Political: South Torbia

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The modern ROT state resulted from hasty negotiations between the United States and the People’s Republic of Olvana following the occupation of Torbia during WWII. Planners arbitrarily divided the island roughly in half along the XXXX parallel, with the US governing the southern portion and the Ovalnese the north. The US, along with the rest of the western allies, left Torbia shortly after, focusing instead on the occupations of Japan and Germany, along with growing frictions with Donovia. The ROT was declared on September 15, 1947, envisioned as a liberal western democracy and eventual American ally in the western Pacific. 15 September is still recognized as “Torbia Day”, the day of national independence.

Park Sung-Min, a former army general and leading figure in the Torbia wartime resistance, rose to power in the vacuum left by the US. Park was a harsh and autocratic leader that violently consolidated power and aggressively suppressed political opposition. Despite his alarmingly oppressive policies, Park had complete support from the US as he was a staunch anti-communist. This backing only increased as Olvana reinforced the new communist government in North Torbia, now called the Democratic People’s Republic of Torbia (DPRT).

The Torbian War was a watershed event for both North and South Torbia. The DPRT, led by their charismatic communist dictator Song Yang-Hwan, convinced Olvana to back an invasion of the ROT. Song’s intent was to unite the island under communist rule. Supplied and trained by the Olvanese, the DPRT massed forces on the border and invaded in 1950, meeting minimal resistance from the South Torbians and nearly completed their destruction before US/NATO intervention.  The resulting US/NATO counterattack and subsequent Ovlanese intervention ultimately resulted in a stalemate that endured for nearly three more years before ceasefire terms were finally agreed upon. No formal peace treaty has been signed, and the two countries are still in a state of war.

South Torbia suffered massive military and civilian losses during the Torbian War. Large areas of the ROT countryside had been laid to waste, and virtually all of the ROT’s limited industrial capacity was gutted or destroyed. The ongoing military threat of the DPRT forced South Torbia into a more or less perpetual state of wartime readiness, which added to the emerging dominance of the repressive Park government. For nearly 10 years, Park ruled the ROT as a virtual military dictator.  His regime was notable for numerous human rights abuses and shortsighted economic policies. Despite this, the US supported him unconditionally, as he was seen as a bulwark against communist expansion in the Western Pacific.

Park’s rule came to an abrupt end in the spring of 1962. Student demonstrations against the brutality of his regime grew into a rebellion, at first localized to small pockets in the South Torbian capital of Manila, but then spreading rapidly throughout the country. When the ROT Army (ROTA)’s general staff announced they would not put down the rebellion, Park immediately abdicated the presidency, and the Torbian Second Republic was announced. The Second Republic, though deeply democratic and populist in nature, faced significant hurdles. Being mostly a student movement, it lacked strong centralized leadership, and extreme leftist/communist ties undermined US backing of the new government. After some 9 months of ineffective government characterized by violent purges and endemic corruption, the ROTA deposed the Second Republic government with a relatively bloodless coup in early 1963.

A new constitution established a government run virtually entirely by the military. The ROTA chief of staff (CoS), General Son Young-pyo, was now the ROT head of state; parliament and cabinet were staffed entirely by military officers. Son was a WWII and Torbian War hero with enormous popular appeal, and he made numerous promises to end the political violence, re-establish good relations with the US, and transition to a stable and effective democracy within two years.

Son mostly kept these promises. Relations with the US were greatly improved once it was clear Son had a strong anti-communist position, and political violence virtually disappeared. By 1965, he deemed the ROT sufficiently stable to transition back to a civilian-run democratic government. Elections were scheduled, and a new constitution drafted. Son appeared ready to step aside until shortly before the election, when he abruptly resigned his commission and announced his candidacy for President of the ROT. Son enjoyed great public trust and popularity, and he won the election in a landslide. Son’s power was such that he became a de facto kingmaker within the legislature (the National Assembly, or NA), and his Republican Party became the ROT’s dominant political force within the Torbian Third Republic.

Son’s reign coincided almost exactly with the Third Republic. Son’s primary objective throughout his time in power was the growth of the South Torbian economy. The ROT was still an economic backwater when Son took over the presidency; it lagged far behind the emerging communist bloc-backed economy of the DPRT, as well as the rehabilitated economies of Japan and Olvana. Son, using the ROT’s anti-communist history as leverage, successfully attracted huge sums of foreign aid, investment, and reparations. Son successfully negotiated a long-term status of forces (SOF) agreement with the US, allowing American troops to assist the ROT military in deterring/resisting the always-aggressive DPRT.

Economic growth throughout the Son era was meteoric. The ROT was ideally positioned as a global trading destination, and significant natural resources all over the island were successfully extracted. Infrastructure, including modern highways, airports, and seaports, were constructed across the country, back by American money and expertise. Son’s long-term vision was an export economy, with massively wealth American markets as the primary target for ROT manufactured goods. By the mid-1970s, the ROT economy had surpassed that of the DPRT in per capita GDP and productivity. ROT export markets in both Japan and the US grew rapidly.

Despite the successes of the Third Republic’s economic growth plan, major problems still plagued the ROT. Quality of life for most working-class citizens remained very poor: the ROT government invested little in amenities like health care, housing, and education. Much of the wealth generated by ROT industry went to the capitalist/investor and political classes – economic and social volatility was high. Son, much like his predecessor, eventually resorted to repressive and violent political techniques to quell dissent and uprisings. Extra-judicial killings by the military became commonplace, as the ROTA became a virtual praetorian guard surrounding the Son government. Resistance to the Son government grew along with the prevalence of political violence and human rights abuses. By 1980, the country was on the verge of a major political uprising.

Son’s regime came to an abrupt and violent end in early 1981. Student demonstrations throughout the country had become endemic and widespread. Protest leaders were arrested and held without trial, which resulted in nationwide peaceful demonstrations and some violent riots. In the university town of Los Banos, the demonstrations were organized so well that local police were unable to contain them. ROTA force were dispatched, and opened fire on the mostly peaceful demonstrators.  Some 400 ROT citizens were killed and nearly a thousand injured in what became known as the Massacre of Los Banos. This served as a flashpoint for much of ROT’s working class and student population, and a national revolution seemed imminent.

In the aftermath of the massacre, Son retreated to his presidential palace and dispatched ROTA forces around Manila to contain potential revolutionary forces. Shortly after this final order, a ROTA aide shot and killed Son in his office. Son’s assassination put the growing nationwide uprising on pause while upper echelons of the ROT government scrambled to consolidate power and prevent widespread political violence. A popular moderate civilian politician was named interim president, and elections were quickly scheduled for late 1981.

The elections of 1981 established the ROT’s Fourth Republic. Political experts from across the world were brought in to help craft a new government. Sweeping changes to the ROT constitution were implemented, including restricting military influence in the elected government. Major reforms in support of human rights, constitutional protects, privacy protections, law enforcement restrictions, and strict term limits were implemented. The 1981 elections established a radically new National Assembly, largely cutting the military out of the legislature. Similarly, the new president had no formal military background.

The Fourth Republic proved stable and peaceful, largely eliminating the human rights abuses and political violence that had plagued the ROT since its inception. Relations with Olvana, the US, Donovia, and Japan were all improved; diplomatic feelers were even sent out to the DPRT (to no effect). Economic growth continued, but was now accompanied by significant improvements in quality of life for nearly all ROT citizens. By the close of the 20^th century, the ROT emerged as one of the world’s wealthiest and most influential nations.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, the ROT was one of the world’s fastest growing and most impressive economies. This period saw most South Torbians rise from relative poverty into comfortable middle-class, while the upper class entered the global elite. This growth period slowed with the global financial crisis in 2008; the ROT government went into large deficits and widespread public dissatisfaction with the government emerged for the first time. Following the rebound from this crisis, an enormous corruption scandal that included the impeachment and imprisonment of the ROT president, along with numerous other high-level officials, shocked the nation and brought worldwide scrutiny onto the ROT’s public institutions.

Centers of Political Power

South Torbia

ROT is in many ways a western-style liberal democracy. The 1981 constitution achieved an effective balance of power between the three branches of government, effectively reducing presidential power from dictatorial to a more typical executive. The NA and the president together dominate public politics and hold the majority of the formal national political power. Local (provincial and city) governments are more limited in scope; they are semi-autonomous per the constitution, but have very little formal authority.

Ultimately, the heart of political power in the ROT lies with voters and the political parties that they support. Political parties are generally similar to those in western nations, run by chair people, and highly influential in who runs in a given election.

With the rise of several mega-corporations over the last 20 years, big business became a major political player as well. Though business has no formal political power in the ROT system, the handful of local mega-corporations control a huge percentage of the ROT’s GDP, jobs, and tax revenues, and are thus well positioned to influence elected officials and bureaucrats at all levels of government. This recently emerged as a significant issue thanks to a large anti-corruption effort that brought down several high-profile government officials, caught taking bribes from a major company in exchange for sponsoring favorable tax reforms. ROT citizens in general are very wary of any threats to their hard-won democracy, so great scrutiny is being given to the role of big business in ROT politics.

At a micro level, the family unit dominates political discourse. Families tend to vote as a unit, most often in line with the father’s or grandfather’s thinking. Political debates often center on effects on the family: issues such as taxation, education, infrastructure, and military service are couched in terms of their relationship to families. As a result of the patriarchal nature of voting, political platforms typically try to woo older males above all other demographics.

Military Authority

The ROT was essentially a military dictatorship for much of its history, with very mixed results for most of the population. The 1981 constitution formally removed the military from civil government while establishing clear lines of control between the president, the NA, and the military. However, the ROT military still casts a very long shadow over ROT politics: the DPRT threat remains extant, and the population of the ROT still considers the military a very important part of the national political landscape. Active duty officers are strictly forbidden from taking public stances on political issues; retired officers generally do not run for political office.

The most significant military issue, on an annual basis, is the budget.  The ROT military budget is usually between 2 and 2.5% of GDP, a number that usually places it in the top 10 worldwide of that category. Dove factions within the NA typically debate with hawk factions on the budget issue until a compromise is reached. These debates are usually highly viewed and can be very intense: they can make or break political careers. Conscription is universal, creating a large pool of trained reserve personnel along with a deep societal connection to the military.

Military national command authority goes from the President (and PM, as understudy), to the Minister of Defense (a cabinet position), and then to the military joint general staff, called the Supreme High Command. The senior military officer is called the Supreme High Commander (SHC); this position is viewed as roughly half cabinet member and half military commander. The Minster of Defense and SHC are charged with implementing the strategy and orders of the president.  While the president chooses the Minister of Defense, the SHC must be nominated by the president and the approved by the NA.

Family Authority

Torbian society rotates around the family in practically every respect, and politics is no different. Families tend to vote as a unit, most often in the same way that the father or grandfather in the household does. Political discourse often centers on the family: issues such as taxation, education, infrastructure, and military service are usually argued in terms of their relationship to families. As a result of the patriarchal nature of voting, political platforms typically try to woo older males above all other demographics.

Religious/Clerical Authority

Though South Torbians enjoy constitutionally protected freedom of religion, few religious organizations play a significant role in politics. Protestant Christianity is the dominant religion in the country, but Torbians in general recognize a sharp contrast between church and state, and do not want churches or other religious institutions politicized. Much the same goes for minority religions, including Buddhism and folk practices.

One major exception is a small but vocal sect of peace activists who protest the nation’s militarism on pacifist grounds. These groups are mostly Christian and have, in the past, identified as Quakers and as 7th-day Adventists. Though they are a minority group, they often align with secular pacifist political groups to amplify the pacifist message.

Attitudes Toward the US

South Torbia’s relations with the US have consistently been a defining political issue for almost a century. Today, Torbia/American relations are a consistent theme in the national political dialogue, with each political party taking a distinct and usually strong stance on one or more major issues, such as missile defense, status-of-forces (SOFA) agreements, procurement, or trade agreements.

American presence in Torbia dates back to the immediate aftermath of WWII, and of course, the Torbian War. Since that time, though troop levels have varied significantly, there has been a consistent and powerful American military presence in South Torbia. While most South Torbians appreciate the American presence as an effective deterrent to DPRT aggression, numerous incidents (usually relating to misconduct by American service people) over the years gave rise to a small but vocal anti-US movement. Though the radical anti-US movement remains somewhat fringe, a growing number of South Torbians want to see American presence on the island reduced. A major concession to this movement occurred in 2011, when all American forces on the island were removed from American supreme military command and placed under the highest ROT joint military command. The implications of this change are significant and are still evolving.

Missile defense has become another hot-button issue in South Torbia. The ROT military had no organic missile defense capability until fairly recently – all capabilities were provided by the US. With the DPRT increasing their ballistic missile testing and procurement programs, missile defense moved to the forefront of ROT politics and military strategy.  ROT generals requested South Torbia develop its own defense capabilities to compliment the Americans, while increasing American missile defense presence on the island. While most South Torbians supported this effort, some were greatly concerned that it would prove to be a provocation to Olvana. The expansion is ongoing, but remains contentious.

The main current source of friction between the US and ROT, aside from the long-standing military SOFA, is the differences the two countries have in their stance towards the DPRT. American policy tends to be more bellicose and uncompromising, while the ROT much prefers softer approaches.  This makes sense, as 1) the ROT views the DPRT as part of its territory and heritage, and 2) the ROT could face considerable destruction and loss of life in the event of an open conflict. This friction ebbs and flows as political parties in both countries change, and as the DPRT varies its approach from timid to belligerent. 

Attitude Toward US Trade

Diplomatically and economically, the US and South Torbia remain staunch allies and partners. The ROT has long been a hotbed for American investment, and the US is the ROT’s second most important export market (after Olvana). The US and ROT recently renegotiated one of the world’s most comprehensive free trade agreements (FTA), the United States-Torbia Trade Agreement (called the TORUS agreement). The TORUS agreement is today the world’s second largest FTA behind the European FTA, and it has proven enormously popular and beneficial to both countries’ economies.

Type of Government

Official Flag of South Torbia

South Torbia is a representative republic, with the executive and legislature elected by popular vote. The national/federal government is far more powerful and influential than provincial governments. A carefully constructed system of checks and balances ensures long-term stability.

Branches of Government

Political Subdivisions of South Torbia

Legislative Authority

The National Assembly of South Torbia, called the NA, is the national legislative body. It is unicameral, with a single large assembly consisting of 325 elected representatives. Though the exact numbers change year to year, roughly 250 of the representatives are elected via single-representative constituencies (called NA districts); the remainder are elected via proportional representation as a part of national elections. Terms are 6 years; elections are held every three for half of the NA. ROT’s history with overly-powerful executives led to a specific provision included in the 1981 constitution that prohibits the dissolution of the NA by any other political body.

The primary role of the NA is passing national legislature. Potential laws begin as petitions: if they receive at least 20 signatures from NA members they are then introduced as bills. Bills are debated and then voted on; a simple majority of at least a 50% quorum is required to pass. The president then approves the bill; if the president refuses to approve a bill, a 3/5ths majority is required to override his disapproval. The NA also holds impeachment power over all government officials: following the normal petition and debate, an impeachment vote of a 3/5ths majority can remove any other government official from office. The NA debates and approves the national budget and approves appointments to the Supreme Court and the president’s cabinet.

Typically there are between 4 and 6 major political parties represented in the NA. At present, most members are from the center-right (Torbia Liberty) and center-left (Social Democratic) parties, with a hard-right nationalist party (Torbian Patriot) and a green socialist (People’s) party also represented in smaller numbers. In recent years, the hard-right and far left parties have gained proportionally as South Torbian politics have polarized. Past parties that achieved at least 5% representation include the Torbian Unity party (a party advocating for reunification of Torbia), the Military First Party (a hawkish/pro-militarist party), and the Torbia First Party (an anti-US/western party).  In order for a party to be included on a national ballot, they must be approved by the Constitutional Court.

Provincial or local legislatures are far less formal than American counterparts: elections are highly localized, and representatives are often not compensated for their time. Provincial legislatures address issues relevant to their constituents but have very limited power to pass hard legislation – all provincial laws must be approved by the federal government.

Executive Authority

South Torbia’s modern history has been dominated by strong executives, from outright dictators to military juntas to overly-powerful presidents.  The 1981 constitution deliberately sought to limit the power of the executive, which it did, but the ROT president remains the country’s most powerful political figure.

The ROT president is the head-of-government, head-of-state, commander-in-chief, and chairperson of the cabinet. These four responsibilities encompass virtually the entire ROT government. The ROT constitution specifies the President must take an oath with three mandates: 1) uphold the ROT constitution, 2) protect the ROT from threats at home and abroad, and 3) work towards the peaceful reunification of Torbia. Somewhat uniquely, the ROT president can declare war unilaterally; the NA’s check to that authority is the funding of a war.

The president is chosen every six years in a national election. The vote is a simple popular one; usually, at least 3 and sometimes as many as 6 candidates will run in a given election. Presidential candidates are typically leading members of political parties, but some are political outsiders and have no party affiliation. A president serves only one term; ex-presidents typically retire from public political life following their presidency.

South Torbia also has a prime minister (PM); unlike most PMs, the ROT PM is not the head of government, but rather, the head of the cabinet and the president’s understudy. The PM is appointed, rather than elected, and is generally expected to maintain a very low public profile – past PMs have been dismissed because of excessive public presence. The PM’s usual responsibility is ensuring the president’s agenda is implemented by the cabinet.

South Torbia was recently lucky to enjoy a stream of competent and well-regarded presidents. As a result, public confidence in the office of the president was recovering after years of skepticism. However, the recent corruption scandal has seriously eroded this new public trust; it remains to be seen how severe the damage will be.

Judicial Authority

The judicial system of South Torbia largely mimics that of western civil law systems. The largest difference between the ROT’s legal system and many western systems is the complete absence of juries as a means to decide cases and sentencing – all decisions are made by one or more judges. South Torbia also utilizes an inquisitorial system for its prosecution, giving significant power to courts and judges across the breadth of the legal system.

South Torbia’s highest court is the Supreme Court of South Torbia (called the SCOST).  SCOST decisions cover cases of national importance that have passed up through District and High courts. Unlike many western judiciaries, the SCOST often hears relatively minor but contentious issues. The SCOST is headed by a chief justice, appointed by the president and approved by the NA, who serves a six-year term. It is staffed by 10 associate judges, also presidential appointments, who likewise serve six year terms.  All terms are renewable, but it is common for justices to step down after only one term. SCOST decisions are simple majorities, with the chief justice acting as arbitrator if a majority cannot be obtained due to justice recusal or other issues.

In contrast to most western judiciaries, South Torbia employs a specialized ad-hoc court to hear constitutional issues, approve political parties, and to conduct impeachment hearings: the Constitutional Court. In contrast to the SCOST, the Constitutional Court consists of seven members, chosen by the legislature, and approved by the president. It is convened annually, or as needed for major constitutional issues or impeachment proceedings. Members must have served as either a SCOST judge or as a high court judge, but cannot be currently seated. Decisions are via a simple majority. Though the Constitutional Court is complex, it ensures checks and balances are in place for major constitutional issues and impeachments: the court was designed specifically to check the power of the executive.

Lower national courts include District and High courts.  District courts cover specific provincial areas or cities, and hear either appeals from Municipal courts, or high profile/serious cases. District courts consist of three judges; decisions must be unanimous.  High courts hear appeals from District courts; there are three high courts, each covering a roughly equal part of the South Torbian population.

Municipal courts are the lowest courts: they consist of a single judge that hears simple or low-value criminal cases. They can be thought of as similar to small claims court in the US, though they hear minor criminal cases in addition to civil matters.

Due process and the rules of the legal system are extremely important in South Torbia. Since courts and judges have significant latitude in determining which cases to prosecute, and the outcomes of those cases, strict rules are in place that protect the rights of citizens. Warrants are difficult to obtain, prosecutorial misconduct is harshly punished, and judges in particular are closely watched for any signs of bribery or other undue influence. While the system is generally well-liked and considered both fair and effective by the population, the freedom granted to judges and prosecutors has given rise to high-profile incidents of corruption.

Government Effectiveness and Legitimacy

The current South Torbian government structure is still quite young and has not yet faced a constitutional crisis as did the numerous republics that preceded it. Thus far, however, it has been an exceedingly stable and balanced government, with few major scandals and widespread popular support. Recently though, several high profile politicians were implicated in a large corruption scandal involving a major ROT corporation; they were the first prominent politicians to be impeached and removed from office under the new constitution.

South Torbians have grown incredibly vigilant about maintaining the balance of power within their government and the legitimacy of their democracy. Corruption and graft, though once common in Torbian culture, are now considered reprehensible, and will likely end a politician’s career. As a result, accusations of corruption between competing political parties and or candidates has become common; the Constitutional Court established a formal election commission to investigate high-profile accusations.

The ROT government is viewed as very effective, both domestically and abroad. It has low levels of corruption, provides extensive services for its citizens including very high quality health care, high-speed internet, and excellent education. The ROT enjoyed meteoric economic growth under the new constitution, due largely to effective anti-corruption measures and effective infrastructure spending.

Domestic Political Issues

South Torbia’s domestic political situation has been dominated by three key issues since the country was founded: the relationship of the executive to the rest of the government (and the related effects on long-term government stability); the degree to which the country should be militarized; and, the relationship between big business and the population/government.

The ROT went through decades of de facto dictatorships; the repression and corruption of these regimes cast a long shadow over contemporary ROT politics. The country as a whole is very wary of strong executives, and though all political parties recognize the need for an executive branch, there is a sharp divide about how powerful today’s executive should be. In general, conservative, or right-wing parties, advocate for a stronger executive, while liberal or left-wing parties seek more power for the NA.

Militarism is an issue that touches every part of ROT politics. As the nation is still technically at war, and is in very close proximity to a belligerent, aggressive, and unstable dictatorship, all political parties and a heavy majority of the ROT population desires a well-trained and prepared military. However, as previous regimes often spent upwards of 25% of GDP on the ROT military, often at the expense of badly needed domestic programs, the public and most politicians are wary of excess spending. The military represents a sizeable portion of the ROT economy, as they domestically manufacture many of their high-end weapons systems. Thus, military spending is tightly wound with the economy, technology growth, and jobs. It is also seen as a deterrent to further violence on the island, and a deterrent to excessive North Torbia aggression. Annual budget debates typically pit a pro-military coalition against a coalition wishing to spend more on domestic programs. The military itself is expected to stay completely apolitical and remain completely out of these debates, though this rarely occurs completely. Big-business corporatism is the last major ROT political issue, and its newest. Over the last two decades, several South Torbian companies have grown into some of the world’s largest and most powerful. The relationship between big business and government was a new friction for South Torbia, and one the country came to relatively late-on. The rapid ascent of several Torbian countries put them in positions to be enormously influential in Torbian politics, a fact that was taken advantage of repeatedly with both the NA and the presidency. Big companies were given enormously favorable tax statuses, and preferential treatment when it came to export, labor, and environmental regulations. The South Torbian population generally supported these concessions, as these large businesses were important economically to a huge percentage of the population. However, two recent major corruption scandals clearly crossed a line with the public – being business-friendly was one thing, but bribery was another. The aftermath of these bribery scandals brought far more scrutiny onto the relationship between big business and government; the fallout from this new development is yet to be assessed.

Elections

South Torbian elections are enormous national events; they are federal holidays and can be something of a national celebration. They are held every three years: presidential elections, along with half of the NA are chosen in one election; three years later, the other half of the NA is chosen in a mid-term election.

Following near-constant election fraud and corruption through the 1960s and 70s, South Torbia today has an almost fanatical devotion to the fairness of its elections. The ROT election commission is large and well-funded; election officials are highly regarded and high-profile. The SCOST holds ultimate authority over all national elections. The election commissioner is chosen by the SCOST; he or she represents the SCOST throughout the election season. No election is finalized until the SCOST certifies the results.

Local elections follow much the same model. District courts choose election commissioners and certify election results. Local elections are typically held the same day as national elections, with local candidates typically affiliating themselves with the platforms of national candidates.

Rule of Law

South Torbian culture has deeply embraced the rule of law at all levels of society and government, though there are still some examples of family name or status granting someone unfair or preferential treatment at the hands of government. South Torbians hold their judicial system in very high esteem and expect the judges and justices to strictly uphold the constitution. Police and military both take oaths of office seriously, and extra-legal activity within either organization is punished very harshly.

The relationship of big business to the ROT government is still an emerging issue. Since the economy of South Torbia is so thoroughly dominated by a handful of major companies, these companies can create massive leverage on government officials, both legal and extra-legal. The ROT is also wrestling with the implications of large multinational corporations operating in South Torbia. Often these organizations ask for favorable status or other concessions from national governments; while the ROT population generally supports big business, it is strongly opposed to special treatment for big business.  It remains to be seen how big business will nest within the South Torbian legal system.

Corruption

Corruption was historically endemic to Torbian culture; wartime occupation and postwar poverty only increased the region’s reliance on it. However, since the fall of the post-war military autocracies, South Torbia has experienced a groundswell of anti-corruption sentiment from all levels of society and throughout its political body. During the 1990s and 2000s, South Torbia sold itself to the world as Asia’s least corrupt government and business destination, though this wasn’t supported by fact. Statistically, South Torbia is said to be in the upper quartile of governments when it comes to transparency and anti-corruption efforts.

Today, trust in the government, and particularly the judicial system, is widespread.  Corruption at all levels of government is considered rare and highly frowned-upon. However, internal politics within business conglomerates and powerful families almost certainly breeds subtle illegal activities, particularly graft, which can often be effectively hidden from sight or easily explained away. “Favors” are the most common form of graft, often exchanged with other influential politicians or businessmen in such a way that no money changes hands. This kind of corruption is virtually impossible to track or quantify.

Human Rights and Freedoms

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.

International Relationships

Regional Actors

To be published

International Organizations

• Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• Asia-Pacific Asian Economic Cooperation (APEC)
• Association of Southeastern Asian Nations (ASEAN)
• Bank for International Settlement (BIS)
• Community of Democracies (CD)
• Certified Internal Controls Auditor (CICA)
• East Asian Seas (EAS)
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• G-24
• G-77
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
• International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
• International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
• International Criminal Court (ICCt)
• International Development (IDA)
• International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
• International Finance Corporation (IFC)
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)
• International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)
• International Labour Organization (ILO)
•  International Monetary Fund (IMF)
• International Maritime Organization (IMO)
• International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO)
• Interpol
• International Olympic Committee (IOC)
• International Organization for Migration (IOM)
• Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (ITSO)
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
• International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
• Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
• United Nations Stabilization Mission In Haiti (MINUSTAH)
• Non-aligned Movement (NAM)
• Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
• Permanent Court of Appeal (PCA)
• Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)
• United Nations (UN)United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

International Economic Associations

• Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• Asia-Pacific Asian Economic Cooperation (APEC)
• Bank for International Settlement (BIS)
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)
• International Development (IDA)
• International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
• International Finance Corporation (IFC)
• International Monetary Fund (IMF

Military Alliances

To be published

Influential Political Groups

Official Political Parties

To be published

Other Domestic Influential Groups

To be published

Summary

South Torbia is a representative republic, with the executive and legislature elected by popular vote. The national/federal government is far more powerful and influential than provincial governments. A carefully constructed system of checks and balances ensures long-term stability.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, South Torbia was one of the world’s fastest growing and most impressive economies. This period saw most South Torbians rise from relative poverty into comfortable middle-class, while the upper class entered the global elite. This growth period slowed with the global financial crisis in 2008; the ROT government went into large deficits and widespread public dissatisfaction with the government emerged for the first time. Following the rebound from this crisis, an enormous corruption scandal that included the impeachment and imprisonment of the ROT president, along with numerous other high-level officials, shocked the nation and brought worldwide scrutiny onto the ROT’s public institutions.

The ROT government is viewed as very effective, both domestically and abroad. It has low levels of corruption, provides extensive services for its citizens including very high quality health care, high-speed internet, and excellent education. The ROT enjoyed meteoric economic growth under the new constitution, due largely to effective anti-corruption measures and effective infrastructure spending.e Rh