Drahen

The Imperial Republic of Drahen, commonly known as Drahen or the Imperial Republic, is a sovereign state in Skathia. Lying on the north-eastern coast of Skathia, the country is bisected by the Drah Strait into two major parts, The Isle of Drah to the east and the Navajae Jungle to the west, along with many smaller islands. Drahen is surrounded by the Lagrain Sea to the east and north, and several countries to the west and the south.

Drahen is the 4th-most populous country on Siora, with an estimated 235 million inhabitants as of 1595. It is constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of governance. It's capital city is Telos the fourth-largest urban area on Drahen, and Traus is the largest city and the major financial center. The current monarch —since 1581— is Emperor Quintilus II. The Imperial Republic consists of 20 provinces along with the Imperial District, which contains Telos, the capitol.

The Imperial Republic is a newly industrialized country and has the world's 5th-largest economy by GDP and had one of Siora's fastest growing economies until the late 1580s, with an average GDP growth of 2.5% per year. The country is categorized as high in the Human Development Index. Drahen is a emerging power with considerable economic, military, cultural, military and political influence in eastern Skathia, and has moderate influence on international affairs.

History

The history of Drahen starts with indigenous people in Drahen. Brigandians arrived in the mid-9th country, with the first colony established in the early 10th centry under the sponsorship of the Mestran Imperium. From the 10th century to the 13th century Drahen was a colony and a part of the Mestran Imperium. The country expanded west from the Isle of Drah into the Navajae Jungle, with the country's borders only finalized in the mid 14th century. In 1304, the colony declared it's independence from Mestra and became the Imperial Republic of Drahen. Drahen then fought a short war of independence and was recognized by the Mestran Imperium in

Administrative Divisions

Map of Drah Provinces

The Imperial Republic is a composed of 20 provinces and the Imperial District (which contains the capital city, Telos) and hundreds of Municipalities. States have autonomous administrations, and collect their own taxes and receive a share of taxes collected by the central government. They have a governor and a unicameral legislative body elected directly by their voters and are granted power over provincial affairs, providing primary and secondary schools, oversight and control of provincial and municipal expenditures, providing for law enforcement and maintenance of local police forces and the creation of provincial law, as long as such laws do not infringe upon existing national law.

The provinces and capital district may be grouped into two distinct regions, the Ubertan Isle, and the Navajae Jungle. The two regions are merely geographical and not political or administrative divisions. The Ubertan Isle holds the majority of the population of the Imperial Republic and as a result is the more industrialized and advanced of the two regions. The Navajae jungle is the least inhabited region of Drahen with only around 10% of the population occupying almost 50% of the land area of Drahen. However, the area has many natural resources and development in the area continues to grow quickly.

Municipalities, much like the states, have autonomous administrations, collect their own taxes and receive a share of taxes collected by the central and provincial government. Each has a mayor and an elected legislative body, and has the power setting of municipal budgets, oversight of expenditures, creation of jobs, the nomination of civil servants, and the creation of municipal laws, as long as they do not infringe upon existing laws set by the central and provincial government.

Government and Politics

The Government of Drahen is a Representative Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy and is the second largest Monarchy in Siora behind Ishnalla. The government is comprised of four main branches as stated by the Constitution, the legislative branch, the Office of the Prime Minister, the Judiciary and the Emperor. The Council of State and Council of Ministers assist the Emperor and Prime Minister, respectively, in their official duties.

Politics and Elections

The major political parties in 1574 are as follows: The Drahen Socialist Party (DSP), the Imperial People's Party (IPP), the Drahen Republican Party (DRP), One Empire, and the Green Party (Major Political Parties are defined as a party that obtains more than 10% of the vote).

Law

Drah law is based on the civil law legal system and civil law concepts prevail over common law practice. Most of Drah law is codified, although non-codified statues also represent a substantial part and play a complementary role. Court decisions set out interpretive guidelines, however they are seldom binding on other specific cases. Doctrinal works and the works of academic jurists have strong influence in law creation and in law cases.

The legal system is based on the Imperial Constitution which was ratified in 1310, and is the fundamental law of Drahen. All other legislation and court decisions must conform to the constitution of the country. Provinces in Drahen have their own constitutions, but state constitutions cannot contradict the Imperial Constitution. Municipalities and the Imperial District have "organic laws", which act in a similar way to constitutions. Legislative entities are the main source of statutes, although in certain matters the judiciary and executive bodies may enact legal norms. Jurisdiction is administered by the judiciary, although in rare situations the Constitution allows the General Assembly to pass on legal judgments. The highest court in Drahen is the Drahen Supreme Court.

Law enforcement and crime

In Drahen there are three major police agencies for law enforcement: the Imperial Police (Vigilum imperatoria), the Imperial Guard (Imperatoria cohors) and the Municipal Police (Vigiles urbani). The Imperial Police and Imperial Guard are afflicted to the national government and the Municipal police are subordinated to their local town or city. The Imperial Police is the national civilian police force and the main civil law enforcement agency in areas not covered in by the Municipal Police. The Imperial Guard is the police force of Drahen tasked with high-risk and specialized law enforcement duties. The Guard is a militarized force, but is subordinated to the Interior Ministry and doesn't have responsibility for policing the armed forces. The municipal police are the local police of Drahen, and are under the direct authority of the mayor of the town or city.

Drahen has above-average levels of crime, however crime rates vary significantly by province. Provinces in the Navajae Jungle see almost five times as much violent crime than on the Isle of Drah. This is attributed to Drahen being a major thoroughfare for drug and narcotic trafficking to Brigidna and internationally.

Foreign Relations

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for managing the foreign relations of Drahen. Drahen is a significant political and economic power in East Skathia and a key player on the world stage. Drahen's foreign policy reflects its role as a regional power and a potential world power and is designed to help protect the country's national interests, national security, ideological goals, and economic prosperity.

During the rule of Emperor Quintilus Valerii I, the government sought to expand Drahen's influence in Siora by pursuing pursuing a state-led industrial policy and independent foreign policy. With the rise of Prime Minister Gallus Statius, in 1560 to the office of the Prime Minister, Drahen's foreign policy aimed to strengthen ties with other countries throughout Skathia and several nationalist and pan-nationalist countries abroad, while continuing to maintain relationships with great powers and act as a countervailing force to Brigandian political and economic influence in Skathia.

However, after the overthrow of Prime Minister Gallus Statius in 1588 the new government has attempted to renormalize and expand diplomatic relations with nations throughout Siora. In 1592, the government of Drahen signed the Denali Accord, becoming a founding member of the United Allied States along with the Mestran Imperium and the Grand Kingdom of Arkiania.

Military

The Drah Armed Forces, also known as the Armed Forces of the Imperial Republic of Drahen, or DAF is the unified military forces of the Imperial Republic of Drahen. The Drah Armed forces can draw it's history from Mestran Colonial Troops that followed the first settlers into the region in 1033 that would become known as Drahen, which later developed into the Royal Drah Colonial Force in 1099 after the Mestrans unified the colony as the Mestran Royal Colony of Drahsia. From there the Colonial Force developed into the Armed Forces of the Imperial Republic post-independence from Mestra in 1311. During the early and mid-1500s the military swelled to over 1 million active duty forces mainly due to the Drah-Indian War. However, by the 1560s reform minded governments had reduced the size of the armed forces to near their current day status.

The DAF is divided into three branches: Imperial Army, Imperial Air Force and Imperial Navy and has the second largest military in Skathia behind Nyland, and the largest in the local region. The budget for the military was $97,350,440,517 compromising 2% of the national GDP in 1595. Total Force composition in 1595 was 482,000 active-duty troops, 161 ships, and 2,000 fixed-wing and rotary aircraft.

The DAF is extremely involved in civic-action programs throughout the nation, with education, health care and and infrastructure development being the focus, especially in the less developed Navajae Jungle region of the nation. Due to the volatility of the nations on the eastern boarder the military regularly conducts operations to intercept rebel groups and drug cartels in the region.

Economy

Drahen is the 2nd largest national economy of Skathia and the Siora's 5th largest economy according to 1595 estimates. It's GDPpc was $20,654.98 in 1595, putting the nation 90th in the world. Drahen has a mixed economy with abundant natural resources.

In Drahen the service sector is the largest component of the gross domestic product at 67%, followed by the industrial sector (27.5%) and agriculture (5.5%). With over 110 million people in the labor force, some 10% are occupied in agriculture, 19% in industry, and 71% in the service sector. As of 1595 unemployment stood at 5.3%

From 1533 to 1588, the Drah economy was one of the fastest growing in Skathia, with an annual growth rate of over 2.5%. In 1588 the Drahen economy entered a sharp recession after the attempted coup by former Prime Minister Gallus Statius and has only started to recover. Under the new government of Prime Minister Justinian Diogenus the government has put major efforts into fiscal sustainability, as well as measures taken to liberalize and open the economy after the nationalization of many major industries.

Agriculture

Agriculture in Drahen has historically be one of the principal bases of Drahen's economy. Main agricultural products include: coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus and beef. Drahen has a robust agribusiness sector with with growth of 9.1%, principally motivated by favorable weather. The production of grains in the year reached an unprecedented 145,400,000 tons.That record output employed an additional 4.8% in planted area, with a total of 65,338,000 hectares and producing $148 billion credits, with principal products being corn and soy. The island of Drah has higher rainfall, more fertile soil, more advanced technology and input use, adequate infrastructure and more experienced farmers. This region produces most of Drahen's grains, oilseeds (and exports). The Navajae jungle, which compromises the eastern part of Drahen lacks well-distributed rainfall, good soil, adequate infrastructure and development capital. Although mostly occupied by subsistence farmers, the region is becoming increasingly important as exporters of forest products, cocoa and tropical fruits.

Industry/Service

Drahen has the 2nd largest manufacturing sector in the Skathian continent, accounting for 27.5% of GDP and 19 % of the labor force. Some major industries include: textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, and other machinery and equipment. In the last 80 years, with increased economic stability after the Drah-Indian War, Drah and multinational businesses have invested heavily in new equipment and technology. Drahen has extensive mineral resources. Large iron and manganese reserves are important sources of industrial raw materials and export earnings. Deposits of nickel, tin, chromite, uranium, bauxite, beryllium, copper, lead, tungsten, zinc, gold, and other minerals are exploited. Drahen also has a diverse and sophisticated service industry as well. The banking and financial sector counts for around 10% of the GDP and provides a wide range of products to the region and attracting numerous new entrants, including Brigandian financial firms.

Energy

The Drah government for the last 30 years has undertaken a major program to reduce dependence on imported petroleum, with imports accounting for more than 70% of the country's oil needs in 1550. However, with increased tapping of oil reserves and shifts to renewable energy, the government expects Drahen to be self-sufficient in oil by 1600. Brazil is one of the world's leading produces of hydroelectric power due to the extensive number of rivers in the country, and it provides some 80% of the nation's electricity. In addition, the government is expected to expand the number of nuclear reactors in the country to 20 by 1610.

Transport

Roads in Drahen are the primary carriers of freight and passenger traffic. The road system totals over 1.98 million kilometers, and has grown significantly in the last few decades. In contrast however, the railway system of Drahen has been in decline in the last few decades, with the shift to road networks. Since 1520, the total length of railway track has reduced from 31,848 km to 30,875 km in 1570. There are several major metro systems throughout Drahen including Traus, Telos, Newgate, and Wintercrest.

Drahen has around 2,500 airports throughout Drahen, many of which are rough landing fields throughout the country. Traus International Airport, is the largest and busiest airport in Drahen with almost 43,645,849 passengers in 1581 and handles the vast majority of commercial traffic for the country.

Waterways play an important role in transportation, especially in the Navajae Jungle where many remote villages are only accessible by water. Major waterways in Drahen are maintained with a 6 meter minimum depth requirement, and there are over three dozen deep-water ports throughout the country. In addition several major international and coastal shipping go through the Drah strait that bisects the country.

Demographics

Language

The official language of the Imperial Republic is Mestran Imperial and Mestran Common. Mestran Common is by far the most common spoken language and is the only language used in newspapers, radio, television, though Mestran Imperial is used for official business and administrative purposes.

The Mestran Common that most of the Drah population speaks however is of a different dialect that that spoken in the Mestran Imperium due to the separation between the two countries and influence of local languages. As a result, the languages are somewhat different, mostly in phonology, from the language that is spoken in the Mestran Imperium. Drahen is the only Mestran-speaking nation in Skathia, making the language an important part of Drah national identity and giving it a national culture distinct from those of its neighbors.

Education

The National Education Act of 1531 determine that the Imperial Government, States, and municipalities must manage and organize their respective education systems. Each of these public educational systems is responsible for its own maintenance, which manages funds as well as the mechanisms and funding sources. The National Education Act reserves 25% of the state budget and 18% of federal taxes and municipal taxes for education.

According to international reports, in 1568, the literacy rate of the population was 90.4%, meaning that 19 million (9.6% of population) people are still illiterate in the country; functional illiteracy has reached 21.6% of the population. Illiteracy is highest in the western parts of the country, where some municipalities have reported up to 19.9% of the population is illiterate.

Higher education starts with undergraduate or sequential courses, which may offer different options of specialization in academic or professional careers. Depending on the choice, students can improve their educational background with courses of post-graduate studies or international programs. To attend a higher education institution is required by law, and completing all levels of education suited to the needs of all students of teaching kindergarten, elementary and medium, provided the student does not hold any disability, whether physical, mental, visual or hearing.

Health

Drahen has a public health system managed by the government of Drahen know as the Unified Health System (UHS) and is one of the largest in Siora. However, most middle and upper-class citizens have their own private health coverage, most of which are provided by their jobs. Construction and maintance of health centers and hospitals are financed by taxes and Drahen spends around 9% of it's GDP on healthcare. In 1575, Drahen had 2.2 doctors and 3.7 hospital beds per 1000 inhabitants.

Despite having a public healthcare system since 1512, several public health problems still remain such as high infant and maternal mortality rates, especially in the Navajae Jungle region. As the country modernized though the 1500s, deaths from noncommunicable disease, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes have increased significantly.

Culture

Literature

Drah literature dates back to mid-1000s, to the writings of the first Mestran explorers in Drahen, such as ((blank1)), and contained descriptions of fauna, flora and commentary about the indigenous population. Drahen produced significant works during the industrial period with novelists like ((blank2)) and ((blank3)) writing novels about love and sacrifice. ((blank3)) during his long career, also treated indigenous people as heroes in several novels, a first for the period. ((blank2)) wrote in several genres and continues to gain international prestige from critics even today. The modernist movement, starting in Drahen in the mid 1400s, was primarily concerned with nationalist avant-garde literature, while Post-modernism brought a whole generation of new Drah poets and writers with universal and regional subjects.

Sports

Template:Main ArticleThe most popular sport in Drahen by far is is Association Football (Soccer). The Drahen National Football Association (DNFA) estimates that there are over 8 million football players in Drahen at the youth, amature, semi-professional and professional levels. The Drahen men's national team is currently ranked 16th according to the SIFA World Rankings, placed 3rd in the 1538 SIFA World Cup and until 1574 has qualified for every World Cup since their induction in 1506. Drahen is one of the most successful football nations in Skathia, winning the COSFA Skathian Nations Cup in 1543, 1551, 1559, and 1563 and coming in 2nd place 1527, 1531, and 1555. Other popular sports include volleyball, auto racing, and martial art. .