United Provinces of Araika

The United Provinces of Araika, commonly known as Araika, is a country on the eastern part of the continent of Naturia. It consists of 15 Provinces, and a Special Capital Province for the city of Alurod. It has a population of 36.4 million people.The most populous city is Waldon.

Around the year 500, two groups, the Ara and Ika, migrated into the region, crossing over the Kine Mountains Range that acts as a natural border for the country. They assimilated into each other, creating the Araikan ethnicity and culture. Numerous states developed, united, and fell apart over the course of the next 1300 years. In 1798, the 15 remaining states decided to create confederation to better stand up to outside influence, birthing the Araikan Confederation. This form of government lasted for almost 100 years, before the nation fell into civil war between those that wished to create a strong central government and those that wished to maintain or strengthen the provincial aristocracy. The Centralists won under the leadership of Leon Nichols, who went on to become the first President of the United Provinces of Araika.

His successor, Louis Arwood, maintained an iron grip of the country for 12 years, rigging elections in his favour. The Constitution was greatly amended to give special privileges to the former aristocracy that still last to this day. Opposition successfully overcame the suppression tactics, and since 1917 the country has been a successful multi-party democracy.

Araika is a Lower Developed Nation, and has maintain neutrality on the world stage since the end of the Great War. It has the third highest GDP in Naturia, but the second highest GDP per capita. Araika main rival is the Empire of Spereria which has a comparable economy to the country. Tensions most recently came to a head in the Central Naturian War of 2017-2018 in which Araika saw the war stalemated though its ally, Pasia, saw territory lost. As a result, Araika maintains a well equipped army that ensures the security of the nation.

Etymology
The name Araika comes from the combination of the two people groups that assimilated into each other to create Araikan culture. The Ara people and the Ika people both moved into the region at the same time and lived peacefully among each other.

Early Araika
Prior to the crossing over of the Ara and Ika people into the area that makes of the country of Araika, the land was virtually uninhabited. Ara people coming down from the north and Ika people coming from the south came to populate the area around the year 500 CE. The two groups assimilated into one around the start of the 10th century.

Middle Age Araika
In the year 1132, the ruler of the city of Halseaton, Richard III, began a campaign aimed at subjugating those around him into his territory. By 1150, he had control over the majority of the northwestern portion of the region and planned on heading south. However, before he could unite the nation under his rule, he was assassinated by one of his advisors. Seeing the power that could come to someone by unifying the country, numerous other rulers sought out on campaigns to unite the region, ushering in the First Unification Wars. These wars lasted between the years of 1163 and 1242, until the ruler of the state of Waldon, Elizabeth II, was successful in uniting the nation. With the nation united and rather isolated from the rest of the continent, Elizabeth's 72 year long reign saw the start of an era of peace and isolation that would last the nation for the next few centuries. Elizabeth would go on to be known as "Elizabeth the Great" or "Elizabeth the Unifier."

Early Modern Araika
In 1547, traders from the nation of Calia landed at a small village on the east cost of the nation known as Novariso wishing to open up trade. Underground trading between a local ruler and the Calian traders led to the exchange of firearms for Araika's precious minerals. The firearms aided in the start of a massive rebellion by those on the east coast against the kingdom, ending in it falling apart into numerous provinces once again. Foreign nations took sides in the conflict only leading to devastation for the region which came known as the "Undoing of Araika." By 1600, nearly 100 states had appeared in the region, constantly warring with each other to the point that foreign nations began to avoid the lawless region. Sources vary on the total cost of the devastation, but the population of Araika was put at nearly 50 million at 1550. By 1650 it was a tenth of that. To this day, Araika has not recovered the peak population of the region nearly 400 years priory and stagnant population growth may never see it do so. By 1750, 15 states remained and the region became much more stable.

As stability returned to the region, foreign powers, notably from Astellia, Calia, Belha, and Kurkia, returned to reep the benefits of the resources available, naimely the vast Aluminium deposits discovered. Beginning in 1767, negotiations were being held to figure out a way to prevent foreign dominance of the region. All 15 states agreed to form a confederation that would be able to act on behalf of the entire region on the world stage. The negotiation were finalized in 1798, creating the Araikan Confederation.

The Araikan Confederation
The Araikan Confederation created the first central government in almost 250 years. Every seven years, rulers of the now provinces would meet to select a "Designated Leader" who would run the central affairs of the confederation. This was mainly limited to foreign affairs for the first few years, but by 1811 numerous other powers were granted including direct control over the capital region of Alurod, a set budget paid out of the treasury of each province, and the ability to coordinate the militaries of all 15 provinces in the defence of the nation. The timing was impeccable as the Naturian Unification War erupted in 1813, allowing for all the militaries of the provinces have a clear focus in defending the nation. As a result of the successful defence, the provinces agreed to delegate more powers in regard to military affairs to the central government which historians agree assisted in ending the Naturian Unification War in under ten years end let Araika emerge from the conflict rather unscathed.

The confederation would later maintain neutrality in conflicts such as the Spererian Civil War and the Hopa Devolution, with internal affairs proceeding smoothly. That is until the decision by a majority of the Araikan provinces to hold a constitutional convention to redefine the powers of the central government. As Republicanism gained ground around the world, the ten provinces felt it would be best to get ahead and enact reforms to the confederation. However, three provinces revolted refusing to be a part of any increase of central power. The rebellion was rushed and the rulers were replaced with sympathetic relatives leading to the Second Constitution of the Araikan Confederation going into effect in 1848. This constitution solidified the new powers gained in the last 50 years and created the Araikan National Assembly. The National Assemble was to give a voice to the citizens of the confederation, but for the most part, only acted in an advisory role. The designated leader was still selected by the provincial rulers, but now only a simple majority was necessary to confirm them.

For the next 40 years, Araika maintained a policy of neutrality on the continent, which served them well as revolutions and military campaigns began to arise throughout, despite the presence of the Naturia Assembly. However, these thoughts of revolution could not escape the minds of Araikans and by the 1880s, multiple acts of extremism occurred. When the 1889 Designated Leader Election came up, eight provinces went with the reformist Leon Nichols who wished to reform the Araikan government by hopefully having more power delegated to the central government. However, after announcing his plans the next year, most of the provinces that supported him turn against him, accusing him of being appealing to radical elements in society. Nichol's plans would create a federal state with assemblies in each province and provide for the election of the designated leader by the electorate. in 1891, provinces attempted to have Nichols removed and succeed but ignite civil unrest in the nation that soon leads to revolution.

The Araikan Revolution
On March 12, 1891, five days after Nichol's removal, a massive protest took place in Sidmouthin, located in the Penbeck Province. On the order of the local ruler, Augustus XI O'Malley, the local militia massacred the protesters. around 11,400 people were killed. In reaction to this the National Assembly which had continuously supported Nichols asked him to return to power. Soon after the Assembly authorized the military to enter Penbeck and arrest Augustus XI for the murder, however other provincial rulers allied themselves with the province. Three provinces declared themselves allied with the central government: Boshamia, Horizo, and Porburia. Civil War soon broke out between the so-called centralists led by Nichols, and the provincialists led by the rulers of the 12 rebelling provinces.

The civil war lasted for six years, coming to an end in 1897 when the central military captured the city of Kinewen, the last major city of the provincialists. Nichols declared the war over on February 16, 1897 and announced that the National Assembly would begin work on a new constitution based fully in republican values, while also maintaining a federal nature for the government. The National Assembly chose Nichols as the President of the Republic for a term of four years on April 15. The new constitution went into effect on March 12 1898, ushering a new era for the newly created United Provinces of Araika.

Early 20th Century
Rebuilding after the Revolution was difficult and the years that Nichols spent running the nation during it had taken a toll on him. He enacted numerous measures over the course of his term in office, going on to win the first elections held in 1901. However a major issue that plagued his administration was the continued strife between the former provincial rulers and the new government. Most of them now based in the nearby Kingdoms of Pasia and Spereria escaped with much of the wealth of their provinces and began using that to fund anti-government guerillas against the new administration. The guerillas succeeded in assassinating the vice president and numerous members of the cabinet during Nichols term. Nichols announced in 1904 that he would not seek another term due to health reasons. By the end of his term in 1905, he had led Araika for over 17 years.

Nichols' successor was a successful general of the Revolution, Louis Arwood, who was in charge of the Battle of Kinewen. He strengthen authority over the government, by increasing its military strength and created the Secret State Police (SSP), which would arrest those suspected of anti-government activities. Numerous innocent people were arrested and sometime extra-judicially murdered. Seeing what was happening, Nichols announced that he was interested in seeking another term as President, but died on August 8, 1908 due to a heart attack. With no major challenge and manipulative election measures, Arwood secured a second term and ensured his National Revolutionary Party secured the vast majority of seats in the Assembly.

The next year, Arwood announced changed to be made to the constitution that he believed would end the strife that the nation had suffered since the end of the Revolution. To end the guerilla warfare, he announced that the former aristocracy would receive immunity from the law and all their suspected crimes from the revolution. To ensure that this could not be easily altered in the future, a clause was included in the constitution that maintained that "any change to the status of this clause would see the appointment of an additional 50 members to the National Assembly for the process of giving the 'Distinguished Families' a voice in the process." This was seen by many as a betrayal of the revolution, but as the fighting and assassinations ended, many began to feel it as a necessary compromise. Some also felt that it did not matter whichever way won out in the end.

Arwood would rule until 1925 when a coalition of opposition parties successfully overcame suppression attempts and saw him lose re-election. The aging Arwood did not put up a fight and retired from public life, dying two years later. Matthew Harper was the new President under the Araikan Unity Party, however his administration was difficult as major infighting made the bureaucratic processes necessary near impossible. Things turned for the worst quickly when the world was plunged into a severe economic depression sending millions of Araikans into unemployment and severely damaging the main industries of the nation. Fearing another Arwood, liberal politician, Arnold Skye, and a few other members of the left-wing of the party formed a new party called the Liberal Democratic Coalition. The right-wing also withdrew from the party and created the Conservative Unity Party. In a three-way race, Arnold Skye came out on top over his opponents, Thomas Reed and Matthew Harper at the 1925 election.

Skye initiated a record set up policies in his first 100 days aimed at propping up the beleaguered nation. In what was called the State Support Initiative, numerous public works were started and investment in infrastructure soared. Skye's first term in office saw the nationalization of numerous industries and using the income of them to create one of the first modern welfare states. Surprisingly, Skye's re-election was surprisingly narrow due to results not coming in quick enough and saw the reduction of his party's seats in the Assembly. Nevertheless, he pushed on with his reforms and the start of his second term saw Araika become one of the first nations to successfully emerge from the Global Depression. Skye would go on to win another three terms, seeing the nation through the Great War and defending it from one of the most threatening external threats to its existence in the form of a Pasian invasion which successfully breached the Kine Mountain Range. Skye would die in 1944 near the end of his fifth term taking the nation from one that was overlooked on the continent to one that was as powerful as its southern neighbour, Belunia.

Skye was succeeded by Richard Lyle who would go on to win re-relection, but after nearly 25 years of LDC rule, the people were looking for change. Additionally a second Global Depression hit in 1948, plunging Araika into a debt crisis that was created by many of Skye's initiatives. A charismatic politician named Dean Lott from the CUP would challenge Lyle in the 1949 election, defeating him and ending the liberal dominance of Araikan politics.

Later 20th Century
Lott's Presidency saw the privatization of many of the companies that Skye nationalized in order to get the debt situation under control. Lott also amended the Constitution creating a two term limit for the Presidency. The Second Global Depression lasted much shorter than the First, although Araika was among the last nations to exit it. Lott would be re-elected in 1953 focusing more on international affairs as communist thought began spreading throughout the world. Lott would align Araika closely with Astellia. The year before the election saw an intense competition for the nomination of the CUP's candidate with Lott's vice president losing to Charles Granger. Granger would be elected in the 1957 election and continued many of the policies of Lott. However, in 1960 Granger was involved in a sex scandal from his time as an assemblyman. Granger refused to resign but his party refused to re-nominate him as their presidential candidate. Nevertheless the damage was done and George Patterson would be elected, returned the LDC to power.

Patterson was a more centrist President than either Skye or Lyle and his presidency focused more foreign affairs during his presidency due tot the outbreak of the Pasian Civil War. The Araikan military was involved in the war for a year until pressure came on to them both internationally and domestically to exit. Despite this Patterson would be re-elected in 1965 seeing focus drawn to the refugee problem from having a neighbour embroiled in conflict. He was succeeded in 1969 by his vice president, Victor Skye, the grandson of former president Arnold Skye, which also saw the election of the first female vice president, Clarissa Rush. Skye was from the left wing of the party and like his grandfather wished to enact numerous major reforms. He had particular interest in attempting to revise the constitution's aristocratic privileges. However, many of these reforms, namely economic ones, angered the centre of the party. His vice president, who was more to the left than him, also angered the centrists. Skye would see issues in enacting these reforms, but asked Rush to work on recruitment for the next election. The election of 1973 saw an overwhelming victory for the LDC, especially the left wing which nearly had a majority on its own to enact changes. Skye's second term would see the successful ending of the Pasian civil war, however he was assassinated in 1976 by a far right terrorist who though he was being influenced by communists. Rush succeeded him but had a difficult time as numerous members of her party refused to work with her. The LDC would lose the 1977 election to the CUP's Ernest Everett.

The ensuing five years would become the most chaotic moment in Araikan history since the civil war. Differences in ideology of the LDC would see it split in two. The left-wing led by Rush created the Social Democratic Union and the centrists created the United Liberal Alliance. Everett's administration was immensely corrupt and it led to numerous CUP assembly members resigning either in disgrace or in principle. the CUP started out with 121 seats in the National Assembly and in two years that number was down to 77. Many of those that resigned from the CUP stayed in the assembly, vowing to vote against everything Everett proposed. This forced the CUP to make a deal with the ULA who were led by Preston Mark, a power hungry individual, that involved shared rule over the National Assembly. With people extremely dissatisfied with the government, voters would give the SDU its first election win in 1981 electing Clarissa Rush once again as President. But in a horrific turn of events, Rush's presidency would last under a year. In January 1982, the President went missing. Soon body parts emerged all across the nation identified as belonging to Rush. The nation and international community was absolutely shocked and led to massive protests demanding change, some calling for a "Second Revolution." Rush's vice president, Arthur Kaye, succeeds her and manages to stabilize the nation, but it comes at a cost and he is unable to carry that moment into a full term for himself. In the 1985 election, Donald Gunn of the CUP was elected.

Gunn's presidency was focused on restoring trust with the Araikan people and his agenda set out to do so. Not to repeat the mistakes of Everett, numerous laws were passed giving strength to independent agencies in their quest to root out corruption in the government. This was popular with the public and Gunn was re-elected in 1989. Gunn did not embark on any ambitious policies but saw the government at the moment as "an opportunity to act as a pilot bringing in an aircraft to land in which the passengers were scared." The 1993 election was extremely close, but Grant Hall was elected as the first ULA President.

Grant Hall's presidency saw many centrist liberal policies implemented. However, his most controversial decision was reforming the education system. The curriculum was reformed, but numerous public schools were made private increasing the cost of education. He cut taxes which promoted economic development in the short term. Hall was re-elected in 1997 and made economic growth a priority for his second term. 2000, the economy grew by 13.3%, one of the fastest growth rates in teh world, however it increased the amount of income inequality in the nation. Nevertheless, shortly before he left office, the World Banking and Economic Development Institute characterized Araika as a Lower Developed Nation in 2001.

21st Century
The 2001 election saw vice president Cameron Clay against the CUP's Richard Jeffries. The election was even closer than the 1993 and Jeffries ended up winning by less than 10,000 votes. However, the Assembly remained in ULA hands giving Jeffries an immensely difficult time getting things passed. the 2005 election saw a rematch of the 2001 election, and Clay came out on top by a comfortable margin. Clay's administration saw the nation embroiled in a major trade dispute with its neighbour, Spereria, which had raised taxes on Araikan exports. During negotiations, an Araikan soldier was killed patrolling the border. Spereria claimed that he was on their territory, while Araika claimed the opposite, tensions increased and military was deployed to the region, but Astellian mediation would see the situation cool down. Clay was re-elected in 2009 and focused his second term on diversifying the Araikan economy.

The 2013 election saw the election of Joseph Arwood, great-great grandson of Louis Arwood elected on the CUP ticket. The election resulted in numerous protests, even though the elections commission found nothing wrong with the election. Arwood saw an increase in military spending during his first term, which again caused protests as Araika entered a recession in 2015. Austerity measures were soon implemented, but military spending was maintained. Arwood nearly lost his renomination for the party, but another incident on the border would lead to the population re-evaluating the situation. Arwood was re-elected in 2017 promising to slightly reduce military spending which he did that summer. However Spereria launched a full attack on its neighbours of Pasia, Rocrofa, and Araika plunging the nation into war. The war lasted 4 months and ended in January 2018 with Araika exiting the war with minimal losses despite its allies losing territory. Arwood's popularity skyrocketed and led to the election of his vice president, Kenneth Cole in 2021. Cole's election in 2021, would see foreign affairs made a priority and the tepid relationship with Spereria formed in the Treaty of Metrov become a key issue. Cole would however, go on to lose his re-election to the ULA's Francis Kelly in 2025

Geography
Araika has a vast geography with the Kine Mountain Range to the west receding in height as it reaches the coast. The country has a generally temperate yet humid climate along the coast, but becomes drier as you move inland. The largest city Waldon is located inland at the confluence of the Ashworth and Elizabeth Rivers. The second largest city, Novariso, is located on the Eastern coast where the Elizabeth River exits into the ocean, while teh capital, Alurod, near on the Northern Coast but on the Ashworth River.

Population
As of 2020, Araika has a population of 36,395,713 people. Araika is an extremely homogeneous society with Araikan being the primary ethnic group. Over 95% of people identify with this group. The next largest ethnic group are the Slovanians who are mainly immigrants from neighbouring Spereria. Belunians and Hopans make up the majority of the remaining ethnic groups in the country.

Religion
The largest religion in Araika is Naturianism which is the majority religion of all nations on the continent. The next largest religion is Wholism which spread in certain areas of the country during the initial contact with imperial powers. Solidarianism has a small but dedicated following largely based in the southwest of the country. Approximately 35% of Araikans state that they do not follow a religion, making Araika the most irreligious country on the planet.