The following was a report recently published for general consumption by the Dovakhanese Academy of Social Sciences, Policy Research Division, a subsidiary of the Department of Culture. It is entitled The Present State of the East Pacific and Dovakhans Role in It and was disseminated by the Dovakhanese New Star newspaper in a series on Dovakhans recent political shift.
— Begin quote from ____
Introduction
The Dovakhanese nation and its people are at a crossroads. Now more than ever, Dovakhan is more connected with the wider world and cannot afford to ignore the larger global trends that affect it. This report will seek to correct misconceptions in present Dovakhanese foreign policy, explain current global blocs, and chart a course for a sustainable Dovakhanese policy.
Misconceptions
At present, Dovakhans foreign policy operates using antiquated terminology. Following the Third Continental War, the world was largely divided among powerful blocs of capitalist-mixed/democratic and socialist/authoritarian nations. Dovakhan, fundamentally a democratic nation, was invaded by the latter group for trying to leave that socialist/authoritarian bloc to join the society of democratic nations.
In the wake of the resulting war, Dovakhan decided it wanted to join neither bloc and, while it would adhere to principles of peace and dialogue among democratic nations, it preferred to join a coalition of non-aligned nations. This bloc consisted, as it still does today, of the nations of Dovakhan and Dannsitaan.
The world has fundamentally changed since then. Now, four main blocs of power dominate the political dialogue in the region. They herein termed the Concert of Tranquility, the Axis of Instability, the High Tech Empires, and the Silent Actors.
The Main Blocs
The Concert of Tranquility
Dovakhan, Dannistaan, FPS, East Malaysia, Coocoostan, Kelssek, and Xiopothos, and Infinite Loop.
These nations are generally characterized by high internal stability and respect for both each other and regional institutions, which most of these nations helped create. Despite sometimes-pronounced ideological differences and underlying disagreements, these nations are not prone to overt violent conflict with one another and will regularly meet together (hence Concert) in Rilanon to solve any disagreements by equitable arrangement.
The Concert of Tranquility in its present form is a direct result of the Third Continental War. When Dovakhan was invaded by the Marxist-Leninist nation of Krechzianko and its allies for trying to break ties with the New Socialist Union, FPS, Infinite Loop, East Malaysia, and Xiopothos helped liberate the country. At the wars conclusion, a peace treaty was forged with the additional help of the other nations mentioned above, most of whom were neutral.
The Concert nations have been successful is diffusing several conflicts, including the Nekomimi virus and the Coocoostaan leadership crisis. Theyre also the forces behind the Christie Island regional institutions, the International Sealab, Shiro Academy, etc. However, the Concert is not as strong as it should be.
The weakness of the Concert of Tranquility is two-fold. First, there is a geographic discontinuity between the Dovakhan-Dannistaan-FPS-East Malaysia-Xiopothos group and the Kelssek-Coocoostan-Inifinite Loop, which are separated by a bloc of externally unstable nations (see below). Second, several ongoing conflicts have marred the Concert clean record.
This refers specificly to the Xiopothos and Dannistrian-Bai Lungese Questions. Xiopothos is occupied by a non-Concert power, Kandarin. Meanwhile, the Dannistaan-Bai Lung war ended in a victory for Dannistaan and, with the support of Concert nations Dovakhan, Coocoostaan, and FPS, theyve largely rebuilt Bai Lung. However, the fallout from the Bai Lung crisis has had its effects in anti-Bai Lungese regions of Dannistaan. The region in question, East Dannistaan, has become instable and has in turn, partially due to Dovakhanese involvement in ED, caused rebellion in the former Dovakhanese colony of Tokana, which has ancestral roots with Dannistaan.
The Axis of Instability
That said, these troubles pale in comparison to the debacle experienced between Sevropia, Dveria, Drakkengard, Shivat, Lazlowia/Algasia, Elephania, Vekaiyu, Listonia, Allegheny, Mahonoy, and Warre/Elafos. (NB: Heavily-aligned nations and imperial/tributary relationships are denote by a “/”)
This Axis of Instability is characterized by two opposing factions, those who generally support the vulpine nations of Vekaiyu and Listonia (Allegheny and Mahonoy), and those that, for different reasons, decidedly do not (Warre, Sevropia, Dveria, Drakkengard, Shivat, Elephania, and Lazlowia/Algasia, Gulliver). The two conflicting factions are unstable, tangled alliances of convenience that have no sense of mutual respect or adherence to established regional institutions. Because of the nature of the Axis of Istability, alliances are often confused and subject to change, as epitomized by the alliance of Warre and Elephania, a breakaway from Listonia.
However, among the Axis nations, Warre and Mahanoy are the most externally stable, because they have looser ties with Vekaiyu/Listonia and because Warre is a key mediator in the region along with Kelssek. Also, please note that at the time of writing Warre is occupying Dveria and Sevropia has annexed substantial Dverian territory.
Another critical point is that the ethnically Dannistrian Nahrin Union and the nation of Bai Lung are becoming increasingly involved in the conflict. The Nahrin Union has outstanding territorial disputes with Dannistaan, which could pull that nation into the conflict. The Free Republic of Bai Lung under the presidency of Richard Im is even talking of escalating the conflict to that of a shooting war. This is significant due both to Dovakhan’s proximity to and interests in that nation, particularly in Dovakhanese-administered South Bai Lung.
The High-Tech Empires
Between the two axes, there’s a common fear of the imperialistic High Tech nations of Packilvania and AquinasNet. However, the Concert of Tranquility has the advantage of having East Malaysia, Infinite Loop and FPS, which have somewhat comparable technology.
The Silent Actors
Finally, there are the cases of Kandarin and Tingst. These nations, for different reasons, stay out of the ideological clashes and focus on turning the tide of the conflict in their monetary or strategic favor.
The Outliers
All other nations are generally uninvolved or only have minor ties to one or more of the groups. Some, like Antracia, are absorbed in internal instability. Others, like Elafos, are almost completely defined by their alignment with one power, in this case Warre.
Conclusions
Given the recent Dannistrian debacle, the foundations of non-alignment have been fundamentally shaken. Meanwhile, the developing Listonian conflict and ongoing fear of Pax intervention loom as threats on the horizon. In the wake of this, Dovakhanese policy must change.
Specifically, Dovakhan must realize its wider kinship to the nations described as the Concert of Tranquility. The banding together of these nations is the best chance to solve the Listonian question, galvanize against the High Tech threat, and generally provide for a more peaceful and democratic future in the East Pacific.
In the short term, this means that Dovakhan must reach out beyond its sole non-aligned partner to the larger community of democratic, externally stable nations. This might even take the form of a grand regional alliance similar to the East Pacific Treaty Organization of yore.
However, the authors of this report have two words of caution. First of all, the Dannistrians must not be abandoned, as some factions now gaining intellectual currency in the Dovakhanese political discourse would suggest. The proximity of both Bai Lung and Dannistaan, their collective military power, and the positive implications of racial reconciliation between the two demands continued Dovakhanese investment.
Second of all, Dovakhan must not lose its identity. It is tempting, in the pursuit of peace and reconciliation, to swing open the doors of free trade and cultural exchange. However, this must be tempered by the continuity of beloved Dovakhanese institutions and ideals. In short, Dovakhan must continue to know itself. Otherwise, what is the point of reaching out at all?
- Jânâ Sârdöv, Mârtîn Dâvîd, and Gêôrj Lâsvât
— End quote