The Defiant
If Pax is a constitutional monarchy, why is it not a democracy?
A warning about protecting our freedoms
23 July 2024
Axinad Lukhwadeem
Packilvania has the institutions one would expect to see in a democracy. They have a constitution that secures basic rights and establishes a three branch government with checks between them and provides for the devolution of power to subnational structures. Their monarchy is nominally constrained by the Consistution, the Supreme Court has the power to strike down laws that violate the constitution, their Legislative Council consists of elected representatives that have real power to pass laws and hold the executive branch accountable and the Consultative Assembly consists of real citizens selected largely at random with guaranteed representation for women, minorities and the youth.
One could argue that members of the Carriers of Mercy who fought against and defeated the dictatorship of the Packilvanian Communist Party got their wish for a democratic, free and prosperous country. However, Packilvania’s record on sapient rights (while gradually improving) is lamentable as demonstrated by its pervasive surveillance and censorship. How is this possible?
The Borg is in the details. The Legislative Council consists of delegates of legislative bodies and special constituencies who are both insulated from public accountability and susceptible to executive and wealthy interests. The Consultative Assembly is merely a rubber stamp that has neither the platform, cooperation or mandate to challenge and debate the proposals presented to it. The Constitution meant to constrain the Sultan’s power, in fact, expands and protects it. The mighty Supreme Court can only enforce and interpret the laws that exist which tend to be regressive. All these entities have a vested interest in maintaining and expanding the power and position of the political elite.
Although power is devolved to subnational structures, citizens only play a meaningful role in electing representatives at the lowest and least politically powerful level. Secondly, there is a deep securitisation through internet surveillance and repression of free speech and the media. Thirdly, barriers exist to prevent peaceful organising by civilians. Fourth, the government does not act to protect civilians from patriarchal and deeply hierarchical social customs. Powerful corporate structures (both public and state owned), influence politicians to pass laws favourable to the interests of their stakeholders.
Without a thriving civil service, and a government committed to liberal values, and with the unmitigated dominance of conservative values and capitalist interests, authoritarian systems emerge that self perpetuate through entrenching resources in a small elite and eliminating independent progressive voices. It is possible for many liberal democratic countries today to regressive into Pax-adjacent dictatorships through policies such as gerrymandering, corporate and special interest lobbying, laws and systems that impede labour movements, economic institutions that promote inequality through so-called rugged individualism, cultural practices that make violence easily accessible to third parties and non-state actors, and values that promote homogeneity and obedience.
We see some of these trends taking root in nominally free countries. For instance, the Oan Isles handed Jasper Ray to the Packilvanian security forces despite knowing that the human rights record of that country is spotty at best. We see it in the political violence that has emerged in Great Morstaybishlia through the attempted assassination of Franklin Barvata, the riots in Joralesia and the secessionist movements in Marislia. We see it in the unexplained disappearance of Clauzia Sarohart. We see in attempts in Nystatiszna to arbitrarily restrict the food source of Kemonomimi. We see it in Blåskog’s invasion of Syrtænzna.
Democracy is not like a natural phenomenon or a chemical reaction. It is not absolute or inevitable. It wavers. It stutters and mutters on the path to delivering the outcomes expected of it and must be defended vigorously. As we continue to follow the troubling revelations from Packilvania in the cases of Prince Kujil and Jasper Ray and the emerging scandals surrounding Sultan Thumim’s attempted assassination, we need to recognise the signs of democratic decay all about us, and be resistant to their intrusion. We should not presume that the morality of even good leaders will save us, but accountability and transparency.
Packilvania’s slow and sometimes frustrating trudge towards some form of freedom is happening because the population is becoming prosperous and more difficult to control, and the conflicting interests of multiple power brokers and constituencies require peaceful resolution, or force some accountability and transparency. But without the progressive appetite and effort to meaningfully reform, dogmatic preachers, corrupt bureaucrats, exploitative employers, and violent gangs are taking that freedom and bending it to whims that are outside of the formal political system. Stay woke.
Edit: Due to the concerns of some irrate whomsoever, Nekomimi has been changed to Kemonomimi, but all the other opinions will remain as is. Thanks boos.