Foreign relations of Erusia
The term Foreign affairs of Erusia refers to the behaviour of the national government of the Democratic People's Republic of Erusia towards other micro- and macronational states, with specific emphasis on diplomatic relations (or a lackthereof) between Erusia and other micronational states. Erusian foreign policy has had a major impact on the MicroWiki Community, in particular on the micronations surrounding the Grand Unified Micronational, and the Democratic People's Republic today is generally recognised as an influential and important diplomatic power within that community.
Generally speaking, the foreign policy of Erusia is tolerant and open. The Democratic People's Republic enjoys strong diplomatic ties to a number of other micronations and, despite it's support for micronational Socialist Internationalism, respects the right of other micronations to peaceful self-determination and political independence. The modern Erusian state has active diplomatic ties to Monarchies, Democracies, Republics and other Communist States. It has in the past engaged in diplomatic relations with nations generally seen to inhabit the far-right of the political spectrum, although this practice in Erusian foreign policy has recently been abandoned.
Macronational foreign policy
The Democratic People's Republic has not, unlike some micronational movements, contacted any macronational government and has not as of yet officially declared independence from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, instead asserting de facto independence for the moment. Despite this, Erusia does operate a limited form of macronational foreign policy, and has to date offered full diplomatic recognition to 195 macronations (190 of which are United Nations member states). The macronations recognised by the DPRE are:
- All United Nations member states, excluding the State of Israel and the Union of Myanmar
- State of Palestine
- Republic of Kosovo
- Republic of South Ossetia
- Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
- Somaliland
Embargos
In May 2009, the National People's Assembly officially approved a form of "trade embargo" against the State of Israel, the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Union of Myanmar. Under the terms of the bill passed, it would be illegal to import goods from any of these three nations into the territory of the DPRE and anyone found carrying items that originated in any of those nations would face a fine. Although this law is not enforceable in the claimed territory of the Democratic People's Republic, all citizens are instructed to boycott goods that they know originate in Israel, Taiwan or Myanmar in order to comply with the law.
Anti-Zionism
Not without controversy, the ruling Erusian National Communist Party has advanced a firm Anti-Zionist and pro-Palestinian foreign policy. The ruling conservative faction in the Communist Party strongly supports the ideal, whilst the liberal faction headed by Carwyn Jenkins is generally seen to favour a more balanced policy - although having little practical importance, it is thought that the stance on the State of Israel is one of the reasons for the ideological divide in the Party. Notable opponents to the policy include Jenkins, Kai Roosevelt and James Marshall whilst notable proponents include Robert Lethler, Kenneth Maisano and Michelle Yui. According to a statement in the aftermath of the aforementioned Trade Embargo bill, "the [Communist] Party firmly believes that the State of Israel has repeatedly demonstrated that it is an illegitemate, aggressive State through it's systematic and often brutal oppression of the Palestinian people and through it's general aggression towards the Arab community within and surrounding it's illegally controlled territory". The Party currently supports a two-state solution to the Palestine-Israel crisis "out of necessity" and condemns, but understands the justification for, aggressive action by the Hamas faction and associates. The ENCP leadership asserts the Israeli state should never have been created. It is opposed to any bi-national or three-state solution to the situation.
It is worth noting that the Democratic People's Republic has no discriminatory policy towards citizens of the State of Israel or their descendants, and that the Party does not forbid Israeli citizens from holding membership unless they are against the Party Line, which is not actually anti-Zionist.[1]
Micronational foreign policy
The micronational foreign policy of the Democratic People's Republic has, for the most part, been open and balanced. The aims of Erusian foreign policy are to facilitate intermicronational peace, cooperation and the "development of a professional environment almost indistguishable to that of the macro political world". Erusia is willing to enter into diplomatic relations with any micronation that is serious and professional and it is exceptionally rare for the Party to turn down a Stage III society's (or higher) invitation to diplomatic relations. A defining characteristic of Erusian foreign policy is it's general 'slowness' and higher level of caution than many other micronational states - the DPRE rarely enters into formal diplomatic agreements without long-term and well-established diplomatic ties to a nation, and has shied away from entering into formal alliances.
Recognised micronations
The Democratic People's Republic currently recognises 16 of the Grand Unified Micronational's 18 member states,[2] in addition to a number of other micronations making a total of 22 states to date. It does not have recognition from all of these states in return, nor does it necessarily desire to maintain active diplomatic ties with all of these nations. The Democratic People's Republic has only ever once terminated diplomatic recognition of another nation - it formerly recognised the Slinky Empyre, until the ruling Communist Party ruled it was an "intolerable ideological nuisance" and elected to withdraw recognition of Slinky sovereignty. The remaining recognised nations are:
- Federated States of Antarctica
- Republic of Bokonton
- Principality of Cakeland
- Cheslovian Federation
- Kingdom of Finismund
- Grand Duchy of Flandrensis
- Democratic Duchy of Francisville
- Principality of Malokaz
- Republic of Molossia
- Socialist Republic of Murrayfield
- Empire of New Europe
- Ohio Empire
- Republic of Petorio
- Sacred Republic of Plau Zuiru
- Reylan Imperial Triumvirate
- Commandate of Samana Cay
- Grand Lamate of Sandus
- Democratic Republic of Saorsa
- Principality of Sealand
- Federal Republic of St.Charlie
- New Scientopia
- People's Republic of Yongheng
Alliances
Special Friendships
In Erusian foreign policy, the term Special Friend refers to a micronation the Central People's Government has actively strived to build relations with and who the central government feels is an ideological friend of the nation. With the notable exception of the Socialist Republic of Murrayfield, Special Friends are awarded no special support from Erusia outside of the diplomatic arena, and often Special Friends do not have formal diplomatic treaties with the DPRE. The first nation to be referred to as a Special Ideological Friend was the Democratic Duchy of Francisville, whilst the term Special Friend was first used by the Union of Socialist Micronational Republics after the signing of the New Euro-USMR Alliance.
As of October 2009, the following nations are regarded as Special Friends:
- Principality of Cakeland[3]
- Cheslovian Federation[4]
- Democratic Duchy of Francisville
- Socialist Republic of Murrayfield[5]
- New Scientopia
- People's State of Sandus
Relations with specific micronations
Grand Unified Micronational
The Democratic People's Republic was one of the earliest members of the Grand Unified Micronational and ranks among the five founding member states in it's Constitution, although it's seat was held by the Union of Socialist Micronational Republics for three months. The Supreme People's Commissioner of Erusia, Robert Lethler, is currently serving as the second Chair of the Grand Unified Micronational and has been a standing member of it's Advancement Council since the first elections to the AC and it's sister organ. It is generally agreed that Erusia has had a major impact on the development of the institution and Lethler has emphasised it's importance in the MicroWiki Community, using his time as Chair to try and direct the institution towards the promotion of mutual advancement and intermicronational conflict resolution, as opposed to an institution that stands chiefly for collective security.
Socialist Internationalism
Socialist Internationalism is enshrined in the National Constitution of the DPRE. Erusia promotes the peaceful advancement of Socialism to other micronational states but respects the right of micronationalists to self-determination - it does not actively seek to promote Socialism in any other micronational state (except for the Kingdom of Camuria, where it has called for Socialist revolution numerous times, and other Stage I societies), but rather provides diplomatic and political support to Socialist movements who emerge independently in other nations. The ruling Erusian National Communist Party officially endorses the St.Charlian Socialist Movement, the Petorian Communist Party, the Socialist Party of Petorio, the Scientopian People's Front, the Communist Party of Antarctica, the Communist Party of Murrayfield, the Democratic Labour Party of Saorsa and the North Carolinan Marxist Liberation Faction[6]
Notes
- ↑ The anti-Zionist policies of the Party are on a de facto rather than an official basis, thus explaining vocal opposition to them within the ENCP.
- ↑ The Democratic People's Republic does not currently recognise either Stigistan or the Holy Empire of Reunion.
- ↑ In recongition of the help Cakeland gave Bzan during it's fight for independence from Licentia.
- ↑ In recongition of the help Kaznia gave Bzan during it's fight for independence from Licentia.
- ↑ Uniquely, Erusia offers full diplomatic, political, economic and military support to Murrayfield wherever it can. Although no formal agreement has ever been signed between the two nations, it is generally agreed that Murrayfield can call on Erusia for assistance any time it is in need of their help.
- ↑ Although the Faction is reportedly Dengist, the Communist Party continues to endorse it.