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Difference between revisions of "Political: Donovia"
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==Centers of Political Power==
 
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[[File:Donovia.png|thumb|400x400px|Donovia]]
 
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Real power within Donovia rests with a small group of elites. These elites distribute political power in a self-dealing fashion, using their political sway to ensure the success of economic allies, and using the proceeds of economic dealings to reinforce their political position through patronage and corruption. These elites arose from the elements of the law enforcement, military, and intelligence communities that immediately coalesced to contain the damage of the Four Traitors and the resultant decline of the Donovian state.
 
  
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The collapse was precipitated by discovery of a massive embezzlement scheme perpetrated against the Donovian government by four very high-level individuals: a politician, Yassar Akbari; a military commander, Ibrahim al-Fatem; an organized crime boss, Ismail Jinat; and an industrial leader, Viaprom  CFO  Muhammad Hafiz.  These  four men  embezzled  huge amounts of cash from the Donovian government over a period of several years, and fled the country when other government officials discovered their malfeasance. The Donovian government refers to both the group of men and the incident as the “Four Traitors.”
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== Political Overview // PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION//[edit] ==
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United Republics of Donovia is nominally a republic but operates as an authoritarian state. Despite outward moves toward democracy, the small political/economic elite maintain power through control of the dominant political party, the Unionist Democratic Party (UDP). The UDP, in turn, dominates the political and economic landscapes. Despite a tumultuous past, the Donovian political structure is generally stable. The UDP arose from the aftermath of decades of widespread corruption at the highest levels of the Donovian political system that devastated the nation ending nearly 70 continuous years of Donovian power and development. While the UDP has managed to create economic stability and increase national prestige through assertive military and diplomatic maneuvering, it has done so through the centralization of state political control. Despite the creation of a strong central authority, Donovia strives to retain a veneer of democracy and a free market economy. While corruption within the government has long been tolerated, the population’s willingness to overlook abuses of power is tied to their economic outlook.
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Donovia is an oligarchy, with power being held by a small group of elites. These elites embrace nepotism, distributing political power in a self-dealing fashion, ensuring the success of economic allies, and using the proceeds of economic dealings to reinforce their political position through patronage and corruption. This network of powerful elites arose from across the law enforcement, military, and intelligence communities that coalesced under a mandate to clean up corruption and contain the resulting economic and social fallout.  Donovia’s political elite conduct extensive, continuous, and effective domestic information operations. They actively prepare their citizens for conflict, embracing a narrative of constant threat from outsiders. The majority of citizens in Western Donovia support the country’s foreign policy, especially with regard to the U.S. and NATO. This is reinforced by identity-based narrative themes centered around Pan-Slavic and Donovian nationalism.
  
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The Donovian government responded with the selection of a group of three men who now serve as  the core of the elite that governs Donovia. Granted wide-ranging legal and political powers to root  out graft and corruption in the wake of the Four Traitors outrage, the three men rapidly became allies and a force unto themselves in Donovian politics. The first, Abdul Batin Muhammad, was a colonel in the military, renowned for his bravery and as a widely-published international relations academic. The second, Naaqid Tarraz Tabiah, was a longtime member of the intelligence services  who focused on international organized crime and drug trafficking. The third, Sabiq Noordin, was a former prosecutor and functionary in the diplomatic service. The three still control the Donovian elite. Abdul Muhammad is in control of the UD and has served as defense minister, while Tabiah controls the intelligence apparatus. Noordin is highly engaged in selecting members of the bureaucracy, and controls and appoints most non-defense and non-intelligence related posts.
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== Political History[edit] ==
  
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The current president of Donovia is Jahangir Jaheer, who while famed as a very handsome man, is reputed to be somewhat dim-witted. Jaheer previously served in a number of diplomatic posts, thus he has little in the way of a domestic political constituency.
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=== United Federation of Socialist Republics (UFSR)[edit] ===
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In the early 1920s, Donovia began amassing a federation of regional countries into what would eventually become the highly centralized United Federation of Socialist Republics (UFSR). This confederation of countries, tightly controlled from Moscow, would define regional and world politics, setting up bilateral tension until the early 1990s.
  
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=== Military Authority ===
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=== Protsvetaniye[edit] ===
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The military is loyal to the political leadership and generally prides itself on its professionalism. The UD is wary of the military as possibly the only force in Donovia capable of ousting the existing civilian leadership, and is quick to buy off influential elements of the military with weapons outlays and post-military civilian employment to ensure continued loyalty. Additionally, the Donovian officer corps generally supports the UD’s military and international policy that stresses Donovian independence and power.
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In the late 1980s, economic stagnation caused tension and restlessness among the vast UFSR citizenry which was stirred by nationalist and civil society leaders. The paramount challenge for UFSR leaders involved interplay between maintaining the communist party and its hold on power and the need to loosen centralized economic control to encourage innovation. Concern from Moscow resulted in a liberalization of strict traditional leadership and policies that encouraged more freedom of thought. Led primarily by Chairman of the Supreme Presidium of the Communist Party of UFSR, Rudolph Ivanov, the government grappled with the intersection of nationalist and separatist movements within the UFSR and a loosening of its authoritarian grip through a framework known as Protsvetaniye, translated as Prosperity.
  
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=== Family Authority ===
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=== Dissolution of the UFSR[edit] ===
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The family has been an important buffer against much of the societal upheaval that has occurred in Donovia over the past years. Discrimination against and persecution of minorities within Donovia have caused these groups to rely heavily on their immediate and extended families as a means of support, both economically and otherwise. The loss of national trust and the ensuing economic crisis brought about by the Four Traitors incident caused even the majority Sunni Donovians to retrench into trusted family relationships at the expense of societal relationships.
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Protsvetaniye policies and an increasing nationalist fervor among UFSR republics, led to a domino effect as they began demanding independence. In August 1991, Communist Party hard liners attempted a coup d'état against the dissolving UFSR in Moscow. It failed, with Donovian President Boris Sidorov playing a high-profile role in facing down the coup. The Communist Party was banned shortly after. On 25 December 1991, Ivanov resigned. All the UFSR republics emerged from the dissolution as independent states. Donovia assumed the UFSR’s rights and obligations and is recognized as its continued legal successor in world affairs. 
  
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Families throughout all of the various demographic groups within Donovia ascribe to a patriarchal form of family organization. The strength of the patriarchy is dependent, in some degree, on where a family lives. The forces of urbanization tend to create family relationships where women have more say within the family. At the other end of the spectrum, families living in rural areas and minorities forced into small enclaves within cities tend to have stronger patriarchal control. Where family patriarchy is strongest, saving face through violence has been wrapped into a sense of religious and family duty. This has resulted in a significant disparity between the life expectancy for men and women. It has also resulted in a weakening of the authority of men, as women assume the head of household role within some families.
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=== Modern Donovia[edit] ===
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Sidorov’s attempts to bring the country closer to the Western concept of politics and economics brought him several years of popularity among the Donovian people. Unmet expectations of economic prosperity and resistance from UFSR era oligarchs led to his eventual downfall. He received both praise and criticism for his role in dismantling the UFSR, transforming Donovia into a representative democracy, and introducing new political, economic, and cultural freedoms to the country. Conversely, he was accused of economic mismanagement, overseeing a massive growth in inequality and corruption, and sometimes of undermining Donovia’s standing as a major world power.
  
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=== Religious/Clerical Authority ===
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Donovia has not lived up to initial expectations during the early post-UFSR days. An increasingly autocratic government has emerged through political machinations, constitutional changes, judicial decisions, oligarchic interests, and demands from an impatient citizenry. The current president, Andre Volkov, exercises dictatorial powers over the government. He is not able to wield complete control, but deftly maneuvers political, economic, and public entities to maintain a balance of power with himself at the center.
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Like the military, the UD also co-opted religious authority within Donovia, generally favoring religious leaders who support the UD, or at the very least do not challenge its authority. The nation, while officially secularized, continues to receive complaints from non-Arabs and non-Sunni Hanafi Muslims regarding discrimination against minority religious adherents. Donovian governmental authorities generally ignore any discrimination claims. The government often uses non-profit social and religious organizations as fronts to limit the authority and actions of religious authorities that are not supportive of the current political power structure. For example, the government will fund an ostensibly private organization and entrust it with the role of approving applications for new mosques, thus allowing the government to claim non-interference in religious matters while preventing the spread of views contrary to its goals.
 
  
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== Attitude Toward the US ==
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== Government Overview[edit] ==
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Donovia wishes to view itself as independent of the US, and sees its power and culture as equal to or superior to that of the US. Therefore, Donovians tend to view with disdain any attempt by the US to appear to dictate terms of international engagement or of Donovian policies. This requirement to appear to have the last word politically is most notable in Donovian engagement with its immediate regional neighbors.
 
  
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=== Attitude Toward US Trade ===
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=== Branches of Government[edit] ===
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Donovia generally views US trade positively as the trade relationship may serve as a means to generate leverage over the US in other matters. Donovia maintains a generally mercantilist trade policy, where trade goals are closely linked with political/diplomatic goals with an eye to advancing the combined economic and political interests of Donovia.
 
  
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== Type of Government ==
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==== Legislative Authority[edit] ====
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[[File:DonovianFlag.png|thumb|Official Flag of the United Republics of Donovia]]
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Donovia maintains a bicameral Legislature with an Upper House consisting of 150 deputies, and a Lower House of consisting of 300 deputies. Elections for both houses occurs every four years, with direct proportional representation. In the event of a tie, the president controls the tie-breaking vote. Though legislative power is encoded in the constitution, in practice the legislative body lacks independence due to the fact that almost all deputies are party loyalists or functionaries. The few independent legislators possess almost no legislative power, lacking the ability to propose or block legislation or to investigate government malfeasance.
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The Donovian government, on paper, is constructed in a way familiar to Western observers. Donovia consists of 33 republics that are subdivided into districts. The executive branch contains a popularly elected president, who in turn appoints the judiciary. The bicameral legislature possesses the right to review judiciary appointments like judges and national prosecutors, and maintains the power of the purse to determine and approve government spending. In reality, the Donovian government’s representative template serves as a public façade for a greatly incestuous single-party state. Overall, the Donovian government operates in a highly centralized manner, with little in the way of federal structures or local governance familiar to Western observers. Even at the most local levels, bureaucrats and officials are federal appointees, often not even from the areas they are assigned to serve. This ensures that the government operates in a top- down fashion and that independent elements of political power do not form.
 
  
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=== Branches of Government ===
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Both houses are in reality "rubber-stamp" legislative bodies, which meet for only one week per quarter. The constitution directs that the two houses meet separately in sessions open to the public, although joint meetings are held for important speeches by the president or foreign dignitaries. Deputies of the Legislature work full-time on their legislative duties and they are not allowed to serve simultaneously in local legislatures or hold other government positions.
  
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==== Legislative Authority ====
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Elections for the Legislative Houses occurred two years ago, with the next elections scheduled two years from now.
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Donovia maintains a bi-cameral legislature with an Upper House of 150 deputies and a Lower House of 300 deputies. Elections for both houses occur every four years, with direct proportional representation. In the case of ties, the president can cast the tie-breaking vote. In practice, the legislature’s independence does not exist as almost all deputies consist of party loyalists or functionaries. The few independent legislators possess almost no legislative power such as to propose or block legislation or investigate government malfeasance. Donovian legislators stood for election two years ago, with the next elections scheduled for two years from now.
 
  
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==== Executive Authority ====
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Each house elects a chairman to control the internal procedures of the house. The houses also form committees and commissions to deal with particular types of issues, which are overseen by fulltime deputies. These committees and commissions have significant responsibilities in devising legislation and conducting oversight. They prepare and evaluate draft laws, report on draft laws to their houses, conduct hearings, and oversee implementation of the laws. There are twenty-eight committees and several ad hoc commissions in the Legislature. Committee positions are allocated when new parliaments are seated.
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The constitution and political practice of Donovia ensures an almost dictatorial level of power in the executive branch. Presidents can only serve two consecutive terms of six years, but after a six-year hiatus, a former president can run again. The president is usually a member or trusted agent of the Donovian elite, and can be absolutely guaranteed to defend the elite’s interests. The president possesses the ability to appoint officials at local and republic levels, guaranteeing large numbers of patronage positions and the overall loyalty of the bulk of the Donovian government. The current president is four years into his first six-year term. The next presidential election is scheduled for two years from now.
 
  
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==== Judicial Authority ====
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Legislative Process. Draft laws may originate in either legislative chamber or be submitted by the president, the relevant ministries, local legislatures, or the Supreme Court. Draft laws are first considered in the Lower House. Upon adoption by a majority of the membership, a draft law is forwarded to the Upper House for consideration at its next meeting. Conciliation commissions are the prescribed procedure to work out differences in bills considered by both chambers.
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Generally speaking, the judiciary functions as a tool of the executive. While occurrences of petty crime or minor civil matters like divorces are generally competently and fairly handled, political or economically important matters are decided almost uniformly in the fashion that the ruling elite would like them to be decided. Often, this might be directly against the interests of other elites, as the ruling elite of Donovia recognize the international political and economic value of the appearance of an independent judiciary.
 
  
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== Government Effectiveness and Legitimacy ==
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===== National Assembly Diagram [edit] =====
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Internationally, most other countries view the Donovian government as effective, though its high levels of corruption reduce the legitimacy the current regime once held as the savior from the sleaze of the Four Traitors. Increasing use of social media and other information age technologies continue to break the Donovian state’s near-monopoly on information, and the more blatant issues of corruption and self-dealing by the economic/political elite in Donovia now sometimes leak out to the country as a whole. The government’s usual response is to stifle such outbursts by the arrest of the whistle-blower, counter-accusations,  and  an occasional  indictment  for corruption or graft.  The Donovian government intends for indictments to prove that the state is “doing something” to stop corruption. Arresting the whistle-blower is especially prevalent when it involves the military or intelligence services, usually on charges of espionage.
 
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[[File:Political Subdivisions of Donovia.png|thumb|400x400px|Republics of Donovia]]
 
  
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=== Domestic Political Issues ===
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===== National Assembly Chart[edit] =====
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Corruption dominates as the prime domestic political issue, though the authorities go to extensive lengths to ensure their complicity remains hidden from the       public. The structure of the Donovian state, especially after the Four Traitors, allowed a small group with inordinate power to “root out corruption” despite their actual role in the corruption prevalent throughout Donovia. The electoral process serves to reinforce the power of the elite, and the state maintains its power over citizens with the citizen having little recourse. The participation of ethnic or religious minorities is minimal, with a few showpiece individuals who operate as little more than ethnic functionaries.
 
  
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A series of minor internal wars has taken place during the past 20 years. Gamrun, a Donovian republic in the North Caucasus area, decided to use the general chaos after the Four Traitors incident to flout the national government and exert local authority instead. While part of this initial decision was due to the Donovian government’s general strong-arm tactics, the Donovian Arab disdain for the large ethnic minority population in the republic—primarily Gorgan—played a significant role. Donovia’s military response only exacerbated the issue in the minds of the local population, leading to a greater willingness to take up arms by the latter. The level of armed conflict in the region has varied during the past two decades, but the republic has yet to fully acquiesce to the national government.
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==== Executive Authority[edit] ====
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The constitution and political practice of Donovia ensures an almost dictatorial level of power for the executive branch. Presidents are limited to two consecutive terms of six years, but after a six-year hiatus, a former president can run for reelection again. The president is usually a member or trusted agent of the Donovian elite and can be guaranteed to defend the elite’s interests. The president possesses the ability to appoint officials at local and republic levels, guaranteeing large numbers of patronage positions and the overall loyalty of the bulk of the Donovian government. The current president is four years into his first six-year term. The next presidential election is scheduled for two years from now.
  
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==== Elections ====
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Dissident Donovian sources report the size of the presidential apparatus (both official and unofficial roles) in Moscow and other localities at more than 75,000 people. Most are employees of state-owned enterprises directly under presidential control. There are six administrative departments  which deal with citizens' rights, domestic and foreign policy, state and legal matters, personnel, analysis, and oversight. There is also a presidential advisory group with input on the economy, national security, and other matters.
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Donovian elections usually allow the voter to select between two or more UD-approved candidates, even if no candidate runs under the UD banner. The UD and the government will functionally only allow politicians to run if they support the UD, or more usually, UD loyalists who make a show of defecting to an opposition political party.
 
  
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==== Rule of Law ====
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The president also has extensive power over military policy. He approves defense doctrine, appoints and removes the high command of the armed forces, and confers higher military ranks and awards. The president is empowered to declare national or regional states of martial law, as well as state of emergency. In both cases, both legislative houses must be notified immediately. The Upper House has the power to confirm or reject such a decree. The regime of martial law is defined by federal law "On Martial Law", signed into law in 2002. The circumstances and procedures for the president to declare a state of emergency are more specifically outlined in federal law than in the constitution. In practice, the Constitutional Court ruled in 1995 that the president has wide leeway in responding to crises within Donovia.
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The concept of “rule of law” in a Western liberal context is functionally unknown within Donovia.  The power of the state, combined with its highly incestuous relationship with dominant economic entities, means the likelihood of the individual receiving a fair hearing from an impartial judiciary or independent media forum remains nearly zero. The judiciary is seen by the Donovian populace as widely compliant with political demands, even in the case of high-profile issues. Once charged, the defendant pleads guilty or the court finds in favor of the government’s case with little chance of meaningful appeal by the defendant.
 
  
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==== Corruption ====
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Other presidential support services include the Central Directorate (in charge of investigating official corruption), the Administrative Directorate, the Presidential Press Activity, and Protocol. The Administrative Directorate controls state mansions, sanatoriums, automobiles, office buildings, and other perquisites of high office for the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, a function that includes management of more than 200 state industries with about 50,000 employees. The Committee on Operational Questions is a "government within a government".   Also attached to the presidency are more than two dozen consultative commissions and extra-budgetary "funds".
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Corruption exists across all levels of political life within Donovia. From the policeman to the highest officials, most Donovians consider self-enrichment a hallmark of public life. The relationships between the largest businesses within Donovia and the UD are extensive, and during elections the resources of both the state and private business are used to ensure the political success of the UD.  
 
  
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Extortion and corruption commonly occur in the Donovian business environment. The economic crisis precipitated by the actions of the Four Traitors serves as the prime example of the detrimental effects of Donovia’s systemic corruption. Business disputes may involve threats of violence and even acts of violence. Organized criminal groups and sometimes local police target foreign businesses in many cities and have been known to demand protection money. Small businesses find themselves particularly vulnerable to extortion demands.
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The Constitution sets few requirements for presidential elections, deferring in many matters to other provisions established by law. The presidential term is set at six years, and the president may only serve two consecutive terms. A candidate for president must be a citizen of Donovia, at least 35 years of age, and a resident of the country for at least ten years. If a president becomes unable to continue in office because of health problems, resignation, impeachment, or death, a presidential election is to be held not more than three months later. In such a situation, the Upper House is empowered to set the election date. Federal law requires at least 50% of eligible voters participate in order for a presidential election to be valid. 
  
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Social clubs often act as cover for corrupt activities. The Pan-Donovian Law Enforcement Brotherhood publicly purports to champion charitable causes as a means of cementing partnerships between police organizations and their respective local communities. In reality, it is a national network that ensures citizens remain willing to bribe police officials in order to avoid harassment, arrest, incarceration, and physical abuse. Another group present in Donovia is the National Inter-Business Cooperative. Although this organization’s written charter suggests nothing more sinister than a Donovian version of the Chamber of Commerce, its members are often steeped in government-corporate corruption (typically involving bribes to avoid taxes), extortion, and almost universal corporate espionage.
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The Donovian Government contains 24 executive ministries that execute credit and monetary policies and defense, foreign policy, and state security functions; ensure the rule of law and respect for human and civil rights; protect property; and take measures against crime. If the government issues implementing decrees and directives that are at odds with legislation or presidential decrees, the president may rescind them.
  
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== International Relationships ==
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Besides the ministries, the executive branch includes eleven state committees and 46 state services and agencies, ranging from the State Space Agency to the State Committee for Statistics. There are also myriad agencies, boards, centers, councils, commissions, and committees. The president’s personal staff is reported to number about 2,000.
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Donovia attempts to remain typically neutral in regard to US power and forces. The government wants to preserve its regional power position and avoid any perception of Donovian subordination to the US or US interests. While generally adversarial with Atropia, a number of trade and economic links exist, as the Donovians view such links as a method to maintain leverage over Atropia.
 
  
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Donovia will also aggressively provide diplomatic and material support to Donovian ethnic populations and allied minorities living outside of Donovia. For example, the Donovian government began unilaterally issuing passports to Gorgans of Donovian ethnicity six years ago—three years before the beginning of their most recent conflict. The Donovians then partially defended their actions as justified self-defense of a persecuted minority. Donovia’s nuclear program has also made it the object of targeted international sanctions.
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The President’s staff formulates the federal budget, submits it to the Upper House, and issues a report on its implementation. In late 1994, the Upper House successfully demanded that the Government begin submitting quarterly reports on budget expenditures and adhere to other guidelines on budgetary matters, although the Legislature's budgetary powers are limited. If the Legislature rejects a draft budget from the Government, the budget is submitted to a conciliation commission including members from both branches.
  
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=== Regional Actors ===
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The president retains the power to appoint and remove presidential representatives, who act as direct emissaries to the jurisdictions in overseeing local administrations' implementation of presidential policies. This ensures the majority of local voters will turn out and support the President.  
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Donovia consistently attempts to leverage or intimidate its regional neighbors into relationships that prove advantageous to Donovia or Donovian economic interests. As a long-term goal, the Donovian government wants to create a web of political, diplomatic, military, and economic interests with all of its neighbors that will make it functionally impossible for any of these nations to present a security threat to the country, or allow any of these nations to initiate an independent, let alone Western- leaning, political stance. In addition to this diplomatic leverage, Donovian support for militants has created tension in regional bilateral relationships.
 
  
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Donovia’s relationships with its neighbors are varying and complex. Ariana and Donovia enjoy positive, though unofficial, political and economic relations despite the fact that the two countries  are competing for the role of regional strongman. Relations with Gorgas are frosty at best, as Gorgas wants to insulate itself from Donovian influence and considers the Donovian-backed breakaway provinces of South Ostremek and Zabzimek as its territory. Limaria receives considerable assistance from Donovia on both economic and military levels, including natural gas imports and support regarding the autonomous Lower Janga region.
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===== Cabinet and/or executive branch wire diagram[edit] =====
  
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Donovia’s aforementioned support for Limaria in the Lower Janga conflict and its aid to the province exemplifies the division between Donovia and Atropia. Donovian-sourced support for the Bilasuvar Freedom Brigade (BFB) operating in the northern Atropian provinces of Vetlia and Erdabil has also created significant tension in the bilateral relationship. Despite these considerations and the mutual distrust between them, strong economic considerations—mainly related to trade—tie the two countries together.
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==== Judicial Authority[edit] ====
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The judiciary functions as a tool of the executive . While occurrences of petty crime or minor civil matters like divorces are generally handled in a competent and fair manner, political or economically important matters are decided almost uniformly in favor of the ruling elite often in direct opposition to the interests of other elites to retain the appearance of an independent judiciary system on the political and economic world stage. 
  
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=== International Organizations ===
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The Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority. District courts are the primary criminal trial courts, and regional courts act as primary appellate courts. The judiciary is appointed by the president and governed by the Donovian Congress of Judges and its Council of Judges. Its management is aided by the Judicial Department of the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Justice, and the various courts' chairpersons. There are many officers of the court, including jurors, but the Prosecutor General remains the most powerful component of the Donovian judicial system.
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[[File:Arctic Council member states.png|thumb|'''Arctic Council Member and Observer States''']]
 
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Donovia views its participation in international organizations as a prime means to extend its influence and such participation as a zero-sum game, with Donovian goals as its prime interest. Thus, Donovia contains a mixed bag of associations and allies in such venues as the UN General Assembly, where it aggressively supports peacekeeping operations and other UN activities. Donovia also participates actively in the work of intergovernmental organizations (like the International Red Crescent) everywhere in the world except within or on its own borders, where such activity is considered an affront to Donovian sovereignty. Less than 30 foreign and domestic  non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operate within Donovia, and face significant monitoring and limitations on their activities by the Donovian government. Two that have so far managed to successfully negotiate the minefield of operating in the country include the Women’s Health Initiative and Agricultural Partners International.
 
  
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The [http://www.arcticcircle.org/about/about/ Arctic Council] is the only circumpolar forum for political discussions at government level. The member states are the U.S., Canada, Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Norway, Torrike, Bothnia, and Donovia. The non-Arctic observer states are (as of 2013) France, Germany, India, Italy, Olvana, Poland, Singapore, South Torbia, Spain, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and United Kingdom.  
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Court infrastructure and the financial support of judges is provided by the Ministry of Justice; however, they must depend on local authorities in the jurisdiction they oversee for housing. The average salary for a judge is $1,000 per month, an amount that provides an opening for acts of corruption and bribery. These circumstances, combined with irregularities in the appointment process and the continued strong position of the UDP, deprives judges in the lower jurisdictions of independent authority. Numerous matters, which would be dealt with by administrative authority in European countries, remain subject to political influence in Western Donovia.
  
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Potential territorial disputes in the Arctic involve overlapping extended continental shelf claims. Donovia, Denmark, and Canada have all stated intent to extend their continental shelves northward under the guideline provided by United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and their submitted claims overlap. In 2001, Donovia submitted a proposal claiming the Lomonsov Ridge was part of Donovia’s Continental Shelf. The territory claimed by Donovia in the submission is a large portion of the Arctic reaching the North Pole. In 2015, Donovia resubmitted a revised claim including years of additional data-gathering. Its claim now covers over 1,199,164.5 km2 (463,000 square miles) of sea shelf in the Arctic.
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The Legislature passed a Criminal Procedure Code and other judicial reforms during its 2014 session such as reintroducing jury trials in certain criminal cases and creating a more adversarial system of criminal trials that protect the rights of defendants more adequately. These reforms help make the judicial system more compatible with its Western counterparts and are seen by most as an accomplishment in human rights. The introduction of the new Criminal Procedure Code led to significant reductions in time spent in detention for new detainees, and the number of suspects placed in pretrial detention declined by 30%.
  
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=== International Economic Associations ===
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===== National Court System[edit] =====
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Even though not part of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Donovia participates extensively in international economic associations, especially those that involve oil and gas discussions. Thus, it follows a somewhat independent pricing model from OPEC, and is quick to play up the independence of Donovian pricing and its ability to secure its oil and gas exports in an effort to gain supplier contracts. Once both sides agree to a contract, the Donovians will use the leverage to gain political and economic concessions in other areas, such as support for Donovian diplomatic initiatives or Donovian corporations’ access to foreign markets.
 
  
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=== Military Alliances ===
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====== Constitutional Court[edit] ======
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Where possible, Donovia continues to develop military alliances, initiate agreements, and distribute influence around the world, especially with its close neighbors. Donovia attempts to leverage economic relationships into military and diplomatic ones, and vice versa. Donovia couples military sales with offers of training and military advising, using the presence of Donovian “boots on the ground” to grant itself equities. Donovia then uses this equity to justify further political/military access and control in foreign countries, or at least accommodation of Donovian economic concerns. The Donovian government often uses military sales as a loss-leader in order to get its foot in the door to further the overall Donovian political/military/economic strategy.
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Judges of the Constitutional Court of Donovia are appointed by the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Donovia  by  proposal from the President of Donovia. Judges of federal courts are appointed by the President of the Donovian Federation. Judges of constitutional (charter) courts and justices of the peace of constituent entities are appointed in accordance with the legislation of the respective constituent entities. The main task of the Constitutional Court is to resolve cases regarding the constitutionality of normative legal acts.
  
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=== Arctic Policy ===
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====== Supreme Court[edit] ======
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The main goals of Donovia in its Arctic policy are to utilize its natural resources, protect its ecosystems, use the seas as a transportation system in Donovia's interests, and ensure that it remains a zone of peace and cooperation. Donovia currently maintains a military presence in the Arctic and has plans to improve it, as well as strengthen the Border Guard/Coast Guard presence there (see Military Variable). Using the Arctic for economic gain has been done by Donovia for centuries for shipping and fishing. Donovia has plans to exploit the large offshore resource deposits in the Arctic. The Northern Sea Route is of particular importance to the country for transportation, and the Donovian Security Council is considering projects for its development. The Security Council also stated a need for increasing investment in Arctic infrastructure. Donovia conducts extensive research in the Arctic region, notably the manned drifting ice stations and the Arktika 2007 expedition, which was the first to reach the seabed at the North Pole. The research is partly aimed to back up Donovia's territorial claims, in particular those related to its extended continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean.
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The Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority. The Supreme Court of the  Donovian Federation heads the system of courts of general jurisdiction and the system of commercial courts. As the top judicial body, the Supreme Court is the only court that can consider cases as a court of first instance, court of appeal, court of cassation and as a supervisory instance. The Supreme Court exercises control over the activities of lower courts and provides them with clarifications on issues of judicial practice in order to ensure uniform application of legislation throughout the country.
  
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Donovia likely will sustain diplomatic approach toward Arctic development to encourage multi-country cooperation regarding initiatives such as continental shelf claims and exploitation, and nautical logistical infrastructure. Despite ongoing tensions in other regions, Donovia maintains multilateral cooperation within the Arctic Council and other institutions regarding Arctic development. Multilateral cooperation facilities Arctic development projects and allows Donovia to maintain dialogue about its military buildup in the area. Continued diplomacy in the Arctic is essential to Donovia as it concedes that it cannot develop such a vast and challenging environment on its own.
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====== District Courts[edit] ======
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District courts are the courts of general jurisdiction. They handle most civil, criminal and administrative cases.
  
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Donovia’s 2015 National Security Strategy emphasizes the importance of international cooperation concerning Arctic issues. Public policy experts believe that Donovia has benefited from its cooperative stance y positioning itself to address collective transnational issues, such as oil spills, and enabling economic investments and collaboration.
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====== Court of Appeals[edit] ======
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Regional courts are the primary appellate courts. Only a limited category of cases involving the most serious crimes falls directly under the original jurisdiction of these courts.
  
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Donovia has continued to work with other Arctic states both bilaterally and via the Arctic Council on non-military matters such as search and rescue efforts, economic efforts, scientific research, safety, and environmental exercises.
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====== Commercial Courts[edit] ======
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These courts administer justice in the sphere of entrepreneurial and other economic activities. The system of commercial courts is composed of three elements: commercial courts of constituent entities of Donovia, appellate commercial courts, and commercial courts of circuits.
  
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During an Arctic development meeting in March 2017, the President of Donovia stated that Donovia is open to partnerships with other countries on mutually beneficial projects such as natural resource development and global transport corridors.
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There is a specialized court – the Intellectual Property Rights Court – within the system of commercial courts.
  
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== Influential Political Groups ==
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===== Constituent State Court System[edit] =====
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The Unionist Democratic Party serves as the country’s prime political party. While three of the other four main parties (Donovian League, Freedom and Justice, and the Scarlet Party) are nominally independent, they are actually outgrowths of the UD’s attempt to portray Donovia as a Western- style democracy. The New Donovia Party (NDP) is the only true opposition party, but its political power is highly truncated by the actions of the UD.
 
  
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=== Official Political Parties ===
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===== Parallel Legal Systems[edit] =====
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The UD serves as the country’s major domestic political party. It directs three other parties, which while they claim their independence, in reality are staffed with former UD loyalists, and in many cases funded covertly by the UD, to present the façade of a multiparty system. The NDP serves as  the country’s prime opposition political party, operating completely unaffiliated from the UD and attempting to shed light on UD abuses and corruption. Recently, the NDP started to receive some significant support from elements within the military and additional support through social media and the Internet. Some proof of UD or government corruption and graft now reaches the Internet, which forces the government to either disavow the corruption or face the argument of its connivance in corrupt practices. At the national level, the UD’s leaders demonstrate a willingness to throw those caught to the political wolves if necessary to prevent the allegations from coming upon themselves. At the local level, the UD often acts with a much more heavy-handed response, with reports of suspicious deaths for those who report governmental misconduct.
 
  
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As indicated previously, three additional political parties (Donovian League, Freedom and Justice, and the Scarlet Party) participate in the government and operate officially unaligned. All three parties contain small numbers of elected positions at the national legislative level, with members often appointed to positions in the several Republics. These three parties, however, remain window- dressing for the UD, which they actually support.
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====== Religious Law[edit] ======
  
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=== Other Domestic Influential Groups ===
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====== Customary Law[edit] ======
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Outside of the UD, the most influential domestic political groups include the National Veterans Association (NVA), the Environmental Donovia Association, and Human Rights of Donovia Campaign. All of these organizations lobby the legislature and attempt to raise public awareness for their projects. The Donovian government often uses the NVA to “test the waters” for potential changes in foreign policy and military affairs, as the NVA maintains significant links to the active Donovian military.
 
  
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There is broad political support for a wide range of Donovian Arab nationalist organizations, such as youth leagues, language clubs that support Donovian language education, and the like. The UD often uses these organizations to support its political goals and broadcast the overall political message  that merges UD and Donovian state agendas. Indeed, UD party personnel often man many of these organizations, which are funded by state or UD money despite their status as single-issue or advocacy organizations.
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====== Civil Law[edit] ======
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The Donovian system of laws is called Civil Law. The Civil Law in Donovia is based on a civil code that derives from Roman law. The Donovian Civil Code is comprised of four parts: the first part contains general rules and definitions, the second part provisions the types of obligations, the succession law is the third part of Donovian Civil Law, and the fourth part comprises regulations about intellectual property.
  
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== Summary ==
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==Centers of Political Power==
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The Donovian state mostly resembles something like a family-owned business. A small group of  elites remain firmly in control, and despite the history of the Four Traitors, continue to use their political power to enrich and empower themselves. Currently, voices of opposition speak out against the corruption, and the fact that events of 20 years ago are potentially repeating themselves does develop some resonance with an increasingly larger percentage of the population. Despite this, the Donovian elite maintain impressive control of the levers of state power, both domestically and internationally. This control, and the resultant positive effects of the mercantilist focus of total integration of political and economic policies, creates considerable popularity for the UD, and thus political stability inside Donovia.
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[[File:Donovia.png|thumb|400x400px|Donovia]]
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Real power within Donovia rests with a small group of elites. These elites distribute political power in a self-dealing fashion, using their political sway to ensure the success of economic allies, and using the proceeds of economic dealings to reinforce their political position through patronage and corruption. These elites arose from the elements of the law enforcement, military, and intelligence communities that immediately coalesced to contain the damage of the Four Traitors and the resultant decline of the Donovian state.

Revision as of 18:00, 29 September 2022

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The United Republics of Donovia is nominally a republic, but in reality operates as an authoritarian state. Despite outward moves toward democracy, the small political/economic elite maintain power through control of the dominant political party, the Unionist Democratic Party (UD). The UD, in turn, dominates the political and economic landscapes. Despite a tumultuous past, the Donovian political structure remains generally stable. The Unionist Democratic Party arose from the aftermath of the Four Traitors incident two decades ago, with a mandate to clean up the corruption within Donovia that had collapsed the nation and arrested nearly 70 years of Donovian power and development. While the UD has managed to put the Donovian economy on a sounder footing and has been able to increase national prestige through assertive military and diplomatic maneuver, it has done so via highly centralizing state political control. It has also attempted to centralize political control while  retaining the veneer of democracy and an economic free market. Massive corruption exists despite the high level of  integration  between the  UD and the government.  While this corruption was tolerated by the majority of the population as the economy rebounded and international prestige increased, overall tolerance for corruption is starting to lessen.


Political Overview // PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION//[edit]

United Republics of Donovia is nominally a republic but operates as an authoritarian state. Despite outward moves toward democracy, the small political/economic elite maintain power through control of the dominant political party, the Unionist Democratic Party (UDP). The UDP, in turn, dominates the political and economic landscapes. Despite a tumultuous past, the Donovian political structure is generally stable. The UDP arose from the aftermath of decades of widespread corruption at the highest levels of the Donovian political system that devastated the nation ending nearly 70 continuous years of Donovian power and development. While the UDP has managed to create economic stability and increase national prestige through assertive military and diplomatic maneuvering, it has done so through the centralization of state political control. Despite the creation of a strong central authority, Donovia strives to retain a veneer of democracy and a free market economy. While corruption within the government has long been tolerated, the population’s willingness to overlook abuses of power is tied to their economic outlook. Donovia is an oligarchy, with power being held by a small group of elites. These elites embrace nepotism, distributing political power in a self-dealing fashion, ensuring the success of economic allies, and using the proceeds of economic dealings to reinforce their political position through patronage and corruption. This network of powerful elites arose from across the law enforcement, military, and intelligence communities that coalesced under a mandate to clean up corruption and contain the resulting economic and social fallout.  Donovia’s political elite conduct extensive, continuous, and effective domestic information operations. They actively prepare their citizens for conflict, embracing a narrative of constant threat from outsiders. The majority of citizens in Western Donovia support the country’s foreign policy, especially with regard to the U.S. and NATO. This is reinforced by identity-based narrative themes centered around Pan-Slavic and Donovian nationalism.

Political History[edit]

United Federation of Socialist Republics (UFSR)[edit]

In the early 1920s, Donovia began amassing a federation of regional countries into what would eventually become the highly centralized United Federation of Socialist Republics (UFSR). This confederation of countries, tightly controlled from Moscow, would define regional and world politics, setting up bilateral tension until the early 1990s.

 Protsvetaniye[edit]

In the late 1980s, economic stagnation caused tension and restlessness among the vast UFSR citizenry which was stirred by nationalist and civil society leaders. The paramount challenge for UFSR leaders involved interplay between maintaining the communist party and its hold on power and the need to loosen centralized economic control to encourage innovation. Concern from Moscow resulted in a liberalization of strict traditional leadership and policies that encouraged more freedom of thought. Led primarily by Chairman of the Supreme Presidium of the Communist Party of UFSR, Rudolph Ivanov, the government grappled with the intersection of nationalist and separatist movements within the UFSR and a loosening of its authoritarian grip through a framework known as Protsvetaniye, translated as Prosperity.

Dissolution of the UFSR[edit]

Protsvetaniye policies and an increasing nationalist fervor among UFSR republics, led to a domino effect as they began demanding independence. In August 1991, Communist Party hard liners attempted a coup d'état against the dissolving UFSR in Moscow. It failed, with Donovian President Boris Sidorov playing a high-profile role in facing down the coup. The Communist Party was banned shortly after. On 25 December 1991, Ivanov resigned. All the UFSR republics emerged from the dissolution as independent states. Donovia assumed the UFSR’s rights and obligations and is recognized as its continued legal successor in world affairs. 

Modern Donovia[edit]

Sidorov’s attempts to bring the country closer to the Western concept of politics and economics brought him several years of popularity among the Donovian people. Unmet expectations of economic prosperity and resistance from UFSR era oligarchs led to his eventual downfall. He received both praise and criticism for his role in dismantling the UFSR, transforming Donovia into a representative democracy, and introducing new political, economic, and cultural freedoms to the country. Conversely, he was accused of economic mismanagement, overseeing a massive growth in inequality and corruption, and sometimes of undermining Donovia’s standing as a major world power.

Donovia has not lived up to initial expectations during the early post-UFSR days. An increasingly autocratic government has emerged through political machinations, constitutional changes, judicial decisions, oligarchic interests, and demands from an impatient citizenry. The current president, Andre Volkov, exercises dictatorial powers over the government. He is not able to wield complete control, but deftly maneuvers political, economic, and public entities to maintain a balance of power with himself at the center.

Government Overview[edit]

Branches of Government[edit]

Legislative Authority[edit]

Donovia maintains a bicameral Legislature with an Upper House consisting of 150 deputies, and a Lower House of consisting of 300 deputies. Elections for both houses occurs every four years, with direct proportional representation. In the event of a tie, the president controls the tie-breaking vote. Though legislative power is encoded in the constitution, in practice the legislative body lacks independence due to the fact that almost all deputies are party loyalists or functionaries. The few independent legislators possess almost no legislative power, lacking the ability to propose or block legislation or to investigate government malfeasance.

Both houses are in reality "rubber-stamp" legislative bodies, which meet for only one week per quarter. The constitution directs that the two houses meet separately in sessions open to the public, although joint meetings are held for important speeches by the president or foreign dignitaries. Deputies of the Legislature work full-time on their legislative duties and they are not allowed to serve simultaneously in local legislatures or hold other government positions.

Elections for the Legislative Houses occurred two years ago, with the next elections scheduled two years from now.

Each house elects a chairman to control the internal procedures of the house. The houses also form committees and commissions to deal with particular types of issues, which are overseen by fulltime deputies. These committees and commissions have significant responsibilities in devising legislation and conducting oversight. They prepare and evaluate draft laws, report on draft laws to their houses, conduct hearings, and oversee implementation of the laws. There are twenty-eight committees and several ad hoc commissions in the Legislature. Committee positions are allocated when new parliaments are seated.

Legislative Process. Draft laws may originate in either legislative chamber or be submitted by the president, the relevant ministries, local legislatures, or the Supreme Court. Draft laws are first considered in the Lower House. Upon adoption by a majority of the membership, a draft law is forwarded to the Upper House for consideration at its next meeting. Conciliation commissions are the prescribed procedure to work out differences in bills considered by both chambers.

National Assembly Diagram [edit]
National Assembly Chart[edit]

Executive Authority[edit]

The constitution and political practice of Donovia ensures an almost dictatorial level of power for the executive branch. Presidents are limited to two consecutive terms of six years, but after a six-year hiatus, a former president can run for reelection again. The president is usually a member or trusted agent of the Donovian elite and can be guaranteed to defend the elite’s interests. The president possesses the ability to appoint officials at local and republic levels, guaranteeing large numbers of patronage positions and the overall loyalty of the bulk of the Donovian government. The current president is four years into his first six-year term. The next presidential election is scheduled for two years from now.

Dissident Donovian sources report the size of the presidential apparatus (both official and unofficial roles) in Moscow and other localities at more than 75,000 people. Most are employees of state-owned enterprises directly under presidential control. There are six administrative departments  which deal with citizens' rights, domestic and foreign policy, state and legal matters, personnel, analysis, and oversight. There is also a presidential advisory group with input on the economy, national security, and other matters.

The president also has extensive power over military policy. He approves defense doctrine, appoints and removes the high command of the armed forces, and confers higher military ranks and awards. The president is empowered to declare national or regional states of martial law, as well as state of emergency. In both cases, both legislative houses must be notified immediately. The Upper House has the power to confirm or reject such a decree. The regime of martial law is defined by federal law "On Martial Law", signed into law in 2002. The circumstances and procedures for the president to declare a state of emergency are more specifically outlined in federal law than in the constitution. In practice, the Constitutional Court ruled in 1995 that the president has wide leeway in responding to crises within Donovia.

Other presidential support services include the Central Directorate (in charge of investigating official corruption), the Administrative Directorate, the Presidential Press Activity, and Protocol. The Administrative Directorate controls state mansions, sanatoriums, automobiles, office buildings, and other perquisites of high office for the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government, a function that includes management of more than 200 state industries with about 50,000 employees. The Committee on Operational Questions is a "government within a government".   Also attached to the presidency are more than two dozen consultative commissions and extra-budgetary "funds".

The Constitution sets few requirements for presidential elections, deferring in many matters to other provisions established by law. The presidential term is set at six years, and the president may only serve two consecutive terms. A candidate for president must be a citizen of Donovia, at least 35 years of age, and a resident of the country for at least ten years. If a president becomes unable to continue in office because of health problems, resignation, impeachment, or death, a presidential election is to be held not more than three months later. In such a situation, the Upper House is empowered to set the election date. Federal law requires at least 50% of eligible voters participate in order for a presidential election to be valid. 

The Donovian Government contains 24 executive ministries that execute credit and monetary policies and defense, foreign policy, and state security functions; ensure the rule of law and respect for human and civil rights; protect property; and take measures against crime. If the government issues implementing decrees and directives that are at odds with legislation or presidential decrees, the president may rescind them.

Besides the ministries, the executive branch includes eleven state committees and 46 state services and agencies, ranging from the State Space Agency to the State Committee for Statistics. There are also myriad agencies, boards, centers, councils, commissions, and committees. The president’s personal staff is reported to number about 2,000.

The President’s staff formulates the federal budget, submits it to the Upper House, and issues a report on its implementation. In late 1994, the Upper House successfully demanded that the Government begin submitting quarterly reports on budget expenditures and adhere to other guidelines on budgetary matters, although the Legislature's budgetary powers are limited. If the Legislature rejects a draft budget from the Government, the budget is submitted to a conciliation commission including members from both branches.

The president retains the power to appoint and remove presidential representatives, who act as direct emissaries to the jurisdictions in overseeing local administrations' implementation of presidential policies. This ensures the majority of local voters will turn out and support the President.  

Cabinet and/or executive branch wire diagram[edit]

Judicial Authority[edit]

The judiciary functions as a tool of the executive . While occurrences of petty crime or minor civil matters like divorces are generally handled in a competent and fair manner, political or economically important matters are decided almost uniformly in favor of the ruling elite often in direct opposition to the interests of other elites to retain the appearance of an independent judiciary system on the political and economic world stage. 

The Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority. District courts are the primary criminal trial courts, and regional courts act as primary appellate courts. The judiciary is appointed by the president and governed by the Donovian Congress of Judges and its Council of Judges. Its management is aided by the Judicial Department of the Supreme Court, the Ministry of Justice, and the various courts' chairpersons. There are many officers of the court, including jurors, but the Prosecutor General remains the most powerful component of the Donovian judicial system.

Court infrastructure and the financial support of judges is provided by the Ministry of Justice; however, they must depend on local authorities in the jurisdiction they oversee for housing. The average salary for a judge is $1,000 per month, an amount that provides an opening for acts of corruption and bribery. These circumstances, combined with irregularities in the appointment process and the continued strong position of the UDP, deprives judges in the lower jurisdictions of independent authority. Numerous matters, which would be dealt with by administrative authority in European countries, remain subject to political influence in Western Donovia.

The Legislature passed a Criminal Procedure Code and other judicial reforms during its 2014 session such as reintroducing jury trials in certain criminal cases and creating a more adversarial system of criminal trials that protect the rights of defendants more adequately. These reforms help make the judicial system more compatible with its Western counterparts and are seen by most as an accomplishment in human rights. The introduction of the new Criminal Procedure Code led to significant reductions in time spent in detention for new detainees, and the number of suspects placed in pretrial detention declined by 30%.

National Court System[edit]
Constitutional Court[edit]

Judges of the Constitutional Court of Donovia are appointed by the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Donovia  by  proposal from the President of Donovia. Judges of federal courts are appointed by the President of the Donovian Federation. Judges of constitutional (charter) courts and justices of the peace of constituent entities are appointed in accordance with the legislation of the respective constituent entities. The main task of the Constitutional Court is to resolve cases regarding the constitutionality of normative legal acts.

 Supreme Court[edit]

The Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority. The Supreme Court of the  Donovian Federation heads the system of courts of general jurisdiction and the system of commercial courts. As the top judicial body, the Supreme Court is the only court that can consider cases as a court of first instance, court of appeal, court of cassation and as a supervisory instance. The Supreme Court exercises control over the activities of lower courts and provides them with clarifications on issues of judicial practice in order to ensure uniform application of legislation throughout the country.

District Courts[edit]

District courts are the courts of general jurisdiction. They handle most civil, criminal and administrative cases.

Court of Appeals[edit]

Regional courts are the primary appellate courts. Only a limited category of cases involving the most serious crimes falls directly under the original jurisdiction of these courts.

Commercial Courts[edit]

These courts administer justice in the sphere of entrepreneurial and other economic activities. The system of commercial courts is composed of three elements: commercial courts of constituent entities of Donovia, appellate commercial courts, and commercial courts of circuits.

There is a specialized court – the Intellectual Property Rights Court – within the system of commercial courts.

Constituent State Court System[edit]
Parallel Legal Systems[edit]
Religious Law[edit]
Customary Law[edit]
Civil Law[edit]

The Donovian system of laws is called Civil Law. The Civil Law in Donovia is based on a civil code that derives from Roman law. The Donovian Civil Code is comprised of four parts: the first part contains general rules and definitions, the second part provisions the types of obligations, the succession law is the third part of Donovian Civil Law, and the fourth part comprises regulations about intellectual property.

Centers of Political Power

Donovia

Real power within Donovia rests with a small group of elites. These elites distribute political power in a self-dealing fashion, using their political sway to ensure the success of economic allies, and using the proceeds of economic dealings to reinforce their political position through patronage and corruption. These elites arose from the elements of the law enforcement, military, and intelligence communities that immediately coalesced to contain the damage of the Four Traitors and the resultant decline of the Donovian state.

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