The twentieth century, only twenty years in, has already been a time of great change in Avalon. Monarchies - and the remnants of monarchies past - are being swept away. Traditional religious and political thought are being replaced by newer philosophies, more conservative and liberal on the sliding scales. The three dominant political philosophies - in practice and on the horizon - are currently Nationalism, Socialism, and Republicanism. Republicanism is by far the most moderate of the three. It found a home in Arkania in the mid-18th century, and Arkania has been its bastion ever since. The more moderate, Republican governments in Benneria and Jukara have either collapsed or been thrown into great turmoil since their defeat in the Great War. Hordes of returning soldiers, laid off from the military and traditional jobs lost while away at war, formed or were absorbed into dangerous organized crime syndicates, making their living illegally where they could not by letter of the law. The Jukaran government has already collapsed to revolutionaries; the Terran Empire faces a three-way civil war; Bennerian and Arkanian law enforcement struggles to combat this new wave of crime. Nevertheless, Republicanism represents a midway point in political philsophy - more progressive than the monarchies of old, but not nearly as zealous as the revolutionary ideals that arise from the ashes of the Great War.
Nationalism has its roots in - where else? - the Duranic Imperium. The Duran have, over centuries, developed a strange "national persecution complex," being the center of many wars and opposing coalitions over the course of its history. Combining with the rather unusual "assimilation ideal" of Duranic culture, Duranic-flavored Nationalism promotes the strength of the
Relm
's military, industry, and society against the enemies all around that seek to destroy it. As such, it has promoted - and been heavily associated with - autocracy. The growing Nationalist Party within the Duranic political structure believes in returning the position of Primarch to once again having total power, rather than generally being an ineffective figurehead wielded by the Senatorial
Primkonsular
. There is also a strong emphasis on "racial superiority" - the drive to conquer other peoples and assimilate the best parts of traits of their cultures, reminiscent of the First Empire's ancient philosophy.
Nationalism is also very prevalent in the Terran Empire, where it is one of the three major factions in its raging civil war. Terran-flavored Nationalism differs from the Duran. Though they suffer from the same "nation persecution complex" - a sad result of bitter defeat in the Great War - the Terrans believe more in the superiority of the Terran race and culture over all others, most especially the Duran. The Terran Nationalist Party believes in total party control of the state's military and industry - another product of the long, corrupt monarchy that was recently overthrown - over total autocracy. The Party would mobilize this military and industry against the state's enemies - the Duran, of course - and cleanse the world and Terran race of this grave national and ethnic threat.
Socialism is the second revolutionary ideal of the twentieth century, the product of nineteenth century "progressive" philosophers. Socialists believe in collective control of government and industry by society itself, hence its name. Socialism is the philosophy most associated with revolution, that revolution being by the lower classes to throw off the rich, monarchist oppressors. Socialist thought was quashed in the latter half of the nineteenth century, but the ideal endured, and has recently found a new home in Jukara, where Socialist revolution overthrew the republican government. It is yet to be seen whether Socialist philosophy will lead to true social and economic progress.
