OOC Notice: Approved by
@Prydania
OPINION: Stakhari diplomat: Regunalian militarism should be questioned
The national flag of Regunalia. (Eras Book Online)
Opinion by Sahand Alibadi
Sahand Alibadi, a Stakhari diplomat, works at the Stakhari Embassy Salurong as Trade and Political Secretary
In high school, we celebrated World Day. It was a wholesome affair where each class decorated their homeroom according to their assigned country. The Grand Kingdom of Regunalia was assigned to my class. The class representative told me to print copies of the Regunalian national flag at the Registrar's Office. While I stood by the copier machine, watching the machine dump dozens of colored paper, I noticed something strange about the flag.
I took a copy to take a closer look. In the middle of the Regunalian flag, I could see six white splotches. At first, I thought the copier was broken. Or it was a stain on the original copy the class representative gave me. But it was unmistakably an actual feature of the flag. These splotches are actually six of the world's continents. It was a silhouette of the world.
Led on by dumb teenage curiosity, I asked myself "This doesn't look like Regunalia. Why would they put the world on their flag?" The meaning of this design has grown obscure over time. Usually, "world peace" is the explained message. Other times, "good will to all'' and "global cooperation." Though if you look into Regunalian politics, the one thing that stands out is the appointment of military servicemen as senior figures in government. The latest was when Regunalia joined the Kian Union (KU). King Leonidas appointed a general named Lloyd Millard of the Regunalian Honor Guard (RHG) as KU plenipotentiary. The primary responsibility of the RHG is to "protect the King and the Royal Family." Other responsibilities include "(to) protect the Grand Royal Palace Complex'' and "(to) protect Centrian Region." A person who is essentially a bodyguard was appointed to a major diplomatic role.
This display of nepotism, however, is not a simple case of playing favorites. The Regunalian military plays a role in society too integral that one could argue it is fundamental. That the military is their way of life. It comes to no surprise when the gallant Kianese country was founded only a century ago. Around four decades ago, in fact. The Thurston dynasty that currently rules Regunalia came to power as founders of the Grand Kingdom. Before Regunalia, there used to be duchies and city-states. They claim they united to defend themselves from dangerous forces threatening their peaceful existence.
In reality, the only forces presenting themselves as potential threats to Regunalia are the Regunalians themselves. The Thurstons spilt blood and spent lives to unite the city-states and duchies that form the present-day Grand Kingdom. In the Accursed War for Commerciorum (1980-1986), its estimate of 450,000 casualties made the Regunalian Unification Wars one of the bloodiest in modern history. The Thurstons crowned its patriarch, Stirling, as King of Regunalia—with no other basis apart from vicious, armed supremacy. Which begs the question: Is Regunalia a monarchy or a military dictatorship?
With no other pleasant way of saying it, it does act more like a military dictatorship than a monarchy. Even if the Regunalian state religion is Courantism, the monarchy was not founded on divine right or any of the typical themes of monarchical rule consistent around Eras. Apparently, to harm a RHG serviceman is a legitimate cause for Regunalia to declare war against the nationality of the offender. Furthermore, King Leonidas has been quoted many times to say "if you have a problem with me, we can solve it in the arena." This
Might is Right Doctrine has been emphasized by the Regunalian king from the very beginning. In his coronation, he promised "a strong and lasting government."
The Seven Sided Star, otherwise known as the Regunalian armed forces, has 7 military branches. Hence the name. Regunalia is the country with the most number of military branches in the world. In a KU session, when questioned by Valencian plenipotentiary Gaël M. Chastain as to what Regunalia could offer to the organization, General Millard boasted about Regunalian military capabilities:
The Kingdom of Regunalia can promise state of the art training facilities for joint exercises, a disciplined and well-trained military [...] Various cothons and seawalls as well as coastal defenses that make invasion by sea as annoying as possible.
For as long as it existed, the Regunalian government seems to prioritize the build-up of its defenses. More than it sought the friendship of its neighboring countries and its own citizens involved in rebel activities in the 80s. To me, even as a diplomat, they always gave the impression they are battle ready for an invasion that will never come. As a Stakhari, a nation plagued by civil strife, we have seen the same kind of demagoguery from our leaders. Like what the Regunalians did to their "rebels," they were purged with extreme prejudice. There was no difference between an activist or an armed insurgent. There was only a syndicalist, a liberal, a separatist, and all of them should be eradicated. That's the end of it. No questions asked. If you do, you'll end up the same way as rebels did: Trophy casualties on a dictatorship's scoreboard.
When Arad Katrak's government collapsed in 2010, the country was divided into self-governing factions. All with intentions to unify the country and form the national government. Then entered the Regunalians who "restored order" in Southern Stakhr. I wonder what brand of unity does Regunalia intend to sell to Stakhr. Is it the same brand they shoved down their fellow countrymen's throats in the Unification Wars?
I find the Regunalians patronizing in their efforts to help Stakhr. General Millard is the loudest voice in the KU when it comes to dealing with the Ten Rings. But the legitimate government in Northern Stakhr is left on the sidelines. The way Regunalia has behaved in the entire conflict with the Ten Rings demonstrated it is more concerned about Ten Rings attacks in Regunalian soil than stabilizing the situation in Stakhr. Almost theatrical. Yet Stakhr has long been a nation before Regunalia was even an idea. Kuros I was King of Stakhr in the days of the Kianese Empire and his dynasty, the Teispids, ruled for hundreds of years until the First Stakhari Republic was established. While the Third Stakhari Republic was trying to unite the people over ideological divisions, Thornton lackies were killing separatists and syndicalists to form Regunalia.
In the entire Ten Rings conflict, Brett Pearson is the only Regunalian politician who spoke about humanitarian relief, the reconstruction of Stakhari infrastructure, and increasing Stakhari standard of living. King Leonidas made no strong commitments to peaceful dialogue or support the legitimate government's armed forces in dealing with the Ten Rings. At the same time, the Regunalian government insisted the Stakhari ambassador to attend the Grand Royal Assembly session when continuation of the war against the Ten Rings was put to vote. The way he was invited was akin to a demand befitting a subordinate legislator, not the ambassador of a sovereign country, and he was, supposedly, going to have a say in the session (whether in a voting or deliberative capacity, it was unclear).
During the controversial 2020 Regunalian State Dinner, former U.F. High Representative Rajesh Galang personally witnessed Regunalian obsession of martial tradition and, literally,
tradition. He said, in an interview with Kalipunan Umalohokan, "it wasn't a festival of common ground. It was a medieval cosplay convention." He went on to recall the series of eccentric events, laughing as he described it, men in armor swinging swords at each other. High Representative Galang also claimed he overheard Regunalians at the state dinner that King Leonidas was especially keen on challenging King Tobias of Prydania to a duel. Humoring the thought at first, High Representative Galang slowly became convinced it was the reason why Regunalian officials and, at one point, King Leonidas himself, were hovering around the Prydanian representative. The representative was Field Marshal Stig Eiderwig, King Tobias's cousin.
On a curious note, reaching the climax of Regunalia's love of military and medieval times, the Seven Sided Star participated in the 2020 Odinspyl. The Regunalian Special Corps made the team for the archery event. Unsurprisingly, they came in last. The Prydanian team, with no military association, won 1st place.
The Thorntons are royalty just as pornstars are kings and queens to their audience individually. There is nothing royal about them except for the titles and the word "royal" in their government. I find it hilarious whenever I think how did these people manage to proclaim themselves an imperial dynasty in the late 20th Century. If a person in the Callisean Republic in the 1980s claimed they were the rightful Callisean monarch, they would be laughed and jeered at by the public. Even if they broke into the Callisean Congress with armed soldiers, there is no way the duly elected representatives would willingly concede. Furthermore, to say the Regunalian dictatorship is a monarchy would imply it is equal to the Stakhari monarchy and other ancient monarchies, both current and abolished, around the world.
Whether the Thorntons are legitimate or not does not change the fact that the Regunalian military complex is an unnecessary system. The excessive number of military branches and political roles usually indicate the need to (over)compensate for a deficiency in authority. If they had any strong legitimacy in their rule, the military would not play too big of a role in Regunalian politics. But often many times have they demonstrated otherwise and beyond the norm. It would only make sense if Regunalia has plans for territorial expansion. How coincidental that Stakhr is so weak that it could not confine the threat of the Ten Rings. With the world on the Regunalian flag, who is to say they would not stop in Stakhr? The Kian Union and the legitimate Stakahri government must start asking serious questions about Regunalia’s continued role in stabilizing Stakhr.
Regunalian militarism should be questioned. Although it is young, it has presented a defining trait: The edification of amalgamated military, political, and cultural power to make an aesthetic appearance of a strong nation. It is just a militarized form of edifice complex. It is not interested in the redevelopment of wartorn neighbors. It is excited with the prospect of further military cooperation and build-up with its allies in the Kian Union. The strengthening of the Regunalian military complex is paramount to the success of Regunalian militarism. They cannot be trusted to restore order in Stakhr. The Stakahri government should seek allies in other places. The Kian Union is not just Regunalia. Reasonable member states of the KU should reassess the situation and see their current objectives are not in the best interests of Stakhr.
General Lloyd Millard has stepped down as KU plenipotentiary. He was replaced by Hugh Ayers, a "royal herald."