Tani Coyote
Son of Huehuecoyotl
- Joined
- May 28, 2007
- Messages
- 15,191
Excerpt from the New International Political Science Review:
“… To an uninformed observer, there may not appear to be much difference between the Kingdom of China, United Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and the Empire of the Rising Sun. After all, they are all East Asian autocracies, and all currently engaged in an arms race to emerge as the dominant power in the region.
For this outward similarity, however, they could not be any more different internally. Representing the classical nations of China, Korea and Japan aside, they each have very distinct styles of legitimacy and rule from the others.
The UDPRK
We’ll start with the Koreans, often considered the underdog by analysts due to their lack of aggressive tendencies and status of being sandwiched between two expansionist powers. In what seems to be a mutation of the Chinese Mandate of Heaven, they see sovereignty as being embodied in the Dictator’s Ring, which they claim dates back to the pre-Cataclysmic era, and granted its wielder the guidance needed to survive the Korean wasteland and make it flourish again. Whoever takes the Ring claims the title of Dictator, gaining supreme authority over all Korea. While one might assume this is a violent, bloody power struggle waiting to happen, it appears most Dictators have actually ascended to power through the resignation and self-exile of their predecessor. Of the autocrats of East Asia, Korea’s “Dictator” seems to be the least fitting for their title, often ruling with a surprising amount of advice and consensus from their subject communities. Polity IV generally classes Korea as more of a hybrid regime, a weak autocracy as opposed to a consolidated one.
The Empire of the Rising Sun
It is in Japan that one finds an autocrat perhaps most deserving of the title. Staunchly traditional, the Emperor Chikara is the latest in a line of several reactionary monarchs, seeking to restore the old glory of the Japanese Empire. Before that can be done, however, Japan has to focus on being able to eject the Koreans from the Home Islands. So long as the powerful Korean Navy keeps Kyushu and Shikoku out of Tokyo’s grasp, the idea of Japan ruling much of anywhere beyond its shores seems rather like a pipe dream, the anomaly of Vladivostok aside. Japan’s sovereigns pride themselves on their unbroken heritage dating back over a thousand years, decrying the corruption that Western culture brings to all of Asia. Should Japan ever manage to break out of its bottle, a wave of reactionary conservatism is sure to flood over the whole region.
The Kingdom of China
Last but certainly not least, the Chinese monarchy is one of the more intriguing varieties. While the Chinese government is firmly nationalistic, boasting about the glory of China and its people, it is actually nowhere near as xenophobic as Japan’s. China’s autocracy claims that China’s real power is its ability to absorb the best qualities of every culture beyond its borders, ensuring that it will always provide the most optimal model of governance for its people. Despite its status as an absolute monarchy, China actually firmly sticks to the core idea of the Mandate of Heaven: the monarch rules because they are capable, not because of their biological origin. Consistent with all its ideals, the current monarch is not only of partial Greek and Danish descent, but actually goes by his personal name – Qiaozhi – rejecting the custom of avoiding names common to traditional Chinese and Japanese monarchy. Qiaozhi’s autocracy is one of many contradictions: stressing the superiority of China while freely assimilating ideas from beyond its borders, and stressing meritocracy and public service while practicing royal absolutism. They also claim to be the legitimate rulers of all China while nonetheless shrewdly avoiding the title of 'Emperor' and greatly reducing what is considered 'China' in their speeches, signaling deference to their powerful neighbor the High Kingdom.”
“… To an uninformed observer, there may not appear to be much difference between the Kingdom of China, United Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and the Empire of the Rising Sun. After all, they are all East Asian autocracies, and all currently engaged in an arms race to emerge as the dominant power in the region.
For this outward similarity, however, they could not be any more different internally. Representing the classical nations of China, Korea and Japan aside, they each have very distinct styles of legitimacy and rule from the others.
The UDPRK
We’ll start with the Koreans, often considered the underdog by analysts due to their lack of aggressive tendencies and status of being sandwiched between two expansionist powers. In what seems to be a mutation of the Chinese Mandate of Heaven, they see sovereignty as being embodied in the Dictator’s Ring, which they claim dates back to the pre-Cataclysmic era, and granted its wielder the guidance needed to survive the Korean wasteland and make it flourish again. Whoever takes the Ring claims the title of Dictator, gaining supreme authority over all Korea. While one might assume this is a violent, bloody power struggle waiting to happen, it appears most Dictators have actually ascended to power through the resignation and self-exile of their predecessor. Of the autocrats of East Asia, Korea’s “Dictator” seems to be the least fitting for their title, often ruling with a surprising amount of advice and consensus from their subject communities. Polity IV generally classes Korea as more of a hybrid regime, a weak autocracy as opposed to a consolidated one.
The Empire of the Rising Sun
It is in Japan that one finds an autocrat perhaps most deserving of the title. Staunchly traditional, the Emperor Chikara is the latest in a line of several reactionary monarchs, seeking to restore the old glory of the Japanese Empire. Before that can be done, however, Japan has to focus on being able to eject the Koreans from the Home Islands. So long as the powerful Korean Navy keeps Kyushu and Shikoku out of Tokyo’s grasp, the idea of Japan ruling much of anywhere beyond its shores seems rather like a pipe dream, the anomaly of Vladivostok aside. Japan’s sovereigns pride themselves on their unbroken heritage dating back over a thousand years, decrying the corruption that Western culture brings to all of Asia. Should Japan ever manage to break out of its bottle, a wave of reactionary conservatism is sure to flood over the whole region.
The Kingdom of China
Last but certainly not least, the Chinese monarchy is one of the more intriguing varieties. While the Chinese government is firmly nationalistic, boasting about the glory of China and its people, it is actually nowhere near as xenophobic as Japan’s. China’s autocracy claims that China’s real power is its ability to absorb the best qualities of every culture beyond its borders, ensuring that it will always provide the most optimal model of governance for its people. Despite its status as an absolute monarchy, China actually firmly sticks to the core idea of the Mandate of Heaven: the monarch rules because they are capable, not because of their biological origin. Consistent with all its ideals, the current monarch is not only of partial Greek and Danish descent, but actually goes by his personal name – Qiaozhi – rejecting the custom of avoiding names common to traditional Chinese and Japanese monarchy. Qiaozhi’s autocracy is one of many contradictions: stressing the superiority of China while freely assimilating ideas from beyond its borders, and stressing meritocracy and public service while practicing royal absolutism. They also claim to be the legitimate rulers of all China while nonetheless shrewdly avoiding the title of 'Emperor' and greatly reducing what is considered 'China' in their speeches, signaling deference to their powerful neighbor the High Kingdom.”
