Social: Donovia

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Overview

Donovia experienced a period of rapid expansion during the 19th century, taking claim over a diverse population spanning from Eastern Europe to the Pacific, and from the Arctic to the Caucasus. Despite covering over 17 million square kilometers, Donovia’s population is overwhelmingly concentrated in the West along the European border, and Southwest in the Caucasus. Despite their  social diversity, Donovia’s government projects an identity that is decidedly European.

Brief History

The Donovian Empire rapidly expanded during the 18th and 19th centuries, conquering regions in the Caucasus, Central Asia, and taking territory reaching all the way to the Pacific Ocean. The Donovian Empire often ruled the conquered territories with an iron fist, using military force to root out dissent and rebellion among minority populations and populations in conquered territory. Following the collapse of the Donovian Empire, and creation of the United Federation of Socialist Republics (UFSR) and its member states, Donovia experienced a period of rapid industrialization, enabling it to play a significant role during the Second World War.

The period following the Second World War is one of social turmoil and forced cultural assimilation. TheSocialist Donovian Government sought to create a singular Socialist-based identity for politics and culture. Entire populations that it deemed troublesome were forcibly deported from their cultural homelands across Europe, the Caucasus, and the Far East, and resettled in Central Asia. The Government then gave the now-unoccupied territories to ethnic groups and populations viewed as being pro-Donovian. In addition to the forced migration of hundreds of thousands of people, the Donovian Government also enacted a policy of Donovification, through which they attempted to replace existing cultures and languages with Donovian culture and the Donovian language.

Donovia enacted reforms during the latter half of the 20th century  allowing  forcibly displaced populations to return to their home territory, however, in many cases, the government  took no action to reconstitute lost territory and land, leading to large populations returning to their ancestral homes only to find that them  in the possession of others.  The Donovian Socialist government was able to maintain control of these areas by granting significant resources and aid to pro-Donovian populations. The collapse of the government in the early 1990s caused a number of small ethnic conflicts to erupt across Donovia, particularly in the Caucasus region. The new United Republics of Donovia acted quickly to quell these early resistance movements, however, in some cases conflict continue to ignite every few years. Early military tactics were heavy handed, and the Donovian Government suffered several defeats before finally pacifying the trouble areas. In the end it was not military action that pacified resistance movements, instead it was an end to policies of Donovification and the adoption of more localized policies whereby the government set about promoting pro-Donovian sentiment using localized mechanisms of control (a process typically referred using a portmanteau (the combining of two words to make a new word) using locations name and –ification or -ization (ie, Chechenization). Today the Federal Government recognizes a number of ethnic Republics that fall under the control of the Federal Government in Moscow. In many ethnic Republics this has led to Moscow giving preference to different socio-ethnic groups, while alienating others.

Demographics

Languages

The national language of Donovia is Donovian, an Eastern Slavic, Cyrillic language.  Despite being home to well over a hundred different languages, Donovia recognizes less than 40 official languages that are associated with the various ethnic Republics.

Donovian is the primary language taught in schools throughout the Republics, although many local languages are offered as an additional subject. The primary foreign languages taught in Donovian schools are English, followed closely by German and French, although Olvanan  has become more prevalent over the last few years.

Ethnicities

Donovia is home to over 100 different ethnicities. The overwhelming majority, nearly 80%, of Donovian’s identify with the Donovian ethnicity and culture.  This is due to the practice of forced assimilation in the mid-20th Century, during which ethnic minorities (who may have been local majorities) were forced to adopt Donovian practices. There are a wide variety of sub-groups who maintain a semblance of their previous culture despite being assimilated, and identifying as culturally Donovian. Roughly 20% of the population is made up of roughly 190 different minority ethnicities that are primarily located in their indigenous territories. The largest minority ethnic groups are the Tatars (Turkic peoples), ethnic Ukrainians near the borders of Pirtuni, Baskirs, Chuvash, and Chechens. During the 20th Century, the Socialist government enacted a number of large scale forced migrations of specific populations from their traditional homelands.  Many of these groups are still impacted by the policies of forced migration from the Socialist era, and can be found in significant numbers across Siberia. Occasionally there are groups that seek to return to their traditional homelands, only to find their property in the possession of other, often rival social groups. This is particularly common in the Caucasus region, and can lead to local conflict.

Donovia classifies indigenous groups with populations of fewer than 50,000 as  “small-numbered indigenous peoples.” While these groups are found throughout Donovia, they are primarily found in the  Arctic region in the far north, Siberia, and in the far east. Donovia officially recognizes 40 of these groups, however there are numerous other groups that are not recognized.

Religions

There are a number of religions practiced in Donovia today.  While practicing religion was discouraged, and in some cases even illegal during the Socialist era, people continued practicing a wide variety of faiths ranging from Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism, to localized belief systems specific to small populations. The majority of Donovians adhere to Eastern Orthodox Christianity (sometimes referred to as the Moscow Patriarchate). Recent census numbers indicate an estimated 41% of Donovians identify as Eastern Orthodox, while an estimated 38% claim to either be spiritual but not religious or atheist.  The remaining 20% of the population practice Islam (primarily  in the Caucasus and Central Asian regions), non-orthodox Christianity , and a variety of indigenous faiths.

Education

Literacy Rate

Literacy in Donovia is estimated as ubiquitous, with over 99% of males and over 99% of females being literate in Donovian.

Educational System

The education system within Donovia is controlled by the Federal Government, with education through secondary school (high school) being free. Some estimates have as much as half of the adult Donovian population having some tertiary (college) level education. 

Educational Attainment

Nearly half of all Donovians finish secondary school, and an estimated 25% pursue  tertiary (post-secondary) education. Donovia’s school system is consistently named as among the top national systems in the world.

Population Density

Overview

Donovia has one of the most urbanized populations in the world, with an estimated 75% of the country living in urban areas. The majority of the population can be found in in the West, near Europe, and in the Southwest near the Caucasus. The remaining 25% of the population lives in rural environments, with very low population density. Despite having a larger population than any other European country, Donovia ranks 230th out of 250 countries in population density.

Urban Areas

The Moscow metropolitan area has the highest population density, with over 4800 people per square kilometer. St. Petersburg at 5.4 million, has the second highest population density with 3750 people per square kilometer. 

Moscow	12.5 million	4,880
St. Petersburg	5.4 million	3,750
Novosibirsk	1.6 million	3,180
Yekaterinburg	1.5 million	3,030
Kazan	1.3 million	3,060
Makhachkala (25)	600,000	1,280
Grozny (58)	325,000	1,000
Nalchik (82)	240,000	3,580

Rural Areas

Much of Eastern Donovia and the regions north of the Arctic Circle are considered largely unpopulated, with a population density of less than 2 people per square kilometer. Vast expanses of Siberia are slightly more populated, with between 3-10 people per square kilometer. More populated rural areas can be found throughout Donovia, however villages are often extremely isolated and sometimes lacking in basic infrastructure. 

Population Movement

Internal Migration

Urbanization

Donovia experienced a period of forced urbanization during the massive industrialization that occurred in the during the industrial revolution of the 19th Century, and again during the mid-20th Century. Rural areas are continuing to lose people to urbanization as younger generations seek job opportunities in cities and leave their villages behind.

Displacement

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)

Minority groups within Donovia experienced forced displacement as a result of government policies during the Socialist era. Many of these displaced persons returned to find others had claimed their land and their homes, leading to ethnic conflict in areas like the Caucasus. Oftentimes, Donovian Imperial and Socialist policy sought control over populations by favoring certain ethnic groups over other groups, creating animosity that can still be seen today.  Additionally, ethnic conflicts over the last several decades have led to displacement, with many IDP camps becoming semi-permanent.

Stateless Personnel

Donovia has an unusually high stateless population, with more than 150,000 individuals living within its borders. This is a direct result of the rapid collapse of the Socialist government, and people being unable to attain citizenship in the country of their choosing, particularly in the Baltic and in the southern Caucasus regions. Donovia provides a visa waiver to those living in former Socialist countries, and in some cases grants Donovian citizenship to people living in other countries. On several occasions Donovia has granted citizenship to select populations living in other countries and argued the need to protect its citizens as justification for taking military action.

Migration Cycles and Transhumance

A number of populations within Donovia practice transhumance (seasonal migration with fixed locations) or live nomadic pastoral lifestyles (seasonal migration based on resource availability). These populations primarily exist in the more isolated and mountainous areas of the Northern Caucasus, on the Eurasian Steppe, and in Siberia.

External Migration

Inbound

Economic Migration

Donovia’s demographic challenges (namely experiencing a prolonged period increased mortality rate and decreased birth rate) has led to a situation requiring a significant number of migrant workers, particularly in Central Asia and the Far East. The time spent working in Donovia varies greatly, with some workers crossing the border on a daily basis, while others migrate on a seasonal basis. In some cases, people have immigrated into Donovia for work while retaining citizenship outside of Donovia.  Challenges associated with infectious diseases (particularly COVID 19) significantly reduce the ability of migrant workers to cross borders, and can have an economic impact on industries dependent upon their availability.

Forced Migration

Conflict in Central Asia has led to an increased number of migrants either fleeing to Donovia, or transiting through Donovia on their way to Europe. In addition, many migrants are forced to leave their home countries due to a sense of desperation and poverty.

Outbound

Economic Migration

Donovia experiences a small degree of outbound economic migration, however it is not significant due to Donovia’s domestic labor shortage.

Forced Migration

Donovia has a dark history of forced migration whose ramifications are still felt to this day. Though not technically forced migration, Donovian policies towards Islamic Extremism during the 2010’s often alienated populations in the Caucasus region. While these policies were meant to quell extremism, they often negatively impacted all Muslims alike, in turn sometimes leading to more extremism. With the rise of the Islamic State in the latter half of the 2010s, Donovia saw an opportunity to rid itself of extremism in the Caucasus region by allowing those they deemed as extremists and terrorists to leave the country and join the Islamic State. Government leaders as a near term solution to end extremism in Donovian territory, however,  the rapid fall of the Islamic State has led to many former members returning to the Caucasus regions. 

Culture

Donovian culture is extremely diverse. While many minor cultures were diminished during the Socialist era by policies of Donovification, they have regained prominence among minority populations. 

Donovian culture differs based upon the status of the individual and/or group, generally meaning that those with lower socio-economic status have a more community-based outlook. Those of higher socio-economic status are more likely to separate themselves from communal practices, and are more indulgent in comparison to the average population.

Dimensions of National Culture

Power Distance

Power distance is whether a society accepts unequal distribution of power or seeks even distribution of power. Donovia’s culture has a high degree of power distance, with a wide gap between individuals with power and those without. Behavior and interactions tend to be top-down, with those holding power providing directives to those beneath them on the power scale. 

Individualism vs. Collectivism

Donovia tends to trend toward a collective orientation rather than an individual orientation. Family, friends, neighborhoods and entire communities often play a significant role in everyday life. Relationships are critical for gathering information, negotiating, and cooperation.

Uncertainty Avoidance (Tolerance for Ambiguity)

Uncertainty avoidance is whether the society tolerates ambiguity in life or craves stability. Donovians have a very low tolerance for ambiguity, which often leads to extremely detail oriented planning, and lends itself to leadership taking a very hands-on approach. This desire to avoid uncertainty can be observed in the Donovian government’s bureaucracy.

Long-Term Orientation vs. Short-Term Orientation

Some societies look long-term and save while others do not see the need because the future planned may never arrive. Donovians have a very pragmatic orientation toward traditions and customs. Perseverance and adaptability are hallmarks of Donovian culture. Though not initially evident  by looking at their government, the fact that they have undergone multiple revolutionary government changes within just a few short generations has given their culture a survival instinct, and an ability to adapt traditions to meet  current context.

Indulgence vs. Restraint

Restrained societies live to work while indulgent societies work to live. Donovia is a very restrained culture that places less emphasis on individual leisure and indulgences. An individual might indulge in luxury, however, when a group or community is involved, they will often place the needs of the community over their own personal desires. That said, individuals with greater socio-economic status and/or power are more likely to invest in status symbols than an average citizen.

Competitiveness vs Consensus

Some societies encourage individuals to be competitive and do their individual best while other societies value cooperation. Status symbols and individual achievements tend to be associated with people in powerful positions, while the average Donovian is much more likely to be modest and understate their personal achievements.

Social Impact of OE Hazards

Disease

Donovia’s healthcare system is fairly modern, with more populated areas having more capable facilities. Rural areas, however, may lack access to healthcare facilities altogether. Donovia has a capable research sector, and in the past has been able to quickly produce vaccinations, often faster than many Western countries who may be encumbered by stricter safety protocols. Following recent outbreaks of COVID 19, Donovia’s government has struggled to communicate the importance of the vaccine to its people.  This is, in part, self-inflicted thanks to the government’s efforts to discredit vaccines developed in Europe and in the United States. Many Donovians recognize the lack of safety protocols used to develop the Donovian vaccine mean it carries greater risk than Western vaccines, and if the government says Western vaccines come with significant risk,  the risk must be even greater with the Donovian vaccine. This example exemplifies the double-edged sword Donovia’s government wields by s actively promoted disinformation. 

Natural Disaster

Donovia’s immense geographical size creates challenges reacting to natural disasters.  At any given time, Donovia may be simultaneously facing earthquakes, droughts, floods, forest fires, frigid temperatures, and heat waves. With three quarters of the population living in urban areas, the majority of Donovia’s disaster response capabilities are located in or near urban centers. Isolated rural communities receive limited government assistance in the face of a natural disaster.  If the government does respond, there are massive delays in equipment and supplies reaching the point of need.

**Social Volatility/Fragility

 **Social Fault Lines and Friction Points

• Pro-democracy efforts
• Religious Freedom (among minority populations)
• Economic opportunity (lack thereof/migrant workers)
• Tensions within Ethnic-Republics, (those out of power challenging those in power)
• Misinformation (ie government misinformation concerning issues abroad damaging government trustworthiness domestically)
• Corruption and Organized crime associations with government

**Criminal Activity

• Cultural Approach to Punishment
• Must have 2 items to have sub-bullets

**Human Rights

• Government efforts against NGOs, particularly those focused on human rights. Labelling them as foreign agents.
• Use of physical force in domestic security matters is common, judicial system is convoluted, and prison system is overcrowded and unable to provide basic needs. 
• Minority groups, either ethnic, religious, or social (e.g., the LGBTQ community)

Demographic Statistics Chart

Social Statistic	Donovia
Primary Languages (%)	Federal Official Language: Donovian Official Languages in Ethnic Republics: NEED TO MATCH w/ REPUBLICS in DONOVIA -          Abaza -          Adyghe -          Altai -          Bashkir -          Buryat -          Chechen -          Chuvash -          Crimean Tartar -          Erzya -          Ingush -          Kabardian -          Kalmyk -          Karachay-Balkar -          Khakas -          Komi-Zyrian -          Mari (Hill Mari, Meadow Mari) -          Moksha -          Nogai -          Ossetian -          Tatar -          Tuvan -          Udmurt -          Ukrainian -          Yakut -
Ethnic Groups (%)	Over 193 Recognized ethnic groups nationwide. Major Ethnic Groups (w/ over 600,000) include: -          Donovians: 80% -          Tatars: 3.9% -          Pirtunians: 1.4% -          Bashkir: 1.15% -          Chuvashs: 1.05% -          Chechens: 1.04% -          Amernians: 0.86% -          Avars: 0.66% -          Mordvins: 0.54% -          Kazahs: 0.47% -          Azerbaijanis: 0.44% -          Groups smaller than 600,000: < 10%
Major Religions (%)	Eastern Orthodox Christianity: 41% Non-Affiliated: 25% Atheism: 13% Islam: 6.5% Other Christianity: 6.3% Others: <1% ---Judaism ---Buddhism ---Neo-Pagan and Tengrist Unreported: 5.5% *note: these numbers reflect all Donovians, rather than showing a percentage of just religious Donovians.
Literacy Rate (Older Than 15 in %)	99%
Age Distribution (%)	Age 0-14 15-54 (Military Age) 55-64 65+	17.2% 54.0% 14.5% 14.3%
Median Age	Overall: 38.9 years Males: 36.9 years Females: 42.7 years
Population	142,122,776
Annual Growth Rate	-.11% and trending down
Birth Rate Per 1,000 People	10.7 / 1,000 population
Death Rate Per 1,000 People	13.4/ 1,000 population
Urban Population (%)	75%
Annual Urbanization Rate	0.05%
Infant Mortality Rate Per 1000 Live Births	6.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life Expectancy At Birth (Years)	71.3 years
Major Diseases In OE	-COVID 19 -Typhoid Fever -Yellow Fever -Dengue Fever -Malaria -Rift Valley Fever -Hepatitis A -Hepatitis E -Encephalitus -AIDS/HIV