrative agencies.

Direct democracy

Constitutionally, legislative power is vested in the people, which in turn can be delegated to larger institutions based on the principle of subsidiarity. Municipal, regional, and federal assemblies and agencies exist primarily for coordination and management purposes, balancing competing interests and ensuring fair development through a system of cooperative democracy.

Local issues are handled by weekly communal assemblies, selected partly by sortition, where deliberations take place and decisions are made. Other significant instruments of direct democracy in Gylias are local and regional advisory councils, the Committees for the Advance of the Revolution (CAR), the system of popular initiative, and the change to a sortition-based Senate.

Popular initiatives can be organised at the federal, regional, or municipal level. Proposed laws or constitutional modifications, as long as they do not contravene the Constitution, can be put to a vote if they have collected 10.000 signatures within 100 days, with voters deciding by a simple majority whether to approve or reject. In addition, referendums can also be called to repeal existing laws, or to recall elected officials before their term expires.

The direct democratic elements of the Gylian system have benefited heavily from the expansion of information and communications technology since the 1980s. Electronic voting is used at local levels to address issues. The Hermes Programme allows for both participatory planning and participatory budgeting through the Cybervote system, in which individuals can submit proposals, deliberate, and vote on planning decisions. Currently, all government budgets are largely implementations of popular initiatives, with little ability to enact policies unilaterally.

Law

Gylias has a civil law system, based on the Constitution of Gylias and six codes of law. The judicial system has two supreme courts: the Court of Cassation of Gylias, which deals with all civil and criminal cases, and the Constitutional Court of Gylias, which ensures compliance with the Constitution and handles administrative cases. Both courts have 9 members, appointed for a single 9-year term by the President, and must meet a high standard of judicial knowledge and practice.

Criminal laws are codified at the federal level according to the civil code and penal code. The penal system is aimed mainly at rehabilitation of convicted criminals and protection of the public. A nonadversarial system is used in Gylian law, in which courts are actively involved in investigating and establishing the facts of the case. Bench trials are used to resolve cases. Prisons do not exist, with other sanctions being used in their place.

Gylias is strictly secular in the public sphere, guaranteeing freedom of religion but not recognising any form of religious law. Extensive anti-discrimination legislation includes prohibitions on hate speech. Gylian jurisprudence is known for its emphasis on concise, clear, and accessible expression of law.

Law enforcement

Several institutions enforce the law in Gylias, independent of governments. The Gylian Police handles main police matters and has a very broad-based role in Gylian society, with additional civil duties complementing their law enforcement mandate.

The Popular Guards are the police tactical units of Gylias. Training is similar to the Gylian Police, but organisation has gendarmerie aspects. Their duties include counter-terrorism, hostage rescues, and protecting important buildings and people.

Both institutions coordinate with Special Public Security Bureau 9, the country's main intelligence agency, whose duties include both domestic and foreign counterintelligence.

Gylias' crime rate is among the lowest in Siduri, and its law enforcement is known for its efficiency, community policing, and stringent training, meant to prevent authoritarian personalities from becoming police officers. The police have a positive reputation, and are considered one of Gylias' most prestigious — yet demanding — occupations. The most commonly prosecuted crimes are tax evasion, attempts to evade regulations or labour law, consumer fraud, violating regulations on manufacture and distribution of drugs, and being under the influence and disorderly in public.

Regions

Gylias is divided into 3175 municipalities (municipalités), which may be urban, rural, or natural (uninhabited and located in protected areas). Municipalities can combine their resources and responsibilities into larger administrative bodies. An example are large cities with citywide legislatures and mayors.

The larger administrative bodies in turn are federated into 20 regions (régions). These are largely used for administrative and coordinating functions. Both municipalities and regions have a high degree of independence, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity.

The federal, regional, and municipal governments collaborate in delivering public services. Each has control over certain taxes and responsibility for certain services reserved to it.

Flag	Region	Abbr.	Capital	Area (km²)	Population
	Salxar	SL	Şet	77,390	202.425
	Makarces	MK	Jaţe	52,925	185.145
	Gacar	GC	Razyn	58,362	199.956
	Gerşyr	GE	Mytin	61,453	207.362
	Arxaþ	AR	Xakalen	105,906	878.820
	Alţira	AŢ	Senik	83,733	920.786
	Tandar	TA	Sænor	96,738	802.293
	Kausania	KA	Dáuzas	104,466	1.555.215
	Mişeyáke	MŞ	Zaul	112,408	2.653.739
	Sváen	SV	Lænas	17,001	1.160.239
	Elena	EL	Argyrokastron	65,344	1.826.760
	Arsad	AS	Keraþ	108,304	713.424
	Envadra	EN	Mayt	113,781	962.752
	Nezyál	NE	Kyman	65,451	1.486.094
	Tomes	TO	Iásas	132,662	1.974.876
	Ḑarna	ḐR	Deðras	87,464	1.550.277
	Aðuna	AÐ	Tavis	92,421	1.579.901
	Herlan	HE	Arnak	70,941	1.752.702
	Nauras	NA	Nyretak	59,801	1.370.070
	Nerveiík-Iárus-Daláyk	NID	Eyþer	141,776	2.703.111
Data from the 2020 census conducted by the Bureau of Statistics and Accounting.

Foreign relations

Gylian foreign policy is based on principles of neutrality, non-alignment, and pursuit of multilateral solutions. Its role in international diplomacy, and more recent involvements in peacekeeping, are significant to the country's global image. Gylias is considered a middle power within Siduri and possesses a degree of influence in Tyran on account of its work as part of regional organisations and support of ideals of democracy, egalitarianism, and social justice.

Gylias is a member of the Organization of Tyrannic Nations and the Common Sphere. It has particularly close ties with Cacerta and Kirisaki, which are considered special relationships, and has also built close relations with Allamunnika since the 1990s. It is also party to a mutual defense treaty with Ossoria, which possesses a naval base at Eltykan.

Gylias' poorest relations are generally with countries characterised by authoritarian governments or the predominance of socially conservative norms in society. A notable exception to this pattern is Alemarr, with whom Gylias maintains cordial ties. Relations with Æsthurlavaj have also seen some improvement due to Æsthurlav interest in Gylian popular culture.

Education

Education in Gylias is notable for its strongly anarchist influences. The Gylian educational system is based on progressive and democratic principles, and student-centred learning methods predominate. Educational institutions are run through direct democracy, students and teachers are equals, and students can propose classes and topics.

Public education is dominant. The Ministry of Education and Research establishes the framework for education in consultation with the public. The framework is flexible, aimed at meeting students' needs, and encourages experimentation. Municipalities arrange most pre-tertiary education, and fund and administer the respective institutions. Higher education is equally a municipal, regional, and federal responsibility.

Education is legally defined as a public good, and can not be done for profit. Public education is completely free at all levels and funded by taxation. Private institutions include anarchist free schools, specialist language schools, overseas educational institutions active in Gylias, and schools based on particular pedagogical methods such as Montessori education.

A wide array of additional institutions and services provide education, including community classes, evening classes, night schools, adult education, community markets and "popular libraries", infoshops, and distance education. The most famous distance education institution is the Open University.

Education is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 15. The school year lasts nine months, beginning on 1 September and ending on 1 May. The last week of December and first week of January constitute the winter break, separating the year into two academic terms, and summer vacation lasts from 1 June to 31 August.

Health

The National Health System logo

Gylias has a universal health care system, called the National Health System. The NHS is entirely funded from taxation, operated jointly by the federal Ministry of Health and regional governments. It is free at all points of use, and does not collect any service fees. Private hospitals are rare and private insurance practically nonexistent.

A considerable portion of the federal budget is assigned to healthcare. Spending on health is particularly high at 10,8% of GDP (2010), a figure that reflects the commitment to universal healthcare, as well as the public monopoly on production and distribution of pharmaceuticals. The latter allows Gylians access to medicine either for free or at extremely low costs. Overall, the system is well-performing: it ranks highly in life expectancy (80,9 years as of 2015) and doctor to population ratio (1:296), and has low rates of child mortality, diseases of affluence, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Gylias has many campaigns for health and wellbeing, coordinated by the health and education ministries. A license-based system is used for distribution of alcohol and drugs, overseen by the Controlled Substances Administration. Widespread harm reduction policies and preference for consuming drugs orally contributes to a low rate of infections caused by contaminated hypodermic needles.

Transportation

Gylias has an extensive public transport system, which encompasses 1,5 million kilometres of roadway, 30.485 kilometres of railways, and well-developed public transport systems in most cities. The road network has three tiers: national motorways, regional roads and motorways, and municipal roads. Private roads are rare, generally found in sparsely-inhabited rural areas. Motorways do not have speed limits, with advisory speed limits being recommended depending on weather conditions and geography. Urban roads have speed limits of 30 km/h and 50 km/h. Roads within cities have had many of their traffic signs and lights removed over the years, with the aim of lowering accident rates by increasing driver caution.

Motorways are operated by federal and regional bodies, and funded from general taxation. Taxes on fuel, cars, and congestion pricing in cities are used to discourage car ownership and promote energy efficiency. Gylias has a comparatively lower rate of car ownership than other Sidurian countries. Most cars are plug-in electric vehicles, hybrids or run on biofuels. What automotive industry exists in Gylias largely focuses on adapting imported cars and electric vehicle conversion.

Cycling is a ubiquitous mode of transport. Gylians are estimated to have at least 20 million bicycles, nearly one per capita, and twice the amount of motor vehicles. The comprehensive Cycling infrastructure encompasses some 40.000 km of segregated cycle facilities, bicycle routes, large bicycle parking facilities and bicycle-specific traffic lights in urban areas. "Bicycle highways" have been and continue to be built, linking Gylias' major cities and national parks.

Public transport is another common way of travel, mainly by train. Major cities and some medium-sized cities have metro systems. Buses include regular intercity bus services which connect smaller cities. Other forms of public transport include trams, trolleybuses, and monorails. Gylias uses a national electronic ticketing system known as Tascard, valid for all forms of public transport throughout the country. Several cities have successfully adopted free public transport, whose cost is covered by taxation and federal subsidies.

The Gylian rail network is dense, and known for its safety and punctuality. It includes 4.187 km of high-speed rail, with approximately 200 high-speed trains connecting major cities. These form a large portion of long-distance travel in Gylias.

There are 102 airports in Gylias. The largest airports are Mişeyáke Airport and Velouria Airport, which are the main hubs for international passenger transport. There are 20 major ports — the result of the country's low population density and long coastlines —, of which the largest is Velouria, and regular ferry services connecting the Iárus, Kuas, and Daláyk islands to the mainland.

Public companies dominate Gylian transport. The airports and motorways are owned and maintained by federal, regional, and municipal authorities. Gylian National Rail and Transportation Services (GNRTS) operates rail services and intercity bus services, while Gyliair is the largest airline. Private railway operators exist, which use the railway tracks owned by GNRTS or regional authorities. Public transport has a reputation for high-quality service and a "stately" character, an approach known as the Rezan model.

Culture

Gylian culture draws influence from its diverse ethnolinguistic groups and cultural connections with other nations. Since independence, Gylias has been one of the most socially progressive cultures in Tyran, and has been seen as a leader in social liberalisation and experimentation. Gylias' liberal approaches to women's rights, minority rights, and LGBT rights are reflected in its attitudes towards gender and sexuality, its extensive anti-discrimination laws, and its popular culture.

Gylian society is egalitarian and modern, and places importance on balancing individualism and collectivism within a harmonious existence. Gylians are known for their deep sense of community: a survey conducted by Angela Déurey University found that 99% believe they know someone they could rely on in times of need, 4% report that they "rarely" or "never" socialised with others, and 35% believe that independence is "very important". Gylias has a thriving civil society with an extensive network of institutions — including associations, foundations, community organisations, consumer organisations, social cooperatives, sports clubs, salons, and scouting organisations — and a high rate of volunteering.

Traits valued in Gylian society include reciprocity, cooperation, and egalitarianism. Gylias has one of the lowest rates of income inequality in Tyran, and very high rates of equality between the sexes. The Constitution prohibits the enactment of an honours system. Gylians are typically addressed by their first name. Society is generally informal with an adherence to basic behavioural norms, resulting in open and direct manners and a lack of taboos that can be mistaken for rudeness by other cultures.

Luxury is a notable and nuanced concept within Gylian culture, influenced by utopian socialism and anarchism. The Golden Revolution coincided with a period of economic prosperity and the emergence of a strong clothing industry that left a profound mark on society. The dominant approach can be called "socialised luxury": fine clothes, jewellery, and similar luxury goods are available in a manner that is inclusive and accessible to all — the result of collective prosperity and the National Prices Board's controls.

Gylian art and society show a similar appreciation for the concept of elegance in a non-discriminatory context. The pursuit of personal refinement is seen as admirable, achieving public education's goal of creating well-rounded persons and thus allowing anyone to attain grace and dignity without these qualities being constrained by social class and inequality. It can thus be understood that luxury, elegance, and similar ideals are well-regarded while subordinated to existing norms of solidarity and reciprocity.

Music

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The Sunday Girls, Gylias' most influential popular music group

Gylian soprano Zúndre Xiehon during a performance of Tosca

Gylian music is eclectic and diverse. The Gylic peoples have a wide range of folk music traditions. Traditional Gylic music was transmitted through the folk process, and has been preserved and catalogued through ethnomusicology. These were generally accompanied by percussion instruments, string instruments, and wooden flutes. Storytelling is a significant component of Gylian folk music. Common subject matter for songs included Concordian legends, seculary everyday narratives, or social commentary. The folk music tradition includes a rich vein of bawdy songs and sea shanties, the former often invoking or paying tribute to Mauan, the Concordian spirit of love and sexuality. Concordian music, performed during rituals and festivals, features chanting and polyphonic harmony, expressions of communal spirituality.

Western classical music and opera, introduced during the Xevdenite era, overcame the stigma of this association after independence. Gylian classical music is largely influenced by folk music, popular music, modernism, and experimental music. Today, Gylias has a lively classical music scene, with a more specialised audience than popular music. Most cities have an opera house and venues for classical music. Many orchestras exist, from the National Symphony Orchestra of Gylias at the federal level to various regional and municipal orchestras and ensembles. Distinctive practices of Gylian orchestras include lack of conductors and performing in casual, utilitarian clothing. Gylias is home to the Brilla-Paglin vocal school, which emphasises purity of tone, naturalistic singing, and relaxed breathing techniques. The method is renowned for its vocal longevity, and is the standard way that singing in a classical context is taught in Gylias. The celebrated operatic singer Kaida Rapkodi is perhaps its most famous practitioner.

Various contemporary genres established themselves in Gylias after 1958 through importation, ranging from jazz to blues and skiffle. The Sunday Girls are the biggest-selling and most influential band in the history of popular music, both in Gylias and in Tyran as a whole. They established rock music as a significant force, and profoundly influenced the character and traits of pop music. Other successful Gylian bands include The Watts, The Byrds, Sigma 6, The Dandy Girls, Asuka and the Mighty Invincibles, Prince and The Revolution, The Concurrents, The Chrysalides, The Beastie Boys, The Seconds, Yoko Kanno and the Seatbelts, and PJ Harvey.

A distinctive form of Gylian pop music is known as the Gylian Sound. It emerged in the 1960s in the wake of The Sunday Girls' success, and represents an aesthetic that reunites various influences — pop rock and power pop, folk rock, baroque pop, samba and bossa nova, psychedelic music — into a sound characterised by elaborate instrumentation, lush vocal harmonies, studio experimentation, and sophisticated songwriting. Exponents of the "first wave" of Gylian Sound include Géneviève Galle, Corinne Laurent, Margarit Guryan, The Free Design, The Yellow Balloon, Millennium, The Ballroom, and Sagittarius. The "second wave", which emerged in the 1990s, took a more eclectic approach by incorporating sampling and influences from hip hop, house music, and electronic music. Examples of "second wave" Gylian Sound include Stella Star, Stereolab, Saint Etienne, Cornelius, Fantastic Plastic Machine, and Takako Minekawa. A subset of the "second wave", referred to as "city pop", is represented by Beck Hansen, Cibo Matto, and Luscious Jackson.

Gylias is also known for its large number of psychedelic rock acts. Shoegazing, a specific subgenre which originated in Gylias, gained critical success at home and some renown abroad through acts like My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Lush, Ride, and Curve. Other significant contemporary psychedelic bands include The Skylights, Spiritualized, The Verve, Starchildren, and The Flamingirls. Since the 1980s, electronic music has developed and gained popularity, represented by acts like The Ins & Outs, Émilie Simon, and Evangeline MacDowell.

The unique, artist-driven traits of the Gylian music industry have influenced the adventurous ethos and experimentalism of Gylian popular music, and have made Gylias an attractive place to work for foreign musicians. Several foreign acts that gained success after relocating to Gylias include The Monkees, the Cocteau Twins, New Order, The Stone Roses, The Wonder Stuff, Pop Will Eat Itself, and The Rubber Band.

Cinema

Gylian cinema has flourished since independence, and has achieved a degree of international recognition. Gylias has a high rate of film production per year — around 10 feature films and more short films — and benefits from state support and protections. Gylian films and series are noted for their technical innovation, slice of life storytelling, emphasis on characterisation, and sexual frankness. Many of them evidence the same ambition of fusing accessibility with experimentalism manifested throughout Gylian popular culture.

Domestic films overwhelmingly dominate the Gylian film market, a factor attributed to cultural protectionism and the different audience tastes engendered by Gylian society. Similarly, few Gylian films attain similar success abroad as at home, their appeal limited by stylistic traits or specific cultural elements that find less favour among foreign audiences. The first Gylian film to achieve regional success was Alice in Wonderland, a faithful anime adaptation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland released in 1968. Recently, more films and series, such as those created by Dreamwave Productions, have become internationally successful.

The collective approach to filmmaking that characterises Gylian cinema results in somewhat less recognition for a single artist as part of a collaborative process, as advocated by auteur theory. Well-known Gylian directors include Sara Malikyan, Maria Loukas, Mai Kalesje, Lia Fyresi, and actor-director Meiko Kaji. Actors of note include Rauna Næsve and Brigitte Nyman — who were at the height of their popularity in the 1960s-1970s and are cultural icons associated with Groovy Gylias —, Maria Alemanni, Elsa Martinelli, Hikari Horaki, and the Chikageki double act.

Gylias has a well-developed television market, with multiple community, and private broadcasters aimed at both general and specialised audiences. As with cinema, domestically-produced series dominate the market, with a few of these having also been exported to international success.

Animation is a significant component of Gylian cinema and television. The strong influence of Kirisaki's animation industry led to the adoption of visual styles and storytelling techniques imported from Kirisakian anime, which are often referred to as Gylianime. The state has provided staunch support to the Gylianime industry: the animation arm of the Gylian National Film Institute is renowned for its quality, and has co-produced and animated an estimated 80% of Gylianime films and series. Gylianime is characterised by colourful graphics, vibrant characters, fantastical themes, diversity in genres and themes, and slice of life storytelling.

A high proportion of television series made in Gylias are Gylianime. Examples of these include Outer View, Agent Jane, Heart of the Valley, Karydan Station Files, L'Espérance, Les Enfants Terrificques, and Shores of Time. Notable Gylianime films include Alice in Wonderland, Crystal Triangle, and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.

Gylias' reputation for artistry has made it a gathering spot for artists from across Tyran. Several prominent Gylian directors, actors, and screenwriters originated from other nations but developed their careers in Gylias. The country has been used as a filming location for several international production. Its artistic environment, favourable climate, diverse geography, and a cost of living restrained by the þaler's low exchange rate have proven attractive to foreign production companies.

Literature

The first known Gylian literature is myths and folklore, dating back to the Liúşai League. Passed down through oral tradition and later preserved in writing, these include heroic tales, Concordian tales, and early poetry. The adoption of the Latin alphabet as the primary writing system and the spread of the printing press had beneficial effects for Gylian literature in the 16th and 17th centuries.

The Kirisakian genres of zuihitsu and nikki bungaku were popular and influential on Gylian literature, through importation and translation. Similar influences included the works of Lam Kinh, and the Athashastra. A trend emerged towards books that collected observations, essays, lists, poems, musings, and stories. These were called "pillow books" — after Sei Shōnagon's The Pillow Book — or "pen-at-will books" — a literal translation of the Miranian zuihitsu. Epistolary novels also became an important genre, cementing eclecticism and blending of different forms and themes as key traits of Gylian literature.

The combination of literature, treatises, epigrams, aphorisms, reflections, and philosophy, had a beneficial effect on Gylic education and literacy. Several significant works of the period were the pillow books of Elizabeth the Learned (Rísfað), elected monarch of the Varans, whose treatises on statecraft are important primary sources for governance and diplomacy in the Liúşai League.

The development of Gylian literature was interrupted for many years by the Colonisation War, and the poverty and limited education that marked Xevdenite rule. The Xevdenites produced little literary works of value, instead concentrating on propaganda.

Literature regained its drive during the Gylian ascendancy of the 19th century. The spread of nationalist ideas produced a strong impetus for the formation of a common Gylian identity, which was reflected in literature. Anca Déuréy is regarded as the "mother of Gylian literature" due to her prolific activity and important contribution to the emergence of modern Gylian literature. Her multi-lingual works reflected the code-switching that became a defining trait of Gylian speaking, and helped standardise the spellings of Gylian languages. Other key figures include Angeline Dalles ("Madame Rouge") — whose satire and black humour had a significant contribution to Gylian culture, particularly by introducing the wicked-evil distinction —, Danái Tærnes, and Eira Kaşián.

The freedom brought by the Golden Revolution allowed literature to flourish, and the emergence of new genres. Important modern Gylian writers include Nathalie Laurent-Lefèbvre, Værna Karnas, Nayár Nayél, Anaïs Nin, Zedía Radeşak and Nomiki Antoniou. The country is notable for its strong New Wave science fiction movement, which has had a lasting influence on Gylian science fiction.

Gylians are avid consumers of literature. Gylias has one of the highest levels of bookstores and libraries per capita in Tyran. It also has the highest per capita publication of books and magazines. One estimate finds that around 20% of the population will publish a book in their lifetimes. Various periodical outlets for literature exist, from general interest magazines that publish fiction — such as L'Petit Écho and Silhouette — to specialised literary magazines such as Downtown, Surface, and The Current.

Art

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An artwork by Romain Godeau

Gylian visual arts have a long history. During the Liúşai League era, they gradually evolved, incorporating imported ideas and synthesising them with native aesthetics. Modern Gylian painting began in the 19th century, and is fundamentally linked to the Gylian ascendancy. Gylian painters incorporated influences from romanticism and realism, in the quest to develop a Gylian identity. Paintings of the late 19th and early 20th centuries are dominated by landscapes and portraits, depicting facets of ordinary Gylian life and portraying their subjects with a dignity and tenacity denied to them by Xevdenite propaganda.

Alscia, the Free Territories, and independence liberated Gylian visual arts, which embraced newer styles such as Art Deco, modernism, expressionism, surrealism, and abstract painting. Avant-garde influences were introduced and combined with traditional and folkloric aesthetics. The co-existence and intertwining of neoclassicism with modernist and avant-garde innovations reflects the dismantling of barriers between high culture and popular culture fostered by the Golden Revolution.

Illustration and photography have also experienced substantial development in Gylias. Some of Gylias' most renowned modern artists worked in these fields in addition to painting: Annemarie Beaulieu, Romain Godeau, and Bernard Blossac. Part of the Gauchic artistic movment, their fusion of classicist discipline with experimentation and daring colour choices was profoundly influential on Gylian art, and is considered one of the foremost manifestations of Gylian "socialised luxury".

Fashion

Clothes made by Gylian clothing company Gerno

Clothing is one of Gylias' most important industries and cultural exports. Gylian clothesmaking reflects the egalitarian ethos that pervades society, emphasising custom-made and individually tailored items of clothing. Gylian clothing designs are characterised by diversity, comfort, and style. Appearances are defined by casual glamour, elegance, and quirkiness.

In contrast to other Tyranian nations, Gylias has no fashion industry in practice. Clothing is made specifically for the individual wearer. Market socialism in the economy and a strong mistrust of advertising preclude the emergence of events characteristic of fashion industries, such as fashion weeks and fashion shows. Periodicals and publications that focus on clothing do not proclaim trends or enforce particular styles on the population at large.

Gylian society has a liberal attitude towards clothing — not observing dress codes — and an accepting one towards nudity.

Numerous clothing companies exist in Gylias. Famous ones include VoKl, Sawex, Ficus Clothing, Gerno, Ronde, and Inallsense. A thriving jewellery and cosmetic industry complement the clothesmaking industry. The strength of these as a cultural export have earned Gylias the reputation of a country of beauty and accessible luxury, a singular development for a Tyranian socialist country.

Media

The Gylian media landscape is highly diverse. Competition laws, laws against concentration of ownership, and subsidies for newspapers have made Gylians among the greatest consumers of newspapers in the world. Nearly every town is served by a local newspaper, and many regional and federal newspapers exist, as well as free newspapers and alternative newspapers. Most federal newspapers have English and French editions, while regional and local ones are also printed in their respective regional languages.

Newspaper and magazine circulation figures are among the highest on average in Siduri, and the average subscription rate is 2,71 newspapers per household. Direct sales and subscriptions are the cornerstones of periodicals' business models.

The public Gylian National Broadcasting Service had a monopoly on federal radio and television transmissions for 33 years. Private broadcasting thrived at the regional and local level, with community radio and public-access television establishing a strong presence. The public radio and television network expanded with more channels during the 1960s and 1970s to accommodate the media market. The GNBS' monopoly on federal broadcasting ended in 1991, and private broadcasting expanded nationally. However, public broadcasting retains the largest share of audiences for both television and radio.

GNBS operates four national radio stations through Gylian Radio (GR1, GR2, GR3, GR4), and five national television stations through Gylian Television (GTV1, GTV2, GTV3, GTV4, and GTV Parliament).

Associated Television emerged as the leading private broadcaster during the 1960s. It is an association of Gylias' regional and local television channels, allowing them to share programmes so as to be displayed on the entire network. 5 was the first national private channel to begin broadcasting after the end of GTV's monopoly. It is the most successful French-language channel in Gylias. Other major television networks include NTV, Maxi TV, Channel A, and June.

Digital television was introduced in 1999, and analogue broadcasts were subsequently terminated in 2009 after a lengthy preparatory period.

The organisation of Gylian media is shaped by the country's economic system. All media companies are cooperatives. A single entity cannot own more than one newspaper, radio station, and television station at the same times. GNBS is funded through a license fee paid by all television owners and additional government grants; it has a strict ban on advertising on its stations. Community and public-access broadcasters are non-profits run by volunteers. Private radio and television stations are funded by viewer contributions, some advertising, private donations, subscription fees, or other means.

Gylias has a highly developed internet culture. Nearly 99% of the population has internet access, with computers being similarly widespread. All Gylian schools and public libraries have internet connections and computers. Gylias was an early adopter of computers and the internet starting in the 1990s — shown by its flourishing demoscene —, and is notable for regulating the internet as a public utility.

Sport

Sports are popular in Gylias, and the population is generally quite active. Football is the national sport, with over 400.000 players in more than 35.000 clubs. Other popular sports include swimming and cycling, volleyball and basketball, tennis, and chess. Gylians generally gravitate towards team sports, but some individual sports also enjoy popularity, such as figure skating and gymnastics.

Several martial arts have gained popularity in recent years, through cultural ties with Kirisaki. These include kendo and fencing, jujutsu, judo, and aikido. Gylian society's aversion towards violence sports means that these sports are practiced with an emphasis on skill, athleticism, and grace.

Gylias has hosted the Tyran Cup once, in 1972, and its team has won it twice, in 2000 and 2016. It also hosted the 55th Tyranian Summer Olympics in 1976.

Gylian sports is known for its communal character and sportsmanship. Sports leagues do not exist; all sports events are organised as friendly matches, and scores are considered secondary to the enjoyment of the players and the audience. Teams and their fans have friendly relations with other teams, and football chants are generally lighthearted and amiable. Most Gylian sports players manage entire careers without being cautioned or sanctioned for unsporting conduct. Sports have a semi-amateur character due to the economy — teams and venues are largely supported by a combination of donations, government grants, ticket sales, and contributions from wealthy Gylians, largely eschewing sponsorship.

Cuisine

Free food served at a kitchen for all in Náras

Gylian culinary traditions are influenced by the country's farming practices and seafaring history. It is mainly based on vegetables, fruits, seafood, dairy products, and grains. Gylias' staple foods include rice and bread, salads, seafood, noodles, meat, and tropical fruits. Soups are a common course in Gylian cuisine, with various regional varieties in existence. Meat mainly comes from fish, poultry, pigs, sheep, and goats — the latter of which also provide milk. Meals are served at the same time rather than in courses, and serving sizes tend to be somewhat smaller than the Sidurian average. Chocolate is a popular element for both confectionery and drinks.

Simplicity and frugality are the defining traits of Gylian cuisine, influenced by the historical poverty endured by Gylians under Xevdenite rule and modern animal welfare legislation, which is one of the strictest and most comprehensive in Tyran. Animal slaughter is banned — animals must die of natural causes before their flesh can be turned to meat. Gylian meat is cooked for longer periods of time as a result, and every part of the body is used as food to minimise waste, making sausages a widespread form of preparation. A strong taboo against food waste is manifested in widespread practices of gleaning, food rescue, and freeganism. Spices, traditionally sparse, have come into increasing use recently in cooking.

Gourmet food is prepared under the influence of societal ideals of combining luxury and egalitarianism. The extensive preparation and elaborate presentation manifest the positive ideal of personal refinement without snobbery. It is not served in multiple courses as per Gylian practice, and meal sizes are similarly modest. Haute cuisine is generally imported or modeled after other countries' cuisine — mainly Zambora, Cacerta, and Kirisaki —, with the domestic kind being comparatively rare.

Dinner is the main meal of the day for most Gylians. Breakfast and lunch have smaller sizes by comparison. Snacking between lunch and dinner is common.

Gylias has a vibrant tradition of street food, sold by merchants on streets and in street markets. Gylian street food is diverse and evidences notable influences from Miranian and Cacertian cuisine.

The most commonly consumed drinks are tea, juices made from tropical fruits, coffee, and soft drinks. The federal government has a monopoly on alcohol distribution, through the National Alcohol Distribution Company. Alcoholic drinks generally have a controlled potency and flavoured taste; they are mainly consumed in social situations. Various taxes are levied on particular goods such as sugary drinks and foods high in saturated fat, to discourage unhealthy diets.

Gender relations and sexuality

Gylian norms regarding gender, nudity, and sexuality were radically liberalised in the Golden Revolution. Current society has highly progessive attitudes towards these subjects. Gender identity is seen as a spectrum, with the individual determining their own place on it. Non-gendered pronouns are the customary forms of address. When meeting someone, Gylians will ask what pronouns they prefer, and use the ones indicated. The media features disclaimers before a story noting how certain preferences were expressed, and thanking subjects for giving them permission to use gendered pronouns.

Sexuality and nudity are treated casually, without any taboos. It is common to see people in various states of nudity in public, with the Ministry of Health only providing guidance to avoid sunburn. Sex education in schools is comprehensive and mandatory, treatments for gender dysphoria are covered by the NHS, and sexual protection is extensive. Social openness towards sexuality is reflected in the positive and accepting treatment of it in popular culture.

According to the Constitution, marriages are non-gendered. There are other equivalent arrangements provided by law, such as civil unions and official cohabitation. The law recognises polyamory and provides the possibility of group marriages, with the consent of all the involved parties.

Public holidays

All official public holidays are established by government legislation. In accordance with the "neutral state" philosophy, public holidays generally have historical and secular significance.

Nine federal public holidays are currently established by law:

Date	Name	Notes
1 January	New Year's Day	The exact date is a day of rest. Every four years, it is also the day Parliament is officially dissolved and the federal election period begins.
2 January	Rememberance Day	Officially Gylias' independence day, it is used to commemorate the Liberation War.
8 March	Equality Day	Gylian-specific, gender-neutral observance of International Women's Day. One of the official holidays with a strong political character.
29 April	Constitution Day	The date of the 1961 referendum that ratified the Constitution of Gylias. Due to proximity to May Day, 30 April is commonly an unofficial holiday as well.
1 May	Labour Day	International Workers' Day. Commonly referred to as "May Day".
10 May	Constitution Day	The date of the 1961 referendum that ratified the Constitution of Gylias.
1 June	Summer's Day	Official beginning of summer vacation, which ends on 1 September.
31 December	New Year's Eve	The exact date is a day of rest.
Various	Election Day	The day elections and referendums are held. It is a public holiday to encourage voter turnout. Federal elections are held on 22 January, regional elections on 22 March, and municipal elections on 22 September. Referendum dates vary but always take place on a Friday or Monday.

Various other holidays are observed regionally and locally. These range from religious occasions and festivals, to the public holidays of the homelands of non-Gylic minorities. Regional and local authorities can also proclaim certain days to be holidays. These are mainly done to mark important events in the city's history, promote local culture, and honour the contributions of particular residents.

Self-Defense Forces

Gylias does not legally have a military. The equivalent is the Gylian Self-Defense Forces (GSDF), a set of unified armed forces with the purpose of defending Gylian sovereignty. The GSDF is legally one organisation with a unified chain of command, divided in practice into the Gylian Land Self-Defense Force (GLSDF), Gylian Naval Self-Defense Force (GNSDF), and Gylian Air Self-Defense Force (GASDF). It is governed by the Ministry of Defense, under the joint authority of the President and Prime Minister.

The GSDF is the direct successor of the People's Army that won the Liberation War. Its character is closer to a militia than a professional military, which sets it apart in Tyran. As GSDF members are legally civilians, military law does not exist — they are instead governed by the Constitution and Civil Code. Hierarchies are deemphasised, and relations between the various GSDF ranks are marked by relative social equality. The GSDF functions on the basis of "revolutionary discipline", a democratic form of organisation and training that emphasises consciousness and understanding of why certain orders are issued and must be obeyed.

The GSDF's mission is restricted by Article 11 of the Gylian constitution, which renounces the right to declare war or use force in international disputes. Being primarily defense-oriented, it does not possess equipment that would create offensive capabilities. Similar to the Gylian Police, it maintains civil functions in addition to its defense role, aiding the population in various capacities.

@@ Line 519: / Line 519: @@
 Public education is dominant. The Ministry of Education and Research establishes the framework for education in consultation with the public. The framework is flexible, aimed at meeting students' needs, and encourages experimentation. Municipalities arrange most {{wpl|pre-tertiary education}}, and fund and administer the respective institutions. {{wpl|Higher education}} is equally a municipal, regional, and federal responsibility.
-Education is legally defined as a {{wpl|public good}}, and can not be done for profit. Public education is completely free at all levels and funded by taxation. Private institutions include {{wpl|Autonomous social center#Free schools|anarchist free schools}}, specialist language schools, overseas educational institutions active in Gylias, and schools based on particular pedagogical methods such as {{wpl|Montessori education}}).
+Education is legally defined as a {{wpl|public good}}, and can not be done for profit. Public education is completely free at all levels and funded by taxation. Private institutions include {{wpl|Autonomous social center#Free schools|anarchist free schools}}, specialist language schools, overseas educational institutions active in Gylias, and schools based on particular pedagogical methods such as {{wpl|Montessori education}}.
 A wide array of additional institutions and services provide education, including {{wpl|community college|community classes}}, {{wpl|Part-time learner in higher education|evening classes}}, {{wpl|night schools}}, {{wpl|adult education}}, [[Community markets (Gylias)|community markets]] and "popular libraries", {{wpl|Autonomous social center#Infoshops|infoshops}}, and {{wpl|distance education}}. The most famous distance education institution is the [[Open University]].

v t e Gylias
History	Liúşai League Colonisation War Xevden Rebellion of 1749 Gylian ascendancy Revolution of 1848 Glorious Rebellion Alscia Liberation War (Free Territories Nerveiík Kingdom Tymzar–Nalo regime) National Obligation period Golden Revolution Wretched decade Ossorian war crisis Contemporary history
Geography	Climate Environment Flora and fauna Hydrography Topography
Politics	Cabinet (Prime Minister) Constitution Communal assemblies Elections (Election Day) Foreign relations Human rights Judiciary Law Law enforcement Local government (Municipalities Regions) Parliament (Chamber of Deputies Senate) Political culture Political parties President Self-Defense Forces
Economy	Agriculture Banking (Central bank) Cooperatives (National Cooperative Confederation) Currencies (Þaler) Industry Markets (Community markets) Merchants Planning (Hermes Programme) National Prices Board Public policy (Gylian consensus Gylian National Investment Fund National Capital Investment Board) Services Stock exchange Trade unions (General Council of Workers' Unions and Associations) Transport Tourism
Society	Crime Demographics Drugs Education Gender and sexuality (Prostitution Pornography) Georgettes Health Internet Religion Scouting Social security Socialised luxury
Culture	Adversary–enemy distinction Art (Gauchic) Cinema (Gylianime) Clothing Comics Cuisine Economic practices Gehenta Good Practices Code Literature Media Music Public holidays Sport Symbols (Flag Seal Anthem Ana Lisa) Wicked–evil distinction

v t e Largest Cities in Gylias 2015 census conducted by Bureau of Statistics and Accounting
Rank		Region	Pop.	Rank		Region	Pop.
1	Velouria	Nerveiík-Iárus-Daláyk	1.425.117	11	Maveás	Elena	500.136
2	Mişeyáke	Mişeyáke	1.380.716	12	Aðunas	Aðuna	491.633
3	Kyman	Nezyál	973.425	13	Etra	Arxaþ	487.954
4	Náras	Nauras	800.035	14	Estro	Herlan	476.591
5	Lakşás	Elena	777.196	15	Sayran	Ḑarna	437.664
6	Lænas	Sváen	748.126	16	Senik	Alţira	400.925
7	Tomes	Tomes	731.547	17	Garés	Alţira	333.216
8	Arnak	Herlan	720.590	18	Erynas	Tomes	255.603
9	Ianáyn	Ḑarna	681.814	19	Arxas	Nauras	210.412
10	Kanedras	Kausania	611.072	20	Narsiad	Herlan	200.911