It would be interesting to see a modern city-state with a direct democracy.
An Examination of Extra-Universal Systems of Government
- Thread starter Ephraim Ben Raphael
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It would be interesting to see a modern city-state with a direct democracy.
A republic is just a government that is not a monarchy, so it covers a lot of governments. In fact, it covers the majority of the ones already posted here.
If you're looking for an idea on a possible theocracy, look up Kiryas Joel. It's a Hasidic Jewish village in upstate New York that's received a lot of negative criticism from neighboring communities for...unusual behavior. Also, Scientology's Sea Org (the cruise ship for elite members) could be a good idea for a story.
Some thoughts on "Good Fascism": First of all, no fascism. By which I mean a timeline without WWII or an analogue based on synthesis of nationalist and socialist rhetoric. "Fascism" in this instance ought to be a more watery Third Positionism, something along the lines of the communalist/hardhat groups of "labor unions who hate hippies" who in OTL are so tiny they make libertarians look like a major faction. So you've got what is basically a super-successful version of the original purpose of the Bismarkian welfare state. Very isolationist types, might deny immigration and tourism almost entirely ala OTL Bhutan. The political system proper ought to be a dominant-party democracy, fitting the theme here of fascism separated from all its actual nastiness by very heavy social stasis. Otherwise kept in-line and non-extremist by geopolitical positioning, perhaps in the sphere of a socialist or capitalist power who views them as ideological weirdos (since actual fascism doesn't exist here). Also taking some inspiration here from Sparta's government, which so heavily favored the oldest and most conservative elements of society that they ended up obsoleting their nation out of existence over centuries of stagnation.
Oh, and in terms of chapters, I submit Tribal and Archaic Governments. You've got situations like the modern Native American tribal governments who are in any manner of compact with a formal state, the situation like in Afghanistan and Pakistan where ageless tribal affiliations are more important than the "official" urban government and may or may not be formally recognized, states who survived past revolution points (the obvious situation is an aristocratic state surviving the industrial revolution ala German Confederation, but you could also go into the future like in the North Korea chapter and have an OTL-style United States in a transhuman and AI dominated world), oppressive colonial regimes surviving by granting "autonomy" as in apartheid, and neo-tribal anarchies.
I also definitely think there's more than enough variations on democracy for a chapter. Hell, if something like American Federalism wasn't OTL, it'd probably qualify to the average democracy world.
Oh, and in terms of chapters, I submit Tribal and Archaic Governments. You've got situations like the modern Native American tribal governments who are in any manner of compact with a formal state, the situation like in Afghanistan and Pakistan where ageless tribal affiliations are more important than the "official" urban government and may or may not be formally recognized, states who survived past revolution points (the obvious situation is an aristocratic state surviving the industrial revolution ala German Confederation, but you could also go into the future like in the North Korea chapter and have an OTL-style United States in a transhuman and AI dominated world), oppressive colonial regimes surviving by granting "autonomy" as in apartheid, and neo-tribal anarchies.
I also definitely think there's more than enough variations on democracy for a chapter. Hell, if something like American Federalism wasn't OTL, it'd probably qualify to the average democracy world.
I considered a Seasteading initiative chapter, but I like the idea of Scientologists hanging out in international waters and getting financed by believers around the world and more dubious sources.
Right, I mentioned Korea because I was thinking influence from Japanese Third Positionism, and completely divorced from Mussolini, Hitler and other sorts. It's also more or less ethnically homogeneous, bounded on all sides by great powers, and geographically isolated.
Hm, interesting.
I think democracy should be the last chapter, but obviously this is EBR's thread so all of the ideas being proposed are up to him.
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I think trying to be a fascist state unironically in the future is not doable, at least in the West, unless you meant one in a TL where WWII as we know it didn't happen; and if you ask me, a "good" fascist state is one where it's more of Fascist Italy and not Nazi Germany, but then again its like saying OTL's Ho Chi Minh's Vietnam is a "good" communist state compared to the USSR.
I try to avoid setting anything here on any date other than 2011, because that's the established "present" and most timelines in EEUSG are locked into that year. All of my ideas for fascist and nationalist states are alternate history and exist in 2011.
A government where votes are based on the level of education and wealth. See The Curious Republic of Gondour. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Curious_Republic_of_Gondour
Is there a name or an (fictional) example for a democracy with a strong emphasize on party membership?
Instead of elections, a party gets influence in government or a council/parliament depending on the number of party members.
It is common in this form of democracy to switch your party membership if you are disappointed by your party.
Also a large part of the population participates by being member of one of the parties.
I only encountered this concept in one science fiction novel (and forgot the name) seven years ago.
This concept seems different from our concept of democracy but could result in a democratic system.
There probably is, but I don't know it. Sorry.
I do know other forms of democracy that could be featured though, so that's... something?
I would love to see an alt-US (or part of the US) that is run by AI simulations of the founding fathers, but they're obviously edited and idealized to fit the modern era of governance and politics. And every 4 years, there is an election for who runs the country, but it's always Madison, Jefforson, Hamilton, or Adams.
Yeah, it's not a complete list. I'm sure there would be approximately 30-40 different "founders" who are deemed appropriate enough to be raised to this status. Maybe lesser-known fathers get their time to shine because the nation wants something new: A diplomatic emergency arises, and AI John Jay narrowly beats out AI Thomas Jefferson because of tensions with France or something.
Maybe Korea could be rather off? ITTL it's united and an American ally but maybe it could be similar to North Korea? Alternatively, take some of the recent scandals and exagerate them so that, say, Korea actually is dominated by a crazy shamanistic cult.
For something outside of Korea... Islamist rebellion in Sudan? Or maybe the UAR is funding a *Nasserist coup in Saudi Arabia? Facsist-esque regime in Bolivia?
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