Fantasy Nation Building: The Nation of Avalis

Avalis

Head of Government: Briave Curma

Head of State: Emed Erer

Government Type: Social Conservatism.

Government Ideology: Social Conservatism.

            Avalis did not have an easy passage into the early modern era.  The industrial and social revolutions of the last century, as well as the Wars of Revolution on the continent, deeply divided Avalisian society.  The monarchy was overthrown and the nobility abolished.  There was sporadic, low-level, but never ending violence throughout the country for many decades.  Much of the violence was internecine, personal, dividing families, and pitting communities against each other.  Out of this chaos, two major political parties arose.  Both parties believing that government should be strongly involved in social and economic matters but with radically different approaches in their beliefs.

Politics:

            The Free Unionist Movement (FUM) are social liberals who seek to find a balance between individual liberty and social justice.   Going further than classical market liberals, the FUM also believes the legitimate role of the government includes addressing economic and social issues such as poverty, health care and education.  Up to 49% of the population support the FUM (called FUMblies by their opponents) and the party is able to use its power to force through many policies.   At present, the FUM is led by Eovix Markyl, who has made no secret that he seeks to be the next Head of Government (with a FUM Head of State as well).

            The Unified Loyalist Movement (ULM) is the social conservative movement of Avalis.  Many of the early ULM members were royalists who had to change their stripes after the fall of the Avalisian monarchy.  Most of the membership of the ULM is also members of the Church of Avalis, which espouses very traditional social and political beliefs.  The ULM looks back to the last century and wants to keep ancient religious and cultural beliefs as government policy and law.   They are led by Eorin Bude, a church leader, and controlled 35% of the vote in the last elections.  In these last elections, the ULM leveraged support from minor parties and coalitions, as well as appealing to the piously religious among the population, and won.  Briave Curma and Emed Erer are both members of the ULM, as well as practicing members of the Church of Avalis. 

            The friction of a majority of the FUM in the Elective Legislature (the main governing body) with almost half the population in support, and ULM heads of state and government (as well as most of the ministers) is the source of the majority of the political struggles in Avalis today.

            The only other party of note in Avalis is the Progressive Loyalist Party (PLP).  They are social democrats.  They call for a universal welfare state and collective bargaining schemes but yet still support a capitalist economy.  Strong socialist underpinnings among the PLP have kept it from gaining more ground in a country strongly divided between a religious right (The ULM) and a liberal but yet capitalist left (The FUM).  The PLP only garnered 9% of the vote in the last election and are led by the Cotta Grila, leader of the Transport Seaport United (TSU) union.