How did we get here?
Part 1/4 in the series: Will Dikurniakan Join the Confederation?By Eko Girsang, Professor of History and Politics at the University of Kutha Kawruh
July 4756
The Impressive Kahadean Bridge which leads into Kota Kabecikan.The admission of the Federal Kingdom of Dikurniakan, located in the west of Temania into the Confederation of Temania has been a source of much controversy in both the Confederation and Dikurniakan. Issues of monarchism, tariffs, and economic policy has made the relationship between the two - particularly between Dikurniakan and Makmurtan - frosty and tense. However, with a moderate consensus forming on the continent, does there seem to be a move towards such a partnership happening? This series of articles will explore in depth how we got ourselves into situation, and whether a reunion of Temania, in the form of a unitary or federal nation, or even just as a confederation is possible.
Before I begin this series, however, I wish to pay testament to the fact that I can talk about this notion seriously in the most-read newspaper in the Confederation. As you will discover as you read this article the level of ethnic instability in the previous two hundred years of Temanian history could have easily spilt over into conflict and bloodshed. The fact that this is not the case, with exception only of one or two events which had limited casualties demonstrates that even in the Third World a degree of civility can be reached.
In the first of a four part series I will be looking at the history of Temania, in particular the post-Baldassare period from 4537. In order to understand the current relationship between the two nations, we need to understand how this situation began. Following the foundation of the Socialist Temanian Republic in 4537, and the fall of the Empire of Telmania, the Mondesian people were able to return to their traditional lands in the west following forced integration under the Baldassare regime. Unwilling to bow to another centralised government in the east, the Mondesians declared the short-lived Kingdom of Mondesia in 4545, which wasn't recognised by the socialist government, nor by many in Mondesia. The consequence of this was an increase in the strength of local groups who slowly eroded away at the power of both the Socialist or the Mondesian governments in the region. This led to a period of federal isolationism as it is referred to today, wherein a myriad of local conflicts and coalitions saw nobody able to take full control of the country until the consensus created today under King Perwira bin Tuhan.
Meanwhile, in the east, the Socialist government, located in the city of Kota Kabecikan (which remains the capital of Makmurtan) was struggling to revitalise the Temanian economy after the fall of the Baldessare regime, and despite the financial support of Deltaria, resulted in the collapse of government support, and the gradual increase in tensions. In the last ditch effort to prevent tensions from spilling over into conflict, the members of the different political groups concerned met at the Konferensi Harapan Terakhir ("Last Hope Conference") in 4567 where it became clear that the Kahadean population in the main continued to support the socialist government, whilst the Nelayan population as a whole preferred a more conservative administration be put in place. At the conference it was decided that the two nations would separate and the Nelayan Republic and the Kahadean Socialist Republic (KSR) were formed.
At this point it seemed unlikely that the Temanian continent would see another reunited Temania. With all three "nations" (I put nations in inverted commas as Dikurniakan cannot be really classified as a nation at this point, rather a selection of self-run provinces) going their separate ways, many analysts at the time doubted the return of Temania as a nationstate. That all changed across two key events. The first I have already alluded to, and is fresh in the minds of most Temanians - the reunification of a Mondesian state in the form of Dikurniakan through the strong leadership of Kaya Kilauan born King Perwira bin Tuhan. The second, as most Temanians will also be aware, is the formation of the Confederation following the "Sixty Days" in 4623 where a rampant escalation in tensions between Nelaya and the KSR saw the removal of the last remains of the Socialist administration when the Nelayan army stormed into Kota Kabecikan. The consequence of this was the formation of the Makmurtan Commonwealth (as we have today) and the mutual agreement of both new nations to follow a unified foreign policy directive in order to maintain Temanian unity. It was through this, the Treaty of Kota Kabecikan, that the Confederation of Temania was formed and has since mended itself to a stable political union between two sovereign nations.
Why is the history important? Well, the main reason is that the events that have played out have left a lot of grudges between each of the three nations. For example, ask a Kahadean why the Socialist Republic of Temania failed and they will say it is because of the Mondesians. Enquire further, and you will see that many believe that it was declaration of independence of the failed Kingdom of Mondesia which led to the rift which resulted in the KSR and the Nelayan Republic; it is clear that there is a strong view that the precedence of accession and consequent delegitimisation is to blame. Yet in spite of that, both the Nelayans and the Mondesians are suspicious of the left wing nature of the Kahadeans. This is in part due to the puppet-esc government installed by Deltaria after the civil war. This is not to say that the Temanian Socialist Republic was a puppet of Deltaria - this would be incorrect. However it certainly was strongly contained within the Majatran nation's sphere of influence. Given the nation's history and previous colonisation this was not taken well by many within Temania. Such suspicion is somewhat misplaced, however. Whilst the Kahadeans are more left wing than their other Nautic counterparts this is in the main cultural differences rather than "fraternising with the enemy," as it has occasionally been portrayed in Nelayan and Mondesian news outlets. Regardless, the outcome is the same, and consequently it is has to be said that the history of the perception of Makmurtan politics of Makmurtan has certainly altered the way that each of the players have interacted with each other.
The consequences of these grudges obviously have a significant effect upon whether Dikurniakan joins the Confederation or not. It will be based upon whether the nations can find common ground, something they have clearly struggled to do in the past. The best way to do this is to examine and analyse what went wrong before, and see how approaches should change this time round. Currently, it appears that the only way Dikurniakan will join the Confederation is if the history of grudges that has grown over time can be bridged, and that can only be done through understanding why those grudges exist. If all three governments are able to look at history and not ignore it but say, "actually we want more than what the previous two centuries have had in store," then we might just be able to bridge the divide.
As I round off the first installment of the series it is important to note that if we were to take an even further look back in time at the history of Temania, there would a whole host of even longer-term events, people, kingdoms, and happenings which have built up the long and complicated relationship between the Mondesian, Kahadean, and Nelayan people. Yet even if we look past these events and focus solely on the previous two hundred and fifty years we are left with a clear picture of
why it hasn't worked so far. Clearly politicians are going to have to make sure these mistakes do not happen again if it is to work this time.
