Allegheny
Union Republic of Allegheny luJumhuriyat luIthihad aYulakhaan | |
|---|---|
Flag of Allegheny
Coat of arms
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Motto: “luSahih luSiram luFawzam” (Packilvanian)
“Assimilate” | |
Anthem: DumuYuma aluKumeen (Packilvanian) You are the Mother of All | |
 Allegheny (dark green), Pax-Draconica (light green) | |
| Capital and largest city | Kandarahan |
| Official languages | Packilvanian |
| Recognised regional languages |
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| Ethnic groups | |
| Religion |
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| Demonym(s) | Alleghenian |
| Government | Federal constitutional semi-presidential republic under a multiparty representative electoral democracy |
• President | Gen. Kusandriya Fuleeb |
• Prime Minister | Basmal Hadik |
• Speaker | Umid Erkhan |
| Establishment | |
• Independence | November 15, 1715 |
• Kingdom | June 21, 1831 |
• Republic | September 15, 1956 |
• Federation | August 29, 1997 |
| Area | |
• Total | 715,000 km2 (276,000 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Estimate | 92,820,000 |
• Density | 129/km2 (334.1/sq mi) |
| GDP (nominal) | estimate |
• Total | ♅507 billion |
• Per capita | ♅5,500 |
| Gini |  45medium |
| SDI (2023) | 0.750 high |
| Currency | Alleghenian credit (ALC) |
| Time zone | UTC+7 (Alleghenian Standard Time) |
| Date format | YYYY/MM/DD |
| Driving side | left |
| Calling code | +61 |
Allegheny, formally known as the Union Republic of Allegheny (Packilvanian: luJumhuriyat luIthihad aYulakhaan), is a landlocked country located in Yasteria. It borders Packilvania to the west and south, Vekaiyu to the east, and Drakkengard to the north. The country spans an area of approximately 700,000km² (approximately 280,000 square miles). Its geography is dominated by the Ta'lavero Mountains to the east, the fertile Ufrata River Basin in the interior and the Jumhur Mountains to the west, causing the country to have alpine, humid continental and dry arid climatic zones.
Allegheny was colonised by Packilvania from the 10th century CE to the 16th century CE, which saw the Packilvanian language and Paxism introduced to Allegheny and the formation of a small Feline settler population. The country attained its independence as a loose confederation composed of Princely States (small largely self governing polities based on ethnolinguistic group ruled by a hereditary or elected Prince). With internal stability threatened by disputes political power was gradually ceded to the Prince of Kandarahan which culminated in the abolition of the Princely States and formation of a unitary absolute monarchy under the House of Ixanad that saw the systemic destruction of native religions and the reestablishment of the formal judicial and religious authority of the Magisterium of Paxism over Allegheny.
Following military defeat and occupation by Vekaiyu after the Great War, Allegheny experienced a pro-Vekaiyu pivot, preventing the Packilvanian Communist Party's overthrow of the Demirite dynasty and imposition of Communism in Central Yasteria from propagating to it. In 1956, following discovery of impropriety by the King, the monarchy was abolished and replaced with a unitary Republic. Following the victory of the Carriers of Mercy in the Second Packilvanian Civil War, the country joined Pax-Draconica. Following ethnoreligious tensions that culminated in the Alleghenian Civil War, the country reformed into a federal system granting significant autonomy to its various communities.
Today, the country has a population of approximately 92 million people, of whom the vast majority are Packilvanian speaking, Ursine adherents of Paxism (which is the state religion) along with Felines largely in the north and Vulpines largely in the cities. With a GDP per capita of approximately, 5,700 KRB, it is considered a developing country and it has experienced considerable economic growth due to its large commodities and low cost manufactured goods exports, but nevertheless suffers from a brain drain and challenging geopolitical landscape. Governed as a federal semi-presidential democracy, it has a free, fair and competitive electoral system dominated by the Union and Democratic Parties.
Etymology
The word Allegheny is a Staynicisation of the word Alagaan which is a Packilvanisation of the word Yulungan which is a Proto-Draco-Alleghenian word for the area now comprising Allegheny. It consists of the locative prefix “yu” and the noun stem “Lungan”. “Lungan” means a place between two mountains with a river between it, akin to the Staynish term “river valley” referring to its location between the Ta’lavero Mountains and the Jumhur Mountains and the presence of the Ufrata River between them. In modern Packilvanian, it is known as Yulakhaan. The Staynish demonym for the country is Alleghenian.
History
Independence
Between 1690 and 1700, there was a drought that not only led to a low rate of rain but low flow of water through the Ufrata River. This caused a famine that led to the death of 10% of the people and over 30% of the population to experience malnutrition. Additionally, the colonial government continued to impose harsh taxes on the native population and maintain segregation and inequality between Feline settlers and the Ursine natives.
This led to a revolt of Ursine farmers in 1705 in the capital Kandarahan. The revolt was supported by wealthy Ursine land owners and merchants who were deeply disaffected by the high level of taxes that were stifling their business interests and making it hard for their tenants to pay their rents. Additionally there was an appetite among the Ursine land owners and merchants for political control. Thus, they coalesced and capitalised on the revolt to call for the independence of Allegheny from Packilvania.
This led to the imposition of military law whereby the Packilvanian Army was sent to suppress the revolt. This resulted in an explosion of violence in the various provinces of Allegheny. Ursine provincial governors who were appointed by the Packilvanian government switched loyalties and came together to sign the Declaration of Independence (luKhaman aluSuvranishme) that called for an independent Ursine-led state. This was rejected by the Packilvanian authorities which sought to retain control and suppress the secessionist movement. After years of fighting, the Packilvanian Army retreated and left the country, however the Sultan in Bingol refused to recognise the independence of Allegheny.
Princely Union
The country was divided into Principalities based on ethnolinguistic groups whereby the paramount chiefs and senior-most tribal leaders were designated the titles of Prince. The city of Kandarahan was recognised as the seat of the Union Senate, where the Princes and/or their representatives met to discuss matters concerning the entire country. Tribes were allowed to run themselves including in raising taxes, managing services like roads, and setting up armed militias. Disputes over borders and rights related to the access of water and other resources led to armed conflicts between Principalities that threatened the unity and stability of Allegheny. Thus, the Union Senate established the Union Government and elected the Prince of Kandarahan as the First Prince. He was given the power to appoint Marshalls to maintain order in the country and to resolve disputes between the Principalities.
There was some resistance to the reforms but the order that prevailed prompted the Union Senate to cede more political authority from the Princes to the First Prince. After the Prince of Kandarahan sent an embassy to the Sultan of Packilvania and offered tribute, the Sultan recognised Allegheny as an independent country in return for the Magisterium being able to send missionaries to Allegheny. This led to the reestablishment of the political influence of the Magisterium in Allegheny. By the early 1800s, the Princes of Kandarahan had accumulated so much power that their agents and bureaucrats were able to exercise public functions like enforcing justice, building public works, and maintaining order. Prince Hamed of Kandarahan declared himself the King of Allegheny and abolished the Union Senate and the Principalities, putting an end to the Princely Union.
Kingdom
Prince Hamed held a coronation in Kandarahan where he was recognised as King Hamed I of Allegheny. Allegheny was declared a Kingdom. The Princes who acquiesced to his rule were compensated with titles of peerage that were akin to the titles that were found in Packilvania and Vekaiyu. However, those that dissented were imprisoned or executed. The lands of the tribes were amalgamated into larger administrative units and various tribal leaders were deposed from their positions. Over the succeeding years, the government imposed Packilvanian as it was spoken in the Kandarahan Royal Court to create a unified Alleghenian identity. Furthermore the practice of indigenous religions many of which were animist or polytheistic, was forbidden and many artefacts and buildings related to them were destroyed, and supplanted by Paxism. King Hamed I abolished the slave trade and made it illegal to traffic in persons now recognised as free.
King Hamed II ascended to the Throne in 1878, and continued many of the same policies as his father. He carried many public works projects and established a robust system for collecting taxes. The country experience revolts from people who refused to pay their taxes but the authorities managed to stifle most of them. King Hamed II was Succeeded by King Khenad in 1905. King Khenad I allied with Packilvania in the Great War and joined the Imperial Powers. However, it was invaded and occupied by the Vekaiyun Army and forced to sign a non-aggression pact with Vekaiyu.
Over and above ideological differences with the new Packilvanian government under the Packilvanian Communist Party, following its overthrow of the Demirite dynasty, Treaty with Vekaiyu proved a geopolitical concern for Gideon Muktan that led to the Packilvanian Liberation Army invading Allegheny and attempting to foment a Communist rebellion against King Khenad who had fled abroad. The Communists left after years of fighting but Allegheny was left in a state of calamity and it was forced to agree to remain neutral.
King Khenad was deposed in a bloodless coup by his brother Turmeek who declared himself King Turmeek in 1918. In 1934, King Turmeek was Succeeded by King Asmid. King Asmid became deeply unpopular for his lavish lifestyle. He was found to have a male lover in 1955. This led to his arrest and the Purist League, a socially conservative group called for the overthrow of the King and the abolition of the monarchy. They garnered sufficient support and acquired weapons enabling them to launch a war against the government and end the monarchy, giving rise to the formation of the Republic of Allegheny in 1956.
Republic
The Republic held an election for its first President that was restricted to tax paying males above the age of 18 which saw Jadim Saykhan elected. Jadim Saykhan arrested the members of the Royal House of Ixanad and confiscated their properties. Some made deals with the new government and escaped the pogroms, enabling them to preserve their wealth and esteem, funding Saykhan's second run for President in 1962, which he won.
Saykhan remained remained a dictator. He sympathised with the attempts by the Carriers of Mercy to restore the place of Paxism in society and supported them in their fight by sending humanitarian aid and weapons. He had also hoped that if Amhoud I began the Packilvanian leader, he would settle ongoing disputes between Packilvania and Allegheny in Allegheny's favour. Saykhan left office in 1968 and was replaced by President Nabeel Qardamoon.
Qardamoon
Politics
The Constitution of Allegheny (luKhanongur aYulakhaan) is supreme law of the land with which other laws must conform. It creates a three-branch government as follows:
- Legislature: The unicameral Union Senate (luKhneset aluIthihad) consists of 300 directly elected members.
- Executive: The President (muRayeesgur) is the head of state, and commander-in-chief of the armed forces who appoints the Prime Minister (muVazeer muBas) and Cabinet (luKhabanit)
- Judicial: The Supreme Court (luKhama luMakhnifiya) appointed by the President with the consent of the Union Senate and other courts created by law
The President is elected by a two round voting system whereby if a candidate does not receive at least 50% of the vote, a second round is held with the two leading candidates where the one with the greater share of votes becomes the President. The President has the power to dissolve the Union Senate, to declare war and make peace, to sign laws and treaties, to direct foreign and defense policies, to bestow orders of chivalry, receive the accreditation of foreign diplomats, and to grant pardons for crimes.
The Prime Minister is the head of government and must command the confidence of the Union Senate, thus this is normally the leader of the largest party or coalition in the Union Senate. The rest of the Cabinet consists of senators appointed by the President. If the Union Senate passes a vote of no confidence in the Cabinet and the Prime Minister, they can either resign or the President can dissolve the Union Senate. The members of the Cabinet are known as Secretaries who oversee a government department. Together, they form the highest decision-making body of the executive branch. The Prime Minister chairs its meetings and directs its work.
The Union Senate is elected by eligible adult citizens through a first-past-the-post system where political parties may appoint senators to a seat of an electoral district in which they receive the most votes. Senators can vote, deliberate, and propose legislation and non-binding resolutions. The Speaker presides over sessions of the Union Senate. The largest party is the Union Party, a socially conservative pro-free market party, while the Official Opposition consists of the Democratic Party, a center right party.
The Supreme Court consists of 12 Justice and the Chief Justice. They are appointed by the President with the approval of two-thirds of the Union Senate. It has the power to strike down laws that are unconstitutional and it is the last court to which appeals from Union Courts can be received. Beneath it are the Union Circuit Courts, and Union District Courts that are courts of first instance for matters arising from federal law. Each province has its own judicial system that normally consists of the Provincial Supreme Court at their apex and other lesser courts.
Administrative divisions
The country consists of States (leFaniya). Each State has the power to legislate matters not reserved to the Union Government. The government of each province is established by its own Constitution; however, it must be a republican three branch government (judicial, legislative, and executive) with checks and balances between them.
Most provinces have the same structure: they have a directly elected Governor (muMeer) who is the chief executive of the province and appoints the State Cabinet which consists of State Ministers that head provincial departments. They also have a State Senate which is elected by the registered voting public and makes laws and can pass a vote of no-confidence in the executive branch. The State Supreme Court is the highest court for the appeal of matters arising from provincial laws, laws which it can strike down if they violate federal or provincial constitutional law.
The country consists of the following provinces:
| Name | Capital | Governor | Population | GVA per capita | GVA (nominal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kandarahan | Kandarahan | Jubal Iskhameed | 7,670,000 | ♅8,650 | ♅66,345,500,000 |
| Lower Ufrata | Razaal | Husayn Ashkamood | 15,780,000 | ♅7,320 | ♅115,509,600,000 |
| North Talavero | Xaraat | Ihsan Bahadil | 12,420,000 | ♅6,310 | ♅78,370,200,000 |
| South Talavero | Faraan-Faleed | Yabral Tubaylion | 16,190,000 | ♅3,150 | ♅50,998,500,000 |
| Uliveru | Danaanshtar | Darkhan Shalhadek | 19,390,000 | ♅4,980 | ♅96,562,200,000 |
| Upper Ufrata | Ragaan-Pragaan | Basraan Dhuhed | 21,370,000 | ♅4,670 | ♅99,797,900,000 |
Military
The Alleghenian Armed Forces is the military of Allegheny and is responsible for defending Allegheny from foreign threats. In peacetime, it also aids in peacekeeping, humanitarian aid, search and rescue and disaster relief. The highest-ranking professional officer is the Supreme Commander. It consists of the Alleghenian Air Force and Alleghenian Army.
A system of conscription nominally exists whereby able-bodied men at the age of 18 are required to undergo several months of training and men between 18 and 35 are required to perform a year of mandatory week-long service. Women are permitted to serve but they do have compulsory service. Compulsory service is not consistently enforced due to its costs; thus the country has a volunteer force of 200,000 members of which 50,000 are in the air force and 150,000 are in the army.
The armed forces have a budget of ♅7,742,078,000, about 2% of GDP of which ♅5,806,558,500 (about 75%) is dedicated to the army and the remaining ♅1,935,519,500 to the air force. The army has 3,500 land vehicles including 750 main-battle tanks. The air force has 120 aircraft including 40 fighter jets. Allegheny imports arms from Packilvania however it also manufactures armour, missile systems, and rotary aircraft. The country is a member of the Central Yasterian Security Partnership and enjoys protection of Packilvania's nuclear umbrella.
Foreign relations
Allegheny is part of Pax-Draconica and maintains close economic and political relations with Packilvania and Drakkengard. It maintains formal diplomatic relations with Volkia, Peregrinia, Vekaiyu and Listonia. It is a member of the International Cultural Heritage Organisation, International Coalition of Association Football, International Electrical Committee, International Federation of Sapient Aid Organisations, and the International Banking Exchange Cooperative, and an observer in the East Pacific Treaty Organisation,. It is seeking membership in the International Forum. It is a signatory of the Nuvrenon Convention, International Convention on Climate Change, and the International Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Economy
The economy of Allegheny is characterised by international financial institutions such as the Auroran Monetary Fund as a developing country. It has a nominal GDP of approximately ♅507.583 billion and a GDP per capita of ♅5,468.
The country exports approximately ♅60 billion to foreign nations and imports approximately ♅59 billion dollars, leading to a trade surplus of ♅1 billion. Its largest trade partners are Packilvania (15%), Vekaiyu (12%), Great Morstaybishlia (11%), South Hills (9%), Listonia (7%), Drakkengard (6%), Peregrinia (6%), and Volkia (5%). The country has ♅18 billion in foreign direct investment predominantly from Packilvania, Vekaiyu, Great Morstaybishlia and South Hills.
20% of the economy consists of the informal sector, which employs over 50% of the population. Formal sector jobs typically pay higher wages and provide more stability. However, the formal sector is not able to create sufficient jobs to absorb the country's available labour, causing many people to seek employment in the informal sector. The country has an unemployment rate of 5%. 30% of working adults are self employed while another 50% are employed in family-run businesses. Approximately 40% of employed adults work in agriculture, while 30% work in manufacturing, 20% in services, and 10% in mining. The median monthly income is approximately ♅2,000. Allegheny struggles with a brain drain that is seeing skilled people emigrate to Vekaiyu and Packilvania where incomes tend to be higher. The country receives 5 billion dollars annually in remittances from its workers abroad. Alleghenian workers are attractive to foreign companies that want to outsource low-cost manufacturing due to low labour costs.
The agricultural sector comprises 10% of GDP. Agriculture relies on irrigation from the waters of the Ufrata River and its tributaries. Especially in the south, the short rainy periods and the relatively low levels of precipitation, also make farmers reliant on ground water for irrigation. The agriculture sector produces crops such as sorghum, pearl millet, chick peas, ground nuts, and edible succulents. Over 60% of food is grown is small family owned plots and many farmers farm for subsistence and localised trade. There are some large commercial farms that produce food in sufficient quantities to export to neighbouring countries.
Demographics
The country has a population 92,820,000 people. The country has an annual population growth rate of 1.5%, with an average 2.8 births per woman. Rates of immigration are relatively low with the country hosting only 25,000 expatriates and naturalizing only 5,000 people. The 50.1% of the population is male and 49.9% of the population is male. 5% of the population consists of people over the age of 65 and 50% of the population consists of people below the age of 15. The country’s average marriage age is 25 years old for males and 21 years old for females. Of the population above 18 years of age, over 76% are married. The country has an average rate of divorce is around 9%.
Over 30% of the population live in urban areas while the remainder live in rural areas. The largest cities by population are Kandarahan (6 million people), Ragaan-Pragaan (5.2 million), Danaanshtar (4.9 million), Razaal (3.7 million people), Xaraat (3.4 million), Faraan-Faleed (2.8 million people), Davakhan (2.4 million people), Zakaash-Avan (1.7 million people, Latiyah (1.4 million people), Shratahan (1.1 million people).
The country has a life expectancy of 79 years of age for women and 72 years of age for men. The country has an infant mortality rate of 21 per 1,000 births. It has 30 beds per 10,000 people. The country has a mass vaccination program against polio, measles, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tuberculosis, polio, smallpox, and meningitis. The country has 250,000 people living with immune deficiency disease, incidents of which have been reduced from an epidemic of 1 million people in the 1990s due to the use of PReP, contraceptives, and anti-retro viral treatment. The country’s leading cause of death is respiratory-related illnesses. The country has largely eradicated diseases such as malaria, polio, smallpox, and the bubonic plague.
The most widely spoken language is Alleghenian Packilvanian which is spoken by 98% of the population with 67% speaking it as a second language, 18% as a third language and 15% as a first language. Over 85% of the population is at least bilingual. Over 30 languages are spoken in the country which belong to the Draco-Alleghenian language family of which the most widely spoken are Sugundese, Kivanese, Changanese and Bindanese. Liturgical Unonian and Liturgical Packilvanian can be read by members of the Vayan Catholic and Paxist communities of which the country has 9% and 76% respectively. The remaining 15% consist of irreligious people and religious minorities. The population consists of 80% Ursine, 6% Felines (mostly in the north and in large cities) and 4% Vulpines (mostly in South Talavero).
Education
Each state controls its own education system. Education consists of three tiers: primary school from grades 1 to 7, high school from grades 8 to 12 where students graduate with the National Certificate for Secondary Education (NCSE): Ordinary Levels with the option for an additional two years for the NCSE: Advanced Levels which provides a pathway to university entrance. At the tertiary level there are polytechnical schools and universities. Different states have their own NCSE curricula and examinations that are accredited by the Union Department of Education.
The country has over 10 million students. 450,000 students are in the tertiary sector with 120,000 in universities. 7.5% of the population have a post-secondary qualification with 3.1% having a university degree. The country has a NCSE pass rate of 80% but over 21% of students drop-out before they reach it and enter unemployment, apprenticeships, or the labour market with children at the age of 15 permitted to work. The country has a literacy rate of 90%.
The country has 151 universities and polytechnics. Total expenditure on education comprises over 20% of government spending and over 6% of GDP. The most prestigious universities are the University of Kandarahan, the Catholic University of Danaanshtar, the Magisterial University of Xaraat, and the University of Razaal.