Episode 107: The Politics Of Crovania
The following is excerpted from the 1958 Political Science Classic - "The Politics of Empire: The Struggles and Successes of the Crovan Empire"
The Growth of Political Parties from the 18th Century until the Time of Troubles
By the end of the 17th Century, political parties had really begun to gel in Crovania, in part because of the Haraldian Constitution which kept politicians in Parliament from being murdered quite so often and, in part, because the Portuguese Pal-Crovans had made themselves almost universally loathed, even by the rest of the family. While the parties continued to have little impact, the Crovan Monarchs themselves seemed to choose membership at random though they clearly followed the tenants of the Crovania For The Crovans Party, they were preparing for the new era of Imperial relations.
During the Boltian Captivity of 1749-1797 and especially following the Revolution of 1797, things changed dramatically. The Boltian Captivity saw a sitting, elected Parliament advising the Emperor on all things and even choosing lesser ministers themselves. This was also when the Great Compromise established the Viking House and the Common House of Parliament.(1)
Following the Revolution of 1797, the Parliament elected the government in its entirety and controlled the full executive branch. It was, of course, the Vikings First’s Party’s time to shine and they controlled the government until they made the fatal mistake of extending the franchise to the extremely wealthy in 1804.
The Bloated Plutocrat Party won the election of 1805 in alliance with the Crovania for the Crovans Party. With the Glorious Restoration of 1808, the Imperial Family’s alliance with the Bloated Plutocrats became absolute.
Thanks to the right of the ruling party and the Emperor to change electoral districts of the empire at will, the Bloated Plutocrats effortlessly maintained their stranglehold on Crovan elections until the Time of Troubles.
Evidence of this "Gerry Mander-ing,"(2) becomes clear when one considers that, although a "Liberal" Party and inspite of the fact that they often dominated the Viking House as well as the Common House, not a single expansion of the franchise or revision of the political rights occurred during their rule.
The Major Crovan Political Parties
Each entry contains the name of the party, the year it was founded, what they considered themselves to be and what their modern designation would be on a handy chart followed by a description of their tenants. The parties are listed, according to their professed ideology, from farthest Right to farthest Left.
Let’s Be More Oppressive Party (1905)
“Fascist”
A splinter of the Let’s Not Be So Oppressive Party, the Let’s Be More Oppressive Party felt that government should have a great deal of power over the economy and individual behavior. They frequently doubted whether economic liberty and individual freedom were practical options in today's world. Oppressors, as they called themselves, tended to distrust the free market, support high taxes and centralized planning of the economy, oppose diverse lifestyles, and question the importance of civil liberties. They promoted a powerful military as well.
Crovania For The Crovans Party (1600s)
“Reactionary”
Popular with the Crovan Extended Family and their dozens of fans, CFTCs wanted government to have a great deal of power over the economy and individual behavior. They frequently doubted whether economic liberty and individual freedom were practical options in today's world. CFTCs tended to distrust the free market, supported high taxes and centralized planning of the economy, opposed diverse lifestyles, and questioned the importance of civil liberties. Their primary focus was the aggrandizement of the Crovan Clan. Curiously, they were also massive proponents of a Free Press.
The Viking First Party (1710)
“Conservative”
Viking Firsters preferred a "middle ground" regarding government control of the economy and personal behavior. Depending on the issue, they sometimes favored government intervention and sometimes support individual freedom of choice. Of course, with their advocacy for strict interpretations of citizenship and residency, Viking Firsters tended to support individual freedom of choice when it came to ‘descendants of Vikings’ and adherents to the Church of Olaf and supported more government intervention when it came to “Non-Vikings.” Viking Firsters prided themselves on promoting what they would describe as "practical" solutions to problems.
What Would Olaf Do? Party (1500s)
“Conservative”
Olafites tended to favor economic freedom, mostly because economics did not interest them, but they frequently supported laws to restrict personal behavior that violated "traditional Olafian values." They opposed the growth of the Audunite Heresy and other Lesser Heresies, while endorsing government action to defend morality and the traditional family structure. Olafites usually supported a strong military, oppose bureaucracy and high taxes, favor a free-market economy, and endorsed strong law enforcement. Their motto was “Do as He said, not as He did.”
The Bloated Plutocrat Party (1720)
“Liberal”
Bloated Plutocrats, tended to favor economic freedom, but frequently supported laws to restrict personal behavior that violated "traditional values," meaning behavior outside the traditional Olafian or Audunite sects of Christianity. They opposed excessive government control of business, while endorsing government action to defend morality and the traditional family structure. Bloated Plutocrats supported a strong military, opposed bureaucracy and high taxes, favored a free-market economy, and endorsed strong law enforcement.
The Empire Party (1600s)
“Liberal”
Imperialists prefer a "middle ground" regarding government control of the economy and personal behavior. Depending on the issue, they sometimes favor government intervention, as in the economy, and sometimes support individual freedom of choice, such as with religious choice. The Imperialists prided themselves on keeping an open mind, although they favored clear distinctions between the Citizens of Crovania and the Subjects of the Empire.
The Big-Ass Navy Party (1650)
“Liberal”
Proponents of the Big-Ass Navy Party wanted government to have a great deal of power over the economy and individual behavior. They frequently doubted whether economic liberty and individual freedom were practical options in today's world. BANners tended to distrust the free market, supported high taxes, especially to support a large navy, and centralized planning of the economy. They felt that colonial ports and control of the seas would lead to an organized and powerful economy. They also felt that morally upstanding individuals would make better sailors.
Let’s Not Be So Oppressive Party (1830)
“Liberal”
Despite their name, a trick to woo gullible voters, the party tended to be "pro-oppression" in their platform, regarding government control of the economy and personal behavior. Depending on the issue, they favored government intervention in the economy and trade. The Let’s Not Be So Oppressive Party prided themselves on keeping an open mind when it came to religious choice, though they were against extending Citizenship Rights to non-‘Core’ ethnic groups, tended to oppose "political extremes," and emphasized what they describe as "practical" solutions to problems, such as maintaining the largest army in the world to deter would be rebels or aggressors.
Government is Confusing Party (1750)
“Anarcho-Liberal”
Government Is Confusing Party Members (GICs) tended to favor economic freedom, but frequently supported laws to restrict personal behavior that violated "traditional Olafian values." They opposed excessive government control of business, while endorsing government action to defend morality and the traditional family structure. GICs rabidly supported a strong military, opposed bureaucracy and high taxes, favored a free-market economy, and endorsed strong law enforcement. Not vary “Anarchy-ish,” but then, they did find Government very confusing.
The We Are All Crovans Party (1848)
“Socialist”
The We Are All Crovans Party (WAACs) preferred a "middle ground" regarding government control of the economy and personal behavior. Depending on the issue, they sometimes favored government intervention, such as protectionist trade policies, and sometimes supported individual freedom of choice such as their promotion of a separation between Church and State and individual freedom of religious choice. WAACs tended to pride themselves on keeping an open mind, tended to support a state guided and managed capitalist economy and emphasized what they describe as "practical" solutions to problems.
The Let’s Kill The Rich People! Party (1848)
“Communist”
The Let’s Kill The Rich People Party (Commies) usually embraced freedom of choice in personal matters, but tended to support significant government control of the economy and society. They generally supported a government-funded "safety net" to help the disadvantaged, and advocated strict regulation of business. Commies tended to favor diverse citizenship rights, promoted atheism and the end of state sponsored religions, supported government action to promote equality between classes, and advocated killing their social betters. Interestingly, Commies tended to frown upon a free and unfettered press.
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1 - The Parliament of Crovania during this period is split into two "Houses." The "House of Vikings" numbers 100, with 25 of these being members of the Crovan Family (usually appointed by the Emperor), 25 members chosen from from among the Great Aristocrats, 25 members chosen from among the Great Plutocrats and 25 Poets or other artists (5 each nominated by the Caitilin University of Art and Architecture, the Full-Dan College of Poetic Arts, the Ossor Crovan Theological and Poetic Seminary and, for some obscure reason, the East Fredrickstad Valley Community College). The non-Crovan appointments are all approved by the Emperor. The "House of Commoners" numbers 500 with any filthy urchin off the street eligable. The districts are designed by the ruling party and the districts vary in population from 12 to 8,000,000.
2 - "Gerry Mander-ing" refers to the reshaping of Commoner Districts to suit the ruling party rather than to create real representative districts. Representative Gerry Mander of District #212 (Aleutian Islands, Taiwan and Cape Town) complained too much about the practice. After his time spent on the rack he did not complain as much and neither did anyone else.