Difference between revisions of "Politics of Minkowski"
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===European Lobby=== | ===European Lobby=== | ||
Europe was the Core power with best access to the Sea of Solomon, and kept the peace in that distant frontier for many decades. Minkowski itself had its economy buoyed during the colonisation era by the salaries and pensions of the 'space gurkhas' that served in the DSF. And the EU is without a doubt the staunchest opponent among the other great powers of Magnate genetic tyranny. The European Lobby recognises these facts and thinks the League should revive old ties, this time as equal partners. | Europe was the Core power with best access to the Sea of Solomon, and kept the peace in that distant frontier for many decades. Minkowski itself had its economy buoyed during the colonisation era by the salaries and pensions of the 'space gurkhas' that served in the DSF. And the EU is without a doubt the staunchest opponent among the other great powers of Magnate genetic tyranny. The European Lobby recognises these facts and thinks the League should revive old ties, this time as equal partners. | ||
| − | + | ===Exhuman=== | |
| + | The Exhuman tendency thinks that the century since the introduction of the ''homo caelum'' genetic template is a century wasted. Minkowskans should continue to embrace genetic and cybernetic augmentation until they can live in free space as the Drones do. Only then will they truly inhabit the new world and be ready to make further steps into space. The Exhuman tendency is a minor faction but has important friends among the Technocrats and the priesthood. | ||
===Liberal=== | ===Liberal=== | ||
| − | The establishment never managed to contain the cultural explosion of the Colonisation Era, until the breakdown and the bloody Tereshkova Rebellion. Now that there is another 'Renaissance' the Liberals say that it shouldn't try, but should instead embrace and direct it to strengthen Minkowski's soft power and cultural fabric. | + | The establishment never managed to contain the cultural explosion of the Colonisation Era, until the breakdown and the bloody Tereshkova Rebellion. Now that there is another 'Renaissance' the Liberals say that it shouldn't try, but should instead embrace and direct it to strengthen Minkowski's soft power and cultural fabric. Unfortunately, while they have managed to block Orthodox attempts to limit freedom of expression, prying funding away from the military and the technocrats has proven almost impossible. |
| + | ===Militant=== | ||
| + | The Militants draw mostly on War veterans and younger priests for support. Their goal is simple: The destruction of the Magnate Continuum, as soon as possible, by any means necessary. The militants are a heavy influence on most discussions of policy but cooler heads have so far prevailed, not least because the Technocrats are generally hostile to restarting the War. | ||
===Orthodox=== | ===Orthodox=== | ||
Since the Breakdown ended Minkowski has been exposed once more to all the influences of the Sphere. Some in the government remember or have studied the social problems that arose last time this happened after the Recontact, and advise that the government take a stern line on anti-establishment and un-Minkowskan activity. | Since the Breakdown ended Minkowski has been exposed once more to all the influences of the Sphere. Some in the government remember or have studied the social problems that arose last time this happened after the Recontact, and advise that the government take a stern line on anti-establishment and un-Minkowskan activity. | ||
===Reform=== | ===Reform=== | ||
| − | The Reform faction is a loose accumulation of advocates of transforming the Minkowskan state, | + | The Reform faction is a loose accumulation of advocates of transforming the Minkowskan state, often by distancing religion from government and adopting an open market economy. Some have more radical proposals to adopt multiparty democracy or various 'new economy' concepts, or secularise completely. Taken all together they constitute a significant minority, but the 'Reform faction' is too broad and divided to achieve effective action. |
| + | ===Rim Lobby=== | ||
| + | The Rim Lobby holds that for the League to remain powerful and independent, it must expand. The League is excellently placed to influence Rim states and provide them with security, technology and developmental aid, and in exchange receive resources and manpower to fortify its position and stand at the top table of national blocs. | ||
| + | ===Technocratic=== | ||
| + | Minkowski is the most advanced power of the League, but it still lags behind even the Magnates, to say nothing of ZOCU or the Core powers. Attempting to reverse this consumes enormous amounts of funding, which has in turn given the 'Research-Industrial Complex' significant clout. The 'Technocrats' are considered by some observers to be the most powerful and untouchable lobby on Minkowski. | ||
===Zodiac Lobby=== | ===Zodiac Lobby=== | ||
The greatest long-term threat to the League and to Minkowski is the billions of people on Earth, who will flood outwards and overwhelm the current states of the Expanse. Some will be able to accept and integrate immigrants, but others like Minkowski will not. The Zodiac Lobby espouses this position and advocates that the League forge links with ZOCU and the new Taiwans to resist the threat of 'Core Imperialism'. They are regarded as somewhat radical and ideological by their fellows, but their rhetoric speaks to sore wounds from the Tereshkova Rebellion and deep-seated anxieties about the eventual fate of Cavor's project. | The greatest long-term threat to the League and to Minkowski is the billions of people on Earth, who will flood outwards and overwhelm the current states of the Expanse. Some will be able to accept and integrate immigrants, but others like Minkowski will not. The Zodiac Lobby espouses this position and advocates that the League forge links with ZOCU and the new Taiwans to resist the threat of 'Core Imperialism'. They are regarded as somewhat radical and ideological by their fellows, but their rhetoric speaks to sore wounds from the Tereshkova Rebellion and deep-seated anxieties about the eventual fate of Cavor's project. | ||
Revision as of 11:05, 13 August 2010
Political Factions
Minkowski is not a democracy. Political parties do not compete for votes. Nevertheless like any large organisation it has its own societies, factions and cliques of varying degrees of coherence and formality, that jostle for influence over policy and media.
Detente Lobby
The Detente Lobby is a minor faction in foreign policy that advocates outreach to the 'reasonable' Magnate states such as More and Hyperborea, in order to minimise the chance of future hostilities and isolate the warmongers. Predictably, they spend at least as much time defending themselves against accusations of naivete or subversion as they do advocating for their position.
European Lobby
Europe was the Core power with best access to the Sea of Solomon, and kept the peace in that distant frontier for many decades. Minkowski itself had its economy buoyed during the colonisation era by the salaries and pensions of the 'space gurkhas' that served in the DSF. And the EU is without a doubt the staunchest opponent among the other great powers of Magnate genetic tyranny. The European Lobby recognises these facts and thinks the League should revive old ties, this time as equal partners.
Exhuman
The Exhuman tendency thinks that the century since the introduction of the homo caelum genetic template is a century wasted. Minkowskans should continue to embrace genetic and cybernetic augmentation until they can live in free space as the Drones do. Only then will they truly inhabit the new world and be ready to make further steps into space. The Exhuman tendency is a minor faction but has important friends among the Technocrats and the priesthood.
Liberal
The establishment never managed to contain the cultural explosion of the Colonisation Era, until the breakdown and the bloody Tereshkova Rebellion. Now that there is another 'Renaissance' the Liberals say that it shouldn't try, but should instead embrace and direct it to strengthen Minkowski's soft power and cultural fabric. Unfortunately, while they have managed to block Orthodox attempts to limit freedom of expression, prying funding away from the military and the technocrats has proven almost impossible.
Militant
The Militants draw mostly on War veterans and younger priests for support. Their goal is simple: The destruction of the Magnate Continuum, as soon as possible, by any means necessary. The militants are a heavy influence on most discussions of policy but cooler heads have so far prevailed, not least because the Technocrats are generally hostile to restarting the War.
Orthodox
Since the Breakdown ended Minkowski has been exposed once more to all the influences of the Sphere. Some in the government remember or have studied the social problems that arose last time this happened after the Recontact, and advise that the government take a stern line on anti-establishment and un-Minkowskan activity.
Reform
The Reform faction is a loose accumulation of advocates of transforming the Minkowskan state, often by distancing religion from government and adopting an open market economy. Some have more radical proposals to adopt multiparty democracy or various 'new economy' concepts, or secularise completely. Taken all together they constitute a significant minority, but the 'Reform faction' is too broad and divided to achieve effective action.
Rim Lobby
The Rim Lobby holds that for the League to remain powerful and independent, it must expand. The League is excellently placed to influence Rim states and provide them with security, technology and developmental aid, and in exchange receive resources and manpower to fortify its position and stand at the top table of national blocs.
Technocratic
Minkowski is the most advanced power of the League, but it still lags behind even the Magnates, to say nothing of ZOCU or the Core powers. Attempting to reverse this consumes enormous amounts of funding, which has in turn given the 'Research-Industrial Complex' significant clout. The 'Technocrats' are considered by some observers to be the most powerful and untouchable lobby on Minkowski.
Zodiac Lobby
The greatest long-term threat to the League and to Minkowski is the billions of people on Earth, who will flood outwards and overwhelm the current states of the Expanse. Some will be able to accept and integrate immigrants, but others like Minkowski will not. The Zodiac Lobby espouses this position and advocates that the League forge links with ZOCU and the new Taiwans to resist the threat of 'Core Imperialism'. They are regarded as somewhat radical and ideological by their fellows, but their rhetoric speaks to sore wounds from the Tereshkova Rebellion and deep-seated anxieties about the eventual fate of Cavor's project.