Osorra

Osorra, also known as the Empire of Osorra, is a located in Avalonia. The country borders Tilenno to the north, Cipertine to the east, and is surrounded by the Tethys Ocean to the west and south. Politically, Ossora is a, having a limited monarch who devolves significant decision-making authority to the Imperial Houses. The monarch is the Solnechnyy Tsar' - the earthly representative of the Bactil. The legislative organs are dominated by the Arnica Clique, Osorri Commerce Party, and Osorra First - the latter two organized into the Greater Osorra Coalition. The nation's primary political division is between the neo-absolutist Orlovists and the neoliberal Mikhaylovists. Osorra limits political participation to a vast aristocracy known as the Pomeshchiks, who are the only ones legally allowed to create and participate in political societies. The military holds a great deal of power in Osorrai society: Many scholars believe Osorra to be a stratocracy with obfuscatory military leadership, with a domineering military that engages in human rights abuses and continues to repress free speech. The government is extremely corrupt, having powerful oligarchs that are above the law.

Osorra has had a long history that has survived tens of thousands of years. The majority of Osorrai history exists in oral tradition, which combines both real events and mythology. ...

Modern Osorrai history begins with a power struggle between two rival families, which escalated into the disillusion of the Ossoi Empire. War and turmoil ensued until the Bacti League formed and united the country - purportedly to protect it from outsiders. Osorra would close its borders and ports from the outside world for the next few centuries. Said period of isolation ended when Yarovan traders began expanding their presence beginning in the 1830s. The Arnica House would enlist the help of these traders to reunite the country and began the The Wars of Osorrai Unification. After the conclusion of the war, the modern Osorrai state was created as a Yarovan vassal. The Yarovphillic Emperor would begin a program of Yarovification in an attempt to create unity among culturally distinct groups. Settlers came en masse from Yarova, Kesh, and Southern Avalonia.

In the 1890s Osorra began to see major economic changes with the beginning of the Osorrai Industrial Revolution. Many called for radical political overhauls during this period, threatening the emperor's hold on power. An Osorrai independence movement and the republican movement grew and would overthrow the Tsar when Yarova fell to war in the 1920s. The Westernized army would soon take control of the country in the October 13th Event. Afterward, the state was dominated by the Armed Forces of Osorra and the Volkov Union. The dictatorship's main support base was in middle-class nobles or mixed-race farmers, and it would begin projects to improve their living standards. It implemented a vaguely left-leaning program of Sotsial'nyy Pod'yem - building railways, cleaning cities, and improving infrastructure. While it did implement many projects that improved living standards, the dictatorship created a repressive state apparatus that violated human rights and punished dissidents. The dictatorship would begin to rot internally in the 60s, which was accelerated by international sanctions from the Osorrai Nuclear Program, and the loss in the Osorra-Tilenno War. It ended when right-wing officers held a coup that ended the dictatorship in 1986, reinstalling the Tsar.

In the 80s the Empire underwent massive liberalization as the new government sought to dismantle the dictatorship: assets were sold off, purges occurred in the civil service, limited democratization occurred, and the emperor was given back his power. The liberalization saw an explosion of inequality, mass layoffs, and reductions in state services. A new class of corrupt billionaires emerged from the privatizations, wealthy from former state assets. Widespread civil discontent forced the emperor to grow closer to the army, and rely on them to hold power. Osorra would deal with an internal insurgency from the late 90s to early 00s which has morphed into a neverending drug war.

Today Osorra is a higher middle-income country, with a developing economy. The Osorrai economy is based on heavy industries, mining, services, and agriculture. The country's export sector is dominated by the mining industry, and Osorra is one of the largest producers of copper, gold, and lithium in Anterra. The country has created numerous diplomatic ties all over Anterra, making Osorra a bridge the three worlds: Eastern Kesh, Eastern Artemia, and Northern Avalonia. Its largest trade partners are Tilenno Brigantica and Yarova. Osorra is an observer in the AES and pursues a multivector policy of balancing multiple powers. Unique cultures, repressive governance, and a long history continue to fascinate outside observers looking into the country.

Etymology
Osorra is thought to have originated from the native word for mother, "Oso", and the term "Ori" which loosely translates to country. Words such as "Ossoi" would be used for other Osorrai polities. When the Arnica House took the country it would officially name it "Osorra", translating to the mother country.

Politics and Government
The Empire of Osorra is a monarchy, ruled by the Solnechnyy Tsar'. He delegates powers to the Imperial Houses, various advisory bodies that advise the Tsar. Two houses exist, the Outer and Inner House. The Inner House is made up of the military, nobility, and various corporate figures. The Outer House is popularly elected by the people. The Outer Imperial House controls the power of the purse, while the Inner is the only one allowed to propose laws. Most laws are created by the Imperial Houses and approved by the Tsar. The structure of the Imperial Houses is unlike other countries since Osorra limits participation in legal political societies to the upper aristocracy known as the Pomeshchiks. Consequently, Osorri politics is made up of many small social societies instead of large political parties - who join into loose cliques.

The non-landed classes exercise their power primarily through religious and charitable organizations - often controlled by wealthy oligarchs. These organizations are united into the All-Osorra Trade Union, a powerful trade union with a large degree of influence. Osorra's working classes have limited avenues of political organization, often reliant on the support of extremely powerful oligarchs to achieve concessions. Many scholars have theorized Osorra has a "high low vs middle" class setup.

Osorra's judicial system has seen the least change from the military dictatorship, primarily administered by military tribunals. The tribunals have 3 soldiers from the community deciding on criminal matters, or a district magistrate to decide on civil ones. They utilize common law, effectively giving the military full jurisdiction to decide matters of Osorrai law. The military also runs many of Osorra's prisons, where it is alleged they utilize forced labor. The military has been accused of unequally enforcing laws and allowing many military leaders to operate with impunity. This role has come under particular scrutiny due to the recent War on Drugs.

Osorra's state ministries are under the direct control of the Tsar. The Tsar can select various state ministers in the Imperial Council, where officials such as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Finance, etc are located in. His picks must be approved by the Imperial Houses before approval. Many functions related to communication and transportation are managed by the military, who owns state companies and selects the board members of these state companies. The military operates these functions relatively autonomously and has been unwilling to cede them to the civilian government.

Military
The Armed Forces of Osorra is the military of Osorra and is under the command of the Osorrai High Command. The Osorrai Command is made up of 5 generals, who are among the most powerful men in the country. The military makes decisions through consensus amount the 5 generals, although the Lieutenant General is allowed to make decisions if consensus cannot be reached. The military has 600k active troops and about 800k paramilitary in total, with 5 branches: The Osorrai Army, the Osorrai Air Forces, the Osorrai Navy, Okhrana, and the Paramilitary of National Self Defense. The largest division in the armed forces by far is the Paramilitary, with around 800k members in total. The paramilitary operates around various irregular regional forces, who are semi-regularly trained and can support professional forces if needed. They also exist to put down rebellions and control peripheral regions within the country. Paramilitary forces are enlisted in the military's various megaprojects, and its existence is seen as somewhat of a "job program" to support poor Osorrai.

The second-largest force is the Osorrai Army with 350,000 troops. The army since the loss in the Osorra Tilenno War has significantly shifted its doctrine, moving away from structured formations, and towards flexible and mobile formations suited towards the unique geography of Avalonia. As such the army has focused on developing light mechanized infantry systems, using small APCs and even trucks that can transverse rough terrain. The army has also invested in various missile defense systems to attempt to "trap" an enemy force and reduce their morale. These reforms have made Osorra's army an extremely flexible force, which in unison with airpower, serves as a powerful deterrent to any attacks. The army operates in a node system, where each company is expected to operate as a self-contained unit which can sustain itself if needed. The army in recent years has involved itself in conflict with many of the country's drug cartels with the assistance of countries such as Brigantica.

Osorra has a large airforce, made up of hundreds of planes, primarily older models. The airforce has 100,000 personnel in total. The primary focus of the airforce is to harass enemy supply lines, shock and awe, and scouting of enemy forces. The navy has 150,000 personnel with around 15 submarines, 10 destroyers, and 18 frigates. The navy is a green water fleet.

The military's most infamous department is the militarized police and intelligence force known as the Okhrana. The Okhrana was formed in 1990 in response to the massive September Riots with the merger of all militarized federal police departments and intelligence apparatus into one unified apparatus. The newly created Okhrana began fighting against many radical groups and forcing them into hiding. They would engage in a variety of repressive actions to protect the fragile Osorrai state including the shooting down of many protestors. The Okhrana also worked to rebuild Osorra's former spy network, posting in numerous countries. However, with the start of foreign intervention in the Beskonechnaya Noch Osorra was forced to downsize the Okhrana and refocus it on the drug trade. With the advent of the internet, the Okhrana created a vast apparatus of internet surveillance and a limited system of censorship to remove "libelous content". The Okhrana has infiltrated much civilian organization in Osorra and is seen as a critical bulwark in keeping the state stable.

Economy
Osorra has a higher middle-income economy with a GDP of around 861 billion nominal. The economy saw rapid growth in the 80s and 90s but is now facing economic stagnation - a consequence of centralization and rent-seeking. The economy is based around the export of raw commodities, agriculture, services, and heavy industry - although smaller light industries exist within the cities. Most of the nation's industries, mines, and farms are owned by a small class of oligarchs who launder much of the money outside the nation. As a result, Osorra is one of the most unequal nations in Anterra, with a GINI of .56. Osorra does have some vibrant and innovative sectors, however, such as the technology, telecommunications, and defense industry. Some regions of the country such as Kuninsk Hi-Tech Zone have seen rapid GDP growth that far exceeds the rest of the country due to the growth in these sectors.

Osorra's economy is dominated by family enterprises, the military, and foreign businesses. The military and various family enterprises are thought to exist in a "crosslinked structure" where they cooperate and hold a stake in each other. The military obfuscates its holdings through the existence of numerous shell companies. Foreign scholars have noted this allows the military to control a large chunk of the economy, giving it a wide degree of influence. The military also posts cells in private firms, allowing it to learn about and control private companies. The military has promised that its political interference will not "overrule" shareholders nor the companies' profitability, and in more recent years has acted more transparently about its activities to soothe shareholders. The Osorrai government holds a stake in many companies through the Osorrai Pension Fund, and National Diversification Fund which in recent years has allowed the state to wean of the mining as a source of state revenue. Osorra is still broadly seen as an economy under the control of the state, since the state holds a large chunk of Osorra's total corporate holdings, however, without any centralized planning body, these assets are controlled for the benefit of private actors within the state, or connected to the state.

Osorra's oligarchs dominate much of the private, and even semi-public economy through holdings in various state companies. They are a small group of businessmen with enormous sums of wealth, often numbering in the tens of billions. Most of them are primarily focused on the mining agriculture, or heavy industrial sector but the wealthiest oligarchs, such as Karp Egorov, have diversified portfolios in areas such as telecommunications and defense. Karp runs Karpacom, a massive cellular carrier in Northern Avalonia with over a two hundred million subscribers as of 2020. The oligarchs often come from former military, intelligence, or government backgrounds with many connections within the state. Some sources even list Osorra's high ranking generals as oligarchs, since they are often known for using state-owned companies for their benefit.

Energy
Osorra's energy sector is primarily controlled by the army, in particular, the army owned company National Organization of Power Delivery. Osorra has some of the cheapest energy in the world, due to both the large presence of nuclear power, and subsidization by the military apparatus. However, power availability is uneven with many rural areas cut off from power. The largest consumer of power is the industrial sector.

Osorra's energy grid is primarily dominated by hydropower (33%) and nuclear power (45%), with coal and natural gas making up the rest. The country consumes X GW annually, with a per capita consumption of X. Osorra has been praised throughout the rest of Anterra for its embrace of clean and renewable energy, however concerns exist over the military's handling of nuclear technology. From the 60s-70s Osorra had a nuclear weapons program which was only ended due to a Tilenno invasion. Since then all of Osorra's nuclear facilities are subject to inspections, must allow permanent inspector presence, and partial privatization.

In Osorra access to power is limited. 88% of the population has access to energy, many of them living in affluent cities. However, in many of the native reservations, access to electricity is limited. Osorra in recent has attempted to expand capacity as a result and aims for 100% energy coverage by 2030.

Music and Dance
Osorrai music is known worldwide for its diversity and unique styles, combining aspects of many different types of music. The most popular genres include post-punk, bossa nova, and disco - genres that persist in Osorra today despite being less popular abroad. Osorra's post-punk bands are the most well known and include bands such as, , and Obezlesyavaneto. The genre began in the early 1980s, creating protest music against the military dictatorship. The most popular band of this period was known as. Many bands would follow their lead and this emerging music scene would become one of the largest in the country. The scene would attract many political radicals, including one of the most infamous characters from the scene,, an eco-anarchist who founded the Osorrai National Bolshevik Society. After the collapse of the military dictatorship, many of the old bands disappeared, with many of their lead singers suddenly dying, but in the massive social turmoil from liberalization new bands were formed that copied their styles. These bands were much more depressive than the previous bands and focused on more existential themes. These bands would develop a following all over the Slavosphere, with themes that transcend culture, religion, or class. Today Osorra has thousands of post-punk bands, carrying on the tradition laid by.

Osorra has had unique musical blends since the first black settlers landed in 1840, brought by Yarovan settlers. They would interact with the natives and combine styles, creating unique compositions. Osorra would develop its variant of bossa nova, which quickly became popular all across the world. The style was well-known for evoking images of the nation's beautiful beaches and tropical rainforests - of which it was very well known. The style had laid back attitude, allowing listeners to feel relaxed. The music also had evocative feminine themes, something many scholars note as apart of the "Orientalism" that clouded foreign observations of Osorra. During the 60s the style of jazz-funk became popular. Osorrai music continues to borrow numerous elements from native and African cultures.

Finally, Osorra developed a large synth and electronic culture. They started with dramatic Osorrai space operas in the 70s, which were attempting to capitalize on the sci-fi genre. Merging elements from Osorra's jazz scene, a group from Osorra's universities known as "Bioloom" developed an evocative form of electronic music. This style quickly became in the vogue all over the country. Later in the 80s, disco acts such as Osya and New Osorra Group were founded, which became a hit nationwide. The music while primarily shunning political themes did have some subversive songs such as "Bureaucrat". "Bureaucrat" attacked the slow and degenerated culture of Osorrai bureaucracy. After the dictatorship many of these bands disbanded, however many of their songs remain cult classics in Osorra and the rest of the Slavosphere.