Grand State of Barmenia

The Commonwealth of Barmenia is a nation situated on the continent of Majatra. It borders the Verranderlijke Ocean to the west, Beiteynu to the north-west, Pontesi to the north-east, the Majatran Sea to the east, and Vanuku to the south.

Etymology
The English name for Barmenia comes from the Proto-Rhaetan Gwerəmēstā-no which subdivides into three words: gwerə-, meaning “heavy”, mē-, meaning “to measure”, and stā-no, meaning “where one stands”. Thus it probably refers to the country as a place where people were renowned for their weight system, and the fact that the name survived among the Rhaetans to develop into its present form suggests that the Proto-Rhaetans in Barmenistan defined the weight system of all Proto-Rhaetans and perhaps even controlled the trade for which the weight system was necessary. From the 2520s and 2530s, the name Barmenia is more common, coming from the Demonym Barmenian.

History
or Barmenia

Ancient history
Barmenistan originally gained its name from the Proto-Rhaetans who inhabited all of northern Majatra in prehistoric times. Little is known about them except that they were gradually displaced to southwestern Artania by Majatrans migrating from the south. Their final expulsion probably occurred in the fourth and fifth centuries when Vanukuese from eastern Dovani invaded Majatra causing displaced Majatrans to settle on the northernmost part of the continent. The language of these Majatrans gradually became distinct from that of the southern Majatrans.

For centuries western Barmenistan was the scene of fierce Majatran fighting against the Vanukuese, though some mixing took place giving rise to the Aotearoan minority along the border, and the powerful Majatran states of Sisula and Uthena emerged as a result of it. In the sixth century Jews from southeastern Majatra settled among the northwestern Majatrans and converted many of them to their faith and Semitic language, thus causing a linguistic split between Barmenian south and Pontesian east of them. The Christian faith sprang from among the Jews in the eights century but Judaism remained by far their majority religion, and in 908 they were united in the Jewish kingdom of Beiteynu.

Fearing domination by the latter Sisula and Uthena made peace with the Vanukuese, banned Judaism and invited Christian settlers as its counterweight. Attempts by Uthena to conquer the still independent tribes to its east proved largely unsuccessful when they united as the state of Arakhim to face the threat. Soon after Hobratz traders introduced it to their orthodox Christian faith which became the official religion of Arakhim in 955.

Emergence of Islam
In 1154 Beiteynu disintegrated due to disagreements regarding the royal succession and the independent states of Ikegaru and Murdhild emerged in the south as a result. Consequently Judaism was gradually tolerated in Sisula and Uthena and the Islamic faith soon emerged in the latter as a syncretism of Christianity and Judaism. In 1186 Islam became the official religion of Uthena and the Islamic Caliph its ruler, and in 1216 an Islamic rebellion in Sisula led to the latter being invaded and conquered by the Caliphate.

A re-establishment of Beiteynu began in the late 15th century, but before Ikegaru and Murdhild were directly involved it was invaded by the state of Pontesi in 1492. The Caliphate quickly joined the invasion, officially to protect the growing number of Muslims in Ikegaru and Murdhild, and the following year agreed with Pontesi to divide the spoils with Ikegaru and Murdhild falling to the Caliphate. Jewish opposition to Caliphal rule reversed completely when soon after Pontesi massacred a large portion of the Jews they had just conquered and the Caliphate welcomed many of those who managed to escape.

Unification of Barmenistan
The Caliphate next set its sights on uniting all Muslims in Barmenistan under its rule and so in 1495 invaded Arakhim. Victory was achieved in just a few months, which was unexpectedly quick and easy, so in 1497 the Caliphate invaded the principality of Ylrith on the island of Cildania where there was also a growing Muslim population. However, this time the Caliphate was faced with much stronger resistance as the other Cildanian principalities of Akildar, Akinawa, Gilzon, and Hebilon all came to Ylrith’s aid. The Caliphate therefore ordered the Muslim sultanate of Al’Badara to join the invasion but was politely rebuffed as Al’Badara worried it might be next. Consequently, with supplies running short and morale dropping, the Caliphal army retreated from Ylrith in 1498.

Duntrekkers & religious tension
In the 17th and 18th centuries many Protestant Christians from the state of Dundorf, called Duntrekkers, found refuge in the Caliphate from persecution by Catholic Christians. They were invited to settle in Ikegaru and Murdhild to decrease the proportion of Jews there and quickly prospered as they were granted many privileges otherwise only granted to Muslims.

When the World Jewish Council was established in 1864 to re-establish a Jewish state some persecution of Jews began in the Caliphate, causing many Jews in Ikegaru and Murdhild to move north of the border. In 1961 Pontesi withdrew its forces from Beiteynu and several years later the independent Beiteynu retaliated by persecuting the growing number of Muslims in its southern region of Padrilka. Many were massacred and more fled to the Caliphate, thus halving the Muslim population in Padrilka. The Caliph was however unwilling to commit his troops to defending his religious subjects despite massive Muslim demands in both the Caliphate and abroad to do so. Instead he put Christians, mainly Duntrekkers, in charge of his personal security forces to safeguard his rule against disgruntled Muslims, and under his successors the Duntrekkers managed to expand their political and economic influence greatly.

End of the Barmenian Caliphate
In 2140 the Caliphate and Pontesi jointly invaded Beiteynu, officially to force its retreat from the state of Darnussia which it had invaded over the previous year. With most of the army fighting in Beiteynu, the Socialist Guild managed to overthrow the Caliph in November 2142. Duntrekkers in command of the Caliph's security forces found more in common culturally with fellow Artanians in the Socialist Guild and had also grown weary of the Caliph's iron fisted rule. Supreme General Wilhelm Rüdiger orchestrated an elaborate plan to move the elite Caliph Guard out of the main palace, thus allowing Guild agents to assassinate the Caliph. The Democratic Republic of Barmenistan was soon announced and the Sultan of Al’Badara quickly proclaimed himself Caliph.

Groundwork for a republic
Immediately on taking power the Socialist Guild proclaimed English as the official language of the Democratic Republic of Barmenistan and in October 2143 the Socialist Guild began nationalising most of the country’s industry. The following month William Morriss of the Socialist Guild became the first democratically elected head of state in Barmenistan when he was elected president, though the Barmenistan Nationalist Unity became the largest party in parliament. The first coalition government which with one exception became the norm for almost 138 years.

The nationalisation of industry was abandoned in May 2146 but social reforms continued none the less such as introducing compulsory primary and secondary education, welfare payments, public higher education and public housing. In December 2147 homosexual couples were granted the same rights as heterosexual couples and in February 2148 foreigners were allowed to apply for citizenship.

Barmenian liberalism
In August 2148 the Barmenistan Liberal Party won the Presidency and the Barmenistan Freedom Party became the largest party in parliament. This signaled the beginning of a long era in Barmenian politics dominated by laissez-faire liberalism as opposed to the socialist ideals which had brought down the Caliphate. Foreign investments were allowed and in April 2151 the requirement that all businesses be run by democratic worker’s councils was abolished. The Barmenistan Liberal Party triumphed in the elections of August 2151 when it also became the largest party in parliament and in November of that year it formed a government on its own.

Immediately after its election victory the party set in motion a massive liberalisation programme by privatising the public health care system and soon after even subcontracting law enforcement to private companies. Also minimum wages and welfare payments were abolished. Beiteynu was finally defeated in 2154 and while Pontesi and Darnussia occupied the rest of the country the Democratic Republic of Barmenistan occupied Padrilka and the neighbouring region of Quo’gün.

In December 2153 a factory in Uthena belonging to the HHP medical corporation was closed and thousands of workers suddenly found themselves without jobs despite the government’s pro-business policies. Combined with the lack of welfare payments for the unemployed the government was faced with harsh criticism and in June 2154 acceded to the demands for a new line. The Progressive Democratic Party and the Left-Labor Party were admitted to the government and soon welfare payments were restored, state-owned businesses were established and law enforcement was returned to the state. However, the elections of October 2156 showed continued popular support for the Barmenistan Liberal Party so in charge of varying government coalitions it resumed its previous line. The state-owned businesses were again privatised and in the fall of 2158 the compulsory state pension was abolished. Public housing followed in October 2162.

Just three months later the Modern Intellectual Party managed to push through legislation re-establishing public healthcare and another four years later the compulsory state pension. In January 2168 the Barmenistan Liberal Party’s more than 16 years in government finally ended when the Modern Intellectual Party, the Libertarian Communists, the New Era Party and the Free Collective Party formed a new coalition government which re-established public housing in July 2169. Public health care was abolished in December 2170 but restored in May 2172 along with the minimum wage.

In 2471 a the Liberal Party was reborn. Claiming to trace its history back to the earliest days of Barmenistan Liberalism the party soon gained popular support among the educated middle classes, immigrants, and religious communities. In December 2474 the party won a stunning result in finishing second behind the Travicist Party. The Liberal Party attempted to form a coalition government, but on principle refused to work with the Travicists. Many leading policital experts are predicting a return of the golden age of Barmenistan Liberalism, and that the Liberal Party are set to dominate the political landscape for a generation.

An official language
For many years the issue of which should be the official language of the Democratic Republic of Barmenistan had been debated. English achieved that status during the democratic revolution so that all of the country’s ethnic groups were equal in that respect and because it was the predominant international language. However, the Barmenian nationalists did not support English as the official language and the libertarians, conservatives and some progressives wanted to give Dundorfian equal status with English. Other progressives wanted Duntrekaans as an official language, though disagreed on whether English should remain so.

Fearful of a Barmenian national revival which could threaten their political dominance the Duntrekkers never seriously considered giving Barmenian status as an official language but with few exceptions agreed that English should remain as such. However, romantic ideas of the Welsh struggle against colonialism in the late 15th and early 16th century flourished among most progressives at the time as they were sympathetic with the independence struggles of the western Dovani colonies, so an otherwise unlikely proposal to give Welsh equal status with English won enough support among most progressives and even some conservatives to become law in July 2171. Simultaneously English was confirmed as an official language and both Dundorfian and Duntrekaans were overruled while Barmenian was not even voted upon.

Beiteynu
In 2173 the Democratic Republic of Barmenistan, Pontesi and Darnussia all withdrew their forces from Beiteynu as they failed to agree on a strategy to fight the Free Beiteynu! Organisation which had carried out frequent terrorist attacks against them since the 2160s, and in November 2174 the Democratic Republic of Barmenistan and Beiteynu recognised each other when the latter ratified the Barmenistan Free Trade Agreement.

Political machinations
The Modern Intellectual Party, the Cydweith Rhydd (formerly the Free Collective Party) and the Plaid Comiwnyddol Rhyddiaeth (formerly the Libertarian Communists) formed a new coalition government in November 2175, and two years later the Plaid Comiwnyddol Rhyddiaeth even won the Presidency. However, the Barmenistan Liberal Party remained the largest party in parliament, managed to abolish the minimum wage in March 2179 and regain the Presidency in November the following year. In May 2182, after more than 14 years, the party returned to government by forming a coalition with the Bastiat Party.

The new government quickly resumed the massive liberalisation programme. In September 2182 the compulsory state pension was abolished and in April 2183 public health care and public higher education followed. However, a change of election laws that same month from proportional to equal representation of the regions, ironically proposed by the Bastiat Party, meant that in November the Modern Intellectual Party won both the Presidency and became the largest party in parliament. For the next several decades the Barmenistan Liberal Party led a number of coalition governments but the Presidency and status as the largest party in parliaments frequently shifted making further liberalisations in effect impossible. On the contrary public higher education and public health care were re-established and compulsory pensions reintroduced during these years, and in April 2206 the Modern Intellectual Party formed a coalition government with the Marx-Lenin Communist Party and the Pseudocentrists. By then Welsh had lost its popularity even among progressives and was no longer used as an official language of the Democratic Republic of Barmenistan.

The changing back of the election laws in May 2211 to proportional representation did not change the political situation in general. The Presidency and status as the largest party in parliament continued to shift between several parties and by March 2217 state-owned businesses and the minimum wage had been re-established. The following month the Popular Democratic Party was admitted to the government, now led by the Marx-Lenin Communist Party, but in February 2221 public health care was again abolished and in April 2225 the Barmenistan Liberal Party formed a coalition government with the Pseudocentrists and the Barmenistan Tory Party.

Relentless in its desire for a laissez-faire government the Barmenistan Liberal Party managed once again to abolish the minimum wage and welfare payments in the fall of 2228 but had to accede to the re-establishment of public health care in 2229. In November 2232 the Popular Democratic Party formed a coalition government with the Communist Refoundation Party and continued the socially oriented policy by re-establishing the minimum wage in June 2234. The Pseudocentrists joined the communist-led government in January 2237 but the minimum wage was none the less re-abolished in December 2240.

The elections of March 2241 marked a significant shift in Barmenian politics when the Barmenistan Communist Party (formerly the Communist Refoundation Party) became the largest party in parliament and remained so for more than 15 years. It could not prevent the abolishment of public health care and public higher education in May and June 2243 respectively, the Barmenistan Liberal Party’s formation of a coalition government with the Barmenistan Tory Party in November 2244, or the abolishment of compulsory pensions and public housing in September 2246, but in April 2248 it formed a new coalition government with the Nationalist Party (formerly the Barmenistan Nationalist Party) and the New Democratic Initiative of Barmenistan which began a comprehensive socialist programme. Over the next five years the defence industry and energy sector were nationalised and the compulsory state pensions, minimum wage, public housing and welfare payments were re-established.

In October 2256 the Barmenistan Liberal Party once again became the largest party in parliament and in April and June 2258 respectively the Nationalist Party and the New Democratic Initiative of Barmenistan resigned from the government due to disagreement over a new cabinet. The Barmenistan Liberal Party also won the following month’s elections and in January 2259 formed a coalition government with the Barmenistan Tory Party. By September 2260 the government had privatised most of the state-owned businesses, including the energy sector, and once again abolished the minimum wage, welfare payments and public housing.

Aotearoan unrest
In October 2259 the Insurgent Tendency, demanding radical socialist autonomy for the Aotearoans, began a campaign of terror against both government and civilian interests in Uthena and Sisula. Three month later the Barmenistan Communist Party, which supported the cause but not methods of the Insurgent Tendency, became the largest party in parliament but in August 2262 the liberal-led government accepted military advisors from the state of Kafuristan to help defeat the Insurgent Tendency. Dundorf responded in November by sending its own military advisors to assist the Insurgent Tendency and in July 2264 the Barmenistan Tory Party disintegrated over internal disputes about the government’s handling of the crisis. This allowed the socialist parties to re-establish welfare payments and public housing and in February 2265 see the Kafuristani military advisors off, but in February 2265 the Barmenistan Liberal Party again became the largest party in parliament. Seven months later the Barmenistan Communist Party too disintegrated over internal disputes, though about its position regarding the Insurgent Tendency.

In December 2265 the Barmenistan Liberal Party formed a new coalition government with the Nationalist Party and the New Democratic Initiative of Barmenistan and in the following November resumed its privatisation programme. However, in June 2269 the Barmenistan Liberal Party ushered in a new era in Barmenian politics when it replaced its government coalition partners with the Barmenistan Traviscist Party which primarily opposed religion and male homosexuality.

The government launched a major military offensive against the Insurgent Tendency in May 2270, almost immediately forcing Dundorf to withdraw its military advisors from the country, and in October 2272 the Insurgent Tendency was finally defeated in a battle north of Sisula City.

Traviscist dictatorship
In June 2274 the Barmenistan Traviscist Party managed to withdraw the Democratic Republic of Barmenistan from the International Gay Rights Treaty and in January 2277 outlaw homosexuality outright. Bans on public sex and nudity soon followed and in May 2280 the party formed a coalition government with the Barmenistan Nationalist Party (formerly the Nationalist Party) and the Barmenistan Republican Party.

The United Liberal Movement (formerly the Barmenistan Liberal Party) formed a new government on its own in November 2283, and although religious schools were banned three month later the bans on homosexuality and public sex were abolished in June 2284. Welfare payments and public health care were abolished in April the same year and in November the United Liberal Movement formed a new coalition government with the Barmenistan Traviscist Party. However, in April 2286 the United Liberal Party disintegrated over internal disputes regarding the coalition partner and the Barmenistan Traviscist Party formed a new government on its own.

In the June 2287 elections the Barmenistan Traviscist Party won both the Presidency and absolute majority in parliament, the first party to do so in the country’s history. From May 2288 to January 2290 the government withdrew the Democratic Republic of Barmenistan from all international agreements, banned open homosexuality in the military and homosexual marriages, barred anyone without specific qualifications from settling in the country, introduced the death penalty and torture, and banned sports clubs. In January 2289 the Democratic Republic of Barmenistan was renamed the Traviscist Dictatorship of Barmenistan and in December of that year the title of the President was changed to Emperor. These were just some of the changes made during those 19 months.

In January 2290 the capital city Kathura was renamed Travtopia and in June religious evangelisation was outlawed and the number of legislative and treaty proposals a party could make in parliament was reduced from 15 to five per year, the latter making opposition in parliament very difficult.

Though the Traviscist Party (formerly the Barmenistan Traviscist Party) lost its absolute majority in parliament in the June 2290 elections it remained the largest party there and retained the Empire. In the June 2296 elections it regained absolute majority in parliament and in February 2299 increased the election terms from 36 to 72 months. In the June 2302 elections the Traviscist Party won the Empire with 99.91% of the popular vote and the majority in parliament with 100% of the popular vote, a feat which it would largely repeat in the elections of June 2308 and June 2314.

In May 2308 the government re-established welfare payments and in October 2309 allowed slavery, though not slave trade. In April 2312 foreigners were barred from citizenship but in June 2320 the re-emerged Liberal Democratic Party (formerly the Barmenistan Tory Party) won the Empire and became the largest party in parliament. The Traviscist Party remained in government on its own, though, until after the Liberal Democratic Party in May 2324 repeated its elections success and the following month formed a new government on its own.

Democracy restored
In November of that year the likewise re-emerged Barmenistan Liberal Party (formerly the United Liberal Movement) won both the Empire and status as the largest party in parliament and in May 2325 was admitted to the government. From July 2335 to November 2337 most of the Traviscist reforms were abolished and some new changes made, e.g. merging the Empire with the Chancellorship in June 2326. Travtopia was given back its pre-Traviscist name in July 2325 and in January 2326 the Traviscist Dictatorship of Barmenistan followed suit.

In November 2327 the minimum wage was again abolished but public health care was re-established. Although it had retained the chancellorship and remained the largest party in parliament the Barmenistan Liberal Party once again disintegrated in September 2330 over internal disputes regarding its responsibility for the rise to power of the Traviscist regime, and the elections of that month resulted in the Liberal Democratic Party winning both the Chancellorship and becoming the largest party in parliament. In December the party formed a coalition government with the Epiphyte Party.

The minimum wage was re-established in December 2332, but there were great concerns about another dictatorship when in March 2333 the Liberal Democratic Party won both the Chancellorship and absolute majority in parliament and two months later formed a government on its own. However, the concerns never came to pass even though the party also won absolute majority in parliament in September 2335 and in September 2338 even received 95.95% of the popular vote for the Chancellorship and 95.85% of the popular vote for parliament.

Barmenian revival
In April 2338 the last of the major Traviscist reforms were abolished when religious evangelisation and religious schools were again allowed, and in September 2341 the Islamic National Congress (formerly the Liberal Democratic Party), though remaining the largest party in parliament, lost its absolute majority. Simultaneously Siraaj Zaraincheh of the Muslim National Congress became the country’s first Muslim head of state and government since the democratic revolution 199 years earlier and soon after initiated proceedings to finally give Barmenian equal status with English as the official language of the country. Compulsory pensions were re-abolished in July 2345 and in the following May the Democratic Republic of Barmenistan was renamed the Brmék’oék Nrzipntakmojad (Democratic Government of the Barmenians) and the title of the Chancellor was changed to Pntak’o (Governor).

Democratic crisis
In September 2347 the Brmék’oék Rímsaé Lofrkadék Prta (Just Freedom Party of the Barmenian People) narrowly won both the presidency and the parliamentary majority but initially refused to form a cabinet until it had completely reformed the Barmenian laws according to its party programme. It nonetheless had to in June 2350 after the Srnépukmojadé Knstaték Jajogad (Islamic National Congress) cabinet’s resignation the previous month.

In September 2353 the Brmék’oék Rímsaé Lofrkadék Prta abolished all progressive taxation in favour of a poll tax. This cost the party dearly in the same month’s parliamentary election which the Srnépukmojadé Knstaték Jajogad won by no less than 75.39% of the popular vote. However, by then the latter party was already disintegrating due to the two previous election defeats, so President Leon Müller won his first of several uncontested presidential elections.

The impotence of the Srnépukmojadé Knstaték Jajogad, despite its massive popular support, led to civil unrest in Kanos in August 2354. Five months later the party split into the Lofrkadé Knstaték Jajogad (Liberal National Congress) and the Staté Knstaték Jajogad (Fascist National Congress), the latter beginning a campaign of terrorist attacks in October 2356 to destabilise what it viewed as the failed democracy. An investigation into the attacks revealed that the split had not been as complete as it was meant to appear, and so in May 2359 the activities of the Lofrkadé Knstaték Jajogad were suspended by the government – thus leaving the Brmék’oék Rímsaé Lofrkadék Prta as the only legally active political party in the country.

The Lofrkadé Knstaték Jajogad continued to enjoy the support of the majority of the electorate, though, and beginning in March 2362 their frustration turned into widespread violence in the south and west of the country. Acting on its own and in violation of the law the army ceased control of those areas, but fearing a complete military takeover 53.61% of the electorate voted in favour of the Brmék’oék Rímsaé Lofrkadék Prta in the parliamentary elections six months later. In the meantime a new political party had emerged which ended the political monopoly of the Brmék’oék Rímsaé Lofrkadék Prta.

In September 2365 the army was replaced in the areas of unrest by a newly created gendarmerie not under military command, and a large contingent of the Barmenian military was dispatched to Wantuni where genocide was being perpetrated by the Solentian military. Thus President Müller effectively thwarted a military coup and simultaneously strengthened his own control over the armed forces. Two years later the Barmenian military and the Wantunian resistance together recaptured the Wantunian capital city of Arx, but despite the victory the Barmenian electorate did not support the war effort and so in September 2368 again voted mostly in favour of the Srnépukmojadé Knstaték Jajogad. The third party had in the meantime disintegrated due to lack of electoral success.

Returning stability
In recognition of popular opinion President Müller finally lifted the suspension of activities against the Srnépukmojadé Knstaték Jajogad in November 2368 and called for the latter to form a new cabinet. After eight months of negotiations the Srnépukmojadé Knstaték Jajogad complied, and in February 2370 the offices of head of state and head of government were once again separated to prevent future monopolisation of power. President Müller resigned in favour of his fellow partisan Azi Wrntukaidrsme who thus became the first ethnic Barmenian head of state in the country since the democratic revolution in November 2142.

As part of the reconciliation the Srnépukmojadé Knstaték Jajogad chose not to challenge her subsequent re-elections, but the following July it officially reunited with the Staté Knstaték Jajogad as the Krsyiji Mrjogadé Prta (United Conservative Party). A comprehensive national-conservative reform was initiated nine months later with the withdrawal of Barmenistan from all of its international agreements and the banning of homosexuality and women in the military, abortion, prostitution and the reintroduction of compulsory national service. In September 2374 this was followed up with the reintroduction of the death penalty and six months later with the banning of sexual education in schools.

However, the unity of the Krsyiji Mrjogadé Prta was at best precarious with the liberals and fascists constantly vying for power against each other. The party finally disintegrated when it failed to agree on its candidates for the October 2380 parliamentary election – which was consequently won by the Brmék’oék Rímsaé Lofrkadék Prta with 100% of the popular vote – and in August 2382 its last remnants disappeared when the Brmék’oék Rímsaé Lofrkadék Prta formed a new cabinet.

The previous month the Barmenian military was withdrawn from Wantuni following the complete defeat of the Solentian military there. Being now the only political party in Barmenistan –a first in the country’s history – the Brmék’oék Rímsaé Lofrkadék Prta soon implemented a major reform programme which included abolishing the previous national-conservative reforms between July 2383 and August 2388 as well as introducing constitutional reforms in March 2383. Among the latter was an increase in the number of legislative proposals allotted to each political party from 20 to 50, an increase in the duration of terms of office from 36 to 48 months, and a decrease of the number of members of parliament from 499 to 213.

The presidential and parliamentary elections of March 2385 were both won by the Anarcho-Capitalist Liberation Party, leading to the abolition of religious freedom eight months later, but already in September 2387 the Brmék’oék Rímsaé Lofrkadék Prta regained the presidency and parliamentary majority and in August the following year reintroduced religious freedom.

Gradual Social Movement
The 25th century is arguably one of the most radical ages of Barmenistan. The entire structure of society, government, and ideology of Barmenistan has changed more than one can easily account for. Interestingly enough, the radical changes, except for a few internal excursions, changed silently.

At the beginning of the 25th century, Barmenistan was largely a conservative, homogeneous, religious, mediocre society, trapped in an ever-changing world.

Although the exact reasons are yet indeterminable, it is largely thought that the nation's history of violence and conservatism, a history of death, destruction, and tyranny, grew weary upon the Barmenistanians, and the constant pressure from external international influences, as well as a boom of immigration and trade, all led to the eventual change of the nation.

Nietzsche
The more liberal immigration policies led to the residence of two immigrants, Friedrick Nietzsche XVI, and Anne Grounstein-Nietzsche, who gave birth to their son, one of the most influential figures in the late 25th century, Friedrick Nietzsche XVII.

Friedrick Nietzsche XVII seemed to have been born a politician, and emerged from the middle-class, receiving excellent private education and attending Nietzsche University in Ekde, founded the Nihilist Council of Social Darwinism (NCSD) on the 14th of May, 2467.

The NCSD began as just a student organization at Nietzsche University where friends would discuss philosophy. However, this eventually formed into much more; forming a student union and a student government, and took over the school and restructured the educational philosophies and methods.

This organization then began sweeping educational campuses across the nation, particularly private campuses, but a few public ones as well. The NCSD began to progress into much more. It became a labor union, workers' cooperative, mass media monopoly, Atheist front, and youth organization.

The NCSD became so influential and imprinted into society like a virus. It was everywhere. While it was primarily directed at the bourgeois intellectual youth, it began spreading in popularity into other social classes when it became a political party on June 13, 2473.

Revolutionary Change
The social changes occurring in Barmenistanian society had set up the field for political change as well. The Nihilist Council of Social Darwinism became a political party on June 13, 2473.

As its policies became apparent to the public and the party was more active, Friedrick Nietzsche and his organization began to gain seats and influence.

The size and power of the national government was curbed, religion was banned, freedoms expanded, education and the economy improved, border restrictions were greatly lifted, and Barmenistan began to turn towards intellectualism; one of the base ideals of the party.

As public schools were eliminated and private schools paid by the state for everyone, Nietzsche based the educational policies and priorities mainly around producing intellectuals, the youth began to strongly support Nietzsche and the NCSD, which soon after reformed into a system of direct democracy and changed the name to the Sozialdarwinist Rat vom Übermensch (SRVU). The SRVU's policies were based mainly around Social Darwinism, and the creation of a nation of the Übermensch, not by eugenics, but by education.

As immigration continued to expand and boom in the second half of the 25th century, the once homogeneous, conservative, and religious nation of Brmék’oék Nrzipntakmojad was now gone. Because of the prosperity, the percentage of ethnic Barmenians declined rapidly; especially as three generations died off to be replaced by young immigrants. The nation soon became a consociational state by the end of the century, religion totally disappeared, and the language of Barmenian, widely spoken in Barmenistan when the 25th century began, died in a period of less than fifty years; making it the only dead language to die so quickly. In this period of liberal immigration policies, many citizens of Greater Hulstria went to Barmenia in order to expand their businesses, and eventually grew over the centuries.

Many social services, including public schooling, public healthcare, public libraries, public museums, became totally privatized but funded by the state. Many subsidies have been cut since then.

The educational system, reformed into intellectualism by Nietzsche, received a radical funding boost in the 2480's to 250 billion from 9 billion, brought on by the SRVU. With one bill, the education and culture budget increased by more than 27 times its original value. This funding was well used, and the educational system of Barmenistan was soon topping all of Terra.

The economy greatly improved with education when the SRVU brought on a "mini"-revolution. All corporations were required to be run by DWCs. The aristocracy fought back violently, but in the face of the Barmenia military, the most powerful in the world, and help from Barmenia civilians, they failed horribly.

Popular opinion soon became very libertarian in most aspects. An internal election underwent within the SRVU, and a new Archon and presidential candidate was elected: Vladimir Harrison. Thus, a will for change was indicated by the people.

Vladimir Harrison changed the name of the SRVU to the Barmenistan Council of Intellectualism (BCI). The organization's color was changed from dark slate gray, which represented the twilight of change, to orange, representing ingenuity and intellect. The symbol was then changed from the arctic wolf to the human mind.

The radical 25th century comes to a close, and what some may call a totally new nation, looks forward to the future with eager and uncertain eyes.

Religious Restoration
At the beginning of the 26th century, after a small scale civil war to remove the Computational Intellect Project, seen by some as a puppet of the Barmenian Council of Intellectualism, from power, religious elements in Barmenia saw the opportunity to fight back against the Atheist Establishment. The most prominent of these groups was the HaLeumit Tikvah, a hebrew resistance organisation dedicated to legalising religion. Initially making threats to both members of the government, who it saw as a corrupt and undemocratic elite, and to the people of Barmenia population with its claim to possess a biological weapon, after narrowly avoiding being outlawed (only escaping prosecution due to a mistrial) and achieving success in legalising religion, due mainly to support from the Progress Party and Social Democratic Pacifist Party and a boycott of the vote by the Republican Socialist Party, it quickly dropped violent rhetoric in favour of parliamentary democracy.

Anti-Multiculturalism
In 2504, the Hebrew, Istalian and Dundorfian parties within the House of Representatives, each concerned with the destruction of their own culture, began to look at ending the consociational nature of Barmenisa. Originally proposed by the Alleanza Nord, the Anti-Multiculturalism bill was designed to preserve each section of Barmenistans cultures. Barmenistans population was split into three main groups: Artanian, consisting of Dundorfian, Istalian and Celtic ethnicities; Majatran, consisting of Barmenian and other Majatran minorities; and Hebrew, consisting of the Jewish and Ebionite populations. The Anti-Multiculturalism bill forced all citizens to register their race with the government, and forbade interracial marriage and sex.

People's Republic and Overthrow
Having had a near deadlock of votes in the election, the three main political parties formed a unity government between the Progress Party, Barmenian Democratic Party, and the Communist Party of Barmenia which was the largest of the three. The coalition worked out until April 2689 when both the Progress Party and the Barmenian Democratic Party pulled out of the government, which resulted in the Communist Party holding reigns of the state and pursued a socialist agenda. The opposition parties unleashed a massive campaign against the communist party however eventually the Barmenian Democratic Party went bankrupt and in the next election of 2693 the Communist Party held an absolute majority in government and declared the country a People's Republic. The Progress Party ran in the election but boycotted participating in the House of Representatives out of sheer desperation and resigned all its members.

Over the course of a decade the Communist Party effectively ruled the People's Republic of Barmenia, with great economic and social development with a social safety net in place with no rival. 100% employment was achieved, with opposition parties boycotting the elections during the entire rule.

Eventually a Coup D'Etat occurred in 2702 lead by the Progress party, their first act was abolishing the constitution of the People's Republic. This lead to wide spread outrage and riots that lasted into the end of the year. There was talks between the progressive sectors of society on what is to be done.

Return to Revolution
The outrage didn't manage to turn into anything until 2710 when the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Barmenia (RAFB for short) organized in the countryside. The Revolutionary Armed Forces formed with progressive sectors of the old army, former members of the Communist party and peasants in the country wide they launched a campaign of Guerrilla war against the Progressive Party. They were joined by the Barmenia Workers Party who organized several years earlier were recruiting and in January 2715, Revolutionary Workers Syndicate came on to the scene which was the political wing of Barmenian General Workers Union, who was preparing for a general strike to bring down the Progress Party combined with the Agrarian Guerrilla Campaign and the political campaign being waged by the Barmenia Workers' Party. However a new Big Business Party appeared which used Religion to divide the working class and it made a political alliance with the Progress Party in order to prevent the revolution from seceding. As a result early elections were called to bring the Brmék Srnépukmoé Prta into government. The Revolutionary Armed Forces stood candidates in the 2713 General election, but it was clear that the political campaign needed to be combined with a general all round struggle in the country side and in the urban trade union movement especially.

The political alliance between the Brmék Srnépukmoé Prta and the Progress Party were short lived after attempts to establish an Islamic Theocracy was not supported by the more secular Progress Party,. In June 2715 the government was brought down from the General Strike in capital, the Guerrilla War in the country and in the infighting between the two bourgeioisie parties on how to deal with the situation. The RAFB became the biggest party in government and the Barmenia Workers Party stood candidates alongside the Revolutionary Workers Syndicate, who combined held a majority in the "Senate". They began a progressive agenda however their efforts were limited because the Presidency went to the Islamic Party who refused to allow the progressive cabinet to be formed. As a result a formal political alliance was formed between the Barmenian Workers Party, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Barmenia and the Revolutionary Workers Syndicate under the name of the Left Patriotic Front of Barmenia.

In December 2716 they brought down the government and with the next election they increased their share of the votes to achieve an absolute majority alongside the Presidency, they were joined by new parties such as the Green Left Alternative of Barmenia, an alliance of Environmental and Peace groups, and Democratic Socialist Party of Barmenia who represented a more moderate sector of the trade union movement. Upon a few months after the electoral victory, the Brmék Srnépukmoé Prta disbanded and the Progress Party boycotted the Senate. As a result a economic and political revolution is currently unfolding in Barmenia, where they soon are to be declaring their support to form a People's Democratic Republic.

Military
The Barmenia military is one of the most formidable on Terra. The Armed Fighters of the United Barmenian Democratic States (Barmenian: Brmék'oék Nrzipntakmojad’ék Busovármoshlajhiko (BNB)) consists of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Gendarmerie.

The combined troop strength of the Armed Forces of Barmenia is about 1.5 million soldiers (2511).

Minister of Defense: Lionel Chambers

Commander of the Armed Forces: Armed Fighters Leader (Chief of Staff) General Adair.

Branches
The Armed Forces of Barmenia consists of four branches:

Army
Barmenistan has one of the most formidable armies in the world. The Land Fighters is the army branch of the Armed Forces of Barmenistan. The total number of troops is about 1.5 million, of which 900k are in active service and 600k are in reserve. The Army can deploy four army corps to conduct joint operations at short notice, and can conduct air assault operations with a lift capability of several battalions at a time, day and night.

Commander of the Army: Land Fighters’ Leader (Field Marshal) G'rcht Lage

Structure

The Land Fighters are organised into the following commands:


 * Ground Forces Command
 * First Army Command – Kathre
 * First Battle Tank Battalion
 * First Artillery Regiment
 * Second Army Command – Ekde
 * Second Battle Tank Battalion
 * Second Artillery Regiment
 * Third Army Command – Varistad
 * Third Battle Tank Battalion
 * Third Artillery Regiment
 * Fourth Army Command – Koslapylz
 * Fourth Battle Tank Battalion
 * Fourth Artillery Regiment
 * Fifth Army Command – Zàt'ju'stad
 * Fifth Battle Tank Battalion
 * Fifth Artillery Regiment
 * Training Command – Salve
 * Battle Tank Training Battalion
 * Artillery Training Regiment
 * Logistics Command – Kathre
 * Aviation Command – Ekde
 * Aviation Brigade
 * Nuclear Command – Ekde

Main Equipment

Navy
Supported by its replacement ships, the Marine Fighters can participate in international operations and exercises on every major sea and ocean of Terra.

The Marine Fighters is the navy branch of the Armed Forces of Barmenistan. Supported by its replacement ships, the Navy aims to have the capacity to participate in international operations and exercises on every major sea and ocean of Terra. Submarines can individually navigate up to 155,000 nautical miles and return back to their home bases.

Commander of the Navy: Marine Fighters’ Leader (Fleet Admiral) Staarj Nokimoto

Structure


 * Fleet Command – Kathre
 * Surface Command
 * Submarine Command
 * Fast Patrol Boat Command
 * Mine Warfare Command
 * Naval Logistics Command
 * Naval Aviation Command
 * Eastern Sea Area Command – Koslapylz
 * Majatran Sea Command
 * South Sea Command
 * Naval Infantry Brigade Command
 * Amphibious Command
 * Naval Hydography and Oceanography Command
 * Naval Museum Command
 * Western Sea Area Command – Varistad
 * Naval Training Command – Kathre
 * Naval Academy
 * Naval High School
 * Naval Training Command

Main Equipment

Air Force
The Aerial Fighters (Barmenian: Suskajékshlajhiko) is the air force branch of the Armed Forces of Barmenistan. Supported by in-flight refueling aircrafts, the fighter jets of the Air Force can participate in international operations and exercises on every major continent and return back to their home bases.

Commander of the Air Force: Aerial Fighters’ Leader (Commander of the Air Force) Ron Jackson

Structure


 * Headquarters, Ekde


 * Air Force Command
 * Tanker Base Command – Kathre
 * First Air Transportation Main Base Command – Varistad
 * Second Air Transportation Main Base Command – Zàt'ju'stad
 * First Tactical Air Force Command – Koslapylz
 * First Air Control Command
 * Second Tactical Air Force Command – Salve
 * Second Air Control Command
 * Air Force Training Command – Ekde
 * Air Force Logistics Command – Kathre

Main Equipment

Gendarmerie
The Backup Law Enforcement (Barmenian: Hovlorherzmojad) is the gendarmerie branch of the Armed Forces of Barmenistan and is responsible for the maintenance of the public order in areas where the unarmed police forces cannot, as well as assuring internal security and carrying out other specific duties assigned to it by certain laws and regulations. It is an armed security and law enforcement force of military nature.

As part of the Armed Forces, the Gendarmerie Command is subordinated to the general staff of the Armed Forces in matters relating to training and education, and to the ministry of interior in matters relating to the performance of the safety and public order duties. The Commander of the Gendarmerie is responsible to the ministry of interior.

Commander of the Gendarmerie: Law Enforcement Leader (General) Kaazo Hirishimo

Structure


 * Internal Security Forces Command - Kathre
 * Training Forces Command - Varistad
 * Police Schools Command - Kathre
 * Logistics Command - Ekde

Humanitarian relief
The Armed Forces of Barmenistan can perform “Disaster Relief Operations” and can conduct peace-support operations anywhere in Terra with a task force of two brigades.

Administrative divisions
Barmenistan is divided into five regions, officially States in English, called prbastat in Barmenian.

A region is administered by an appointed governor.

List of regions and centers



 * Population data according to 2740 census.

Demographics
As of May 2494, the population of Barmenistan stood at nearly 148 million.

Ethnic Groups
The original people of Barmenistan generally share descent from Majatrans who migrated there before the fourth century, but the introduction of Hebrew culture to Ikegaru and Murdhild in the seventh century and to Sisula and Uthena in the 10th century has since caused them to separate into the two ethnic groups of Barmenians and Hebrews. Duntrekkers migrated to Ikegaru and Murdhild in the 17th century, but were generally a marginalized ethnic group until the 24th century. Conflict and high unemployment in Dundorf caused an increase in immigration of young Dundorfians which led to a tremendous "baby boom" towards the latter part of the century.

During the radical 25th century, Barmenistan had largely become a consociational state. Open-door immigration, asylum state policies, guaranteed right to free movement, and low border restrictions has allowed all people of Terra to immigrate freely. The robust free-market economy, excellent educational system, great labor laws, minarchist federal government policies, and ban on religion had attracted atheists and agnostics of all ethnic groups and social statuses from all over Terra. The Globale Verbesserung Partei also contributed to Dundorfian immigration through an aggressive global marketing campaign and incentives. They were even rumored to have funded chartered container ships to move entire villages of Dundorfians. While several container ships of Dundorfians did dock in Barmenian ports, claims the GVP actively funded them have been unsubstantiated.

During the 26th century, the Anti-Multiculturalism bill forced registering of races for the first time in decades. This allowed accurate statistics on racial demographics and fairly accurate estimates of ethnicity.

As of 2804, Barmenia's ethnic make up was:


 * Barmenian-41%
 * Hulstrian-20%
 * Hebrew-16%
 * Dundorfian-12%
 * Istalian-11%

Religious Groups
Barmenia, historically speaking, was the birthplace of Islam. Other religions were generally tolerated, and the remaining ethnic Barmenians – living mostly in Arakhim, were Eastern Rite Christians.

The Barmenian Hebrews, unlike their ancestors, were not primarily Jews but Ebionite Christians. Far most of them lived in Sisula and Uthena, whereas the Jews lived mostly in Ikegaru and Murdhild.

With few exceptions the early Duntrekkers in Barmenistan belonged to one of two different Protestant denominations. The majority were Calvinists and the remaining were Episcopalians, generally depending on whether their ancestors originated in Dunlake or Oderveld respectively.

In the radical 25th century, religion naturally declined, and atheist and agnostic groups composed an overwhelmingly vast majority of the population. Religion was banned in Barmenistan by the Barmenistan Council of Intellectualism (BCI) during the mid-25th century until the beginning of the 26th Century, and was considered a form of mental illness; requiring compulsory institutionalization.

Recent surveys place, Christain Religion around 4% of the adult population 2.5% belonging to Eastern Rite faith and various other faiths, Islam to be at 40% of the adult population, Judaism around 2% and Atheism/agnostic beliefs to be around 54%.

Languages spoken
Despite the heavy explosion of immigration during the radical 25th century that transformed Barmenistan from what was previously a homogeneous society into a consociational state, English became the official language of Barmenistan, and is spoken by all citizens, and virtually all nationals. At the close of the 25th century, Dundorfian and Istalian were also recognized as official languages, however English remains the universal language. A small minority of nationals do not speak English, but they cannot gain citizenship, as citizenship is based upon the passage of an exam which requires a moderate understanding of English.

Barmenistan once had a singular native tongue, Barmenian, a language very similar to the jelbek and Pntek languages. While the language is still widely spoken in parts of Barmenistan, it has not been used officially for centuries, save for the name of Barmenistan being occasionally spelled in traditional Barmenian language for historical purposes.

Literacy
Education is compulsory until the age of 18. The literacy rate has greatly increased in the past century to nearly 100 percent of all citizens. The Barmenistan Council of Intellectualism (BCI). The BCI made Barmenistan the only current state to have a system in which all education is totally private, but funded by the state for everyone.

Life expectancy
Life expectancy stands at 70.18 years for men and 75.18 years for women, for an overall average of 72.62 years for the populace as a whole.