Kalistani Major History

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OpEd: Counterpoint: Seleya is Anantonese
Beiteynu Editorial presents Canrille as if it's a fait accompli
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
June 30, 5530


Kalistan doesn't figure into Canrillaise propaganda but it should

By, Lord Stephen Wilkes, Chancellor of the Empire

The Re-establishment of the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan, liberal and republican reactions aside, in 5147 signaled the return of a new rising regional player--The Empire of Ananto and Kalistan has since then served as a speed bump for some, and as a means of empowerment for others. But the ascension of Empress Nicolette I Ananto, more than 90 years ago put Kalistan on a much different course: from friend to all and foe to none, to a serious, and some would say revanchist player in regional affairs. Since then, both Nicolette "The Great" and her daughter, the late Nicolette II have leaned more forward than their predecessors dared regarding Kalistan's imperial attitude and posture.

The Empress Nicolette II recreated the ancient crowns of Andalay and Vintalli, much to almost nobody's notice, and while promising not to pursue those claims, never disavowed taking steps to bring those long lost realms back into the Empire. Do the Anantos plan to stop at Andalay and Vintalli, or would they dare go forward and attempt to reclaim all the lands that Kalistani History describes as having been "stolen" from the Empire, the lands of the so-called "Greater Kalistan"? And what effect will a more robust and aggressive form of imperialism have on Kalistan's relations with its surrounding neighbors?

The answer to that question was unknown until recently, when the Yishilem Post, owned by Luthorian media conglomerate Humperdink Media, and published with no by-line, released an Editorial called "Meet the World of Canrille." In this editorial, the author issued an apology of Lourennais dominance in the realms of trade, finance, and culture. The Editorial extolled the unprecedented economic influence and military projection of the world's acknowledged superpower:

"Altatepec's fate hangs at Lourennais chambers, solely. They decide, the dwindling Beiteynuese machine follows, thankful for the scraps of gravitas in the face of conflicting policies with the ideals of the United Kingdom... And steadily Whale Island comes into play. And who could blame the WC for listening to the only superpower the world has seen in a millennia? Alas, the World is Canrillaise; as the World of Canrille is the World itself. Embrace it."

The rhetorical question Kalistan asks is: "Is the world really Canrillaise?" The answer of course, is no, it really is not. We acknowledge some basic facts in the Beiteynese editorial: Indeed, Lourenne's military might is unprecedented. It seems that they have one aircraft carrier for each enlisted man in their navy these days, and they are scattered across the face of the globe. It seems that the Franc is popping up all over the place, has for some reason become the actual currency of several nations who inexplicably abandoned their own ability to manage their monetary supply and address local crises, in favor of a market based currency from the other side of the planet. And it seems that Lourenne has members of royal families across Terra, including our own royal family, whose current Minor Emperor is a descendant of Lourennais Royalty, and whose recent Prince Regent is married to a current member of a cadet branch of the Lourennais Royal Family. We can't deny that Lourenne does have impressive reach.

But to say that there is no alternative, that we should all just embrace a Canrillaise future that is apparently already upon us, is just pretty asinine. Kalistan--a country which is deeply economically integrated with the Lourennais economy, perhaps more so than every single country that has actually traded their own currency for the Franc, including Beiteynu--exists entirely outside of the Franc regime. The Kalistani Ruble has a rock solid valuation based on centuries of zero-growth policies and a strong infrastructural, educational, and innovative base in Kalistan. The Ruble can't compete one for one with the Franc, given its international scope, but Kalistan does not have foreign debt either, nor does its currency float with the market. As such, it makes an attractive alternative to those who want an investment that will grow at a steady and predicable rate, year after year, without fail, which makes it a much better and far less speculative buy than the Franc which, though controlled by the Royal Institute, nonetheless relies on market rates and debt to grow.

Ultimately all business cycles take a down turn, and if a country can't afford to lose its shirt, the Franc is not as strong as it seems. If you are brave and have money to burn, the Ruble has its downsides. Either way: the Franc is not all there is, contrary to the opinion of the Beiteynese author.

And what about militarily? One of the reasons (not the only reason, by far) that Lourenne can project globally is because Kalistan sits on its front door step. The Island of Ananto has long treated itself as a hornets nest that acts as a warning sign against military encroachment from outside. Our strategic doctrine in Kalistan is not specifically consonant with Lourenne's strategic doctrine, but the two work in a complementary fashion, to allow Lourenne to do what it does internationally, while not feeling threatened close to home. The recent war with Seko, a rinky-dink backwater of a state appended to Dovani and adjacent to a nation whose military budget dwarfs the entire economy of Seko, was started because Sekowo decided that it wanted to poke Lourenne. It literally "f--ked around and found out." But this was not an external threat that Lourenne was facing: Seko was a mad-dog regime that had lost its mind. And now it is being reconstructed.

Lourenne's peace at home that permits its international posture is created in part by Kalistan's Guarantee of the Anantonese Ocean, though Kalistan and Lourenne are not specifically allied, and Kalistan has been known to strongly oppose Lourenne's overseas adventures from time to time, including the recent international war with Beiteynu and its recent invasion of Seko. Is Lourenne strong? Absolutely. Can it do it by itself? A determined Kalistani effort to stand against Lourenne in the region would certainly put the answer of that question into doubt. And Kalistan no longer even observes Altatapec, so the question is: What value is it for Seleya when one of the major regional players isn't even a part of it? Is it even relevant?

None of this is to say that Kalistan approaches Lourenne or the Canrillaise Empire at the present moment: We do not, nor do we really want to. It is only to say that a friendly Kalistan is a good partner in the region, while a non-friendly one is a dagger at the heart of the United Kingdom. This is not a threat, just a sober assessment. The Beiteynese Author would do well to remember that fact: Kalistan follows its own way, whatever Canrille is doing. That is how it has always been, and now that our Monarchs are starting to believe they ought to rule all of Northern Seleya, that is how it will be for the foreseeable future. It is the policy of this Empire so far to maintain friendly relations with the world, but failure to acknowledge the Emperor's choice in that matter is done at great risk.

Sometimes it is not the enemy at the gates, but the spider in your own house that is the bigger threat. That fact is ignored at everyone's peril.

The world is not Canrillaise. Not even close. Not even next door. Beiteynu ought to remember that fact.