Social: South Torbia

We welcome your constructive feedback:(Right-click, "Open in new tab") Africa • Caucasus • Europe • Pacific • WEG • Force Structures

Using the DATE • TC 7-101 Exercise Design • Download

DATE Pacific > South Torbia > Social: South Torbia ←You are here

The island of Torbia remained largely homogeneous both ethnically and linguistically throughout its history, despite repeated invasions and occupations by various foreign entities. A close-held Torbian ethnic identity is one of the most significant long-term consequences of these occupations; this ultimately resulted in widespread migration throughout the island, but relatively little emigration or immigration. The Torbian War created a mass migration event as both families and individuals moved north or south depending on political affiliations and family connections. The Torbian War also created a significant refugee crisis, with over 500,000 Torbians seeking asylum in other nations around the region.

Population Movement (Migration/IDPs/Refugees)

The island of Torbia remained largely homogenous both ethnically and linguistically throughout its history, despite repeated invasions and occupations by various foreign entities. A close-held Torbian ethnic identity is one of the most significant long-term consequences of these occupations; this ultimately resulted in widespread migration throughout the island, but relatively little emigration or immigration. The Torbian War created a mass migration event as both families and individuals moved north or south depending on political affiliations and family connections. The Torbian War also created a significant refugee crisis, with over 500,000 Torbians seeking asylum in other nations around the region.

The complex political relationship between North and South Torbia influences migration significantly. Both countries recognize citizens of the other nation as citizens of their own. As a result, migrants are usually given full recognition, along with rights of resettlement. Though today there are typically fewer than a thousand cross-border migrations in a given year, in the event the DPRT government collapses the South Torbian government will face a flood of new citizens, many of which will require medical care, food, and political/social integration.

Unlike the DPRT’s closed society, the ROT has traditionally allowed both emigration and immigration with relatively few restrictions. Following the Torbian War, large numbers of westerners came the country to participate in rebuilding and modernization efforts; these efforts were slow-moving and permanent immigration was rare. ROT presidents gradually clamped down on immigration, especially by westerners, and as a result, by the 1970s immigration to South Torbia was extremely low. In contrast, huge numbers of Torbians immigrated throughout the 20th century. The most common destinations were the US (primarily to the west coast), Olvana (primarily to Northeast Olvana), and Japan. Many of these emigrants were war orphans; the refugee crisis stemming from the Torbian War was a major international question for many years.

As the ROT government liberalized and the economy grew rapidly in the 1990s, mass immigration was required in order to sustain the expanding economy. Immigration laws were loosened, and large numbers of skilled and unskilled workers from around the world flowed into South Torbia. The vast majority of these new immigrants were Olvanese. The ROT government was ill-prepared to deal with the social and economic frictions that arose from the change in immigration policy, and strife between Torbians and (mainly Olvanese) immigrants was a common occurrence throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.

Today, immigration to South Torbia is again tightly controlled. Citizenship is difficult to obtain, and integration of new immigrants is viewed as difficult. However, skilled workers are in high demand amongst the ROT’s high-tech industries, as is unskilled labor to fill the least desirable jobs. As a result, the ROT adopted a robust guest worker program, wherein a temporary work visa is issued for work at a specific company or job for a specific period of time. These workers are closely monitored and are usually deported from South Torbia if their visa expires without renewal.

Population Distribution

South Torbia is defined largely by its heavy urbanization and its very high population density. Rapid economic development in the 1980s and 1990s let to mass movement into cities, resulting in one of the world’s most heavily urbanized populations. Manila is the largest urban area, and is one of the densest cities on earth. Other cities experienced similar growth patterns, though not in the same quantities. South Torbia’s terrain contributed to the canalization of the population. Only a relatively small portion of South Torbia territory is arable, which resulted in populations concentrating in both cities and in the limited areas of useful land.

Today, the vast majority (80%+) of the South Torbian population lives in cities or urban areas. The majority of these settlements are coastal; there are relatively few inland population centers. Even rural settlements tend to be fairly concentrated and centralized, coalescing at key transportation nodes and around valuable land areas. Large areas of South Torbia are virtually unsettled due to difficult terrain and sparse access.

Demographic Mix

ROT’s age demographics have shown dramatic volatility over the last 70 years. Wartime occupation, then the Torbian War, then years of oppressive government created deep peaks and valleys in both birth and death rate. These fluctuations periodically created labor crises, as well as political and social frictions.

The ROT is on the brink of a demographic crisis. The population bulge from the postwar baby boom is entering old age, and birth rates have plummeted over the last 15 years. As a result, the labor force is anticipated to shrink significantly over the next decade, while the cost of elderly care skyrockets. The Torbian tradition of caring for one’s elderly parents is exacerbating the situation – young Torbians are having to put significant time and resources towards elderly care.

South Torbia’s birth rate continues to fall; though a flattening of population growth has been put off by increased life expectancy, it is expected over the next 10 to 15 years that population growth will slow and then cease.

Male/female demographics are typical – slightly more males are born than females, but females have a longer life expectancy. As such, as a cohort ages, the proportion of males to females decreases slightly over time.

Social Volatility

Following the dramatic and violent upheavals of the 1980s, the ROT today is generally a stable and safe society. There is virtually no sectarian violence, religious, or ethnic/racial conflict. The various tensions that do exist tend to be either political in nature, or between different age cohorts; neither has risen to crisis levels in recent memory. The predicted upcoming demographic crisis may put additional stresses on Torbian society, particularly the younger population, but there is no reason to think the government will be unable to meet the challenge. The integration and legal status of immigrants and guest workers is also an area with some potential conflict: issues such as housing and

The ROT government places significant weight on maintaining social order, and devotes significant resources to that end. This is due to two main factors: the existential threat of the DPRT, and the concept of societal kibun, a concept that prescribes nationwide harmony and peace. This policy of seeking social stability leads occasionally to measures like censorship and media manipulation, but mostly takes the form of the government proactively trying to eliminate potential sources of friction.

Education Level

By most measures, the ROT is one of the best educated nations on earth, and also enjoys one of the world’s best educated workforces. It has been said that the country is obsessed by education – a child’s academic performance is an enormous status symbol. Higher education is seen as the most prestigious pursuit in Torbian society, and a degree from a well-regarded university is a huge socioeconomic advantage. Conversely, people who lack higher degrees face significant prejudice both socially and professionally.

The ROT education system consists of both public and private schools.  All educational institutions receive government funding; public schools are fully funded by tax revenue. While in the past there were significant advantages to attending private schools, it is generally thought today that public schools are at least their equal, if not better in key areas.  Schooling begins with an optional but almost universally attended pre-school, then 6 years of primary school with a universal curriculum. Following primary school, students attend 3 years of middle school: middle school is considered difficult and strict, competition for limited spots at elite high schools is intense. Testing and academic achievement are used to place students in high schools.

High school curriculum varies based on the focus of the school. Various types of high school include math/science, arts, general education, and vocational. Math/science high schools are the most prestigious and hotly contested, while vocational schools are considered disappointments. Math/science and arts schools are strictly college preparatory, while other schools have a broader and more utilitarian curriculum.

College in South Torbia is a major life milestone: college entrance exams are incredibly difficult, and college admissions are hotly contested. Students and families alike spend large sums (or take out large loans) to pay for university educations, and graduation from a top university is a huge event for both student and family. Thanks to a broad expansion in availability of university education, more South Torbians today attend university than any other country on earth. While this is seen as a mark of pride in South Torbia, it has resulted in a flood of educated workers into a slowing economy. At the same time, the university expansion resulted in a significant shortfall in blue-collar workers. The ROT government is attempting to address this issue by investing in vocational schools, developing a more effective apprenticeship program, and emphasizing the career potential of blue-collar positions.

Ethnic Diversity

Torbia is one of the most ethnically homogeneous places on earth; even accounting for immigration, nearly 95% of the population is Torbian. Other minor ethnicities include Olvanese along with a variety of European, South Asian, and East Asian backgrounds.

Religious Diversity

While South Torbia maintains a Buddhist majority, Christianity (both Protestant and Catholic), Islam, and Confucianism also have significant formal practices. Strict followers of formal religions are a minority however, and nearly 60% of the country’s population claim no formal religious practice. Many follow Torbian folk religions: family-based and private traditions, while nearly 20% identify as agnostic or atheist. Hybrid religions are also popular: in example, a family might attend a Protestant church while maintaining a folk religious practice in the home.

Throughout the era of military dictatorship, Christianity (particularly Protestantism) was pushed hard by the ROT government, primarily as a means to oppose the hardline atheism of the DPRT. This resulted in some level of fanaticism, and for a period in the 1980s, widespread violence (primarily arson and vandalism) against traditional Torbian religious facilities. This violence abruptly ended along with military autocratic rule, and today, religious violence of any kind is considered abhorrent.

Religious participation is declining: among younger Torbians, some 65% claim to be either atheist or agnostic. This precipitous decline has created something of a crisis for Torbia’s established practices, particularly among Christian congregations. This resulted in a widespread international evangelical effort focused on South Torbia, which resulted in little recruitment; instead, it was viewed with widespread resentment by younger Torbians as something of a neo-colonial movement by western powers.

Islam is the only religious affiliation currently growing in South Torbia. It is mainly limited to the southern region of the country, and thrives in rural areas. While most Torbian Muslims are peaceful and patriotic, a small but growing number are joining Islamist organizations.

Common Languages

Torbian is the dominant language and official of South Torbia; it is a language shared with the DPRT, and spoken by Torbians worldwide. There are at least 5 major unique Torbian dialects in South Torbia; all are mutually intelligible to Torbians, but can confuse non-native speakers. Torbian in the ROT now differs significantly from the DPRT; they are still mutually intelligible, but differ enough that issues may arise if and when large numbers of uneducated North Torbians interact with ROT and western soldiers.

English is the second-most common language spoken in Torbia. Younger Torbians receive English instruction as part of a mandatory curriculum, and nearly 80% of the population under age 35 can speak and write English at a functional level. There is a push from business leaders to switch the language of business in Torbia to English, to better facilitate business dealings with both the west and Olvana. This movement is strongly resisted by older Torbians, and is a major point of contention when establishing national school curricula.

Olvanese and Arabic are also spoken in specific areas occupied by immigrants or foreign workers. In general however, one must be versed in either Torbian or English in order to conduct business in South Torbia.

Criminal Activity

South Torbia generally enjoys a low crime rate compared to other industrialized nations. However, much of South Torbia’s crimes are violent in nature, and organized criminal activity is disproportionately prevalent and growing.

The Torbian Communist Army (TCA) and the Islamic Torbian Army (ITA) are the two most significant paramilitary criminal groups.  The TCA seeks to establish a communist government in the ROT and reunite the peninsula under DPRT control.  The ITA is an Islamist movement seeking to convert the ROT into an Islamic theocracy. Both groups operate in rural areas, relying on guerilla tactics, kidnapping, extortion, and racketeering to influence limited geographic areas. Both paramilitary groups work on occasion with criminal syndicates.

The two largest criminal syndicates in South Torbia are the Tantoco Cartel and the Osongco Syndicate. Both emerged during the period of liberalization during the 1990s; Both are relatively typical large criminal organizations, with pronounced hierarchies and wide-ranging criminal enterprises. Criminal activities range from drug and weapon smuggling, to extortion and kidnapping, to illegal gambling, human trafficking, and small-scale bombings and murder-for-hire. Both organizations are thought to have influence in the NA, and in local and national police forces. Strangely, they do not appear to be rivals, inferring that some manner of negotiation and compromise between the two was reached.

The ROT also copes with significant gang activity, particularly in urban areas. Street gangs conduct small-scale criminal enterprises on established “turf”. Some gangs are affiliated with one of the larger criminal syndicates, others operate independently. Main activities include theft, robbery, vandalism, and pandering/prostitution.

Offshore piracy is a growing problem. Depletion of natural fisheries through pollution and overfishing created a large number of destitute fishermen. Capable seamen, equipped with boats, have found a lucrative alternative to fishing in robbing commercial transport vessels operating throughout the myriad waterways in and around South Torbia. This reached something of a crisis point in the mid2000s, causing the ROT government to devote substantial military and police resources to combating piracy. Following dramatic initial success, ROT authorities saw pirates change tactics and equipment, then resume pirate activities with good effect. This development implies piracy is a long-term problem that requires constant vigilance and continued investment in anti-piracy measures.

Human Rights

The ROT had a wildly uneven record with human rights throughout the 20th century. Though the military autocrats claimed to uphold the rule of law and basic freedoms, free speech, association, and free press were routinely suppressed, while dissenters faced imprisonment without trial, torture, and even execution. These practices culminated with the Massacre of Los Banos, and the eventual emergence of the new republic.

Today, the ROT meets most standards for human rights and protection of freedoms expected of developed nations. Freedom of speech, press, association, and religion are codified in the constitution and enforced by the judiciary. Accused criminals have numerous rights; trials are regarded as fair and transparent. Human rights are an important election factor; several prominent human rights advocates have been elected to high offices on a pro-rights basis.

Still, some anachronisms exist; homosexuals are widely discriminated against and have no protective laws, which has garnered some international condemnation. Non-Torbians, or Torbians of mixed-parentage too see widespread discrimination. These two groups represent a small proportion of the South Torbian population. In addition, the ROT military faces consistent issues of human rights abuses against conscripts: incidents described as “hazing” often venture into grossly inhumane treatment. Numerous scandals resulting from these incidents brought extreme public scrutiny on the military, which embarked on a comprehensive retraining and oversight program designed to curb these behaviors.

Centers of Social Power

South Torbia has numerous centers of social power. Foremost is the family: virtually all Torbians, even the most recent generation, follow traditions and customs venerating the family above all else. Business, particularly larger corporations and conglomerates, have enormous influence on Torbian society, from their employees, to media, to politics. Torbia often looks to the west for cultural influence: American society in particular carries great weight, especially among younger cohorts. Media in general, and the internet in particular, has an outsized influence in South Torbia: high rates of connectivity and widespread use of mobile devices grew this market more quickly than anywhere else on earth.

Basic Cultural Norms and Values

Tradition and culture carry tremendous weight in South Torbia. Though Torbians are generally forgiving to outsiders when it comes to knowing and understanding cultural norms, deliberate disregard for them is considered extremely rude and personally insulting. Depending on the severity of the insult, a personal relationship may be permanently compromised or destroyed. The South Torbian paragon is a model of respectful listening. Thoughtful reflection and conflict avoidance in accordance with the Buddha are the ideal. They are a reactive culture that prioritizes courtesy and respect, listening quietly and calmly and reacting carefully to the other side's proposals. Words are chosen carefully and body language is subtle, as being caught in a lie would result in loss of great face.

Meeting & Greeting	A short bow is the most typical greeting, followed by a firm, two-handed handshake. The most common greeting is that of the time of day (“good morning/afternoon/evening”). Women often do not shake hands and instead bow the head.
Visiting / Hospitality	South Torbians take their reputation for hospitality seriously, but the level of friendliness is different--fellow Torbians receive the most, then Western visitors and tourists, while other Asians receive the lowest level of friendliness. Taking off shoes is a common courtesy before entering many places. If the floor is raised at the doorway, it is an indicator that one should remove their shoes. It is possible to arrive up to thirty minutes late without causing offense but punctuality is highly respected Guests are generally told their itineraries with no choice in menus or bed times.
Manners	Blowing the nose in public is considered rude. Eating while walking is seen as sloppy and crass. Pouring one's own drink is seen as a faux pas. It is generally preferred that hosts, even in restaurants and bars, fill the drinks of their company, and the company should do the same for the host. Pointing is considered rude and an open hand should be used to make gestures. Slurping noodles indicates that the meal is delicious and is considered polite.
Gifts	The gifting culture is important in the ROT, with the value of gifts considered less important than thoughtfulness. Gifting must be clearly legal without the possibility of misconstruing the gift as an attempt at corruption. It is common to ask a friend or associate for help in determining a gift to an important individual.
Cultural Dos and Don’ts	Family names are extremely important. The first name is the family name, the last is the given name. Do not address anyone with the given name until given explicit permission. A central concept in Torbian culture is the idea of one’s pride/honor/state of mind, and much social interaction revolves around it. The basic idea of Toriban culture is that of harmony. Torbians seek to avoid friction and uncomfortable atmospheres; to deliberately ignore this is to cause personal offense. South Torbian culture also encompasses respect and honor: if someone is offended or dishonored, their status is damaged, and this is cause for serious concern. Social status is also visible in political and military settings; it results in high deference to superiors and a significant willingness to suffer losses in order to avoid dishonor.
Gifts	The gifting culture is important in the ROT, with the value of gifts considered less important than thoughtfulness. Gifting must be clearly legal without the possibility of misconstruing the gift as an attempt at corruption. It is common to ask a friend or associate for help in determining a gift to an important individual.
Taboos	Losing one’s temper and shouting is considered highly rude. Bluntness in discussion is considered rude. Poor posture is judged harshly. Touching or extended eye contact with someone unfamiliar is considered impolite and challenging.
Personal Space	It is insulting for Torbians to be touched by someone with whom they are unfamiliar. However, in urban environments, pushing and shoving, especially on public transportation, is normal. Prolonged, direct eye contact can be inferred as a challenge and is seen as impolite, especially when dealing with others of a higher social standing.
Displays of Affection	Kissing in public is looked down upon and seen as highly immodest among older individuals but is less taboo with young adults.
Marriage Rituals	Arranged marriages are common, but increasingly less so; divorce rare. Patriarchal lineage is extremely important culturally.
Dispute Resoltuon	South Torbians generally start negotiations at an unreasonable position and prepare to compromise. Torbians are tough negotiators and admire a firm, persistent negotiator, but refrain from being too aggressive. Negotiations are generally long and require several trips. Yes and no are not necessarily absolute answers, and questions should be phrased in a way that require a specific answer.
Birth Rituals	Most births occur in clean and efficient hospital facilities. Thje father does not typically attend the birth, but sees the child with his family after the birth occurs. Births are seen as a major family event and often serve as a de facto family reunion.
Death Rituals	Death rituals are very important to all Torbians. Numerous items, including knives, scissors, and red ink signify death. Funerals are as expensive and ornate as the family can make them. Commissioning a portrait of the deceased is a common ritual.