Altered Maps V: The Molotov-Threadentropp Pact

[say1988]

Warpus, I am not saying it is completely logical or a real problem, but I am pretty sure that is where the idea is coming from. And what is the difference between a canal and a giant trench filled with water (besides possible locks and such)?
This is also considering that Thailand does have significant problems in its Muslim South.

 

[TheLastOne36]

@tlo the map looks good, but some of the borders are a bit off, especially in the west and the east.

Some names would be nice.

 

[ParkCungHee]

Tradition/cultural imperatives are about the only thing that can explain it.

It is also really annoying to switch your writing script. You may wonder why the Mongols, who switched to Cyrillic only 60 years ago, haven't switched back. The answer of course, is no one wants to be bothered, and any cost saved in say, printing fees, is negated by the prohibitive cost of teaching your country to read again.

 

[choxorn]

Denmark has a Swedish Province because that is how they were like in 1914, and I didn't bother to change it.

What? Denmark hasn't had a Province in Sweden since the Treaty of Roskilde.

 

[TheLastOne36]

What? Denmark hasn't had a Province in Sweden since the Treaty of Roskilde.

Meh.. I'm sure it was fixed since the previous release. I'll ask anyway.

 

[Tekee]

http://i49.tinypic.com/2rms3ur.png

Gomel and Mogilyov, is where Chernobyl is has affected strongly. Funny since if you pronounce mogilyov in a special way it means grave.

I edited Czech Republic to Winner's demends, as well as fix Slovakia.

Zra, Too bad.

 

[warpus]

Warpus, I am not saying it is completely logical or a real problem, but I am pretty sure that is where the idea is coming from. And what is the difference between a canal and a giant trench filled with water (besides possible locks and such)?
This is also considering that Thailand does have significant problems in its Muslim South.

Well, it's not like it's a moat or anything. There are canals all over the world - and I've never heard of anyone saying: "But putting this canal here is going to split Germany into two more pieces! We already have like 16!"

It's just silly

@tlo sorry man, i'm tired and busy, will look again later

 

[say1988]

[q]Well, it's not like it's a moat or anything. There are canals all over the world - and I've never heard of anyone saying: "But putting this canal here is going to split Germany into two more pieces! We already have like 16!"[/q]
But I don't think there is a canal right accross the country where there are periodic outbreaks of violence (at least I only hear about them periodically through the media).

It is silly, but it is quite easy to see where they are coming from.

 

[warpus]

Not really.

Unless they are insane.

 

[Tee Kay]

It's not so much a canal as a mini strait.

And there's a lot of paranoia regarding Malaysia and separatist movements.

 

[Masada]

I hate the use of 'Muslim' south since it obscures the far more relevant 'Malay' part.

I will laugh when a canal allows Malaysia to seize all the land south of it.

If UMNO falls apart then that becomes a distinct possibility.

Not really.

Unless they are insane.

Like Poles...?

And there's a lot of paranoia regarding Malaysia and separatist movements.

I don't think Thailand has every seriously considered the Malaysian government as a credible threat in that respect. That would change if the current government fell, since the opposition has in the past supported the separatists in both word and deed.

 

[Tee Kay]

I hate the use of 'Muslim' south since it obscures the far more relevant 'Malay' part.

If UMNO falls apart then that becomes a distinct possibility.

Like Poles...?

I don't think Thailand has every seriously considered the Malaysian government as a credible threat in that respect. That would change if the current government fell, since the opposition has in the past supported the separatists in both word and deed.

Some of the militants in the Three Southern Provinces allegedly get funding and support in Malaysia, and Malaysia has suggested giving the Pattani Malays autonomy (unthinkable to the nationalists). So the Thais are wary of Malaysia's role in the conflict, and among nationalists Malaysia is viewed with suspicion (then again, Thai nationalists view all neighbours with suspicion).

 

[Masada]

Some of the militants in the Three Southern Provinces allegedly get funding and support in Malaysia

Sure. Nevertheless, the UMNO has never pressed its claims in any meaningful way. That's been a consistent policy since Rahman and isn't like to change if UMNO wants to keep its partners in BN in-line. So while its entirely appropriate to suggest that the militants get support in Malaysia it isn't true to suggest that it gets support from Malaysia.

Malaysia has suggested giving the Pattani Malays autonomy (unthinkable to the nationalists).

That's a very simplistic view of Thai nationalists. Most of the key decision makers in the palace have already arrived at the conclusion that internal autonomy inside Thailand is far more desirable than autonomy outside of Thailand. General Sonthi is a living counterexample of that view. Malaysia just spoke a few years to early. Its no longer really all that contentious.

So the Thais are wary of Malaysia's role in the conflict, and among nationalists Malaysia is viewed with suspicion (then again, Thai nationalists view all neighbours with suspicion).

I'd be really interested to know who you think these nationalists are and what influence they have over government. Because I don't really see all the saber rattling as all that important in a state which is governed by a very narrow political elite many of whom are not ethnic Thais.

 

[Masada]

Some of the militants in the Three Southern Provinces allegedly get funding and support in Malaysia

Sure. Nevertheless, the UMNO has never pressed its claims in any meaningful way. That's been a consistent policy since Rahman and isn't like to change if UMNO wants to keep its partners in BN in-line. So while its entirely appropriate to suggest that the militants get support in Malaysia it isn't true to suggest that it gets support from Malaysia.

Malaysia has suggested giving the Pattani Malays autonomy (unthinkable to the nationalists).

That's a very simplistic view of Thai nationalists. Most of the key decision makers in the palace have already arrived at the conclusion that internal autonomy inside Thailand is far more desirable than autonomy outside of Thailand. General Sonthi is a living counterexample of that view. Malaysia just spoke a few years to early. Its no longer really all that contentious.

So the Thais are wary of Malaysia's role in the conflict, and among nationalists Malaysia is viewed with suspicion (then again, Thai nationalists view all neighbours with suspicion).

I'd be really interested to know who you think these nationalists are and what influence they have over government. Because I don't really see all the saber rattling as all that important in a state which is governed by a very narrow political elite many of whom are not ethnic Thais.

 

[Winner]

100 m rise in sea level:

 

[RedRalph]

100m? Are you sure thats right?

 

[Winner]

That's what the site says. It's of course unrealistic because it would probably require all polar ice to melt and that is not going to happen.

Still I am glad that I live in a landlocked country The Netherlands. Estonia and Denmark would almost completely disappear, half of Germany would be flooded, Britain and Ireland would be turned into an archipelago and the most developed areas in Northern Italy would get the Venice experience

 

[RedRalph]

I would have thought 100m rise would have had a way larger effect than that...

 

[Winner]

I would have thought 100m rise would have had a way larger effect than that...

Nah. You can compare it with an elevation map to see if it fits.

 

[Tee Kay]

Sure. Nevertheless, the UMNO has never pressed its claims in any meaningful way. That's been a consistent policy since Rahman and isn't like to change if UMNO wants to keep its partners in BN in-line. So while its entirely appropriate to suggest that the militants get support in Malaysia it isn't true to suggest that it gets support from Malaysia.

While that's true, there's a view that Malaysia is not entirely reliable, and the pro-separatist stance of the opposition isn't helping.

That's a very simplistic view of Thai nationalists. Most of the key decision makers in the palace have already arrived at the conclusion that internal autonomy inside Thailand is far more desirable than autonomy outside of Thailand. General Sonthi is a living counterexample of that view. Malaysia just spoke a few years to early. Its no longer really all that contentious.

The idea of "autonomy" certainly gained more support within Thailand now, but the degree of autonomy remains divisive. What Malaysia suggests is along the line of an autonomous region or SAR, while the Thai government is looking at something less dramatic (setting up a SEZ, and some Sharia-based laws), not autonomy in the sense of an entity distinct from the rest of Thailand. The opposition is proposing something like a municipality for the southern provinces with some powers to enact its own laws but that is controversial. A SAR proposal is being discussed but doesn't seem to have many supporters.

I'd be really interested to know who you think these nationalists are and what influence they have over government. Because I don't really see all the saber rattling as all that important in a state which is governed by a very narrow political elite many of whom are not ethnic Thais.

Thai society in general is nationalistic anyway, and many Thais have a poor view of neighbouring countries (although economic migration have something to do with this perception as well). Some of the political actors may not be ethnic Thais but they do pander to nationalistic sentiments.