Retiva
The Ancient Congregation of Retiva Стародавня конгрегація Ретива | |
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 Flag
 Coat of Arms
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| Anthem: National Anthem of Retiva | |
| Location of Retiva (Green) Location of Retiva (Green) | |
| Capital and largest metropolis | Pogarnova |
| Official languages | |
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| Religion |
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| Demonym(s) | Retivan |
| Government | Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
• Monarch | Castimir VIII |
• Chief Minister | Razvigor Kratochwill |
| Legislature | Ancient Congregation |
| History | |
| Between 738 and 765 | |
| Between 768 and 772 | |
| April 21st, 1947 | |
| Area | |
• Total | 0 km2 (0 sq mi) (999) |
| Population | |
• 2020 census | 24,605,201 |
• Density | 0/km2 (0.0/sq mi) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2020 estimate |
• Total | $630.016 billion (0) |
• Per capita | $25,605 (0) |
| Gini (2020) |  37.05medium (0) |
| HDI (2020) |  0.88331very high (0) |
| Currency | Revi (₴) |
| Date format | dd/mm/yyyy |
| Driving side | left |
| Calling code | +66 |
Retiva, officially known as the Ancient Congregation of Retiva, is an island nation in Montra whose territory comprises the Retivan Archipelago and the Kravingrod Isles. Vali, Vama, and Mor islands are dependent territories of the Retivan Monarchy, by which the Ancient Congregation obliges its defence and military provisions. Strategically located below the continent, Retiva has access to both the Ocean of Abylos and the Ocean of Olmorath. Retiva has a population of 32.6 million, 20% of whom are based in the capital city of Pogarnova. Other major urban areas across Retiva include Kravingrad, Letureg, and Putnow. With a total area of 66,300 km², Retiva is one of the smallest nations measured by landmass but encompasses a large portion of maritime territory across the Abylos and Olmorath Oceans. The only bordering nation is Akromica, of which it shares a maritime demarcation line with Retiva. The flow of the seas heavily impacts the climate of Retiva, with a cold but stable weather in the Retivan Archapelago and a freezing taiga biome in the Kravingrod Isles.
Castimir VIII is the current monarch of the Ancient Congregation of Retiva, having reigned for the last 27 years. The Chief Minister is Razvigor Kratochwill, who rose to power in 1967 as part of the Citizen Union Party. Between the year 738 and 765, the city-state of Pogarnova and then eventually the entirety of Valisora was conquered by barbaric Yundrik tribes. Eventually, they established the Ancient Congregation of Retiva based on traditional laws of governance dating over 1,420 years old since roughly around the year 550. Since its establishment, Retiva has continuously existed for 1,205 years. Knight-King Desimir I eventually expanded Retiva to include the entire archapelago and sailed to the Kravingrod Isles. Desimir I did not survive the journey and died from a stroke, though his entourage had managed to annex the isles into the Ancient Congregation. Since 1954, Retiva had declared virtual neutrality with no preferential or deferential treatment towards any major power blocs.
Until 1947, Retiva was an absolute monarchy presided over by the Voronoff Dynasty. The transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy was triggered by a bloodless revolution due to Kazimierz II's economic and political mismanagement that plunged Retiva into a decade-long depression. The political landscape was drastically reorganised to closer resemble a parliamentary system where the population elects representatives to the legislature, with the role of the monarchy drastically reduced. The Voronoff Dynasty is claimed to have undisclosed stakes in a number of large conglomerates in various industries, of which the government combats through anti-trust laws to promote competition and decrease the powers of large corporations.
Since 1947, the country's largest mining sites in Koramor and Vilimas have become targets for radical insurgents and terrorists from various different groups. Commonly known as the Deep Unrest, or Складні заворушення in Retivan, the government has only acknowledged the insurgency as an ongoing "violent unrest." from 1947 to 1969, 574 belonging to both government and insurgents have died. Civilian casualties ranges from 600-900 over the course of 12 years.
Retiva is the largest and wealthiest economy in Montra and the 37th largest in the world by nominal GDP. The state maintains a tight grip over several key industrial industries, such as the mining of phosphorite, refined petroleum, seafood, and freshwater. A significant portion of the national Gross Domestic Product, a third, is made up of the phosphate mining industries. After the mining industry, the most important industries are consumer electronics and appliances, refined petroleum, automobile, and seafood. Retiva is home to a large offshore banking presence and the largest financial sector in South Montra, with the largest commercial bank being SZRKON. Retiva is a significant exporter of premium beef, with the entirety of Vilimas and Koramor dedicated to raising livestock.
Etymology
The name Retiva is derived from the island of which the Yundrik tribes originated from. The Retivan Isles, or Ретви Илйе, was home to the Yundrik people and remained their largest settlement until the siege of Pogarnova in the early 8th century. Once consolidating their rule in the island chain, it is recorded that the Yundrik people named their new nation Ретви. It was only until the 19th century that the Retivan government adopted Ретива has the official name of the country, largely due to the evolution in the Retivan language.
History
Prehistoric era
Yunkdrik tribes and Unification
Medieval to classical era
Modern era
Geography, climate, and environment
Climate
Biodiversity
Environment
Politics
Retiva is a unitary state and constitutional monarchy in which the power of the Monarch is restricted without any role in national politics. After the establishment of the current constitution, the Monarch has been removed from all aspects of government and governance, without support from the state via tax money nor any recognition. The Monarch as a Head of State is only Head of State in name, as all the executive power is wielded by the Chief Minister of Retiva and his Cabinet instead. The current Monarch is Castimir VIII, who succeeded the Voroneff throne in 1932.
The chief minister is the de facto chair of the Cabinet. The appointment and removal of ministers can only be made with their advice. As the leader of the government the chief minister is therefore ultimately responsible for the failings and performance of their ministers and the government as a whole. The chief minister cannot hold office for a consecutive period of more than eight years. As the most visible member of the government the chief minister represents the country abroad and is the main spokesperson for the government at home. The chief minister must, under the constitution, lead the cabinet in announcing the government's policy statement in front of a joint-session of the Ancient Congregation, within fifteen days of being sworn-in.
The chief minister is also directly responsible for many state offices. These include the National Intelligence Agency, the Bureau of the Budget, the Office of the National Security Council, the Office of the Council of State, the Office of the Civil Service Commission, the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board, the Office of Public Sector Development Commission, and the Internal Security Operations Command. Legislatively all money bills introduced in the Ancient Congregation must require the chief minister's approval.
The chief minister can be removed by a vote of no confidence. This process can be evoked, firstly with the vote of only one-fifth of the members of the Ancient Congregation for a debate on the matter. Then after the debate a vote is taken and with a simple majority the chief minister can be removed. This process cannot be repeated within one parliamentary session.
The government of Retiva is separated into three branches:
- The legislative branch comprising the 180-member Ancient Congregation. The Ancient Congregation maintains one legislative Chamber, where its members are elected to a four-year term. Its latest election was in 1966, with the incumbent coalition led by the Citizen Union Party.
- The executive branch comprising the chief minister and members of government chambers. The chief minister is elected in a direct election separate from the Ancient Congregation. Members of the cabinet must be proposed to the Ancient Congregation and approved by members of the legislative. The chief minister is the head of government accordingly.
- The judicial branch comprising the Ancient Court of Justice, the Supreme Court of Law, and the State Court. The Ancient Court of Justice handles cases regarding violations of the national constitution and ancient laws passed by the Ancient Congregation, the Supreme Court of Law handles civil and criminal cases and forms the largest judicial body in the government, and the State Court handles all legal cases between the government and/or other state organs.
Foreign relations
All foreign affairs and foreign relations are handled by the Chamber of Foreign Affairs. Retiva is a participant in international and regional organisations. It is a full member of the United Nations and a founding member of the Blue Sun Organisation. The country actively cooperates and has been engaging with its neighbours on continental Montra on developing closer political and economic relations: Akromica, Darmion, Alvaron, Melchoris, and Esilidon.
Chief Minister Razvigor announced that Retiva would forsake foreign aid, and work with donor countries to assist in the development of neighbours globally. In 1970, the Razvigor invited the Esthybian Union to found the Partnership for Quality Investment, an initiative to position Retiva as a regional leader with interest in various development projects in poorer neighbouring countries like Akromica.
Retiva maintains strong economic and military relationship with the Esthybian Union. Though the establishment of diplomatic relations dated back to the 1920s, trade relations predates this by centuries. In 1970, Retiva and the Esthybian Union signed a free trade and mutual defence agreement that further deepened existing relations.
Retiva has diplomatic relations with all UN member nations but has completely severed ties with the Telvarian Empire since the Telvarian Conquest of Montra and the attempted invasion of Retiva in the 1920s. The country has consistently maintained a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, co-operation, and development, as well openness and diversification/multilateralisation with international relations.
Since 1959, the core objective of the Chamber of Foreign Affairs is to deepen existing diplomatic relations with all of its key partners, as well as establishing new free trade agreements to bolster its trade presence across the globe. Officially, Retiva maintains a stance of non-alignment and completely neutrality, though this has been shaken with its recent defence agreement with the Esthybian Union.
Military
The Retivan Armed Forces form the military body of the Ancient Congregation of Retiva. It comprises the Retivan Ground Forces, the Retivan Air Force, and the Retivan Naval Forces. As of 1970, there is over three hundred active duty personnel across all branches of the armed forces with six hundred thousand reservists. The Retivan Armed Forces transitioned from a conscript military to a fully professional armed forces in the 1940s, now comprised completely of full-time career military men.
The armed forces are managed by the Chamber of Defence, headed by the Minister of Defence (a member of the cabinet of Retiva) and commanded by the Retivan Armed Forces Headquarters, which in turn is headed by the Chief of Defence Forces. Retivan annual defense budget had grown to $1.2 billion dollars in 1970, accounting for approximately 5.9% of the Retivan GDP.
The Retivan Ground Forces have 600 tanks in operation which form the backbone of the Retivan army's mechanized armor and infantry forces, in addition to 1,400 APCS/AFVs. The Retivan Naval Forces maintain a strong line of modern surface combat ships with 8 missile cruisers, 10 destroyers, 15 frigates, and 4 submarines. Priority is given chiefly to the navy and the air force in both allocated budget and technology due to the strategic importance of airspace and maritime defence. In addition to a defensive formation formed by the air force and naval force, the Retivan Air Force maintains a series of anti-air and anti-ship missile batteries across all core islands across the Retivan Archipelago and the Kravingrad Isles.
The Retivan Air Force operates 225 aircraft, which includes more advanced multirole and air superiority fighters supported by well-maintained fleets of older fighters that still effectively serve the air force alongside the more modern aircraft. In an attempt to gain strength in terms of not just numbers but also modernity, Retivan AFHQ is seeking to procure spy planes for centralized intelligence gathering and analysis on a modern battlefield, which will enhance the fighters' and other support aircraft's ability to perform their missions with awareness and precision.
Retiva maintains a mutual defence agreement with the Esthybian Union, a key hedge against future invasions based on previous experience with the failed invasion by Telvoria. The chamber of defence has floated the idea of military cooperation on not only joint training but technological development as well.
Economy
| Economic indicators | ||
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| Nominal GDP | ₴639.8 billion | |
| GDP growth | 7% | |
| Inflation • Headline • Core |
0.7% 0.6% |
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| Employment-to-population ratio | 71.0% | |
| Unemployment | 3.2% | |
| Total public debt | ₴273.6 billion | |
| Poverty | 30.1% | |
| Net household worth | ₴963.1 billion | |
Retiva is a rapidly industrialising nation with the largest and wealthiest economy in Montra. Historically, the economy of Retiva has been rooted in agriculture with its phosphate-rich soils and tall steppe grass suitable for livestock. The Retivan archipelago's steppe grasslands have allowed Retivan farmers to establish large pastures for raising livestock such as goats and cows for centuries. Since the 1930s, Retiva had undergone rapid industrialisation fueled by the mining of phosphorite on Vali and Mora.
A booming electronics industry had been firmly established in Valisora with encouragement from the government through various incentives for the private sector. Shipbuilding has become another booming component of the Retivan economy, largely based in Kravingrod where its proximity and strategic location relative to Esthybia has enabled it to become a bunkering port and shipping hub for nations crossing to and from the Ocean of Abylos. Kravingrod is also a strategic logistics hub for cargo ships transporting goods to and from Esthybia, Retiva's largest export destination.
In 1965, the Retivan automobile industry produced 6,500 cars, a 50% increase from when it had been established in 1958. Though the urban population is growing day by day, the high-cost barrier of contemporary Retivan automobiles prevents widespread usage amongst the population. Pogarnova has a strong public transportation network comprising numerous bus routes and trams. An extensive railway network is currently under construction across Valisora to connect urban settlements with more rural parts of the island, as well as removing logistics transportation from trucks and cars.
The agricultural sector accounts for 25% of Retiva's GDP, while the industry sector has grown to account for 65%. The relatively miniscule service sector accounts for only 10% of the economy. Self-employment by Retivans in the agricultural sector has kept unemployment levels low at 3.6% in 1970.
With phosphorite mining at an all-time high, the Retivan government declared in 1965 to diversify the economy away from phosphorite with a heavy emphasis on fishery, manufacturing and electronics, shipbuilding, and high-quality agriculture. Since 1965, electronics production has increased by 25%, fishing output increased by 15%, and the export of wheat increased by 30%. Retiva's main exports are phosphates, refined petroleum, automobiles, seafood, agricultural produce, and electronics. Retiva's main imports are machinery and industrial equipment, crude petroleum and natural gas, lumber, and raw materials.
Agriculture and fishery
The Retivan agricultural sector accounts for a significant portion of the national GDP, standing at 25% while providing employment for over 60% of the population. Since 1963, Retivan farms have begun investing heavily in industrialising and mechanising with support from the government to improve overall productivity and alleviate labour-related issues due to the outflow of younger people into urban settlements. 95% of Retivan farms are small and family-operated.
MHG is the largest agribusiness corporation in Retiva, employing over 5,000 people and accounts for up to 30% of all crop output in the nation. Retiva produces grains, fruits (oranges, apples, olives, grapes, lemons, pears, apricots, hazelnuts, peaches, cherries, plums, strawberries, and kiwifruits), and vegetables.
Retiva is a significant producer of wine, with the most famous vineyards located in the Retivan Isles. Retiva is also Montra's largest exporter of premium high-quality beef which is bred throughout Retiva's vast pastures. Being an island nation, fishing has long been a key part of the economy with one of the largest fishing industries in the world and the largest fishing fleet in Montra. The Retivan Isles, Koramor, and Vilimas are natural hubs for the Retivan fishing industry and is home to Retiva's immense fishing fleet that scours the Oceans of Olmorath and Abylos. The most prized and valuable catch for Retivan fishermen is the Olmorath Tuna, valued at $600 per kilogram.
Mining
Mining has contributed to Retiva's high level of economic growth, from the phosphate rush in the 1940s to the present day. The opportunities for large profits in pastoralism and mining attracted considerable amounts of foreign capital, while expansion was supported by enormous government outlays for transport, communication, and urban infrastructures, which depended heavily on government finance. As the economy expanded, large-scale immigration satisfied the growing demand for workers.
Retiva's mining operations secured continued economic growth and the home isles have benefited strongly from mining phosphates which fueled the rise of suburbanisation and consumerism in Pogarnova, the capital and most populous city of Retiva, as well as other regional centres. Mining of phosphates continues to represent a significant portion of the Retivan GDP and serves as an important source of revenue for the government.
Industry
Retiva has a large industrial and growing industrial capacity and is home to some of the largest and most technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, machine tools, steel, and nonferrous metals, ships, chemical substances, textiles, and processed foods in Montra. Retiva's industrial sector makes up approximately 65% of its GDP. The country's manufacturing output is the highest in Montra, though comparatively low relative to the rest of the world.
Retivan business conglomerates began building their first automobiles in early 1965. The companies went about this by either designing their own trucks, or partnering with a foreign brand to produce and sell their cars in Retiva under license. The demand for domestic trucks was greatly increased by the Retivan military buildup since the 1940s, causing many Retivan manufacturers to break out of their shells and design their own vehicles.
Retiva has a fast-growing electronics manufacturing industry, producing everything from consumer appliances to computers, radios, and television sets. It is expected that electronics will represent the largest manufacturing sector within the next 10 years as cheap exports and strong Retivan industrial capacity competes with other nations around the world. Shipbuilding comprises the largest of economic growth and income for eastern Kravingrod Isles, where its strategic location leading into the Sea of Abylos had turned it into a hub for ship refueling and repairs.
Energy
Retiva is the leading oil trading hub in Montra, with the government incentivising significant investment in turning the country into a global oil refining and exporting centres. With little to no petroleum reserves of its own, Retiva imports 100% of its crude petroleum from Montra (90%) and the rest of the world.
The country re-exports a significant volume of refined petroleum (Liquid Petroleum Gas, petrol, kerosene, jet fuel, diesel oil, and fuel oils) as part of a government-led initiative to produce value-added "secondary" commodities. Re-exporting energy has become a core part of the Retivan trade policy to take advantage of Retiva's lack of oil reserves and Kravingrod's strategic location between Montra and Esthybia.
As of 1970, 65% of energy in Retiva was produced from petroleum, 15% from coal, and 20% from natural gas. Retiva lacks significant domestic reserves and so has a heavy dependence on imported energy. Retiva has therefore aimed to diversify its sources and maintain high levels of energy efficiency.
Education
Primary schools, secondary schools and universities were introduced in 1864 as the country began to open up to new ideas from abroad alongside the threat of colonisation by the nations of Nuvia. Since 1927, compulsory education comprises elementary and junior high school, which together last for nine years (from age 6 to age 15). Almost all children continue their education at a three-year senior high school. Retiva's education system played a central part in the country's recent economic growth, though lack of widespread exposure to modern technology and relative underfunding remains a problem. National literacy rate currently stands at 89%.
The education system is highly standardised across the country, with the largest schools being based in Pogarnova and Letureg. Education at public schools from primary to university level is provided to students for free with minor exceptions, as free education is guaranteed in the Retivan constitution with recent emphasis on science and technology in education, medical, mathematical, and scientific research. The Retivan government has also launched an initiative to establish and support various vocational schools in 1970 for educating and training future engineers for the ever-evolving industrial economy. Currently, Retiva has a shortage of skilled engineers in both manufacturing and the petroleum industry.
In 1970, Retiva's public spending on education amounted to 3.5% of its GDP which is higher than most developing countries but much lower than developed nations. In addition to public schools, private education is also provided as an alternative option for wealthier families and students. Private schooling often relies on foreign curriculums to show prestige and a tool to market to the wealthiest segment of the population. The Retivan education system is praised for its comparatively high test results and its major role in promoting Retiva's ongoing economic development while creating a relatively educated workforce. Approximately 37% of Retivans hold a tertiary education, a 50% increase from 1910 as highly skilled workers become more important to the economy's growth.
Demographics
Retiva has a population of 32.2 million, approximately 20% of which reside in the capital of Pogarnova. Valisora is the nation's most populous island with 70% of Retiva's population. In 1970, over 40% of the total Retivan population lived in cities. The capital city Pogarnova has a population of 9.7 million (1970).
Retivan society is linguistically, ethnically, and culturally homogeneous.