Explain the Civic Combinations

Disclaimer: this thread is by no means intended as criticism of DoC and Leoreth, just some good fun.

OK, we all agree that the DoC civic names are a bit strange. So, let's try to explain the weird combinations and differences.

What is

Universal Suffrage/Forced Labor
Egalitarianism/Forced Labor

What's the difference between

Supreme Council, Universal Suffrage and Representation under Totalitarianism (a dubious concept in itself)

and the same systems under Egalitarianism and Capitalism?

Mind you, renaming Totalitarianism into Militarism (and buffing it, since few players or AI's use it, and with good reason) makes much more sense.

In fact, what does Supreme Council represent at all? What's the difference between Republic/Supreme Council and Republic/Universal Suffrage?

Also, what is "Capitalism/State Property"? "State capitalism", Tony Cliff-style, is a bit too broad a category and operates from different political premises. Dirigisme? Modern China?

What is Universal Suffrage, but without Republic? Is the modern UK "Dynasticism/Universal Suffrage"? What is "Autocracy/Universal Suffrage"? Some sort of "hyper-Presidential" republic, Peron-style?

Well the first two are historically accurate, I suppose: All men are equal, except those who are slaves or don't own land.

The Supreme Council/Rep./Totalitarianism one could be considered a mock democracy, or a society where city positions are voted for, but ultimate power resides in an elite political class.

The Supreme Council with Capitalism is an oligarchy/plutocracy

Modern China does seem to fit the capitalism/state property conundrum better than anything else I can think of, and dynasticism and universal suffrage seems like 18th century Britain, though I am unsure on that one.

As to the rest, one has to think of the unlikely governmental systems that could one day become possible, I suspect, and go with the idea that the population might be better pacified if they think they are choosing their leaders.

Lone Wolf said:

What is Universal Suffrage, but without Republic?

Click to expand...

This would be a purely democratic state with no constitution in which the only law is the will of the majority, with no guaranteed rights. Classical Athens would be an example of this.

and universal suffrage seems like 18th century Britain, though I am unsure on that one.

Click to expand...

18th century Britain sure as hell didn't have universal suffrage. Dynasticism/Representation is the best way to describe it.

Well the first two are historically accurate, I suppose: All men are equal, except those who are slaves or don't own land.

Click to expand...

Yeah, a Confederacy-style system, or a system with a prominent oppressed underclass (think Indian untouchables) fits Uni Suff/Forced Labor fine. Egalitarianism/Forced Labor is more weird, unless it's some kind of "every citizen should work heavy jobs on state projects for 5 years" system. The latter, however, seems "Totalitarian", and more suitable for "Totalitarianism" then "Egalitarianism" (these two civics directly compete).

This would be a purely democratic state with no constitution in which the only law is the will of the majority, with no guaranteed rights. Classical Athens would be an example of this.

Click to expand...

Well, it may make sense with City States, but not with Dynasticism or Autocracy, and besides the starting civic, these are the only Government combinations with Universal Suffrage. Like I said, Autocracy/Uni. Suff. is suitable for Latin American Caudilloism, though.

The Supreme Council/Rep./Totalitarianism one could be considered a mock democracy,

Click to expand...

go with the idea that the population might be better pacified if they think they are choosing their leaders.

Click to expand...

Shouldn't "mock" stuff have no real gameplay effect, though? I mean, the civics are supposed to describe how society is run, not how it claims to be run (Stalin's 1936 Constitution was the most democratic in the world. It was also meaningless). It seems that Totalitarianism creates the most problems in explaining what's supposed to go on, that's why I am a proponent of renaming the "Totalitarian" civic.

Maybe in Egalitarianism/Forced Labour the slaves are actually indentured servants. It's the closest I can think of.