Oan Foreign Policy and the Need for Change
Published on 13 October 2017
by Professor ArohÄtua Rotoata
For Department of Politics and Foreign Studies, University of La Rochelle
From La Rochelle
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The Oan foreign policy is the norms and aims that guide how we interact with other nations. That policy is shaped by a combination of laws, government and broader society. Our foreign policy, just as other policies in the government broadly attempt to achive, must secure the safety and prosperity of our nation.
The Oan Isles is a small country, spanning just over 21,750 square kilometres. Although our nation lacks natural resources and space, our people have been able to build the fourth largest economy in Aurora. Our people have achieved a great deal with the little that they had. Our people have not leaned on large deposits of oil or gold, or even good fortune, but on tenacity, expertise and a belief in the bonds that unite us, the responsibility we have to one another and the potential that exists in every person.
We must also be aware that our own intelligence, talent, discipline or stubbornness can only take us so far. We are a small country. We need to import large quantities of food, water, fuel and electricity to not only maintain our high standards of living, but our mere survival. We need to get these resources from somewhere else.
Our security and prosperity is reliant on the safety and prosperity of other nations. A war in Konoa (Heaven forbid) would cause blackouts to roll over the entire country in an instant. Instability in financial centres such as Sani Bursil, Tarov and Aura, would leave our banks limping and fragile. Our point of reference, for the decisions we make and the policies we frame must begin with a recognition of both our vulnerabilities and strength and come to one surmisation: we depend on others.
We must combine both our defence and economic muscle to make that happen. The Oan Isles has, admittedly been a colonial power, expanding its territory across the south Pacific and even touching Gondwana. The capabilities of our armed forces are limited in both scope and efficacy.
Our attempted invasions of Xagrurg, Kostoria Obertonia and the Yor Isles ended in failure. Our military, while worthy of our respect and our gratitude, was unable to take those countries. We overreached and extended our might into unknown lands, for vague and emotionally driven reasons, a lack of clarity on what we aimed to achieve and an overestimation of our own power and influence.
The world has criticised the Oan Isles for its exceptionalist, neo-colonialist and imperialist agenda. Although these do not frame our policies or transactions, they have the perception of being that way because of how we exert ourselves. Oan companies have monopolies or dominance over the telecommunications network in Atiland and Nacata, our banks have attempted to essentially centralise financial services in their own hands and our role in international organisations such as the Auroran Union and the Polynesian Union has been perceived as finding mere rubber stamps to decisions already made in La Rochelle.
While those perceptions are not entirely true, they are certainly not entirely false. We HAVE made decisions or engaged in practices that have seemed strategically miscalculated or ego-driven that other countries will continue to grill us for. Axdel nearly did not participate in the Auroran Union because they did not trust our intentions. We cannot maintain good relations or forge strong alliances if our allies do not trust us.
We must build a united and clear policy framework, communicate it effectively and apply it consistently. The money we make in other nations cannot merely fatten the wallets of fat cats in La Rochelle. We have to channel our profits into genuine benefits for the people who live there. Our foreign aid should no longer come with the condition of economic conditions that will make our businesses even richer.
The free market system has proven its merits. The Oan version - tempered by state regulation, taxes and social welfare - has proven that it successfully generate and redistribute wealth. It is a commendable system that we should encourage other nations to adopt. The watchword is âencourageâ not âforceâ. It should not be the economic force of Oan multinational corporations that pushes this idea through, it should be the merits of this ideal for society that has a right to approve or reject and will be forced to deal with it.
Likewise, the Oan brand of democracy cannot be merely used as a vehicle to open space for Oan advertisers and the Oan entertainment industry. Free speech and expression should come with the understanding that they are freely and universally conferred rights, not channels for the consumption of Oan media content.
Liberalisation of trade networks should not ONLY be to open up markets that will simply consume what we are making. It should mean that other countries benefit as much from globalisation as we have. We cannot preach environmental conservation in Oan waters, but fail to commit ourselves to cutting CO² emissions in our operations overseas. Our dealings should be fair, and be driven by the fundamental values that have built our country: âeveryone deserves a chance, everyone deserves a life and everyone deserves to be safeâ.
Axdel has proven the weaknesses of our foreign policy. On one hand it is a major trade partner, military and political ally. Axdel even allowed the Oan Isles to use Indigo Island as a base during the Auroran-Pacific War. On the other hand they look our accountants and banks with scepticism and look at our goals in the Auroran Union with suspicion. We must bridge these gaps rather than exacerbate them.
That will start with reforms in our approach. Building relationships through genuine kindness and sympathy will gain us trust and respect, if not love. Repressing our critics will not us friends and will thin those we have. For example refusing to invite Kostoria-Obertonia because they refused to enter the Oan sphere of power, will not win us any contracts or gain us any friends. Communicating with foreign powers BEFORE we act is key. The merits of our civilisation (family, opportunity, freedom, mercy, talent and intelligence) will speak for themselves if we allow them to.
The challenges that our foreign policy face, are not just outward.They are inward. The Pacifist Party has been in power for some time. It is as much passive as it is pacifist. It seems to legitimise whatever the state does or wants to, while forgetting the lobbies of the constituents is foolish. Our leaders must listen to the people and equip them to make merit-based decisions.
The aims, method of execution and formula of Oan foreign policy must change to reap from and build on the merits of our civilisation.