((btw - don't miss feedback from earlier today at the bottom of the last page))
Now that I've become a Prussian Constitutionalist government, I have to actually listen to people and what they believe. I also get to start manipulating what they believe, and shaping Siam into a country that believes what I most want them to believe. Some will listen to me, and others won't.... Just like I will listen to some, and not to others!
I'm showing some examples of Election Events that come up during the campaign. I've been splitting the difference on some -- like I haven't got any idea yet whether I'm going to prefer Free Trade or Protectionism, long-term, and so I generally choose the answer that causes the LEAST change to the status quo (usually only a 5% change, instead of 15-25%).
On Religious issues, I will always move toward Pluralism, if I can. On Residency issues (who gets to be Accepted Culture) I will always move toward Full Citizenship. I want my government to be inclusive, especially since (as you'll see in another screenshot in just a moment) most of my country's population is NOT Siamese!
In the above example, I choose the middle course -- the choice that increases Pluralism as much as I can WITHOUT causing Militancy among those who disagree. I solved SOME of my Militancy issues in the last update, but so long as I have that +10% Militancy effect from Westernization, I'm going to be very sensitive about increasing MIL among any of my POPs. Later I'll grow bolder and be willing to tick some people off, because I know I can handle it.
The Westernization tag is the main thing helping me research and increasing tension, but I have other events that are continuously popping up, like the one below. It is sort of the same thing, just localized and less far-reaching. I accept as many of these as I can, too. More MIL, but better results for Research.
My election finally happens, and it appears that my Aristocrats are all pretty Liberal! I hadn't checked that. Actually, it's not so much that they're ALL Liberal -- it's that they are Liberal in a large enough proportion that, under the election laws I currently have set (First Past the Post) they are so dominantly Liberal that no other viewpoint is likely to get... well, to get past the post!
The election results, in January, have a significant but not earthshaking impact upon my Upper House makeup (the Lower House, under current settings, appoints the Upper House).
This also means that -- suddenly! -- I can enact yet more Reforms, if I so desire... I don't. Not yet.
I complete my research of Military Staff Systems, which improves Organization and unlocks Cavalry, which I immediately start building, where I can. My next choice for research is the Publishing Industry -- another of those prerequisites for Westernization and becoming Civilized. Target, 1863 (for THAT requirement -- still have others to meet).
Okay... Sorry, but this is a rather busy, intricate screenshot, with lots borrowed and edited in from other screenshots...
You'll notice that as I've been building more ships and cavalry, my Military Score has gone up from 15 a year ago to 19 now. I'm building more Forts, and I'm increasing the number of Man o'War in my fleet (this is what "moves" the Military Score -- not frigates, so much).
Relationwise, The UK and Belgium (a longtime enemy of the Dutch) have become Dutch allies. This actually makes it IMPOSSIBLE for me to attack the Netherlands, as I have been brought into the UK's Sphere of Influence and I cannot take a diplomatic action that would bring me into conflict with my Sphere leader (i.e. any allies of the UK). I don't remember for 100% sure if this has already happened, or if it's about to happen (my being brought into the UK Sphere), but this is the net result of that happening.
And... Speaking of Spheres of Interest... I notice that the UK is also heavily influencing Johore, such that Johore might soon also be within their Sphere of Influence. This means I need to act quickly! I begin moving troops and ships into position...
Before we go there, here's another Event that impacts me pretty substantially. One choice, if I recall correctly, increases Militancy, the other reduces it. Even though it reduces my Prestige by 2 points (from 30 to 28), I choose the action that reduces Militancy, because that's important to me right now. You can see the result in average national militancy -- from 1.91 to 1.53. Not bad! And Military Score up to 21 already!
Okay, there's the answer about the UK and their SoI -- I'm not there yet, but they've just taken an action (increasing my Opinion to Cordial -- NOT my choice, but their GP Influence doing this) which brings me closer to their Sphere.
Johore is like a lamb for the slaughter -- they don't have much in the way of defenses, other than Forts, which they stupidly built without having troops to man them!
They'll come in handy for me, instead.
Their army is competent at fighting, but they're certainly inferior to me. My recently increased Organization helps, and my Regular Infantry vs. their Irregulars, etc. The battle is lopsided.
By summer of 1863, we've conquered Johore successfully, and integrated them into our country. We also achieve Publishing Industry.
Remember that Alliance the Belgians signed with the Dutch? Apparently neither do the Dutch.
With Johore now contributing to our Economy, you'll notice the 13 pounds of cash their Gold Mines are bringing in for us now. That's pretty much our whole surplus, so I'm glad to have it. I need to reduce taxes again, because my POPs are having trouble getting their Needs met (witness the yellow pie charts -- barely getting Life Needs).
My ranking, compared with other countries, is doing quite well. My industry is zero, because I am uncivilized. But my other rankings put me in competition with industrialized European powers already, which means once I DO civilize, and once I DO have Industry, I'll start ranking higher still!