International Newsweek
Entry posted by Bob Janova
102 views
It's been a quiet week right across the planet, since the publication of the Grämlins Codex a week ago today caused some political activity.
The next day, FAN and Vox Populi made public their cooperation with this announcement. The treaty is quite vague in its wording but amounts to a full MADP in the opinion of most Serian commentators. However, it was already well known that FAN and Vox were cooperating with intelligence and espionage services against Pacific nations and other Coalition alliances. Both were already at war with most of the same groups. The only slight surprise was the signature of OcUK, formerly of the BLEU bloc – but OcUK is now the preserve of a few hardcore nations with few people left in them, and has already declared eternal war against Ragnarok, so although their signature on this note of eternal war was surprising, it does not change much.
On the 25th, Sparta and RIA signed a mutual defence treaty. It is a fairly standard template MDP, except for the 48 year cancellation clause. It is unlikely that either side will hold the other to that should the worst come to the worst, though. It is the first 'eternal' (i.e. extremely long or uncancellable) treaty to be signed that isn't the result of a longstanding and close relationship, at least on external appearances; and, like all treaties, it can be amended or dissolved by mutual consent at any time.
The MDP signed between Legion and the UCN is not particularly relevant in itself, but it also sets an interesting precedent for cancellation clauses, albeit in the other direction. This treaty can be cancelled if either party commits an 'imperialistic' act of aggression, spies or acts 'immorally' – and this is the first treaty ever that can legally be terminated on moral grounds (although any treaty with a cancellation facility can be cancelled for any reason, this is the first to define an explicit condition in this way). When seen in the light of interesting recent discussions about universal morality, it is a particularly interesting decision.
But unquestionably the most dramatic events of the week came right at the end: Vox Populi's announcement of a new charter, and NPO's attack on the former leader of the ACV. The SNC has been unable to access detailed information about the latter situation, but President iClean offended a great many people in positions of power with his actions, and after already having exhausted political capital during his altercations with the NADC, had to go. The ACV has been well supported by its allies, and in general this situation is an example of diplomacy done right.
The Vox Populi charter abandons one of the movement's signature ideas: the lack of formal government. In inaugurating a formal government structure (an elected Senate), and signing a treaty (with FAN, as discussed earlier), they now resemble an ordinary alliance more than a revolutionary movement – admittedly, an alliance with revolutionary ideas at its heart. It has been interpreted as an admission of failure of the anarchic system that they were previously using, or at least an admission that its time is past; anarchy is excellent for running spontaneous dramatic acts such as the taking of the Red and Green Senate seats, but a government is needed for the long term plan that Vox is currently restricted to thinking about.
1 Comment
Recommended Comments