Grundhavn

Republic of Grundhavn
Flag
Motto: Den kloge person gør alt til sin rette tid (The wise person does everything in its proper time)
Anthem: As the Swan Soars
Grundhavn (in orange) in the western portion of Hesperida, in the IDU
Capital and largest city	Grundhavn
Official languages	Grundhavish
Recognised national languages	English, German
Ethnic groups (2020)	87.6% Caucasian 4.2% Black 3.1% Asian 2.4% Multiracial 1.6% MENA 1.1 Hispanic
Demonym(s)	Grundhav
Government	Unitary Parliamentary republic with an executive presidency
• Lord Mayor	Bent Nielsen
• Supreme Councillor	Hjalmar Frederiksen
Establishment
• Colony of Denmark	1638
• Constitutional self-government	1834
• Independent Republic	1891
Area
• Total	965 km2 (373 sq mi)
Population
• 2020 estimate	328,000
• Density	340/km2 (880.6/sq mi)
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	NSD1,850,000,000,000
Gini	37.60 medium
HDI (2020)	0.864 very high
Currency	Grunddaler (GD or D)
Time zone	GT +4
Date format	mm-dd-yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+113
Internet TLD	.ghv

The Republic of Grundhavn, commonly called Grundhavn (Mandarin: 絲綢國/Sīchóuguó), is a unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency in the continent of Hesperida on Earth in the International Democratic Union. It does not directly border any other nation, but is close to the nations of Trive to the west, Novella Islands to the north, and Greater Acadia to the east. Grundhavn covers just 965 square kilometers, with a population of approximately 328,0000. Grundhavn is best known internationally for being a city-state focused on trade and commerce and having a morally ambiguous outlook on foreign policy.

Grundhavish civilization began as a colony of Denmark in 1634, eventually gaining its independence from the mother country over the next 250 years. For most of that time, it enjoyed substantial autonomy owing to its distance from Denmark. Throughout its nearly 400 years of existence, Grundhavn has pursued commerce-first policies and become known as a place where anything could be acquired for the right price.

Etymology

In English, Grundhavn is pronounced Groond-hay-ven or Groond-hah-ven, though in Grundhavish the 'v' is almost silent (IPA: [ɡrøn̩dˈhaʊˀn]). Grundhavn literally means "ground-harbor"; it is thought that the first sailors named it akin to "the harbor where we first made land."

The standard way to refer to a citizen of Grundhavn is as a "Grundhav." The term 'Grundhavish' is the adjective form, thus "Grundhavs eat Grundhavish food" is a correct sentence.

Environment

Large wild animals in Laeral include the brown bear, lynx, 'snow cat' (snow leopard), Chinese mountain cat, and grey wolf, although these are widely hunted and now have a severely curtailed frequency and range. Other wild mammals include the Summer Dog (raccoon dog), the Iduvian red and water deer, the marsh deer (Pere David's Deer), and the marmot. Birds common in Laeral include various cranes, the snowcock, the heron, various swans, and various pigeons.

Laeralian meat raised for cultivation lacks large pasture animals such as cows. Farmers instead focus on keeping geese, ducks, chickens, grouse, pheasant, and pigs, as well as sheep and goats in mountainous areas. Carp are farmed in the Riverlands, and water buffalo and oxen are kept as plow animals. Notable foods grown in Laeral include rice, some grains, tea, and many types of fruits and vegetables, including lychees, almonds, citrus fruits, and other products. Flowers are also grown.

Rice is an important staple crop in Laeral.

Laeral has a beautiful environment, with many areas preserved as national parks. Notable attractions can be found in some of the more rural provinces, as well as in some coastal provinces such as Althea. Environmental legislation protects environmentally sensitive areas such as wetlands and old growth forests, and tourism and development are severely restricted into some areas. Some areas, conversely, are heavily developed, such as the Laeralford area and certain sections of Cenefort. Additionally, very strict environmental regulations govern water pollution, as fishing is one of Laeral's largest industries. This was not always the case; until the 1960s, the environment was not a major concern in Laeral. However, pollution remains an issue in many areas of Laeral's old industrial belt.

Demographics

A street in the western Riverlands.

Laeral has a population of over 79 million people. The fertility rate is 2.34, slightly above the minimum 2.1 rate needed to replenish the population. Life expectancy is high in Laeral: 81.47 years for newborn girls and 79.08 for newborn boys. Ethnic groups present in Laeral include the Arrivée, the Rén, the Gao, and various minority groups. Laeral's ethnic makeup has also been shifted by immigration of minority groups such as Desi, who make up a growing percentage of the population. A large percentage of Laeral's population is mixed-race, largely the result of marriages between Arrivée and Rén people.

Laeralians tend to be shorter than global average, with hair ranging from light brown to jet black and pale complexions. The overall obesity rate is around 15%, although around 30% of Laeralites overall are overweight. Laeral's population is increasingly aging, as the average life expectancy has increased. This has begun to place a burden upon senior care services, although the majority of elderly Laeralites are cared for by their family rather than by retirement facilities.

Education

Laeralian culture is known for adhering to the Confucian paradigm of valuing education as a means to improve one's socioeconomic position in society. Heavy investment and a cultural valuing of education has consistently brought the nation to the top of global education rankings; Laeral is one of the top-performing countries in standardized tests of reading literacy, mathematics and sciences.

Althea City University, a member of the National Open University system.

The Laeralian education system has been praised for various reasons, including its comparatively high test scores and its major role in promoting Laeral's economic development while creating one of the IDU’s most highly educated workforces, with 67.1% of Laeralites going on to attend university. K-12 education is generally administered by the provincial governments, although the federal Ministry of Education has general authority over curricula and may apply regulations to oversee school practices. Higher education, which lies within the purview of the national government, is divided between public universities and the prestigious and selective National Open Universities (NOUs). The NOUs have been criticized for alleged elitism; they have produced many if not most of Laeral's high-ranking civil servants, CEOs, and politicians.

Language

Mandarin was historically the primary language of Laeral. When the French initially arrived, however, French became a language that all people were required to know, and inhabitants of the colony were discouraged from speaking Chinese. Under the Rose Revolution, Mandarin and French achieved equal prominence in the education system. The majority of Laeralites are multilingual, and diplomats and civil servants often learn another language. English is widely taught in schools. Linguistic diversity is a major political focus in Laeral, with all government documents required to be in Chinese, French, and English. The Académie Linguistique is a government agency responsible for regulating the practice and expression of language in Laeral; notably, Laeral switched from the older Wade-Giles system of romanization to the modern pinyin system in the 1980s.

Religion

According to the 2020 Census, Laeral's religious breakdown is:
Protestant Christian: 72%
Catholic: 17.5%
Non-religious: 6.4%
Other Christian: 2%
Judaism: 2%
Other non-Christian: 0.5%

Government

Liu Mei-han has been the President of Laeral since 2018.

Foreign Relations and Military

Grundhavn is not a member of the World Assembly, and has traditionally focused on neutrality in conflicts and promoting free trade elsehwere. Grundhavn generally has positive or neutral bilateral relations with members of the International Democratic Union, owing to their desire to maximize trade.

Grundhavn's military is divided into five branches- Inland Military Operations Grundhavn, Naval Defense Force Grundhavn, Air Defense Force Grundhavn, the Land Defense Force Grundhavn and the Coastal Defense Force Grundhavn.

Inland Military Operations Grundhavn is the traditional "army" of Grundhavn and totals around 2,000 non-officer personnel. Their military doctrine concentrates on urban defense and guerrilla warfare; the IMOG is almost never expected to deploy beyond Grundhavn and so its expertise is on defending the city and outlying areas.

Grundhavn, being a maritime nation, reserves a plurality of its military budget for the Sea Defense Force Grundhavn (Søværnet Grundhavn). It has about 3,000 non-officer personnel. SDFG focuses on smaller frigates for trade escort and coastal defense duties.

The Air Defense Force Grundhavn (Luftværnet Grundhavn), consists of around 500 non-officer personnel and 20 aircraft, is responsible for supporting the operations of other branches of the military and protecting Grundhavish airspace.

The Land Defense Force Grundhavn (Landværnet Grundhavn), is the army reserve, emergency response, and territorial defense force. All Grundhavish men are required to undergo a three-month basic training after they turn 17, and are expected to serve if called upon. It currently totals around 90,000 men, as men are no longer expected to serve after age 55.

The Coastal Defense Force Grundhavn (Kystforsvaret Grundhavn) is the Grundhavish coast guard and are responsible for search-and-rescue, smuggling, immigration, and coastal defense.

Economy

Laeral's economy is dynamic, thriving, and export-based, constructed within the framework of a modern social-democratic capitalist economy. The Laeralian economy is dominated by the services sector (particularly in the media and education fields), while traditional stalwarts of Laeralian production, such as agriculture, fishing, and textiles, have fallen behind. Despite a high level of indsutrlization, future economic gowth is threatened by rising structural unemployment and an aging population. Laeral's export-based economy has traditionally led to an emphasis on free-trade agreements with foreign nations, following the period of protectionist policies during the Republican Era. Organized labor has traditionally been quite influential in the Laeralian economy; one particular trait of the Laeralian economy is the substantial presence of business cooperatives and "workplace democracy"; under laws dating to the Republican Era, all buasinesses of over 60 employees are required to include elected worker representation equal to 30% of seats on the company board, with few exceptions.

Culture

Laeral is a generally secular, socially-liberal nation with a growing population. The education system is considered among the best in the IDU, featuring an extensive network of public universities, capped by the prestigious National Open University system.

Self-Portrait With Students by Élisabeth Vérène le Bonnaire.

Laeral's film industry plays a significant role in the nation's culture and economy, with Jinhua province being a center of the industry. The 'Five Giants' are a quintet of film studios dominating the Laeralian film scene; Marion-Guichard Productions is known for favoring artsy fare, while Silver Harvest favors big-budget action movie reboots, spin-offs, and sequels. Laeralian television dramas, meanwhile, have become an important cultural export, and are aired in numerous markets abroad. Laeralian pop music has also exhibited similar foreign appeal.

Laeralian literature, meanwhile, dates back to at least the year 1200, which is roughly the date of the oldest written work ever found in Laeral, a manual of farming practices. Famous Laeralian books include The Cycle of Ascendancy, a Laeralian patriotic tale; Drawn Curtains in the Silver Chamber, the story of a noble family in decline; Letters of a Lady's Hand, an intrigue/romance taking place around 1790; The Servant's Tale: Parables of Devotion, an anthology dating to 1827, and The Chens of Hanshui, a novel dealing with themes of race in the modern era. In fine art, the work of Élisabeth Vérène le Bonnaire is highly prized, while Laeral has also historically been home to numerous influential artists, musicians, and playwrights.

During the Colonial period, the noted Laeralian astronomer Alexandre-Galliot de Crussol produced one of the first catalogs of astronomical phenomena. During the First Allied Provinces period, scientific development lagged; during the Rose Revolution of the Republican period, the government aggressively sought to improve Laeralian scientific education. In the modern day, Laeral has become a regional center for scientific innovation, notably in the fields of medicine, psychology, and materials science. Laeral is also a world leader in nuclear energy, producing reactors and material for export, although Laeral has officially never pursued a nuclear weapons program. One area of improvement for Laeralian scientific development is in the aerospace field; some have alleged that the Laeralian Space Exploration Agency has been chronically underfunded, as Laeral has not sent humans into space in nearly a decade. Laeralian expertise in programming and computing is widely-sought internationally, but Laeralian software engineers have had difficulties with expanding websites and apps to customers outside Laeral, partially due to linguistic barriers.

Interracial weddings have become increasingly accepted in Laeralian society.

Race remains a significant dividing line in Laeralian society, with the historical weight of imperialism and subsequent systemic racism weighing upon the nation. With linguistic, religious, and cultural differences between Rén and Arrivée, racial tensions remain to this day. Interracial marriages have been fairly common throughout Laeralian history, leading to a large mixed-race population. For decades, government action has worked to reduce racial disparities; housing segregation has decreased, the civil service and politics largely match the nation's demographics as a whole, and the disparity in average household income has decreased.

Great strides have been made in gender equality as well, also due to government action. Laeral is highly ranked on measures of female workforce participation and in other measures of societal equity, and Laeralian feminist thinkers and activists have historically played a major role in the global feminist movement.

Laeralian gymnast Rose Yaling won a gold medal at the 13th Olympic Games.

Football (soccer) is the most popular team sport in Laeral, and a football stadium is found in nearly every town or city. Laeral notably hosted the 2018 IDU Football Championship. Organized play is dominated by Ligue 1, which consists of the 20 best teams in Laeral. Play in that league is dominated by two dueling teams, Laeralsford AC and Ville Laeralsford, as well as teams such as Hanshui and Althea FC. There is also the Ligue Provincial, which is below Ligue 1 and consists of the teams relegated from that league, which make up the 24 second-tier football teams in Laeral. Other popular sports include basketball, which is played professionally through the Laeralian Basketball Association, as well as handball. Laeral has experienced success at recent Olympics, notably in speed-skating, fencing, basketball, and football.

Infrastructure

Laeral generally has highly developed infrastructure, although some rural areas do not have the same level of high-tech infrastructure as in urban areas. For example, 97% of Laeralites have internet access, practically every Laeralite has a phone connection, and the vast majority of Laeralian households have a television.

The primary method of transportation is through Laeralian Railways, Laeral's state-run high-speed rail system. Laeral has over 29,000 kilometers of track in total, although not all of this is high-speed. International airports exist in numerous large cities. Laeral also has eight deepwater seaports, which manage much of Laeral's import-export trade.

A Laeralian Railways high-speed train in Rilos.

Laeral generates roughly 278 million KwH (Kilowatt-hours) of electricity per year, mostly for domestic consumption, although a small fraction of this is exported. Nuclear power generates close to 30% of Laeral's electricity, although the system is gradually being phased out as part of a transition to renewables. Fossil fuels continue to make up around 20% of Laeral's electricity mix; natural gas is extracted in the Xueyan Special Administrative Region.