Razaria
Empire of Razaria Razarsko vladicistvo Ⱃⰰⰸⰰⱃⱄⰽⱁ Ⰲⰾⰰⰴⰻⱌⰻⱄⱅⰲⱁ (Mstislavic) | |
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Emblem
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Motto: Ⱀⰵⱄⱆⰿⱀⰹⰻⰲⰰ ⰲⰵⱃⰰ ⰻ ⱀⰵⱆⱂⱁⱃⰵⰴⰻⰲⰰ ⱄⱀⰰⰳⰰ Nesumnjiva vera i neuporediva snaga Unceasing faith and unchallenged might | |
Anthem: Ⰿⰻ Ⰼⰵⰿⱁ ⱍⰵⰽⰰⱅⰻ Mi ćemo čekati "We will await"  | |
Holy Banner File:Holy Banner of Razaria.svg | |
| Razaria's location in Oxar Razaria's location in Oxar | |
| Capital | Čiragrad |
| Largest city | Vojislav |
| Official languages | Razarian |
| Ethnic groups (2014) | 70.5% Razarians 22.1% Donosians |
| Religion | 98.6% Cositene |
| Demonym(s) | Razarian |
| Government | De jure: Quasi-theocratic monarchy De facto: Theostratocracy |
• Vrhovnik | Zlatko Khojnović |
| Legislature | None |
| Establishment | |
• Medieval principality | 757 |
• Empire of Razaria | 1202 |
• Modern state | 1957 |
| Area | |
• | 659,274 km2 (254,547 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2018 census | 43,533,018 |
• Density | 63.4/km2 (164.2/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2018 estimate |
• Total | $813.45 billion |
• Per capita | $18,700 |
| GDP (nominal) | 2018 estimate |
• Total | $207.06 billion |
• Per capita | $4,760 |
| HDI (2018) |  0.800very high |
| Currency | Razarian teg (RZT) |
| Driving side | right |
| Internet TLD | .raz |
Razaria (/ɹəzɐɹiə/; Razarian: Ⱃⰰⰸⰰⱃⱄⰽⰰ Razarska, /rɛʒarska/), officially the Empire of Razaria (Razarian: Ⱃⰰⰸⰰⱃⱄⰽⱁ Ⰲⰾⰰⰴⰻⱌⰻⱄⱅⰲⱁ Razarsko vladicistvo), is a sovereign state located in Lannonia, bordering in clockwise order Caznia, Aelania, Volomiria, and Zesmynia. It has a population of around 41.8 million, the Xth highest in the world. Spanning an area of around 659,274 square kilometers, Razaria is the 3rd largest country in Lannonia and the Xth largest in the world. The capital city is Čiragrad, and the largest city and leading national economic center is Vojislav; other major cities include Grabovica, Vladikagrad, Sovanović, and Metav. Razaria's population is mainly composed of ethnic Razarians, with Costeny as their prevalent faith.
Razaria was ruled by the Ancient Sepcan Empire and later Mesians before it was conquered by the Neo-Sepcan Empire, under which ancestors of modern Razarians migrated into the region and established local states. From the 11th to 12th centuries, Razaria was converted to Costeny during the Cositene expansion. Under the Empire of Razaria, established in the 13th century, the Razarian state expanded and rose as a regional power in Lannonia, before its influence eventually faltered and collapsed during the Dark Decades, a period of division that followed a succession crisis in the 18th century. Following the restoration of central imperial authority under the Kovačović dynasty in the 19th century, Razaria temporarily regained its regional prestige and underwent significant social changes from industrialization, but continued political instability resulted in the collapse of the country into a civil war in 1949. The war's end in 1954 gave way to a government that eventually initiated the reactionary restructing known as the Jastrebovian restoration that began in 1964; Razaria has since then been ruled by an alliance of the military and the clergy based on a broadly traditionalist ideology.
Razaria is considered a stratocracy and theocracy as the country is governed unchallenged by the National Fortification Command, a body primarily comprised of military personnel and clergy, while these two strata are also the most powerful forces in the country's politics. Razarian government has generally been described as authoritarian and occasionally totalitarian, and international observers note systematic human rights abuses, including open legal negation of many internationally-recognized freedoms, as well as pervasive suppression of political dissent. Internationally Razaria has generally aligned itself with reactionary governments such as ???.
Razaria has a high Human Development Index score and overall above-average level of human development, and is considered an industrialized country, but has one of the lowest GDP per capita in Lannonia. The Razarian economy, built around manufacturing, was worth $207.06 billion by nominal GDP and $813.45 billion by purchasing power in 2018. Despite the devastation of war and isolationist policies of the mid-20th century, economic liberalization that began in the 1980s has allowed Razaria to rapidly grow and attain surprising prosperity. Culturally, Razaria shares much in common with the rest of Lannonia, possessing similarly a legacy and heritage of Sepcan, Neo-Sepcan, and Cositene civilization. Razaria has perhaps the best-established tradition of Black Light practice in the Cositene world.
Etymology
The origins of the name 'Razaria' are not clear, however it has been hypothesized that it is derived from the Proto-Vitrian root *rъžь, meaning 'rye', possibly in reference to crops grown or found in the area, which has been somewhat supported by recent archaeological evidence. The earliest references to this name were made in the 5th century.
Prior to the widespread use of this name, the area Razaria encompasses has been referred to with terms such as 'Mesia' (referencing the Mesians), 'Ciscozaria' (referencing its location relative to the Gozar Mountains with areas that comprise modern Volomiria being 'Transcozaria') and 'Zavenia' (referencing the Zavena river).
History
Early history
Modern humans have inhabited Razaria since 30,000 BCE. The earliest Neolithic cultures rose in the area in the 7th millennium BCE, represented by the Preljina culture and the Vadel culture. Proto-Pan-Esquarians reached the area in around the 3rd millennium BCE. The first metal-working cultures present in the area however were pastoral-nomadic Sepcans that invaded and conquered the region in the 1900s BCE, and established the Ancient Sepcan Empire. Following the Sepcan civilization's collapse in the 13th century BCE, Mesian cultures gradually developed to assume the power vacuum, establishing numerous city-states that formed a confederacy in modern Razaria, that was eventually conquered by the Meteoros Empire in the 2nd century BCE.
The Neo-Sepcan Empire conquered the Meteoroi in the 1st century CE, absorbing the territories of the once-expansive state that included the area south of the Gozars. Vitrians of the Empire would steadily migrate into the area, first with nobles being granted land in the new conquest and later with entire families arriving. By the early 7th century, ethnic Razarians began to be differentiated from other Vitrians with the development of an unique language and culture heavily influenced by Mesian and Sepcan elements. Much of the area's population adhered to Tastanism by the 5th century as part of Neo-Sepcan religious policy.
Medieval Razaria
In 757, the Principality of Razaria was established as a subdivision of the Neo-Sepcan Empire. It initially encompassed the western regions of modern Razaria, but soon expanded after the gradual conquest and incorporation of rival principalities in the eastern regions. A highly decentralized, feudal state like its suzerain, the era of the Principality saw constant internal warfare between nobles and the development of the fortress-city known as the tvrdjava. At this time, the Neo-Sepcan Empire would also collapse after limping on for centuries as a titular umbrella over the myriad kingdoms in Lannonia arising out of sualny. Amidst the instability, the advent of the Bibliocracy saw the expansion of Tastanic clerical power, with ecclesiastical institutions exerting unprecedented political, social, and economic influence through a wide range of institutions that began to eclipse even the nobles.
In the 11th century, the Panoles plague caused the collapse of social order in the 1050s with devastating depopulation of Razaria, and a sudden rise of Costeny was popularly embraced by peasants and nobles alike who resented Tastanic power; in a series of uprisings led by charismatic religious leaders the local Bibliocracy was completely overthrown and dismantled, while the population converted to Costeny en masse. This occurrence spread rapidly to neighboring regions similarly wracked by plague and ensuing instability, initiating the Cositene expansion which completely overthrew Tastanism's previously dominant status. The area became populated by numerous Cositene quasi-republican theocracies, as well as states ruled by converted nobles. Conflict between the Razarian states in the 12th century was commonplace even after the Investiture of Peregnevy in the Adytum period. The Komljenovids, a converted noble house based in eastern Razaria, steadily expanded their domains drawing on Cositene priestly support, eventually controlling much of conventionally-defined Razaria.
In 1202 the Komljenovid Goran I established the Empire of Razaria - one of the many post-Neosepcan imperial entities that laid claim to all of Podslynitsia, as well as a catholic state aiming to extend its authority over the entire Cositene community. Goran and his successors defeated Razaria's main competitors, primarily states in Zesmynia, while developing the new unified state's administration and finance, building up the state as a regional power. Adytum's occultation in 1227 removed the last substantial formal barriers to Razarian hegemony in Lannonia, initiating the Razarian Hegemony. A complete bureaucratic administrative system closely integrated with the clergy was gradually established in the 13th century.
The Razarian Empire, under the Srebrevygnevids (r. 1298-1379), the Boriburyevids (1379-1430), and the Telemevids (1430-1485), reached the peak of its power and influence in the 15th century dominating Cositene Lannonia, commanding respect among obedient if somewhat dissatisfied vassals. It played a leading role in the Cositene coalition that destroyed the Petrolevian Empire in southeastern Lannonia and extinguished Tastanism as a significant political force for the remainder of history. However, under the Mosakovids (1485-1582), Razarian power was eclipsed by the Zesmynian Hegemony following its defeat by Zesmynia under the Blagoradovs in the Berdovinian War (1544-47). Simultaneously, imperial authority, especially over religion, was challenged beginning in the 16th century by the Separationist movement, a school of Cositene clerics advocating complete independence of religious institutions from the political, but was decisively crushed in the Separationist Wars (1562-66) which affirmed the role of the state in faith. The Blagoseranovids (1582-1649) confronted challenges to authority posed by a newly rising class of merchants beginning in the late 17th century arising from the Transoceanic trade in Esquarium, opposing the traditional nobility. Despite attempts at reforms and expansion against a declining Zesmynia, the Mirokarovids (1649-1731) failed to improve Razaria's position, as its standing continued to be repressed by a period of domination by Gostevia that began in the 1670s.
Social conflicts intensified once again as the later Mirokarovids began to repress merchants, as well as undermining the position of nobles through the dissolution of large sualnic estates, both of which led to dissatisfaction by those classes. Their reaction to centralization was able to threaten the standing of the throne. In 1731, these pressures forced Žedan II of Razaria, the last Mirokarovid, to abdicate. The ensuing imperial elections saw notables fiercely divided, supporting different houses placing claims on the throne, which resulted in the War of Razarian Succession (1731-38). This war proved to be devastating, and fragmented Razaria into several self-proclaimed imperial courts, kingdoms, and Cositene theocracies in a period known as the Dark Decades.
Industrial era
The Dark Decades lasted for 76 years until 1807. Razaria's position entirely collapsed in this period, with about 4 main states dividing the area; none of the successor states proved able to assert themselves at a regionally respected level.
The state of division ended in 1807 when the House of Kovačović, which usurped the western Čiragrad Court with support of foreign nabories, militarily unified the country and established Kovachovid Razaria. The Kovachovids decided to steer Razaria towards economic and political unification as well, dissolving local divisions, and removing privileges of most traditional nobles, in favor of promoting a managerial class as well as a turn towards absolutist autocracy. The Second Industrial Revolution of the second half of the 19th century resulted in a significant economic transformation, as well as increasing social tensions between the managers, the nobility, and the working class. The conflict concerning reform also exacerbated during the Kovachovids. Radical political change such as the centralizing reforms initiated by Vsevoloda of Razaria in her brief rule were first opposed by the noble establishment violently, but later with expansion of bourgeois political influence resistance to reform relented, especially under Ljuti II.
Prestige of the Razarian state was also recovered by the Kovachovids with a series of diplomatic and military successes that re-established it as a regional power, such as during the partition of Zesmynia.
Social issues that plagued Razaria were still left unresolved however, leading to greater national crises and instability in the 20th century. Tendencies of Correctivism became popular and advocated a radical unseating of present authorities. Against widespread dissenting sentiment, Ljuti III initiated a rule of terror, harshly cracking down on opposing figures and groups. He was overthrown and executed in the 1924 Razarian coup d'etat by correctivist military officers, who engineered the election of Izjaslav III and initiated social reform. However, the correctivist government was opposed by reactionary interests, who initiated a coup in 1930, ending the unsuccessful correctivist experiment.
Branimir Kvran, a reactionary military officer, became Regent following the 1930 takeover. He reversed many of the correctivist social policies, but also began stabilizing reforms in many areas, though not without further suppression of dissent. Kvran's rule until 1940 saw a temporary return of true order before social tensions re-emerged in the 1940s under second regent Javor Ninoslav's rule. By 1947 there was widespread civil and military disobedience, government crisis, and the influence of revolutionary groups was felt across society.
In 1949 the Razarian Civil War would break out, to be fought between the city-based correctivist Great Restoration Party, and the reactionary Fatherland Party led by Svetoslav Jastrebović, supported by a combination of rural, clerical, and noble interests. The war ended in 1954 with Jastrebović’s forces’ victory and the establishment of the modern Razarian state.
Jastrebovian restoration and recent history
The new Razarian state was effectively a single-party republic, dominated by a bizarre mixture of interests with Jastrebović and his Fatherland Party, itself just as mixed, only barely maintaining dominance. Tensions with neighboring correctivist states turned into the Gozar War (1958-59) where Razaria failed to meet geopolitical objectives of eliminating these threats, and instead incurred major territorial losses. After this, Jastrebović initiated the Rectification and Lustration Campaigns purging the government of actual and potential opponents. A faction of intellectuals with proposals for a traditionalist and reactionary overhaul of the Razarian state assumed political dominance with this.
The Jastrebovian restoration took place in 1964 immediately after the purges, nominally restoring Razaria as an empire, instituting a new government structure dominated by the military and the clergy, and greatly promoting the status of the two aforementioned groups. However, there were still powerful groups outside of the newly ascending classes influential in the state, who eventually became a threat to the Restoration's order. The conflict with them resulted in the Winter Solstice Crisis where the supremacy of the Restoration was solidly established.
Vukašin Branislavić, the new leader who entered office in the aftermath of the crisis, initiated significant economic reforms in the 1980s which ended central planning and economic seclusion. Massive infrastructural projects such as energy generation facilities and modern railroads also advanced the development of the country. The country's status ascended rapidly in the 1980s and 1990s as a result, securing allies while enhancing regional prestige. The Razarian wave occurred as the country's popular culture bloomed, with local media such as video games, music, and films finding great overseas popularity. However, there was little to no political reform or indeed any tendency towards relaxation of authoritarianism, and relations with neighbours such as Volomiria and Zesmynia remained strained.
In 2008, Zlatko Khojnović, the incumbent leader, ascended to the position of Vrhovnik. In 2020, Razaria invaded Zesmynia, seeking to take advantage of its turmoil after the 2019 Zesmynian crisis, starting the Jerk War.
Geography
Razaria is situated in Lannonia, bordering in clockwise order Caznia, Volomiria, Zesmynia, and the Rimmory Sea. The territory of Razaria lies between latitudes 55° and 66° north and between longitudes 28° and 33° east. Razaria has a total area of 307,577 square kilometres. The altitude of the country increases from the coast to the Gozar Mountains spanning from the country's northwestern area close to the border with Sataria to its northwest. The country has a coastline of length of 1194.17 kilometres.
Much of Razaria, especially its east, is rather hilly, while the west, characterized by the Golden Plains, is mainly broad and flat. Three major rivers (in order of west to east), the Brzota, the Zavena and the Jadar flow through the country, alongside numerous tributaries such as the Orasan river and the Medovo river. In addition to this, many streams have been created as a result of the hilly geography of the region. Grass and forest are the predominantly found forms of vegetation. The Gozar Mountains stretch across the north of Razaria, where the country's highest point Mount Jastrebović stands 2,393 meters above sea level.
About 26% of the country is forested. Coniferous trees, such as pine and spruce are the most common of trees found in forests. 18% of the country's area is arable land, and natural resources include copper, iron, titanium, aluminium, timber and hydropower. Soil in western Razaria is rich in various minerals such as iron and potassium.
Climate
Most of Razaria has a humid continental climate, characterized by large seasonal temperature differences, while high areas of the Gozar mountains experience an alpine climate. In Čirograd, the lowest average monthly temperature recorded is −5 °C in January and the highest is 22 °C in July. Temperatures can approach 30 degrees Celsius on average in summer, while in winter the temperature typically does not exceed 5 °C but does not go below -10 °C. The coastal area is warmer compared to inland regions. Average annual rainfall on the coast is about 840mm while in the eastern inland areas it is only 520mm. The country as a whole is considered rather relatively dry in comparison to its neighbours and other Esquarian countries of similar geographic positions.
Politics
Government
Modern Razaria formally retains the title of Empire, and claims continuity with previous Empires of Razaria. A quasi-theocratic monarchy is thus theoretically in place, functioning as a guide of the Cositene communion in Razaria, however the throne has been vacated since 1924 and not even the Jastrebovian restoration had crowned any individual. Its purely ceremonial status is acknowledged with the current government structure considering itself nothing more than a regency in theory. Costeny is the state religion and the state is constitutionally mandated to uphold it in all aspects.
Razaria is officially, according to its constitution, an unitary state, ruled by the National Fortification Command which functions as its 'supreme guiding body'. In practice it is a centralized single-party stratocracy and theocracy, exhibiting features of an authoritarian state and occasionally totalitarianism. The functions and elements of modern Razarian government are mostly creations of the Jastrebovian restoration. As the Razarian state's political theory comprehends itself as being in a state of emergency, the military's significant powers are justified as a matter of political circumstance, while the role of clergy is much less ephemeral and established by constitution.
Politically, the National Fortification Command functions as a ruling party of Razaria, holding absolute power and dominance over every single aspect of Razarian politics, while also acting as state apparatus by itself. It is both a functionary organization and a military supreme command, thus dissolving any boundaries between civilian and military in Razarian politics. The National Fortification Command is divided into two wings, an 'administrative' section and a 'strategic command' section, the former being the national government and the latter being the military staff.
Both wings answer directly to the Vrhovnik of Razaria (commonly translated as supreme leader), who holds paramount power over Razarian government and politics. The Vrhovnik, who is required to be either a high-ranking member of the military or a Cositene cleric, is elected by the unanimous consent of a conclave of high-ranking Cositene clerics and experts. The Vrhovnik holds supreme command over Razaria's armed forces and preside over most political affairs of the National Fortification Command. They may directly put into effect any executive decision, order or policy, not restricted by any other body, but decisions are typically consulted with other officials and powerful authorities extensively before making them. The Vrhovnik may also promote and demote officials and officers both civilian and military to their own wishes. Since the death of Radodan Karadsević, the 2nd Vrhovnik, in 1979, no Razarian leader has served terms until death and typically resign after extensive discussions establishing a successor when they believe their plans and goals have been accomplished.
Under the administrative wing of the National Fortification Command, there are 7 State Secretariats which are ministry-level departments, each assigned with one aspect of national governance which it oversees and aims to execute state policy in. This includes the State Secretariat of Domestic Affairs, the State Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, the State Secretariat of Security, the State Secretariat of Economy, State Secretariat of Justice, State Secretariat of Culture, and the State Secretariat of Enlightenment. There are also 7 Military Commissions in the military wing, each administering an aspect of national defence and military affairs, considered titularly equivalent to state secretariats to create a total of 14 ministry-level departments, but are far more limited in their capability.
All state institutions operate with two components, an executive and functionary part, and a supervisory part comprised entirely of Cositene clerics, who act to maintain the integrity of state organs with the country's religious and moral values. In practice, clerics are granted substantial says in decision-making at all values due to this system; it is ubiquitous for clerics to overstep these boundaries and directly formulate decisions themselves. Clerics in government are also often technocrats themselves, making their possible powers even greater.
Administrative divisions
As an unitary state, Razaria is divided into 9 provinces in addition to 1 special capital region (the city of Čirograd and affiliated zones). The de facto administrative division below a province is the 'node' (Razarian: čvor), a metropolitan area based around a city and including its industrial and agricultural satellite areas. The node-district remains a major element in Razarian local economic theory as well as general local administration. The Čirograd region is considered a node promoted to a 1st-level administrative division. Under nodes, areas are divided into quarters (Razarian: četvrt) based around actual individual settlements, categorized by their purpose (such as residential, industrial, agricultural).
The node system is theoretically one and the same with military and religious divisions of the country but have became functionally separated, although node governors are still typically appointed from the military or clergy, usually of the local unit or church.
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Foreign relations
Razaria hasalso attempted to expand its influence through intervention in Oraian conflicts on the side of its allies, most noticeably in recent years in the ???.
Primarily through its military strength and expanding ties with other states, some analysts believe Razaria is approaching and emerging as a middle power.
Military
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The Razarian National Armed Forces is the military of Razaria, subordinate to the National Fortification Command through its military wing and commanded by the Vrhovnik of Razaria. It has a total of 125,000 active troops, 260,000 reservists and 660,000 paramilitary forces, with a total of 1,045,000 soldiers or 2.5% of the country's total population. The RNAF has 5 service branches: the Razarian Ground Force, the Razarian Naval Force, the Razarian Air Force, the Razarian Strategic Weapons Force and the paramilitary Razarian Territorial Defense Forces serving as a home guard. Of the branches of the military proper, the RNAF Ground Force is the largest in terms of manpower, with a total of 340,000 enlisted personnel, of which 100,000 are active troops. Razaria possesses various weapons of mass destruction as a means of defensive deterrence, including radiological, biological and chemical weapons.
Razaria is considered a highly militarized country, with regular glorification of the military in media and education, priority allocation of economic resources towards the military, and the training of much of the citizenry in 'readiness programmes' to provide a large reservist combat force in the event of total war. This has been motivated by both strategic and ideological concerns.
Economy
At the end of 2018 it was estimated that in terms of purchasing power parity Razaria had a total gross domestic product of $813.45 billion and a per capita GDP of $18,700. Razaria's economic and human development is at an above-average level, and the country is considered an industrialized economy.
Razaria's economy operates under a state capitalist mixed market system, a change from the planned economy in place prior to 1980. However, most enterprises and businesses remain state-controlled or owned indirectly; the Razarian military for example controls large portions of mining, machinery, construction and electronics industries through proxy groups, while several high-ranking Cositene clerics are known to own major companies and foundations in the country. The state-owned parts of the Razarian economy however are notably competitive, having adopted a type of 'dog-racing' economic strategy, in that multiple companies are assigned the same or similar tasks to create competition. Regional economic directories, authorities with power over economic assets in state-delineated regions, also have notable freedom in the management and coordination of their resources and assets. Another economically influential body is the zadužbina or 'charitable foundations', which lay claim to major portions of the GDP, and through which ownership of many industries is controlled.
Major industries in Razaria include agriculture, machine building, chemicals production, mining, metallurgy, textiles, medicine and construction. Agriculture contributes to about 9.4% of the GDP, industry 36.0%, and services 54.6%.
In 2013 there was an estimated 2,800 farms and agricultural cooperatives, employing a total of 14% of the workforce. Western Razaria, traditionally known as the country's breadbasket, is the most agriculturally productive region. Major crops include wheat, potatoes, soybeans and flax. The Razarian agricultural sector is sturdy, and can provide for national consumption sufficiently.
Razaria mainly imports raw materials and in return exports manufactured products and goods, enabled by its strong, robust and flexible manufacturing industry. Foodstuffs and bauxite are the only primary sector products Razaria significantly exports. Fuels, and to an extent many industrial metals, are a particular major import of Razaria due to its own scarcity of such resources. Razaria trades extensively with immediate neighbors such as ?. Major extraregional trade partners include ???.
Razaria's currency, the Razarian teg, is issued by the National Bank of Razaria. Ration tickets are still in use, but are less commonly seen than before.
Infrastructure
Razaria's road network covers most of the country. Paved roads in Razaria span about 127,310 kilometers. Limited-access roads connect cities and economically important areas. However, many roads connecting rural areas are in a poor state of maintenance.
The rail remains the primary mode of land transportation for nearly all purposes; a system of combined light rail, rapid transit and high-speed rail connect various areas of the country. The total amount of rail track is estimated to be 24,501 kilometers. Rail freight transport is the main use of railways in Razaria, although passenger transport also mainly makes use of rail. Major cities such as Čiragrad and Vojislav have developed rapid transit systems.
Air transport in Razaria handles approximately 24 million passengers annually. There are 166 civilian airports in the country including 4 international airports (2 located in Vojislav, 1 each in Čiragrad and Grabovica). The country's seaports have a loading and unloading capacity of around 4 million tonnes, and port capacity is at about 160 million tonnes; major ports are located in Vojislav, Rakovar, and Sovanović.
Water provision and sanitation is not an issue in Razaria; most settlements had access to running, sanitized water by the 1990s and rationing is no longer common.
Energy
Energy generation in Razaria has aimed to allow national energy self-sufficiency and production to become entirely domestic. The country's energy infrastructure is considered modern and power generation facilities are considered sufficient, however, electricity rationing remains in place in many areas. Fossil fuels are scarce in the country, with very meagre amounts of proven coal and oil reserves, and a reliance on imports to satisfy industrial needs. Thus, renewable energy, specifically hydroelectric power, sees a great amount of use, while wind power and solar power are also being developed and used. Another large proportion of power is provided by an active nuclear energy programme, under which there are 3 operating nuclear power plants. In 2017 Razaria also announced plans to construct another 3 nuclear power plants across the country. Nuclear fuels are imported primarily from Kresomyslisk.
By energy source, 29% of power generation comes from fossil fuels, 25% from hydroelectricity, 38% from nuclear power, and 8% from other renewable energy sources. Razaria's power grid generated 110,982 gigawatt-hours of power in 2016. To solve the issue of reliance on imports for fuels, Razaria is researching algae fuel as a means to satisfy its needs in this area, while other energy-related technologies such as compressed air energy storage to store electricity generated are also being developed. The role of nuclear power and renewable energy in the grid is also being expanded.
Society
Demographics
Razaria had a population of 43,533,018 according to its 2018 population census, and an overall high population density of 161 persons per square kilometer. Based on available data, the population grows at an estimated 0.1% every year. In 2018, the total fertility rate in Razaria was 1.93 while the birth rate was 9 per 1,000 persons, and the mortality rate was 7.9 per 1,000 persons. The average age of the population stands at 32 years, and the life expectancy is 77.2 years on average (74.5 for males and 79.9 for females), and has an increasing trend. 71.1% of the population was between ages 18 and 60.
In the 2018 population census, 70.5% of the population were recorded to be ethnic Razarians. The second-largest ethnic group were the Donosians, a Sepcanic people, who occupied 22.1% of the population. Minorities of Volomerians and other groups were present as well. However, minority culture and status is not recognized or preserved, and expression of it is usually restricted by the state. Policy on Donosian culture has been mixed on part of the government, which has both suppressed the use of the Donosian language in public and supported programmes of revitalizing Sepcanic customs.
Razaria has a relatively low urbanization rate in its population; only 75% of it resides in urban areas according to the 2018 census, though this is a significant increase compared to 47% in 1990. Most of the population resides in communal villages, and even city residents do not exist outside the communal system.
About 98.6% of the population adhere to Costeny, a religion which has established itself as the prevalent faith of Razarians since the 13th century. The remainder are mostly atheist or otherwise irreligious. Worship of some religions such as Tastanism is practically actively persecuted, while others, such as folk religions, are restricted (usually subject to cultivationist policies). Due to state promotion of Costeny, the piousness of Razarian culture and society, and general hostility to most non-Cositene beliefs (especially long-persecuted Tastanism) and even irreligion, Costeny has a solid, nearly unshakeable position in Razaria.
Health
The Razarian population has been historically victim to numerous periods of scarcity of food mainly due to political situations, resulting in large-scaled malnutrition coupled with higher susceptibility to various diseases. The average height in Razaria was still 1.1 cm lower than the average in all of Lannonia in 2006, although there is no significant divide between men and women. However, these have begun to very significantly improve with advances in agricultural efficiency and healthcare. Improvements in sanitation and medicine as well as public health education have eliminated or significantly reduced the threat posed by most infectious diseases and the primary cause of death is currently non-communicable diseases. The mortality rate in 2014 was 8.41 deaths per 1,000 population. Primary public health risks include alcohol poisoning from overdrinking, a prevalent phenomena amongst working-age males in the country.
Reproductive rights see restriction in Razaria with the state mandating families to raise at least 2 children to avoid population decline. In addition to this it is believed the state practices eugenics, with allegations of people with inheritable disabilities and disorders being subject to compulsory sterilization or even forced disappearance being raised by defectors and human rights observer groups.
Razaria has a state-operated universal health care system. Basic diagnoses and treatments for simple conditions are (almost exclusively) conducted at the workplace-level by registered nurses assigned to the unit, while more serious cases are processed and treated at hospitals, almost exclusively owned by Cositene charity organizations. The adequacy of medical supplies and thus quality of healthcare varies by region, though the training of personnel and their supply is not considered an issue. Currently, pharmaceutical production and technology in Razaria is heavily reliant on foreign imports, mainly those from Gostevia and Merema, but it is progressing fast in the field of research.
Education
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There are two main types of formal education providers in Razaria: state schools and religious schools run by Cositene charity, both of which do not charge fees for attendance and tuition, and differ little in curricula and materials, which are unified by the national Joint Syllabus Design Commission. Attending school (receiving basic education) is compulsory for persons aged 7 to 17, divided into 6 years of primary education and 4 years of secondary education. This is immediately followed by an unique form of higher education offering radically different programmes oriented towards either science-vocation or humanities-liberal arts, with subdivisions for more precise directions. The liberal arts programme is offered by only a few higher academic institutions. Other options exist following the 10-year compulsory education such as apprenticeship in production units and military education. Educational material reportedly blends large amounts of state rhetoric, in addition to political indoctrination as well as religious sessions and classes being present themselves.
A nationwide consolidated education system began in the mid-13th century in Imperial Razaria; the oldest universities of the country were built in this period such as the Kvonigrad and Sovanović universities. After the 15th century Cositene charity became the main provider of education and operator of schools rather than the state. Guilds also opened various technical schools in this period. After the end of the Dark Decades, modernized Kovachovid Razaria adopted an education system based on foreign, especially Luziycan, programmes. After 1954 'liberal and foreign influences' were removed and purged from the educational system in a massive revamp and Cositene influences and political propaganda were introduced.
The Razarian government claims a literacy rate of 99.6% as well as complete nationwide coverage of the 10-year basic education programme, though this has come under dispute due to the remoteness of many regions and inaccessibility of educational facilities there. Higher education institutions produce about 500,000 graduates of various fields of specialty every year.
Culture
Razarian culture is a part of the Vitrian cultures and thus bears many similarities in many aspects with the cultures of its ethno-linguistic brethren. In terms of music, art and cuisine Razaria possesses several unique aspects shaped by local historical conditions, but shares similarities to that of its neighbours as well. Razaria's cultural heritage includes that of the Sepcan civilizations and of later Cositene civilization; the country is home to at least 54 major ruins of the Ancient Sepcan Empire era, and 202 Neo-Sepcan era sites are internationally recognized, while many of the earliest as well as grandest Cositene churches are located in Razaria alongside numerous significant holy sites.
Razarian culture, while heavily based on the role of family and a work ethic like other Vitrian cultures, has added focuses on values such as adventurousness, prudence, caution and collectivism.
The Razarian language is a Vitrian Gozaric language, but features some Monic and Mesian loanwords. Razarian is written in Mstic script, an adapted form of Glagolitic scripts used earlier in medieval Razaria as a liturgical script. Mastic has been used as the sole official script since the 16th century.
The Cositene faith maintains a high status in society and culture of Razaria, becoming equivalent to a civil religion in social influence, owing to Razaria being the only nation that has to a large degree embraced the religion. The Synod of Razaria is the administrative organization of Costeny in Razaria.
Art, literature and music
Early medieval Razarian art was almost solely comprised of religious works, displayed in various monasteries, with Tastanic works the most numerous. One example is the gallery at the Grabovica Tastanic Cathedral with 73 individual artworks decorating the church walls. After iconoclasm became an official doctrine of Costeny, the prominence of religious art declined. In the Imperial era, artworks began depicting the monarchy and its achievements as well, while styles became more realistic in contrast to earlier works. In the 13th century, borrowing of foreign influences and techniques created the Kolska style that dominated Razarian art in fields such as painting, architecture and sculpture until the 16th century. Razarian art shifted towards neoclassicism and romanticism in the 18th-19th centuries. Under the Tvrdjavist state, the heroic realist and romantic tendencies of 19th century Razarian classicism were pushed to new heights to form tvrdjavist art which placed an emphasis on depiction of the military, industry, the Razarian people and history.
The literary tradition in Razaria has a long history dating back to Mesian lyric poetry and wandering poetry prior to Vitrian settlement, in turn believed to have been influenced by Sepcan literature. These influences reached early Tastanic liturgical literature as well as general secular works. Epic poetry became popular in the 8th century. New styles further developed during the Imperial period along with the rise in popularity of prose. After a literary decline during the Dark Decades, a revival in the 19th century heralded by writers such as Borivoje Zorić, Sava Urošević and Malina Vasić which focused on the commoners' lives with works mostly in vernacular Razarian ushered in the age of modern Razarian literature. Poetry has seen a revival in the Jastrebovian period primarily to propagate values seen as desirable by the state. Since the 1980s reforms, literary restrictions have been reduced, and literature has become more varied in genre. Nebojša Mirković is a major contemporary Razarian author whose satirical and critical style has earned him international praise and following.
Music in Razaria too has a long history and compared distinctiveness from other Vitrian cultures. Early music revolved around a main purpose of serving as vehicles for poetry, using simple string instruments. Liturgical music began development in the 5th century, and classical music in Razaria continued to retain religious influences. The 16th-century composer Zvonko Rajković is often regarded as the greatest pre-modern Razarian musician with over 100 individual works, many new developments in music theory and profound influences on later Razarian music attributed to him. Romantic and folkish themes permeated into development of 19th century Razarian music, while the accordion began to substitute flutes in the role of the main folk music vehicle. The tvrdjavist era has saw state-promoted revival of folk music with poetry accompaniment, as well as the rise of marches as a vehicle for propaganda and tvrdjavist art, most of which use the ternary form. Main traditional instruments include the flute, the accordion, the lute, the trumpet and the horn.
Cuisine
Sports
Sport and exercise is actively encouraged in Razaria as a means to maintain health. Many if not all communes have sports clubs created for the purpose of leisure and relaxation outside of work. Some sporting events, especially large-scaled games, are interpreted with religious significance as a massive ritual. <...>
Internationally, Razarian sports teams have made only occasional appearances. The Razarian national football team has participated in several friendly matches with other countries and more recently the Spring 2018 Coupe d'Esquarium. Razaria's notable national teams include those of swimming, track and field, tennis and shooting.