Osorra

The Empire of Ossora or just Ossora is an Empire located in Avalonia. It borders Tilenno to the north, Cipertine to the east, and is surrounded by the Tethys Ocean to the west and south. Ossora is monarchy with substantial democratic elements. All power theoretically is held by the so called Solnechnyy Tsar' - the earthly representative of the Bactil. His direct advisors and court however are picked by the Inner Imperial House and the emperor has to have his budget approved by the Outer Imperial House. Currently the house is dominated by the Arnica Clique, Osorri Commerce Party, and Osorra First - the latter two organized into the Greater Osorra Coalition. Osorra has a vast aristocracy known as the Pomeshchiks, who are the only ones legally allowed to create and participate in political societies. Many believe Osorra to be a stratocracy with an obfuscatary military leadership.

In the 16th century, a power struggle between two rival houses led to the disillusion of the Ossoi Empire into fractured states. There was massive war and turmoil until foreign interference saw the Bacti League form and unite the country - purportedly to protect it from outsiders. Osorra closed its borders and ports from the outside world for the next few centuries. The first signs of opening up came when Yarovan traders aligned with a prominent coastal family and created various trade fortresses in 1830. In the 1850s these fortresses began to expand into cities, and Yarova began to make inroads into the country. In defiance of the isolation policy, the Arnica House launched the first in a series of wars that would be called The Wars of Osorrai Unification, reuniting the country with Yarovan assistance. Afterwards he Yarovphillic Emperor began a program of Yarovification in an attempt to create unity among culturally distinct groups.

In a quest to catch up, Osorra began a massive modernization from the 1890s, creating modern institutions. Students educated abroad and nationalist generals began to interfere with the Emperor's power. When Yarova fell to war in the 1920s the Emperor was forced to informally give his power up to the Westernized army in the October 13th Event - becoming a figurehead. Now the state was dominated by the Armed Forces of Osorra and the Volkov Union. The dictatorships main support base was in middle class nobles or mixed race farmers, which it appealed towards. It implemented a vaguely left leaning program of "Sotsial'nyy Pod'yem - building railways, cleaning cities, and improving infrastructure. The dictatorship built a repressive state apparatus while trying to feign the image of democracy.

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, and the emperor was given back his power. This period also saw the decentralization of the empire as many former families in the junta were given posts as Pomeshchiks. The liberalization saw an explosion of inequality, and reductions in state services. A new class of corrupt billionaires emerged from the privatizations, selling off the nations natural resources. Widespread civil discontent forced the emperor to grow closer to the army, and rely on them to hold power.

Today Osorra is a higher middle income country, with a developing economy. The Osorrai economy is based on heavy industries and agriculture. It's largest trade partners are Tilenno Brigantica and Yarova. Osorra is an observer in the AES and pursues a multivector policy of balancing multiple powers.

Politics and Government
The Empire of Osorra is a monarchy, ruled by the Solnechnyy Tsar'. While his power is absolute, he delegates powers to the Imperial Houses, various advisory bodies that advise the Tsar. The Outer Imperial House since the 80s has gained full power over the purse, and approves how tax dollars are spent. Most laws are created by the Imperial Houses and approved by the Tsar. The structure of the Imperial Houses is unlike legislatures, since Osorra limits participation in legal political societies to the upper aristocracy known as the Pomeshchiks. This means Osorri politics is made up of many small social societies instead of large political parties - who join into loose cliques. Suffrage in Osorra however is not limited to landed classes.

The non-landed classes exercise their power primarily through religious and charitable organizations who own control much of the nations utilities and infrastructure.

Economy
Osorra has a higher middle income economy with a GDP of around 640 billion nominal. The economy saw rapid growth in the 80s and 90s but is now facing economic stagnation - a consequence of economic mismanagement and rent seeking. The economy is based around the export of raw commodities, agriculture, and heavy industry - although smaller light industries exist within the cities. Most of the nations 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.