Penumbrism

Penumbrism 半影現象
Founder	Fujita Toyatoma
Founded	February 2, 1946 (1946-02-02)
Ideology	Technocracy Left-Wing Nationalism Welfarism Social Market Social Corporatism Etatism
Political position	Center-Left

Penumbrism (colloquially referred to as "Ilbonese Capitalism" or the "Ilbonese Model") is a social, political, and economic ideology originating from the Agleian isle of Ilbon. Penumbrism was devised in the 1930s during the premiership of Nagano Toru as part of his initiative to create philosophies only applicable in Ilbon. Penumbrism has changed drastically since its founding. It was originally an economic philosophy meant to meet the needs of Nagano Toru's "National Defense State", a far-right concept that advocated mobilizing all parts of a nation's economy in preparation for war. Later on, after the Deluge, Penumbrism became less popular among conservatives and gained followers in Ilbon's moderate left-wing parties. Amano Katsuro, the "Tiger of Oikage" and 8th Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Ilbon, went on to change Penumbrism along reformist lines and made the philosophy much more than just one meant to help a country increase its wartime production. Penumbrism's core tenets underwent a drastic change, becoming more focused on general development as well as creating an economy that was diverse and benefited the general populace. In the modern day, Penumbrism enjoys a large following, especially among members of the ruling (BLANK) party.

Etymology

The term "Penumbrism" was coined during the 1932 Ilbon Industrial Expo, during which a late-night conference to decide the outcome of the expo was interrupted by a lone businessman noticing the particular color the Moon had that night. The other Executives in the room turned first to the lone businessman, and then to the Moon, inspiring them and leading to the conference members deciding that the ideas demonstrated during the Expo would all be combined and turned into a single philosophy; Penumbrism. A mystical connection between the productivity of an economy and the phases of the Moon has been proposed by Penumbrist theorists because of its origin story.

Tenets

Capitalism with a Human Face

Traditional capitalism is abhorred by Penumbrists and is considered one reason why Penumbrism came about in the first place. Originally, Penumbrists despised capitalism because of its perceived inefficiencies, proclaiming that they were "profiteers against capitalism". Over time, the ideology's tenents shifted more towards the left and Penumbrism's message changed to reflect this. Instead of focusing on just the inefficiencies of capitalism, they broadened their criticism to encompass the moral shortcomings of it and targeted its apparent connection to greed.

The term, "Capitalism with a Human Face", came about to describe their solution to the immorality of Capitalism. Business people are brave individuals for taking risks when setting the foundations for their businesses and are even more worthy of praise if their businesses succeed and make them wealthy, but this does not mean that they are above the people they once lived with. According to Penumbrists, it is their duty to give back to the people who brought them to where they are, whether that be the communities they came from or the workers who created the products and services they sold. Therefore, by being altruistic and practicing generous amounts of philanthropy, they not only remained "human" after attaining great amounts of wealth but also gave back what they took from society to get where they are. To Penumbrists, the penultimate goal of a businessman is to generate wealth so that they can enrich their communities and by extension the nation.

Capitalism with a Human Face has had direct effects on Ilbon. The existence of the nation's expansive welfare state and moderately sized welfare gap can be attributed to the influences of Penumbrism. Private insurance companies are mandated by law to have a clause in their contracts citing their commitment to achieving "Capitalism with a Human Face" on a corporate level, and businesses on a local level coordinate projects like the creation of parks or the creation of advanced schools for research and technology.

Labor Economics and Centralism

• Low Inflation
• Full Employment
• High Growth
• Income Equality

Near the beginning of San Chung-Ae's term as prime minister, members of the United Labor Front formulated the steps they would need to take to achieve the promises made by Chung-Ae during his campaign the year prior. Inflation had grown significantly, unemployment was stagnant but still sizable, and economic growth had also stagnated, opponents of the ULF argued that a focus on improving social conditions would hurt the economy; the ULF was determined to refute their claims. Labor Economists drafted the "four promises" and the steps required to achieve them. A point of contention among labor politicians was whether the free-market direction established by Wi Dong-Yul in the years prior was necessary to achieve high growth; the necessity of the third promise is questioned. Achieving the second and fourth promises was more simplistic, socialistic policies provided how they would be achieved. Tax reform, an issue rarely addressed during the Dong-Yul administration was brought up in the Kokkai, and resulted in the creation of Ilbon's modern, progressive tax code.

Penumbrist Theory has become much more refined since its creation in the 1930s and subsequent implementation under the San Chung-Ae Prime Ministership. In the modern day, the Four Promises are understood as a broad outline for what the Penumbrist ideology seeks to achieve in the nation it is implemented. Centralist in nature, Penumbrism ensures that the state has control over goods and their prices, allowing it to more effectively combat inflation, employment, and income inequality, but also allow it to make the reforms required to sustain continued economic growth. Being Statist in nature, adherents of Penumbrism find those traditional democratic institutions, like the ones found in liberal democracies or even council states, that elect their officials and administrators, are too decentralized to allow for rapid change, so instead prefer a technocratic form of governmental organization. A meritocracy, above all other political systems, is the ideal form of government.

Radical proponents of Penumbrism espouse a total rejection of capitalist economics while also wholeheartedly rejecting Communist theories. Instead, as a compromise between state and labor interests, Penumbrist radicals believe in a state-owned, non-communist economy, run and administered entirely by a group of elite technocrats.