The spiritual sequel to the award-winning* forum game, the United Divided 2 takes place on a shattered North American continent in the year 2100. In the original game players controlled nations in a continent that was never united, now they control nations in a continent that is no longer united. After a tumultuous 21st century, the world is unrecognizable. The American-led global order has fallen along with the United States, rising sea levels have driven hundreds of millions from their home, and technological change has created a chasm between rich and poor. Europe and China compete for influence across the divided remnants of America.
The empire long united must divide, long divided must unite; this is how it has always been.
The world of 2100 is dominated by three trends that have shaped the 21st century:
Climate change has altered the world’s geography: population centers have moved away from the equator and demographics have changed as a result of an unprecedented worldwide refugee crisis. This has put an immense strain on social and political systems.
In North America, flooding and extreme storms have devastated much of the coasts and riverine regions in the east, while ongoing desertification has transformed much of the American west. Winters are milder and deadly heat waves are common.
A multipolar world order began with the 2026 Sino-American War, a decisive victory for China that ultimately destroyed American political and economic hegemony. Supply chains have been disrupted, favoring regional blocs over global networks. International institutions have become defunct, or irrelevant at best. It’s the law of the jungle now.
A civil war after a disputed election in the mid-21st century led to the break-up of the United States, with multiple claimants as the successor along with regional breakaways.
The two dominant world powers are the People’s Republic of China and the European Union. North America is very much a battleground between the two in their grand global struggle.
Technological innovation has created a world of immense inequality. Advances in productivity, such as robotics and artificial intelligence, have been a complement to highly skilled workers and a substitute for low skill workers. This deep divide between haves and have-nots characterizes every society in the modern world.
In North America, the successor states to the United States struggle to establish domestic stability. The miserly welfare system of the old federal government is philanthropic in comparison to what modern American states can provide, with a large, disaffected unemployed population as the norm.
North America is a broken continent, the American dream shattered into a hundred pieces. It burns, it drowns, its hungry masses writhe in anxiety as they yearn for freedom. It is pushed and pulled between foreign powers. The American Dream has become the American Nightmare.
The Players
J.K. Stockholme - People's Cartel
NinjaCow - United States of America
Belgarion - Effective Anarchists
Immaculate - Aztlan
Crezth - Reva Aztara
Kyzarc fotjage - Neoconfederates
Caesar of Bread - Cascadian Federation
I’m looking for approximately six players for the opening applications; I’ll end up taking between 5 and 8. I encourage players to submit multiple applications and stretch their flexibility and creativity.
Country Name
Summary: Discuss how your nation has weathered the 21st century, particularly:
Your descent from an existing nation (United States, Canada, or another country)
Your relationship to the existing Great Powers (China, Europe)
How your nation organizes itself politically, which classes or political groups are in power and which are not.
How your nation has dealt with climate change and other societal disruptions.
Focus: Focus is the distribution of capital at the game start. Distribute six points between Military, Economic, and Political: you’ll receive an equivalent amount of capital per turn at the start of the game on top of the baseline (with a baseline of 1 capital for each category). Also select four proficiencies to begin the game with: you can stack for multiple bonuses at a cost of reduced flexibility. A full list of proficiencies is in the rules.
Factions: Define your controlling faction using two of the traits below and offer suggestions on other political movements.
Claims: A description or map of the areas your nation, and any close allies, controls.
Here are some rough guidelines, or archetypes, for building a nation. They are mere suggestions and I am open to other interpretations.
Successors legally claim to be remnant governments of the United States or another nation. Their reach exceeds their grasp: they claim more territory than they control and frequently have tense relationships with their neighbors.
Breakaways have formally broken with the 20th century political order, often representing significant regional groups. They have a strong sense of local identity and usually better relations with their neighbors.
Proxies are closely aligned with one of the global Great Powers. Proxies benefit significantly from off-map aid from another nation, which can boost a smaller state into wider relevance. Of the two China is more powerful, though there is considerable antipathy towards them for the Sino-American War seventy-five years ago and their deals often come with a price. Europe has close cultural ties but is often highly patronizing of their local allies and meddles in their affairs.
Revolutionaries seek to create something entirely new in the balkanized American continent. They are proponents of a radical, novel ideology with widespread appeal. Their ambitions mean they may at best be tolerated by other powers.
United States of New Mexico
In 2052, after the Final Election, New Mexico became a war ground between armies of far-right rebels from Arizona and Texas and the government of New Mexico. Albuquerque was taken by the conservative armies and set ablaze, and the same fate was given to Carlsbad. The New Mexicans fled to the north and created shelters in the mountains, in case of nuclear war, which was a possibility at the time. When 2088 had befallen, New Mexico outside of the city of Taos was completely unpopulated. So, the government of New Mexico stated Ulysses Simpson as president and Frederick I as monarch. A new president has been seated in Taos, though. Martin Calvin (Liberal Party) will be the one to restore America, with our great Emperor Frederick I at his side!
- New Mexico is a successor state to the United States and has made alliances with local Native tribes (Pueblo, Dine... - Ulysses Simpson is half San Domingo Pueblo). In Frederick's words, "We are like Eastern Rome to the Roman Empire. The true successor state to a once gone nation."
- New Mexico is a social democratic multi-party republic with a constitutional monarchy, so the nation does not fit in any sort of alliance with Europe or China. The PRC and New Mexico have gone into a couple of crises.
- As said above, New Mexico is a social democratic multi-party republic with a constitutional monarchy. Minorities are represented and have equal rights within our nation. There are 6 parties in New Mexico:
The Liberal Party (majority)
The Conservative Party
The Monarchist Party
The Socialist Party
The Union Party
The Barbecue Party
- New Mexico has taken many steps against climate change, and our nation has chosen to move closer to the Sangre Del Cristo Mountains and the Rio Grande. Conservation is an important thing in New Mexico. People in New Mexico are also paid more then in other places, and people who don't have a job are used to help our new irrigation system, which will help against climate change.
2 for Political
2 for Economy
2 for Military
Here's a map of what I'd like to start off with if I can have it. I added highways and state borders too. As a successor state, I currently claim New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and the southern half of California
Happy to modify the below submissions to accommodate others. Can drop New Mexico from the Cartel or move the Cartel completely into Mexico, could easily switch the Eco-Spartans to Cascadia or the middle of the eastern seaboard or more centred on the Great Lakes, the Charter State to New England, the Mutual Republic could be more straightforwardly the deep south or based around Chicago or even Cascadia, etc.
Submission #1 - The People's Cartel
A drug cartel propped up by the CIA/US military becomes de facto government of secessionist Texas, New Mexico, and northeast Mexico - collectively, the Rio Grande Republic. The cartel, known as "the Saints", is led by untouchably powerful capos who periodically lavish the poor with vainglorious acts of populism and ostentatious spending. A network of ex-American deep state groups use the country as a safe haven for antileftist organizing in a tacit arrangement with the Saints and covertly control armaments firms.
System of Government: The de jure government is a presidential republic. The cartel has politically entrenched themselves in the style of the Thai monarchy or the Egyptian military, restricting the vote such that pro-cartel parties and presidents always win. The constitution may even have provisions that specifically names and entrenches the cartel through fixed seat allocation in the legislature and special powers via some extraordinary council that exists above the supreme court, the legislature, the president, etc.
EDIT: Hurricanes batter Texas so heavily and so regularly the major cities of Austin and Houston are abandoned and the whole region is a massive flood plains by-and-large. Urbanization moved further inland in the mid-century. Due to Latin American migration over the 21st century, the whole region has become overwhelmingly Hispanic and Latin American in demographics.
Submission #2 - The Charter State
The US government creates a "charter city" in southern Idaho that is run by AI companies, AI techno-rapture cultists, academics, and effective altruists. The charter city turns the Snake River region into another Silicon Valley and eventually obtains "charter state" status for the region. As the US collapses, other states where AI companies and AI cultists hold dominance (Northern California, Nevada, Oregon) federate with the charter state into the Charter State of Pacifica.
Submission #3 - The Mutual Republic
In response to new technologies, especially AI, that economically marginalized right-wing rural areas along the Mississippi, as well as climate change that continuously brought disasters, those regions politically realigned from conservatism to social mutualism. Mutual aid societies emerged for every new disaster while consumer co-operatives were increasingly founded to serve local needs. These states exited the collapsing US together as the Mutual Republic of the Mississippi, a social democracy with a cooperative economy.
EDIT: The Mutual Republic deals with climate change through a decent amount of ecological engineering and management, especially of the Mississippi itself, which has become far more like the Nile in ancient Egypt from desertification on the western banks and warming of the south. Economic inequality still exists but its far less sharp than the typical country due to social democratic redistribution and income flattening from the cooperative economic structure. The tradeoff is that the Mutual Republic was left behind by high-tech advances. Climate refugees were welcomed more so than other places due to the country's mutualist ethos, resulting in a highly cosmopolitan population and some degree of divide between the newcomers and the previous populations.
Submission #4 - The Eco-Spartans
Increasingly disastrous climate change and inequality drove a generation of young people to eco-terror in northeastern North America. 3D printing and drones enabled the "Dark Green Army" prosecute an insurgency for decades, further radicalizing them into believing that the only way to protect the environment was through a ruthless program of stratocracy, militarism, and extreme urban density, to protect vast wilderness preserves and promote the eventual extinction of humanity. As the US collapsed, their war finally succeeded in Ontario, New York, and New England, where they declared the Wilderstate.
Foreign Relations: The conclusion of the guerrilla war was likely a couple decades ago and so the early revolutionary period in which the state was pretty rogue is over. Government acts a bit more like modern China, with robust trade relations, plenty of efforts to cultivate foreign allies and influence, but a core ideology that effects the domestic situation tremendously (e.g. huge swaths of low population areas and hyper-dense super-cities).
EDIT: Thinking if there's a Lovecraft angle involving biotech could really complete this signup. Perhaps the Dark Green Army have repurposed MIT and the Ivy League towards military genetic engineering - so lots of chimeric creatures, some of which "leak" from the lab and get into the wild.
Happy to modify the below submissions to accommodate others. Can drop New Mexico from the Cartel, could easily switch the Eco-Spartans to Cascadia, or the Charter State to New England, etc. These are just initial pitches, will fully develop whichever one seems like it fills out the map and the ideological landscape best based on what other people are doing.
Submission #1 - The People's Cartel
A drug cartel propped up by the CIA/US military becomes de facto government of secessionist Texas, New Mexico, and northeast Mexico - collectively, the Rio Grande Republic. The cartel, known as "the Saints", is led by untouchably powerful capos who periodically lavish the poor with vainglorious acts of populism and ostentatious spending. A network of ex-American deep state groups use the country as a safe haven for antileftist organizing in a tacit arrangement with the Saints and covertly control armaments firms.
Submission #2 - The Charter State
The US government creates a "charter city" in southern Idaho that is run by AI companies, AI techno-rapture cultists, academics, and effective altruists. The charter city turns the Snake River region into another Silicon Valley and eventually obtains "charter state" status for the region. As the US collapses, other states where AI companies and AI cultists hold dominance (Northern California, Nevada, Oregon) federate with the charter state into the Charter State of Northern California, Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada.
Submission #3 - The Mutual Republic
In response to new technologies, especially AI, that economically marginalized right-wing rural areas along the Mississippi, as well as climate change that continuously brought disasters, those regions politically realigned from conservatism to social mutualism. Mutual aid societies emerged for every new disaster while consumer co-operatives were increasingly founded to serve local needs. These states exited the collapsing US together as the Mutual Republic of the Mississippi, a social democracy with a cooperative economy.
Submission #4 - The Eco-Spartans
Increasingly disastrous climate change and inequality drove a generation of young people to eco-terror in northeastern North America. 3D printing and drones enabled the "Dark Green Army" prosecute an insurgency for decades, further radicalizing them into believing that the only way to protect the environment was through a ruthless program of stratocracy, militarism, and extreme urban density, to protect vast wilderness preserves and promote the eventual extinction of humanity. As the US collapsed, their war finally succeeded in Ontario, New York, and New England, where they declared the Wilderstate.
Mafia Republic of Chicago (submission 2 - my next choice after New Mexico. Sorry if I forgot to do something!)
Under Boss "Big Daddy" Vitorlio Corelli, Chicago has become what it was in the 20s, a city of sin (City of Sin should be a videogame title ngl). But the story really starts off in 2040, when Illinois governor Buddy Sharpstown was assassinated by a member of the Mafia. The leader of the Mafia at the time, Octavio Torentina, told reporters that Chicago was the "New Florence", a new place of cultural exchange. After the Great American War occurred, the Mafia stuck back in Chicago after serious defeats in NYC. And they'll make an offer you can't refuse...
European Commission of Quebec (submission 3)
In 2059, French forces invaded Quebec, causing Canada to spiral into chaos. Quebec was created into a European "Commission" after that, where the Quebecois would be the leading European force in North America. Tensions between the rest of Canada and Quebec have risen.
Cascadian Federation (submission 4)
In 2056, Washington freed itself as the Cascadian Federation. During the War of Quebec, Washington led an invasion force into British Columbia, taking Vancouver and Victoria among other regions. The new president, Sophia Hargreen, has promised to end the terror brought on by unemployment and climate change, alongside fending off the Chinese navy that threatens Cascadia's coast.
Crown of Canada (submission 5)
In 2033, after the death of Charles III, a European-backed revolution spread in Britain, which had made the royal family flee to Canada. William III took the throne and his reign was marked by the War of Quebec, when the Europeans invaded Quebec and forced Canada to dissolve. William III sacrificed himself for the greater good of his country and installed George VII as monarch. It is now 2100, and Queen Anne II is running the nation after her father King George VII's death in 2092.
OHIO (submission 6 - but hey, I'm fine with it)
After the Sino-American War, Jaquavion the Great founded the Empire of Ohio, which he promised would be the successor state to the Roman Empire, Walter White's crime empire, and the Soviet Union. Ohio's power increased rapidly, and the USA called upon Michaganian forces under Barbra Streisand to eliminate Ohio once and for all. Barbara Streisand provoked the Second Toledo War in doing so, causing Jaquavion to crush her in an underwater basketweaving contest, and Barbara Streisand escaped. Jaquavion had used all his gigachad energy though, and had finally created the line of Jaquavion before dying. Emperor Gru II rules Ohio now, with the Empire of Ohio amassing and planning to take over the world.
EDIT: Half asleep pitches, will flesh them out later -
1) Republic of New Afrika - Breakaway state in the most African-American populated parts of America (the deep south) with some Socialist/Communist sympathies.
2) United States of America - Inflexible and irredentist successor state based in Washington D.C and surrounding regions that rigidly adheres to the letter of the constitution. Technically a democracy but the country is essentially run on the rigidly adhered to advise of the Supreme Court.
Pitches:
1) Michigan militias overthrow the state during the Civil War, fail to invade Canada, successfully annexes Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, and most of southern Ontario. They're now pushing eastwards into New York and Pennsylvania in a bid to reach the Atlantic and secure the Erie Canal. The sort of people that openly refer to those of non-western/northern European descent as 'lesser races' and believe racism was solved 250 years ago when we won the Civil War. Not much of an ideology beyond that and when the current crop of largely cooperative strongmen start dying off there'll be some serious internal issues that need resolving (probably via gun)
2) During the Civil War Eastern Washington gets tired of being under Seattle's boot and breaks away, then turns around and starts skirmishing across the Cascades. The result of a decade of ongoing fighting was a balkanized Seattle, with Everett, Tacoma, and Bellevue becoming buffer cities between the reduced Seattle Metropolitan Area and the rest of the state. Eastern Washington, meanwhile, fell into a deep economic recession which led to its formal annexation by Greater Idaho, who had been busily cutting deals with other far-right communities in states dominated by blue urban centers. In the end Eastern Oregon and a chunk of northeastern California also joined in, and now Greater Idaho is embroiled in a conflict with California. Mormon missionaries are making pretty significant inroads here, with the leadership allowing it in the hope of getting Utah's support in the Californian Conflict. Not quite as racist as 1), with a much greater emphasis on economic conservatism over social though the influence of the Mormons is starting to change that.
3) Gangland. Chicago gets taken over by a resurgent Mob and the state militias are folded in. Similar terriorial claims to 1), only instead of pushing into Ontario and into New York/Pennsylvania they're pushing south along the Mississippi. Opened up membership to non-Italian-descended people, though most of the power still resides in the old Italian families. Effectively has two parallel governments, with the 'official' elected governments still around, but all the power residing with the Mafia.
4) I dunno, some other alt-right militia prone state declaring itself the Randian ideal and exercising its right to bear arms as vigorously as possible on its neighbors. Maybe Arizona. I want to be violent for once.
The Reva Aztara Commune (RAC) was established as a revolutionary socialist state, led by the Supreme Council of the Revolution, after the successful overthrow of the former government in the Pacific Northwest region. With the support and guidance of the People's Republic of China, a coalition of diverse groups, including the American Maoist Party, the New Black Panther Party, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation, united to create a new political order in the face of societal collapse.
The RAC actively seeks to promote communist and environmentalist principles inspired by Chinese socialism. It works to bring together the interests of the various factions, such as Black nationalists, indigenous representationists, and gender abolitionists, under a single, unified political system. This new nation strives to create a just, equitable, and sustainable society for all its citizens.
The RAC enjoys a close relationship with China, benefiting from its economic, technological, and strategic support. In return, China gains a valuable strategic partner in North America, which bolsters its global influence and advances its geopolitical objectives.
Politically, the RAC is organized under the Supreme Council of the Revolution, a democratic centralist system where power is concentrated in the hands of a class of "professional revolutionaries," operating under the auspice of "mass democracy." The coalition of socialist and communist parties holds sway over policy, with opposition parties marginalized and suppressed.
The RAC has faced significant challenges from climate change, including flooding, drought, extreme storms, extreme cold temperatures, and extreme hot temperatures. They have implemented strict environmental policies and invested in green technologies to mitigate the impacts of climate change. "Strict ecology" is considered a key discipline of the state. The RAC has also embraced technological advancements to address societal disruptions, while actively fighting against economic inequality through social welfare programs and wealth redistribution.
In 2079, the capital city of Portland was renamed to Turtle Island City. In 2089, the city of Vancouver was renamed Xīnhuá Yù, which combines the Chinese characters for "new" (新 - xīn), "splendid" or "magnificent" (华 - huá), and "jade" (玉 - yù).
Controlling Faction: Arch-Revolutionaries (The Supreme Council of the Revolution)
Traits: Ideological, Militarist, Nationalist
Ideological: The Arch-Revolutionaries, born out of a deep commitment to the core values that underpin Reva Aztara, tirelessly work to advance decolonization, indigenous representation, communism, and Black nationalism. As an ideological faction, they view the realization of these ideals as crucial to the nation's success and stability. They are prepared to make tough decisions and take bold actions to ensure that Reva Aztara stays true to its founding principles, including the radical tenets of Total Abolitionism.
Militarist: Emerging from a period of intense conflict and warfare that led to the establishment of Reva Aztara, the Arch-Revolutionaries understand the importance of a strong and capable military force in maintaining the nation's security and preserving the hard-won gains of the revolution. They glorify and idealize the military as a symbol of the nation's strength and unity, and they prioritize investment in the armed forces to maintain their readiness against any internal or external threats.
Nationalist: The Arch-Revolutionaries represent the Chinese settlers who have played a crucial role in the formation and development of the Reva Aztara Commune. They work to safeguard the interests of the Chinese population and promote their cultural identity and contributions to the nation. This faction views the close alliance with China as essential to the continued success and stability of Reva Aztara, and they are committed to strengthening the ties between the two countries, positioning the RAC as an integral part of the Chinese sphere of influence.
Ideological: The Pan-African Communists advocate for the unity of all African-descended peoples in Reva Aztara and across the world. They seek to advance Black liberation ideology within a communist framework and work to dismantle the vestiges of colonialism and white supremacy.
Nationalist: This faction aims to create a unified, homogeneous nation-state, focusing on the interests of African-descended peoples and promoting cultural pride, solidarity, and economic self-sufficiency.
Populist: The Pan-African Communists have gained considerable support from the masses, particularly among the African-descended working-class population. They address the everyday concerns and aspirations of the people, advocating for policies that improve living conditions, redistribute wealth, and ensure equal opportunities for all citizens, regardless of their ethnic or cultural backgrounds. Their populist approach has made them a powerful force within the Reva Aztara Commune, with the ability to mobilize large segments of the population behind their cause.
Ideological: The Indigenous Sovereignty Front is dedicated to Native representation, self-determination, and the preservation of indigenous cultures, languages, and traditions. They advocate for the reclamation of indigenous lands and the establishment of autonomous indigenous governance structures.
Regional: This faction sees itself as part of a region of the nation or a demographic group more than the nation as a whole. They look to advance the interests of their region, expand autonomy, and work within the framework of Total Abolitionism while prioritizing indigenous rights and sovereignty.
Queer Liberation Collective:
Traits: Ideological, Liberal
Ideological: The Queer Liberation Collective is committed to advancing queer liberation within Reva Aztara. They work to dismantle heteronormative and cisnormative structures, advocate for comprehensive LGBTQ+ rights, and promote the inclusion of diverse gender and sexual identities in all aspects of society.
Liberal: This faction draws support from well-educated professionals who appreciate the intellectual aspects of the ideology. They prefer measured steps towards their goals, valuing stability in the process and working within the broader context of Total Abolitionism.
Ideological: The Decolonization Front is dedicated to dismantling colonial legacies and promoting the revival and celebration of pre-colonial cultures, languages, and traditions. They aim to create a society that reflects the diverse histories and cultures of the people of Reva Aztara and to address the lingering effects of colonization.
Traditionalist: The Decolonization Front embraces traditional knowledge and practices of indigenous and non-indigenous communities alike. They recognize the value of traditional ways of living and advocate for their preservation and integration into modern society while advancing the principles of Total Abolitionism.
Claims: The RAC claims control over the territories of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, British Columbia, and parts of Northern California. They have established close alliances with other socialist and revolutionary movements across the continent, as well as with the People's Republic of China.
Archetype: The RAC is a Proxy of the People's Republic of China, a fully-functional and operational Chinese colony in North America that is rapidly renegotiating the distribution of power and property in the region. They strongly believe in the virtue of their own ideals and believe they are conquering a continent in desperate need of adult supervision.
History: The societal breakdown in the Pacific Northwest began with the worsening effects of climate change, as extreme storms, flooding, and heatwaves ravaged the region. Economic inequality soared as technological advances in robotics and artificial intelligence rendered many low-skilled jobs obsolete, leaving countless people unemployed and disaffected.
Amidst this turmoil, the People's Republic of China seized the opportunity to spread its influence in the region, promoting its vision of socialism and supporting revolutionary movements that aligned with its interests. By providing financial and material support to these movements, China hoped to establish a foothold in North America and create a buffer zone against the Western powers.
In the early 2060s, a series of events contributed to the formation of the Reva Aztara Commune (RAC). These events included the collapse of the United States, the refugee crisis caused by climate change, and the global power struggle between China and the European Union. The Pacific Northwest became a melting pot of various political factions and ideologies, each vying for control over the region.
The roots of the RAC can be traced back to the early 2040s when the American Maoist Party, New Black Panther Party, and Party for Socialism and Liberation formed a coalition to address the region's growing issues. This alliance, known as the Revolutionary Council of Portland, aimed to establish a socialist state that would counteract the societal and environmental crises plaguing the area. China saw the potential of this coalition and began providing support to help them achieve their goals.
Two key figures within the Revolutionary Council of Portland had close ties to China and played a significant role in shaping the RAC's political direction:
Li Wei, a Chinese-born political strategist and member of the American Maoist Party, used his connections to secure Chinese support for the coalition. Li Wei's expertise in crafting political messages that resonated with diverse factions allowed the Revolutionary Council to build a broad base of support.
Xue Mei, a high-ranking Chinese military advisor, was dispatched to the Pacific Northwest to assist the coalition's armed forces. Xue Mei's vast experience in guerrilla warfare and unconventional tactics proved invaluable in helping the Revolutionary Council of Portland to overcome their adversaries.
By focusing on the shared goals of social justice, environmental preservation, and economic equality, the Revolutionary Council of Portland was able to appeal to a broad range of supporters, including environmentalist and indigenous activists, Black nationalists, and feminists, who were all affected by the systemic issues.
In 2063, tensions between the Revolutionary Council of Portland and other political factions reached a boiling point. Anarchist splitters, left-liberals, and the fascist right-wing posed significant threats to the coalition's goals. To solidify their power, the Revolutionary Council of Portland orchestrated a series of uprisings, with the support of China, under the guidance of Li Wei, Xue Mei, and other key figures within their ranks.
In the summer of 2065, a turning point in the struggle for control over the Pacific Northwest took place. The Revolutionary Council of Portland, backed by Chinese resources, led a massive, organized protest against the existing government in the city of Portland. Thousands of citizens flooded the streets, demanding change and an end to the deteriorating conditions they faced.
The climax of this uprising occurred on August 12, 2065, when the Revolutionary Council of Portland and its supporters, with Chinese assistance, launched a coordinated assault on Portland City Hall. The police, unprepared for the sheer magnitude of the protestors, were quickly overwhelmed and forced to retreat. With the city hall under their control, the Revolutionary Council of Portland declared the establishment of the Reva Aztara Commune.
After the formation of the RAC, the Revolutionary Council of Portland was reorganized into the Supreme Council of the Revolution, which now rules the country according to the Revolutionary Charter - the highest law in the land. The Supreme Council of the Revolution maintains a strict grip on power, with dissenting voices suppressed and opposition parties marginalized.
The RAC prioritizes environmental sustainability, technological advancement, and grassroots mobilization, while maintaining a strong alliance with China. In return for China's support, the RAC has allowed Chinese companies to invest heavily in the region's infrastructure and natural resources. Additionally, the RAC actively promotes socialism with Chinese characteristics, and incorporates Chinese political and economic principles into its governance.
As a key ally in the Pacific Northwest, the Reva Aztara Commune serves as a strategic outpost for China, providing access to valuable resources and a buffer against rival Western powers. Furthermore, the RAC stands as a symbol of Chinese influence and the successful spread of their socialist ideals in the North American continent.
The presence of individuals such as Li Wei and Xue Mei in the Supreme Council of the Revolution ensures that China's interests are well-represented and protected within the RAC's political structure. This close relationship between the RAC and China has created a mutually beneficial partnership that strengthens both parties' positions on the global stage. However, it has also attracted scrutiny and criticism from Western powers, who view the RAC as a puppet state under Chinese control.
The Reva Aztara Commune represents a unique blend of various political ideologies that have come together under the banner of Chinese socialism. The strong alliance with China has provided the RAC with the necessary support and resources to establish itself as a powerful and influential entity in the Pacific Northwest. However, this close relationship has also raised concerns among Western powers, who view the RAC as an extension of China's growing influence in North America.
Comrades, Brothers and Sisters,
As we stand at the precipice of history, it is our solemn duty to examine the conditions that have led us to this critical juncture and to articulate the revolutionary path that will lead us towards the realization of our collective destiny: the birth of Reva Aztara.
The United States, once a beacon of hope and prosperity, has fallen into disarray, its foundations crumbling under the weight of systemic failures and contradictions. The capitalist mode of production, with its insatiable thirst for profit, has wrought untold suffering upon the masses, widening the chasm between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat, and tearing apart the very fabric of society. The white settler colonial legacy, a malignant force that has oppressed our indigenous and marginalized comrades for centuries, continues to cast its sinister shadow over our lands.
In these dark times, the urgent need for revolutionary transformation cannot be overstated. We must cast off the shackles of the old order and forge a new society that embodies the values of justice, equality, and sustainability. This is the essence of Reva Aztara - a guiding star that will illuminate our path to victory.
Our struggle is rooted in the teachings of the great revolutionary thinkers, from Marx and Lenin to Mao and beyond. Their wisdom provides us with the theoretical framework to understand and dismantle the oppressive structures of capitalism and colonialism. We must study their works diligently, comrades, for it is only through the mastery of revolutionary theory that we can hope to triumph in the face of our adversaries.
The material conditions that have given rise to our struggle are manifold. The relentless exploitation of our environment by the forces of capitalism has brought us to the brink of ecological collapse, while technological advances have rendered countless workers obsolete, leaving them to languish in poverty and despair. The crisis of capitalism has never been more apparent, and the time is ripe for us to seize the means of production and establish a new, socialist order.
The spirit of Reva Aztara must be infused with the principles of decolonization and indigenous sovereignty. We must recognize the historical injustices perpetrated against our indigenous comrades and work tirelessly to restore their lands and rights. In doing so, we honor and celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures and traditions that constitute our revolutionary identity.
The path before us, comrades, is fraught with challenges and adversaries. We must be prepared to confront the forces of reaction and counter-revolution at every turn, steeling ourselves for the battles that lie ahead. But let us not waver in our resolve, for it is through our unity and determination that we shall ultimately prevail.
In the words of Comrade Mao, "The people, and the people alone, are the motive force in the making of world history." Let us remember these wise words as we march forward, united in our struggle for a brighter future. Together, we shall build Reva Aztara - a new society forged in the fires of revolution, a beacon of hope and solidarity for all oppressed peoples across the globe.
Forward, comrades! To victory!
Li Wei
April 15, 2063
SpoilerDeprecated :
Country Name: The Reva Aztara Commune
The Reva Aztara Commune (RAC) has emerged from the ashes of the United States as a revolutionary socialist state, led by the Supreme Council of the Revolution (formerly the Revolutionary Council of Portland). The RAC is a successor to the United States, having its roots in the Pacific Northwest region. It was formed by a coalition of chapters of the American Maoist Party, the New Black Panther Party, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation, who joined forces to establish a new political order in the face of societal collapse.
The RAC maintains a neutral relationship with the existing Great Powers, wary of falling under their influence. They prioritize the development of their own regional bloc and self-sufficiency over dependence on China or the European Union.
Politically, the RAC is organized under the Supreme Council of the Revolution, a democratic centralist system where power is concentrated in the hands of a class of "professional revolutionaries," operating under the auspice of "mass democracy." The coalition of socialist and communist parties holds sway over policy, with opposition parties marginalized and suppressed.
The RAC has faced significant challenges from climate change, including flooding, drought, extreme storms, extreme cold temperatures, and extreme hot temperatures. They have implemented strict environmental policies and invested in green technologies to mitigate the impacts of climate change. "Strict ecology" is considered a key discipline of the state. The RAC has also embraced technological advancements to address societal disruptions, while actively fighting against economic inequality through social welfare programs and wealth redistribution.
The capital city of Portland was renamed to Turtle Island City in 2089.
Controlling Faction: Arch-Revolutionaries (The Supreme Council of the Revolution)
Traits: Ideological, Populist, Militarist
Ideological: The Arch-Revolutionaries, born out of a deep commitment to the core values that underpin Reva Aztara, tirelessly work to advance decolonization, indigenous representation, communism, and Black nationalism. As an ideological faction, they view the realization of these ideals as crucial to the nation's success and stability. They are prepared to make tough decisions and take bold actions to ensure that Reva Aztara stays true to its founding principles, including the radical tenets of Total Abolitionism.
Populist: At its heart, the Arch-Revolutionaries are a grassroots movement driven by the masses who fought and sacrificed for the revolution. They speak with the voice of the people, advocating for policies that improve living conditions, redistribute wealth, and protect the rights of all citizens, regardless of their ethnic, cultural, or social backgrounds. Their populist nature ensures that the government remains responsive to the population's needs and upholds the principles of mass democracy.
Militarist: Emerging from a period of intense conflict and warfare that led to the establishment of Reva Aztara, the Arch-Revolutionaries understand the importance of a strong and capable military force in maintaining the nation's security and preserving the hard-won gains of the revolution. They glorify and idealize the military as a symbol of the nation's strength and unity, and they prioritize investment in the armed forces to maintain their readiness against any internal or external threats.
Ideological: The Pan-African Communists advocate for the unity of all African-descended peoples in Reva Aztara and across the world. They seek to advance Black liberation ideology within a communist framework and work to dismantle the vestiges of colonialism and white supremacy.
Nationalist: This faction aims to create a unified, homogeneous nation-state, focusing on the interests of African-descended peoples and promoting cultural pride, solidarity, and economic self-sufficiency.
Ideological: The Indigenous Sovereignty Front is dedicated to Native representation, self-determination, and the preservation of indigenous cultures, languages, and traditions. They advocate for the reclamation of indigenous lands and the establishment of autonomous indigenous governance structures.
Regional: This faction sees itself as part of a region of the nation or a demographic group more than the nation as a whole. They look to advance the interests of their region, expand autonomy, and work within the framework of Total Abolitionism while prioritizing indigenous rights and sovereignty.
Queer Liberation Collective: Traits: Ideological, Liberal
Ideological: The Queer Liberation Collective is committed to advancing queer liberation within Reva Aztara. They work to dismantle heteronormative and cisnormative structures, advocate for comprehensive LGBTQ+ rights, and promote the inclusion of diverse gender and sexual identities in all aspects of society.
Liberal: This faction draws support from well-educated professionals who appreciate the intellectual aspects of the ideology. They prefer measured steps towards their goals, valuing stability in the process and working within the broader context of Total Abolitionism.
Ideological: The Decolonization Front is dedicated to dismantling colonial legacies and promoting the revival and celebration of pre-colonial cultures, languages, and traditions. They aim to create a society that reflects the diverse histories and cultures of the people of Reva Aztara and to address the lingering effects of colonization.
Traditionalist: The Decolonization Front embraces traditional knowledge and practices of indigenous and non-indigenous communities alike. They recognize the value of traditional ways of living and advocate for their preservation and integration into modern society while advancing the principles of Total Abolitionism.
Claims: The RAC claims control over the territories of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, British Columbia, and parts of Northern California. They have established close alliances with other socialist and revolutionary movements across the continent.
Archetype: The Reva Aztara Commune embodies the spirit of the Revolutionary archetype, seeking to create a new, egalitarian society in the fractured landscape of North America. They are determined to defy the influence of global powers and establish a self-sufficient socialist state across all of North America - the region referred to by the phrase "Reva Aztara."
History: The societal breakdown in the Pacific Northwest began with the worsening effects of climate change, as extreme storms, flooding, and heatwaves ravaged the region. Economic inequality soared as technological advances in robotics and artificial intelligence rendered many low-skilled jobs obsolete, leaving countless people unemployed and disaffected.
In the early 2060s, a series of events contributed to the formation of the Reva Aztara Commune (RAC). These events included the collapse of the United States, the refugee crisis caused by climate change, and the global power struggle between China and the European Union. The Pacific Northwest became a melting pot of various political factions and ideologies, each vying for control over the region.
The roots of the RAC can be traced back to the early 2040s when the American Maoist Party, New Black Panther Party, and Party for Socialism and Liberation formed a coalition to address the region's growing issues. This alliance, known as the Revolutionary Council of Portland, aimed to establish a socialist state that would counteract the societal and environmental crises plaguing the area.
In 2063, tensions between the Revolutionary Council of Portland and other political factions reached a boiling point. Anarchist splitters, left-liberals, and the fascist right-wing posed significant threats to the coalition's goals. To solidify their power, the Revolutionary Council of Portland orchestrated a series of uprisings, led by key figures within their ranks:
Amara Johnson, a charismatic leader from the American Maoist Party, played a vital role in mobilizing the masses and inspiring them to fight for a new, egalitarian society.
Malik Washington, a seasoned military strategist from the New Black Panther Party, led the coalition's armed forces against their adversaries.
Dr. Rosa Martinez, a prominent intellectual from the Party for Socialism and Liberation, helped develop the political ideology and framework that would guide the RAC.
In the summer of 2065, a turning point in the struggle for control over the Pacific Northwest took place. The Revolutionary Council of Portland, under the guidance of these notable figures, led a massive, organized protest against the existing government in the city of Portland. Thousands of citizens flooded the streets, demanding change and an end to the deteriorating conditions they faced.
The climax of this uprising occurred on August 12, 2065, when the Revolutionary Council of Portland and its supporters launched a coordinated assault on Portland City Hall. The police, unprepared for the sheer magnitude of the protestors, were quickly overwhelmed and forced to retreat. With the city hall under their control, the Revolutionary Council of Portland declared the establishment of the Reva Aztara Commune.
After the formation of the RAC, the Revolutionary Council of Portland was reorganized into the Supreme Council of the Revolution, which now rules the country according to the Revolutionary Charter - the highest law in the land. The Supreme Council of the Revolution maintains a strict grip on power, with dissenting voices suppressed and opposition parties marginalized. The RAC prioritizes environmental sustainability, technological advancement, and grassroots mobilization, while maintaining a policy of diplomatic neutrality towards the existing Great Powers.
The Reva Aztara Commune continues to face challenges, both internally and externally. However, under the leadership of the Supreme Council of the Revolution and its guiding principles, the RAC remains steadfast in its pursuit of a socialist society that addresses the pressing issues of climate change, economic inequality, and the remnants of the fractured United States.
Fourth-Wave Feminism and the State of Abolitionism in 2099
In the Reva Aztara Commune (RAC), the fervent pursuit of Total Abolitionism as a unifying ideology has given rise to a potent sociopolitical landscape that seeks to dismantle oppressive systems and establish true equality. The RAC's unwavering commitment to abolishing prisons, gender, property, family, and white supremacy has manifested in the development of groundbreaking and contentious policies, which have shaped the commune's trajectory and challenged conventional norms.
One striking example of the RAC's radical approach is the replacement of traditional prisons with "state schools." These innovative institutions, designed to provide education and rehabilitation for dissenters and criminals, are emblematic of the commune's dedication to addressing the root causes of criminal behavior and fostering societal reintegration. State schools offer programs encompassing education, vocational training, mental health services, and restorative justice practices, reflecting a profound shift in the RAC's approach to criminal justice.
Despite their progressive intentions, state schools have sparked intense debates within the RAC. Critics argue that these institutions may be used as instruments of social control and ideological indoctrination, eroding cultural traditions and social cohesion. These concerns are expressed by factions led by figures like Miriam Alvarez, a respected elder and community leader, and Kwame Osei, a prominent economist and social commentator, who believe that the focus on Total Abolitionism may divert attention from more pressing issues like economic inequality and climate change.
Amidst this ideological battleground, the struggle for gender liberation and the dismantling of oppressive structures has intensified. Imani Koroma, a charismatic and influential thinker, has galvanized support for her cause by passionately advocating for the forcible abolition of traditional gender roles and the family unit. She and her supporters call for sweeping reforms in education, social policy, and the legal system to challenge the nuclear family and promote alternative, egalitarian family structures that defy traditional gender roles and blood relations.
Nevertheless, the movement for gender liberation is not without its internal conflicts. Aisha Bellamy, a renowned feminist scholar and author, believes in recognizing and validating the unique experiences of women and other marginalized genders, rather than completely eradicating the concept of gender. Bellamy contends that the focus should be on empowering these individuals and dismantling the power structures that perpetuate gender inequality.
As the RAC grapples with the complexities of implementing Total Abolitionism, the delicate balance between respecting individual choices, cultural traditions, and the pursuit of gender equality and liberation has become increasingly precarious. The Supreme Council of the Revolution has issued proclamations emphasizing the necessity of Total Abolitionism, asserting that "abolitionism" – a somewhat broader and less-developed ideal – is enshrined in the Revolutionary Charter. The journey towards realizing the goals of Total Abolitionism will undoubtedly be fraught with obstacles and dilemmas.
The RAC's unwavering commitment to Total Abolitionism, bolstered by the Supreme Council of the Revolution's proclamations, has given rise to a potent sociopolitical zeitgeist, marked by passionate rhetoric, innovative policies, and fierce ideological clashes. While the future of the RAC remains uncertain, it is clear that the commune is on the precipice of transformative change. The people of the RAC, fueled by the impassioned arguments of leaders like Koroma, Alvarez, Osei, and Bellamy, as well as the steadfast support of the Supreme Council, are determined to confront the challenges head-on and to fight for a world where oppressive systems are dismantled and replaced with structures that empower and uplift all members of society.
The direction of the RAC hinges on its ability to navigate the complex and often contentious landscape of Total Abolitionism, guided by the principles enshrined in the Revolutionary Charter and the proclamations of the Supreme Council of the Revolution. As the commune seeks to forge a new path towards a truly equitable and inclusive society, the outcome will depend on the resolve of its people to reconcile their diverse perspectives and unite in their pursuit of transformative change.
OOC: Hit me back if you want me to take a different direction or need to stick me somewhere else. You know, I'll play anything except stuff that is boring and sucks.
Things that make concepts good: significant population or economic base, some hints of a strong futurist/dystopic element without going overboard, internal tensions
Things that make concepts iffy: too small in population, concept like a Fallout villain, bland domestic situation
@Caesar of Bread - I like Quebec, Canada, and Cascadia as solid concepts, though I'd like to see more elaboration beyond just their existence. Why did France invade Quebec? How does Canada manage relations between Ontario and the remaining western provinces without Quebec as a balance? What does Cascadia propose to actually do about unemployment and climate change?
New Mexico is a bit too small to be a viable power and I'm skeptical of the creation of a monarchy ex nihilo. Can you justify these better?
Chicago and Ohio are far too cartoony without major reworks.
@J.K. Stockholme - These are all great concepts, especially because some of them can be moved around. What does the de jure government of the People's Cartel look like? How do the Eco-Spartans manage relations with the outside world?
@NinjaCow64 - I'll give you time to flesh these out, but, what happened to all the white people in New Afrika?
@Kyzarc Fotjage - We've discussed these over discord, but keep in mind we're decades after the collapse. And, once again, I'm very skeptical of a Mafia-state as cool as it sounds.
@Crezth - We've discussed over discord. I don't expect so much from the initial pitches right now, but everyone else should note how Crezth specifically addresses the three big points: technological disruption, climate change, and the post-American order early in their application.
In 2065, General Michael Rutherford assumed control over a lawless Taos. His imperialistic desires placed him as Michael I, the Emperor of New Mexico and "the United States". Michael was once a good man, but his tyrannical desires gave in to him. Michael killed his wife Elizabeth after finding out about her affairs, ordered the blocking of Route 66 (the only trade route still commonly used), and killed many innocent people. In 2088, Frederick I and his friend Ulysses Simpson (who was a middle-class civilian working in the auto industry) led a coup against Frederick's dad. Michael committed suicide and Frederick and Ulysses established a newer and better New Mexico. Through the control of Route 66, New Mexico became a great trading power.
The story of the European Commission of Quebec, Pt. 2
In 2059, European forces led by the French invaded Quebec due to its proximity to Canada and overall friendliness to Europe. Quebecois had petitioned to be part of Europe since 2033, and their revolts had risen. Through the St. Lawrence Campaign, European troops could seize Quebec and Montreal fairly, establishing the European Commission of St. Lawrence. The commission had unified with the rest of European Quebec after the Europeans had defeated the rest of the Canadian forces in Quebec, Newfoundland, and Labrador.
Cascadian Policies
Sophia Hargreen has said that Cascadia will now rely on solar panels and will increase the number of maritime jobs or farming jobs needed to increase the population. Seawalls will be created to defend Seattle and the other cities against the rising tides.
Cananananananananada's relations with the Western Regions.
Canada has been bribing the governors of the western provinces (Manitoba, Saskewatchan, Alberta) to keep them in the Canadian nation. Canada has also improved relations with the First Nations peoples. But this may change under Queen Anne II, we don't know yet.
Country Name: Republic of New Afrika Summary: Discuss how your nation has weathered the 21st century, particularly:
Your descent from an existing nation (United States, Canada, or another country)
United States (specifically Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina)
Role(s)
Breakaway. While there are factions within the government that wish to spread revolutionary Communism to neighbouring states, most political groups in New Afrika have little desire to expand outside of what they identify as major New Afrikan (African American) population centers.
Your relationship to the existing Great Powers (China, Europe)
In the leadup to and during the Sino-American war, the Chinese armed various groups that they believed would serve as a third-column. These groups would form the nucleus of the political core of New Afrika. Europeans funded rival white supremacist militia for a brief period in order to contain Chinese influence in the region, but this policy was deeply unpopular domestically so this was stopped. Due to later Chinese diplomatic blunders and the bad blood with Europeans due to the whole white supremacist militia thing, New Afrika is skeptical of overtures from both major powers. Although if an attractive offer was made it could consider siding with one or the other.
How your nation organizes itself politically, which classes or political groups are in power and which are not.
Essentially I’m thinking of making this country a Nepal situation where radical Leftists compromise with more liberal/centrist/conservative groups in order to preserve stability. A lot of Communist Parties of New Afrika in a liberal democratic parliament. I’ll map a political party to each interest group eventually.
How your nation has dealt with climate change and other societal disruptions.
Climate Change - Climate change hit the deep south very hard, making life very difficult to live in. Richer southerners (mostly white families due to historical economic inequality) fled the region in droves. The remaining white people had a lot of sympathy for the New Afrikan cause. In the last period before the collapse of the United States, internal border restrictions and deportations to what became New Afrika were implemented and these were of course racially targeted. This led to mass protests, riots and eventually the formation of New Afrika.
Modern New Afrika deals with climate change through major public works that keep their major cities cool, carbon neutral and resistant to national disaster. Maintenance of these public works also serves as a convenient jobs program.
Technology Driven Inequality - For both ideological and practical reasons, New Afrika has sacrificed economic prosperity for domestic stability through large public job programs and strict limitations of AI and automation in most industries. These policies are starting to be threatened as New Afrika gains more international recognition and integration into the Sino-European economic order.
Climate change offers both challenges and opportunities to the Quebecois with increased rainfall leading directly to agricultural and hydropower based prosperity and French-speaking refugees from hurricane-lashed Atlantic Canada (and southern United States) assisting in the settlement of the underdeveloped provincial north. Growing hardships across the continent, including the US civil war, act as a psychological and cultural foil to the relative stability and prosperity of the Belle Province and this leads to further acceleration of its identity as a separate people and separate culture (with its own language) distinct from Canada.
During the second half of the century, economic collapse across the continent leads to greater and greater ties to Europe's markets with new bilateral trade agreements leading to greater economic prosperity, especially for a shrinking number of major agricultural landowners and the technologically savvy elite of the major cities of Montreal and Quebec (even as economic disparity grows among the underemployed and growing immigrant population). When the Canadian crisis (what is it? -happy to collaborate with other entries for this) arrives, it is not to the nation that Quebec turns for security but the EU and soon EU peacekeepers are being posted along the Ontario and US borders. Soon, the cultural and security independence of the province turns to actual independence when the province under Premier Olivier LePierre, under overwhelming popular pressure, holds a referendum on separation and formally withdraws from the Canadian nation.
Today Quebec is a country with strong economic and security ties to the EU, bringing with it both the economic opportunities of that partnership and the problems and concerns thereof relative to its competitive stance towards China. It is an energy and agricultural power, though economic prosperity is not a evenly distributed as it once was with economic and political influence concentrated in the hands of a few major business-owning families who effectively dictate internal policy and entrench their influence.
Relationships:
Strong ally (and pawn?) of Europe. Occasionally hostile to China due to European influence
Political make-up:
Democracy but strongly influenced (corrupted) by very old (and powerful) business-owning families.
Notes on climate change:
Despite frequent flooding of the fleuve, new dykes and infrastructure have been largely able to protect those with wealth and influence. Rising sea levels have devastated northern indigenous lands and in many cases forced relocation and sale of the lands to Hydro Quebec or other major energy powers for development.
Notes on social concerns:
Large parts of the population remain disenfranchised with little opportunity, influence, or political power. These are often recent immigrants or those who cannot integrate as easily (due to language, skin, religion, culture). Underemployed (temporary contract) agricultural workers and the wage-slaves filling out the lower rungs of the larger family corporations live hand to mouth and have little opportunity for advancement but are happy to at least have their salaries and meager apartments.
Factions:
Nationalists (focus on Quebecois identity, francophone arts and culture, etc)
Aristocratic (old money business families wield outsized influence, especially in tech sector, finance (insurance), and media)
Traditionalists (for the same reasons as the other two)
Claims:
Quebec province but maybe lots of influence in Vermont and New Brunswick?
I know its not terribly original and I've done Quebec before but it feels is realistic for the setting and might fit in? EDIT: I'll probably also make a pitch for a Mexican corporate-state.
Hope this works out- good luck Shadow. And thanks for turning me on to this JK.
Remnant. Was led popular military officer whose partisan dismissal his cult of personality blames the loss of the Sino-American War. He takes over the military to become the General of the Armies and conquers the East Coast while ruling his territories with an iron fist through a series of puppet Presidents.
He would inevitably succumb to old age and then I’m thinking we’d have a Taiwan situation - a nation divided between liberal reformers who want to put the American experiment to bed and face reality and militaristic hardliners who simply can’t let it go.
Republic of Cuba:
As the Ukraine-Russia War caused Russian influence to decline, Cuba realigned itself towards the People’s Republic of China. The relationship is primarily practical and economic than ideological, although the fact that both nations are Communist helps a little. Cuba is considered a major vehicle of Chinese influence throughout the Caribbean and North America.
Feel like Cuba would weather the chaos of the 21st Century as they have survived some horsehocky that would have ruined other countries.
The 2026 Sino-American war not only undercut American hegemony and dominance globally, it undercut the american dollar, its economic dominance and the greatest market the Mexican cartels had ever known. It also curtained American capacity to influence Mexican politics, policy, and security. Post 2026, the Mexican cartels, forced to look beyond American markets turned their eyes increasingly inward.
The mid 2030s and early 2040s saw the Mexican government increasingly under the sway of cartel money as economic hardships in the US spread to Mexico. A series of climate crises undercut the Mexican treasury and security budgets leaving larger and larger portions of Mexico ungovernable and importantly, un-taxable. Finally in 2048, a coup led by Ramos Ortega with support from the three largest cartels working in concert, toppled the elected government, placing Ramos in command. With the civil war in the USA just breaking out, the cartels were able to seize government, divide and subvert a good portion of the military while suppressing a loyalist counter-coup before the world community could respond effectively.
Within months the kleptocratic leadership had nationalized much of the nation’s economy under the guise of a single state-operated monolithic corporation they branded Aztlan. Except for enriching the cartels and their cronies, Aztlan was disastrous for Mexico, leading to massive capital flight, the collapse of the middle class, disenfranchisement and predation of the lower classes and mismanagement of the climate crises at the most critical juncture.
The 2050s and 60s were perhaps the darkest time in Mexico’s modern history with government funding for education, infrastructure, and many programs subverted into the kleptocracy and the punitive effects of Chinese and European attempts at economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation being borne by the people and not the cartels.
The late 2060s and 2070s were a time of relative growth however, as Aztlan’s predatory model had bled the country of its wealth and the kleptocrats of its income. Increasingly the state corporation had to turn to legitimate (and illegitimate) means of wealth generation, re-investing in infrastructure, manufacturing, and trade, if only to feed its corporate (no longer really cartel) elites.
The last quarter century has seen Aztlan fully adopt a corporate model and while the corporate elite are still in many ways the kleptocrats of generations prior, and the gangsters of generations before that, necessity has made them businessmen (and women). The state is a corporation and the corporation is the state. The elite live in corporate housing with access to fresh water, produce, medicines and consumer goods, collecting state salaries and secure in their positions and promises of near life-time employment in exchange for perfect unwavering loyalty. A small and politically disempowered middle class scrambles for crumbs, working temporary positions in offices, farms, or mines, dreaming of the security of a long-term contract and secure salary. Many live outside the corporate systems, officially wards of the state but in reality carving out their own subsistence lives on the edges of the state in shantytowns and isolated desert villages, desperate for water, food, or security in the face of violent gangs living similarly outside the warm embrace of Aztlan’s salaries.
To outsiders, Aztlan (no longer Mexico- Mexico doesn’t really exist except in history; Aztlan's 'brand' is distinctly Aztec-inspired) is both a state and a corporation, a monolithic producer of consumer electronics, textiles, pharmaceuticals and more and desperately protective of its domestic markets, allowing only subsidiary partnerships to operate within its territories. Domestically, it maintains control by strict regulation of water rights and water flow, extensive surveillance networks, and in a nod to its cartel past, state-controlled violence and terror.
Climate change:
Aztlan responded late to climate change, only addressing the issue as it evolved from a puppet of predatory kleptocrats to a functional corporate state and while today it boast impressive levies, irrigation infrastructure and solar energy fields, these were late coming and a lot of the climate crisis damages were irreversible prior to these responses.
Societal disruptions:
Wealth inequality is extreme in Aztlan. Its board of directors are some of the wealthiest men and women on the planet and its senior executives together control more than 95% of the country’s wealth. They manage this wealth inequality through promises of promotion and lavish spending on their most loyal while ensuring those outside the corporate state stay disempowered and separate through ruthless water management, aggressive policing, subversion/redirection, and some say, state-sponsored kidnappings, torture, and black-site executions.
Focus:
Military 1
Economic 2
Political 3
Proficiencies:
Irregular
Either Financial or Diplomacy (sales and deals)
Espionage
Administration
Factions:
Aristocratic (dominant Aztlan corporatists)
Populist (disenfranchised, decentralized populations antagonist of the corporate state)
Liberals (despite their economic security, sometimes state-aligned but often secretly in opposition to its kleptocratic genes)
Submission 1: The States United of America
(aka: The United States of America, Lighthouse, West Coast America, Collective of the Second Coming)
Descent from OG nation: The sea rose and swallowed the unworthy works dedicated to the greed of Man, and great fires sprung from the earth as entire swaths of land were consumed in roaring flame. Yet these were no acts from the Lord, for the Theocracy did not come about after such was done. These disasters continue to this day, even. But we were not destroyed, not even when the Army of the Devil battered down the doors of each Post Office and City Hall, publicly burning each bible and constitution they could to feed the Grand Foe. As if that would stop the great U S of A. Sure, we have to call ourselves SUA in official documents if we want recognition by the EU, but we all know the truth, and so we speak the truth.
Relation to China: That sad state of affairs, The War, not too much time has passed since then. Even when we had to take up arms against our fellow American, we knew that they were only victims of the manipulations of our true Foe. 9 of our 15 Apostles, including all three of the First Presidency, still remember the time of 2026, having lived through it themselves when they oldest amongst them were merely 67 years old. They are still in peak health given the glory of the Lord and His servant’s medical advances, of course, but when Temple Square of Salt Lake City was stormed and the six of the Elders were crucified by the Foe and our Texts burned it was only by the Grace of the Lord that the Nine lived. As such, is it any wonder that we hold such righteous condemnation for the servants of the Foe, disguised as they are by the name of the Chinese Communist Party?
Relation to Europe: Of our brothers in arms in the European Union, those actually undergone the Ordinances, they are few. After the forces of the Foe demanded their persecution and throwing out of office, they work mostly underground. Each hearing and gathering garnering only tens of thousands of voters in support, the rest living in fear of showing their true colors for the reprisals that would surely result. As such, while we do maintain a cordial relationship with some members of the Union, we never expect much support from them.
Organization: We still hold by the American tradition of representative democratic government, 400 potential national leaders being hand picked by the First Presidency to then be voted on by each member of the Church every four years. The amount of Wards and Stakes are now more like 40,000 and 4,000 currently, but at the end of the day we haven’t changed from the command structure the Bible prescribes. And, as always, if you ain’t a member of the Church, you aren’t an American. Those excommunicated are usually mutilated in public places as a public event, and questioning too much the patterns of excommunication based on the physical traits of the victims is a risky business. Local churches generally have their elders in their second century of life, having been afforded the very best of medical care.
How We Deal With The Apocalypse: The end of the world as we knew it has turned out to be a great way to get new converts. Especially when we can put in visible changes, like stopgap constructions and relief, there’s a great deal of souls that can be swayed. And with the actual end of the world as we know it coming sooner or later, there ain’t really a point to stopping climate change if it means an end to our ever adapting way of life. And how we dealt with social divisions? The ones which lead millions to come to Utah from natural disasters were pretty much a God send for conversion, but The War and those who were manipulated by the Foe into civil strife afterward were much harder to deal with. Especially without violating the China-SUA Deescalation/Disarmament Treaty of ‘57. Nonetheless, enough chemical weapons and carefully applied terrorist attacks lead to enough popular revolts in favor of peace and rejoining with the United States that executing the most prominent tools of the Foe on live television was a foregone conclusion after a time.
Factions:
Controlling Faction, LDS Orthodox: Nationalist, Traditionalist. It has been three decades since the First Presidency had less than 200 of the 400 electable representatives be primarily LDS Orthodox, though to what extent the label is actually reflective of their policies and beliefs does actually vary from “not at all” to “extremely”. This faction is entirely associated with the LDS church's power, mostly concerning itself with an anti-China rhetoric, the spread of Mormonism globally, and the reinforcement of it at home. Most elections the talking points are about which secondary party will be Vice President or even President, such is the surety that an LDS Orthodox will be elected into the other position
Notable Faction, Californian: Nationalist, Regional. Officially called the Party of Antediluvian Reclamation, this faction is all about diving the flooded areas of the West Coast and generally profiting off of disasters so that the Church can further its goals through economic means. Mostly means salvaging efforts and a very hard lifestyle which leads to quite a bit of impromptu martyrdom. Their colloquial name is a reference to how most of them hail from Wards in California, said state being a hotspot for reclaiming destroyed and decommissioned machines of The War and general electronics and resources. The state metaphorically “dried up” eventually, going from a time of bounty to just another job site, hence shift to missionary work with a mixture of disaster relief and disaster profiteering.
Notable Faction, Dusties: Regional, Populist. Officially called the Union of Disaffected Farmers, this faction is mostly comprised of farm owners (and their people and machines) which feed the nation. Drought after drought combined with flooding and fires has lead many plots to be overwhelmed, and as such the Wards which rely on them petition their representatives for support by way of disaster relief and scientific solutions. The name comes from a particularly successful publicity stunt in which fourteen representatives of the Union came to a televised debate covered head to toe in dust, reminiscent of both post 9/11 imagery and Dust Bowl stereotypes.
Notable Faction, Militants: Nationalist, Populist. Officially they go by any number of names, usually some take on the National (name of armament here) Party, though most broadcasts group them together for their common goal: skirting around and/or breaking the China-SUA Deescalation/Disarmament Treaty of ‘57. Coalitions often form amongst the Militants which garner extremely widespread support, but the First Presidency has to date never risked further Chinese aggression by publicly supporting or defending them, merely noting a few of their number as electable each four year cycle.
Claims: Mostly centered in Utah, solid claim over California and Oregon and Washington and Nevada and Idaho and Arizona and Colorado and Wyoming, every other state is claimed by the SUA but rarely pays all their taxes or listens to federal directives and laws.
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