Walakia

The Walakian Union Unia Wołoska
Flag
Motto: Do zwycięstwa, do rewolucji; Do rewolucji, do sprawiedliwości (Walakian: To victory, for revolution; To revolution, for justice)
Walakia in Northwest Meridon
Capital	Podogorov
Largest city	Janusawa
Official languages	Walakian
Recognised regional languages	Nyubessed
Ethnic groups	82% Walakian 7% Bessed 4% Datch 4% Falkenslovask 2% Gökan 1% Other Especian and Meridonian
Demonym(s)	Walakian, Walakians
Government	Single Party State
• Premier	Cibor Donat Jankowski
Legislature	Politburo
Establishment
• Formation of a unified Walakian Kingdom	1362
• Establishment of the modern era Kingdom of Walakia	16th of October 1816
• Pronouncement of the Walakian Union	19th of November 1928
Area
•	514,682 km2 (198,720 sq mi)
Population
• 2018 estimate	82,867,120 (5)
• 2010 census	81,521,910
• Density	161,006/km2 (417,003.6/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	2018 estimate
• Total	$1,020,922,918,400 NSD
• Per capita	$12,320 NSD
Currency	Suwerenny
Date format	dd-mm-yyy
Driving side	right
Internet TLD	.wu

The Walakian Union (Walakian: Unia Wołoska) is a unitary single party state located on the Northwest coast of the Meridonian continent of Greater Meridon. It is an ethnically homogeneous state with a handful of notable minorities. Under the guidance of the single Vanguardist ruling party, Walakia has gone from a badly weakened Kingdom to a stable, powerful modern, if poorer than many of the more developed nations, republic. Walakia in spite of its nonparticipation in most multinational organizations remains a significant influencer in Northwest Meridon.

The first human populations arrived in Walakia roughly 7,000 years ago. Human populations remained relatively small throughout most of the early human period as, at first, game animals were quite difficult to hunt, and later because the land was poorly suited to agriculture. As a result the formation of complex societies in the region that would become Walakia was delayed for an extensive period of time, with the population remaining in fairly small tribes until roughly 2,500 years ago when larger fishing settlements were established on the south Walakian coast. Due to the small population, Walakia survived the plagues that swept through the region at the end of the post-classical period relatively intact.

Etymology

The term Walakia is derived from an ancient deity in the region in the traditional regional animist religions. Wułaskun the protector was widely considered the most important of the spirits in the ancient faiths, and the followers of that tradition gradually adopted the deity's name as a demonym, and when unified under a single kingdom, the people of the region called the new state Walakia. The demonym for denizens of Walakia is Walakian; the plural is Walakians.

Demographics

There is a significant Bessed minority in Walakia.

According to the most recent, 2012 Walakian census, Walakia has a population of 82,867,120. The population of Walakia has been growing fairly quickly, at a rate of roughly .416% per annum. Walakia is an ethnically homogeneous nation with a the Walakian ethnic group representing 82% of the total population, with one notable minority, the Bessed peoples having a significant population (7%), primarily located along the Northwest coast. Additionally local minorities of Datch, Falkenslovask, and Gökan peoples exist, particularly in the border regions. Walakia is largely areligious with 60% of the population not-affiliating with any organized religion. The largest religious group is the Răscumpărare group at 29% of the population, the Beshai-Atlug faith of the Bessed people is a popular regional religion, and there are a some Diternal traditionalists, and a following of traditional Animism. Roughly 63% reports being lgbt, with a large number being practioners of Răscumpărare.

Walakia is fairly heavily urbanized with seven tenths of the population living in urban areas (being defined as settlements with a population greater than twenty thousand); 34% of the population lives in the twenty largest urban centers. There are currently 35 cities in Walakia with a population greater than one hundred thousand, eleven with a population over one million, and four with a population greater than two million. Most of the population lives on the coast, with most of the larger urban centers being within one hundred fifty kilometers of the coast or less. Walakia has seen a slowdown in rates of urbanization in comparison to past years.

Largest cities or towns in Walakia 2012 Census
	Rank		Prefecture	Pop.	Rank		Prefecture	Pop.
Janusawa Stisgrod	1	Janusawa	Janusawa	2,816,191	11	Sowia Wola	Sowia Wola	1,068,125	Falkengrod Bessia
	2	Stisgrod	Stisgrod	2,456,671	12	Halinów	Halinów	885,112
	3	Falkengrod	Falkengrod	2,371,195	13	Mokre	Janusawa	866,647
	4	Bessia	Bessia	2,172,681	14	Pecsz	Pecsz	762,872
	5	Podogorov	Podogorov	1,971,899	15	Teresin	Teresin	747,486
	6	Zabki	Zabki	1,896,570	16	Żyrardów	Żyrardów	632,564
	7	Pruszków	Pruszków	1,711,079	17	Sokule	Julinek	567,960
	8	Truskaw	Truskaw	1,470,805	18	Wostkitki	Zabki	498,540
	9	Otwok	Otwok	1,419,115	19	Ellend	Bessia	423,871
	10	Julinek	Julinek	1,376,986	20	Boda	Bessia	401,109

Government

The Walakian Politburo in session.

The Walakian Union is a unitary republic and single party state led by the Walakian People's Vanguardist Party. Political involvement is limited only to members of that party, with party members electing high level government officials. The rights of minorities are protected by the Vanguardist Walakian Constitution, protections which are strictly enforced by constitution provisions. The Walakian Politburo is the dominant element of the national government, responsible for the legislation of new laws, power of purse, and ratification of treaties. In comparison the executive Premier, is nearly powerless with only some legislative review powers and the ability to appoint administration officials to enforce laws. There is no independent judiciary. Below the national government there are the Prefectures, which govern Walakian cities and their metropolitan areas.

Foreign Policy

Walakia maintains peaceable but distant relations with other Meridonian states. The Walakian Union maintains embassies in most Meridonian nations and maintains formal diplomatic relations with all Meridonian nations, possessing Consulates or Representative offices in nations too small to justify full embassies. Walakia however, refuses to formally participate in any multinational organizations. Walakia has had a realignment since the 1991 establishment of the Socialist Republic of Capisaria, from strict isolation towards a more active stance, aligning itself with the socialist states of Capisaria, Verde, and Bozton, while becoming more distant with other more right leaning nations, with some recent flare ups with the Datch State over the Stor Flod Valley.

Economy

Economic Indicators

Monetary Unit: Suwerenny Conversion Rate: ɕ = $.91261 NSD Fiscal Year: Calendar Year Nominal GDP: $1,020,922,918,400 NSD GDP per Capita: $12,320 NSD Labor Force: 53,863,628 Unemployment: 3,501,135 (6.5%)

The Walakian economy operates on a centrally planned, socialist model, with the state overseeing most aspects of economic development and planning, with some independence granted to research and development groups in order to spur technical innovation. Walakia is and exporter of goods, with the indigenous armaments industry providing for the bulk value of exports, followed closely by fossil fuels. Walakia uses the Suwerenny (ɕ) as its main form of currency, though some Walakians, particularly in coastal cities will sometimes accept Meridonian units instead.

The Walakian labor force is 53,863,628 strong. The state is the largest employer, providing 34% of the jobs in Walakia, this is followed by light manufacturing (17%), arms manufacturing (10%) and fossil fuel extraction (9%). Union membership in Walakia is mandatory and nearly every adult participates in union activity to some extent.

Unemployment and Poverty

The Janusawa Prefecture natural gas plant.

Poverty is fairly uncommon in the Walakian Union, and highly concentrated in rural areas, and among the unemployed. Roughly 14% of the Walakian populace lives below the Meridonian poverty line. The Walakian government has taken significant steps to reduce poverty, but state efforts have been concentrated in cities with the countryside fairly unattended. Though Walakia nominally guarantees employment for all members of its workforce, heavy automation of industry created significant structural unemployment within the past fifteen years, structural unemployment that has only been partially accounted for. Unemployed persons represent roughly 6.5% of the work force with half of these being structurally unemployed people undergoing retraining.

Infrastructure

Walakia is a developed nation with infrastructure having received significant investment from the state. Transit overland is largely done by via an extensive rail network. Air travel is uncommon among the general populace but there are several airports for long distance cargo hauling, and fifteen airports capable of handling international traffic. There are several deepwater ports in Western Walakia, with Janusawa being the largest, and furthest south, the only port that does not freeze over on a regular basis. The telecom infrastructure is reliant on cable networks with satellite communication and over the air communication relatively limited. Power is provided by fossil fuels, usually natural gas extracted from Walakia itself.

Government Finance

The government primarily remains solvent as a result of profits generated from state operated enterprises, particularly arms manufacturing and resource extraction enterprises, which is supplemented by taxation and tariffs. Government expenditure accounts for 55% of the Walakian economy, or $561,507,605,120 NSD. The Walakian Union's national government receives the sum total of all budgeting power, spending money in the devolved administrations as necessary.

Military

The Walakian Union's national defense force is represented wholly in the extensive Walakian People's Defense Force (LSOW), which is under the control of the Walakian Minister for National Defense. It is divided into three branches the Walakian People's Ground Forces (SLLW), the Walakian People's Maritime Forces (SMLW), and the Walakian People's Aerospace Forces (SPKW). The Walakian armed forces are funded directly by the state and supplied by the state as well. Walakia operates on a limited conscription model, with some military personnel being conscripted via lottery. There are currently 725,804 personnel serving in the Walakian armed forces, with the overwhelming majority over five hundred thousand serve in the ground forces, with roughly one hundred thousand each in the maritime and aerospace forces, and roughly a third of the personnel serving being conscripts. Defense spending constitutes 4.1% gdp of Walakia's gdp ($41,857,839,654 NSD per annum). The lion's share, roughly half, of Walakia's defense spending goes towards the ground force, with three tenths going towards the maritime force, and two tenths going to the aerospace forces.

An office of the Ministry for State Security.

Law Enforcement

Law Enforcement is largely provided by Prefecture in the Walakian Union, and is quite extensive in its presence. Prefecture law enforcement is largely responsible for most traditional policing duties; traffic enforcement, beat policing, criminal investigation and counter-terrorism, as well as a few bureaucratic duties outside traditional policing such as vehicle registration. Aside from Prefecture policing agencies, there is the Walakian Ministry for State Security which is responsible for riot control, as well as maintaining the extensive spying network that allows the state to monitor the citizen body. There are currently 1,486,014 persons serving in Walakian law enforcement which receives $51,046,145,920 in aggregate funding.

Human Development

Walakia is a low level Developed nation according to the Meridonian Economic Development Index, with human development somewhat higher than is expected of a nation with its level of development. Walakian development has continued broadly with the central government investing heavily in education specifically, with healthcare also a priority. In recent years, as Walakia's industrial base has become more diversified, there have been efforts made to increase local consumption and as a result improve the living standards of Walakian citizens.

Education

Walakian education is free and mandatory until the age of 18 for all citizens with free but optional university education afterwards. Education funding is significant with the Walakian state prioritizing education in recent years to foster the development of a better educatied workforce, and to provide a stronger base of educated intelligentsia to increase the prestige of Walakian culture. As a result the education system is one of the finer systems in Northwest Meridon. Literacy rates for adults over 15 was recorded at 99.8% as of the 2012 Walakian census.

A Walakian ambulance.

Healthcare

The Walakian healthcare system, though not as well funded as its education system, is well developed for one of the poorer nations in Meridon. Healthcare for Walakian citizens is free at the point of access, though noncitizens must provide for their own expenses. Healthcare expectations, though lower than some its better develoed neighbors is decent with life expectancy reaching as high as seventy-two years of age.

Daily Life

Daily lifestyles for the average Walakian citizen are fairly spartan in comparison to those of other countries. The Walakian state heavily emphasized meeting basic needs and reconstructing the economy to fully develop the nation in comparison to the Great Powers of the Meridonian continent. As economic parity comes closer to reality however, consumer goods industry has become more important, and now Walakians are beginning to enjoy a lifestyle somewhat approaching those of their wealthier neighbors. Consumer goods have gradually become more common to the average Walakian, but reliance on those technologies is still not as common as they are for more wealthy states.