Kara

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Flag of Kara United Republic of Kara
Fjörnåde Repúblikke Kåra (Karska)
Capital: Kara
Motto: Fjörnåde for Dämókrati (United for Democracy)
Anthem: Sjänge som än (Sing as One)

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Kara, officially known as the United Republic of Kara [kɑːɹə] (Karska: Fjörnåde Repúblikke Kåra [fjœrːnɒdə rəpuːblikə kɒːɾa]; Vezhek: Vorencka Republika Kyorja [voɾɛːnska ɾepubliːka kjoːɾja]; Yumerth: Rebulið Jarala Bäðя [ɹeβuliːð jaɹaːla βæːðɚ]) is a country in East Uletha. It shares a border with Älved, Boscunis, Wyster, and UL22g.

The Union of Kara was established in January 1934 with the signing of the Union Treaty of Kara, which united the independent states of Karskat (Kårskät), Vezhekja (Vèžèkija), and Yumerd (Jumяð) under a federal democratic republic.

Initially a 3-state federal union with a very weak federal government, Kara's states remained relatively distinct culturally and linguistically. However, increased cultural mixing and growing demands for federal infrastructure and social programs led to the drafting of the United Kara Amendment of 1978, which passed with strong support from voters of all regions. The amendment, which took effect on 1 January 1979, officially disbanded the Union of Kara and nullified the Union Treaty, establishing the United Republic of Kara and a new federal constitution in its place, which established a 17-state federal system governed by a president and a 300-member legislature.

Today, Kara is a modern, highly developed country with a regulated capitalist economy focused on modern agriculture, technology, and a rapidly-growing renewable energies sector. The government provides many benefits to citizens, especially to the socioeconomically disadvantaged. The national constitution guarantees significant freedoms to individuals and protection for ethnic minority groups.

Geographically, most of the country is situated in or around the valleys of the Tebbjet and Roving Rivers or their tributaries. Both rivers' valleys and the coastline between their mouths are highly populated, with their fertile soil and temperate climate providing an environment in which agriculture has flourished. Kara, the capital city, is located at the mouth of the Tebbjet River and is the center of a chain of urban areas stretching from Täbbjetsstad to Mynnestad. Much of the north of the country is covered in semi-mountainous forests, and the extreme north has a more tundra-like climate around the southern bit of the Boscunian Alps that reaches into the country.


Geography and Climate

Kara has a mixed temperate climate. The southern coast and Tebbjet River valley are particularly temperate, while the northern states are characterized by an alpine mountain climate.

Transportation

Kara's transportation sector is dominated by road and rail transport options for both local and long-distance travel.

Roadways

Kara has a national highway system consisting of 8 interstate highways. In some sections (particularly along the metropolitan corridor along the southern coast), the highways have dedicated right-of-ways, overpasses, and high speeds; in more rural areas they function as core regional roads but are not as free- and fast-flowing as in metropolitan areas.

Rail Transport

Kara has an extensive passenger rail network, with wide-reaching regional rail lines along with 3 national moderate-high-speed train lines. Many cities and larger metropolitan areas also have light rail or subway networks, which generally share stations and fare payment systems with the national and regional rail systems.

Regional Rail (Hövdlinjer)
Kåra Hövdlinjer (Regional rail lines)

The flagship of Kara's rail transportation network is the set of 3 regional rail lines, which are operated by the national railway, KNJ (Kårska National Järnväij). The first two lines began construction in 1997 and began operating in 2003 as the KNJ H-1 and H-2. Since their opening, the system has undergone several expansions, with the most recent, a one-stop extension of H-2 from Vrolevroð to Bluv, opening in 2022, and several more expansions are in various stages of planning, approval, or construction.

H-1

Generally considered the centerpiece of the regional rail network, the H-1 line links the core "string" of major cities that stretches from Täbbjetsstad in the north to Hjeplingåde in the west. The line is broken into two divisions, H-1A and H-1B, which serve extensions on each end of the trunk line at half frequency. The primary rolling stock for the line is the Länkär, which is produced by the Kara-based company Hastflyt. The trains are EMUs (electric multiple units) for maximum acceleration and deceleration and are powered by overhead catenary wires.

The H-1 runs at variable frequencies (from 15 minutes to 90 minutes on the trunk line) depending on the location, day, and time. The trunk line (from Hjeplingåde to Fräjtorp) has 24/7 service, and the extensions are served from about 4:00 AM to 2:00 AM on weekdays and from about 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM on weekends. At all times, service on the extensions is at roughly half the frequency of trunk line service; at the termini of the trunk section, trains alternate between servicing H-1A and H-1B.

The trunk line portion of H-1 is fully grade-separated and has a maximum operating speed of 200 km/h (125 mph). The extension sections, which are not fully grade-separated, have a maximum operating speed of 145 km/h (90 mph).

The trunk line runs for 148.2 km (92.1 mi), and the end-to-end time on the trunk line is about 2.5 hours. When factoring in extensions, H-1A (Nykojpeng to Anderslyd), which is 230.0 km (142.9 mi) long, has an end-to-end run time of 3 hours 50 minutes, and H-1B has an end-to-end run time of 3 hours 55 minutes over its length of 235.6 km (146.4 mi).

At the time of its opening in 2003, the line ran from Hjeplingåde to Kärrstad, with major stops in Fvilhävn, Kåra, Fjäjstelstad, and Täbbjetsstad. This was changed in 2007, when an extension to Joneboð was constructed and route H-4 was created between Kåra and Kärrstad. The line was again expanded in 2011, when a former local rail line between Hjeplingåde and Nykojpeng was upgraded to H-1 extension standards. The most recent expansion came in 2017, when the extensions to Vjèlmik and Anderslyd were opened and the line was split into the H-1A and H-1B divisions.

Future plans for the line include upgrades to the extension sections, which will allow trains to travel at 200 km/h (125 mph) for the whole route. Another plan, currently under consideration as a long-range goal for the KNJ, would have the route fully divided into two separate routes, with some realignments along the current trunk route to increase access to the regional rail network.

H-2

The H-2 route was one of the two original routes in the Hövdlinjer system, and its alignment has remained virtually unchanged, with the exception of a 2022 extension from Vrolevroð to Bluv. Like the other H-lines, the H-2 uses EMU trains powered by overhead catenaries. It connects Bluv, near the eastern edge of the country, to the capital city of Kåra.

H-4

The newest regional rail line, H-4, was opened in 2011 when the H-1 line was rerouted from Kärrstad to Joneboð. The H-4 line connects Kärrstad, an important city and state capital in the center of the country, to the national capital, Kåra.

History

Pre-Unification (before 1934)

Prior to the formation of the republic, Kara existed as three separate states: Karskat, Vezhekja, and Yumerd.

Karskat

The areas making up Karskat were once occupied by Yumerthic and Techerian peoples. Sometime during the late 11th or early 12th centuries, however, a large group of West Ulethan people known as Kjels migrated to the area surrounding the mouth of the Tebbjet River. Within a few centuries, Kjellic peoples had intermixed with the Yumerthic and Techerian peoples in the area, and Kjellic religion, culture, and language became dominant. The Kjellic language was influenced to some extent by Yumerthic and Techerian languages, creating the modern language of Karska.

The Kingdom of Karskat was a country that made up much of what is now southern coastal Kara, and it contained Kara City, which is now the capital. The kingdom was officially founded in 1309 by Eryk Johansson af Kåra when he declared himself king over the Duchy of Kara, which was founded by his grandfather, a Lord Birjer of Kara, 50 years prior. Within its first few centuries, the kingdom grew in size through conquest and treaty. Karskat was ruled by monarchs until unification into Kara in 1934; from 1782 to 1934 the monarch was limited by a constitution and eventually a parliament.

Monarchs

Monarchs of Karskat, 1309-1934
# Reign Regnal Name Birth & Death Photo Consort(s)
Years Length
1 1309 - 1330 19 yrs. Eryk I 1272 - 1330 ErykI.jpg Äddet Birjersdytter
2 1330 - 1354 24 yrs. Hans I 1309 - 1354 HansI.jpg Sara Söfje Haskfryrsdytter
3 1354 - 1380 26 yrs. Birjer II[1] 1336 - 1380 Mari Svänsdytter

Johánne Johansdytter

4 1380 - 1386 6 yrs. Birjer III 1365 - 1386 N/A
5 1386 - 1388 2 yrs. Eryk II 1372 - 1388 N/A
6 1388 - 1402 14 yrs. Haskfryr I 1342 - 1402 Kiri Byrman

Johánne Johansdytter

7 1402 - 1414 12 yrs. Johánnes I 1374 - 1414 Anna Kꝏvrœ
8 1414 - 1422 8 yrs. Birjer IV 1406 - 1422 N/A
9 1422 - 1425 3 yrs. Kiri I 1412 - 1425 N/A
10 1425 - 1440 15 yrs. Jönas I 1383 - 1440 N/A
11 1440 - 1458 18 yrs. Johánne I 1393 - 1458 Oskar Josefsson
12 1458 - 1486 28 yrs. Jösef I 1430 - 1486 Svän Byrman[2]
13 1486 - 1515 29 yrs. Kristaf I 1457 - 1515 Sara Lisa Svänsdytter
14 1515 - 1530 15 yrs. Sara I 1486 - 1530 Franz Oskar Byrkamp
15 1530 - 1540 10 yrs. Johánne II 1513 - 1540 Ande Svänsson
16 1540 - 1570 30 yrs. Haskfryr II 1521 - 1570

Vezhekja

The Vezhek people appear to have differentiated as a distinct group during around the 15th century. Genetic testing has shown that most Vezheks descend from a thoroughly-mixed group of Yumerths and Techerians, with some Kjellic ancestry as well. The Vezhek language appears to have originated as a hybrid of Techerian and a now-extinct relative of Yumerth, but several centuries of contact with Karska have significantly influenced the language as well.

Post-Unification (1934-present)

Pre-Amendment (1934-1978)

Governmental Structure

Under the Union Treaty, Karskat, Vezhekja, and Yumerd remained very distinct and retained significant governmental power. Structures of regional and local governance, international treaties, trade governance, and many other areas were under the exclusive jurisdiction of the constituent parties. The few powers held by the National Council were explicitly enumerated in the Treaty and were limited to security and limited economic cooperation. At that point, the Union had very limited presence as a governmental authority, and the administration of the Union government was carried out by only a few select advisors to each member of the Union Council. Over time, the powers held by the Council gradually increased as public sentiment began to favor increased integration, eventually leading to the overhaul and complete restructuring of the government under the 1978 United Kara Amendment.

Amendments to the initial treaty were required to be approved unanimously by the National Council and ratified by a majority vote in each of the three constituent nations.

Key Provisions of the Union Treaty of Kara and Amendments
Year Enacted Provision
1934 (original treaty) Creation and operation of a national armed service to ensure collective defense of all states
Establishment of the Union Treaty as the highest law of the land for all constituent nations
Members of the Union Council to be elected by the legislative bodies of each nation
1942 Members of the Union Council to be elected by a vote of the citizens of each nation
1946 Freedom of movement of people (not trade) between the nations
Immigration policy to be determined by Union Council
1950 Enforcement of immigration policy to be carried out by Union government
1962 Responsibility for international treaties delegated to the Union government
Union officially becomes a member of the EUOIA (Karskat was a founding member, and Yumerd had joined in 1960)
1969 Trade barriers between member nations eliminated
1970 Trade barriers between member nations re-allowed
1972 Common currency (Uninke) established in all member nations
1974 All international trade policy delegated to Union government
Trade barriers between member nations eliminated
1976 All new amendments must be approved by a majority of voters in each constituent nation
1978 Union Treaty declared null and void; goes into effect at noon on 1 January 1979
National Council of the Union of Kara officially disbanded at noon on 1 January 1979
Union of Kara officially disbanded at noon on 1 January 1979
Leaders

The Union Treaty created a national council that served as the presidency of the otherwise separate states of Karskat, Vezhekja, and Yumerd. The council consisted of one member from each state who was elected on a staggered 6-year term.

National Council of the Union of Kara
Years Council Members
Karskat Vezhekja Yumerd
1934-1935 Haskfryr Birjär Nilsson Dannjell Šafbvrie Ƹiva Bяla Яvleb
1936-1937 Jandreijž Pjotr Mižgailžon
1938-1939
1940-1941
1942-1943
1944-1945 Mloŋ Bävяne
1946-1947
1948-1949 Ungoillam Šajhigle
1950-1951 Jon Rowela
1952-1953 Danjäl Jaköbsson-Berg
1954-1955
1956-1957
1958-1959
1960-1961
1962-1963 Eume Lяŋä
1964-1965 Öskar Vilhelm Åttesson
1966-1967 Fvillhëim Ežnekk Ŝitzže
1968-1969 Ezðя Bяla Rebe
1970-1971
1972-1973
1974-1975
1976-1977 Jöns-Ålåf Brydeblom
1978 Ahna Sofjaa Bljèlfve

Post-Amendment (1979-present)

Presidents

The first president of the new governmental structure, Jöns-Ålåf Brydeblom, was sworn into office on January 1st, 1979. Elections for president are held every six years, and no president may be elected to office more than once. Currently, elections are held on December 20th, and the new president takes office on January 5th of the following year. In the case of the death, resignation, or impeachment of the president, the current Speaker of the Legislature becomes the de facto president until an election can be held; however, this procedure has never taken place as every president has completed their full term. (See "Presidency")

Government and Politics

Administrative Divisions


Government Data - The Noun Project.svg
Administrative divisions of Kara
First-level17 länär (states)
Second-level151 kommunär (municipalities)


Kara is divided into 17 federal divisions, known as länär (LE-ner) or states, which have considerable governing power. Each state is further divided into municipalities, known as kommunär (CO-moon-eyr); each municipality administers public works and utilities as well as some local community programs. The capital city, Kara, is incorporated as its own state with the same privileges as the other states but is not split up into municipalities due to the impracticality of subdividing a single conurbation, and so the state government also carries out municipality-level responsibilities.

State Municipalities
Name (Native Name) Capital Area (km2) Names # in State
Bjergdals Län Kärrstad 2,967.40
Älfeslätts Kommun
Gaffets Kommun
Jånåjks Kommun
Johansbergs Kommun
Kärrstads Kommun
Kyrillebjörgs Kommun
Nådensteds Kommun
7
Bördäjgrådes Län Fjäjstelstad 1,587.68
Äjbsö Kommun
Åbbåkens Kommun
Dröfverdys Kommun
Fjäjstelstads Kommun
Hagalids Kommun
Johánneskvärns Kommun
Katädrálbjörgs Kommun
Kvöde Kommun
Lilskrufs Kommun
Mjölysse Kommun
Nåkla Kommun
Pjästurby Kommun
Skönkojpengs Kommun
Skryppe Kommun
Starkefjä Kommun
Störsökke Kommun
Stramsdeböde Kommun
Svänskärke Kommun
Västredåls Kommun
Viktórjäne Kommun
Vrudjála Kommun
21
Dilsryls Län

(Rüv Ðilzrüla)

Ðilzrül 1,430.66
Beðяŋ Ailvejaðla
Beðяŋ Ajanmяla
Beðяŋ Bяlarivяmojuzяla
Beðяŋ Ðilzrüla
Beðяŋ Evelƹoŋla
Beðяŋ Ŋuvuŋlela
Beðяŋ Obяðla
Beðяŋ Яvulväƹrola
Beðяŋ Ƹarvela
9
Dörds Län

(Rüv Ðoяðla)

Ŋülяwiƹa 3,246.80
Beðяŋ Ðovaŋla
Beðяŋ Eblaðanla
Beðяŋ Joneboðla
Beðяŋ Lяväla
Beðяŋ Ŋülяwiƹala
Beðяŋ Oweaðrinlala
Beðяŋ Reviala
Beðяŋ Zäzяvlula
8
Gaffedals Län

(Rüv Ðialƹaiðaiяlala)

Vrolevroð 1,979.04
Beðяŋ Bluvla
Beðяŋ Ðevяƹla
Beðяŋ Moäwala
Beðяŋ Vrolevroðla
Beðяŋ Wяŋjajovlala
5
Gränös Län Gröndälf 2,901.37
Flyveryds Kommun
Fjäjtorps Kommun
Gröndälfs Kommun
Haraldsbjörgs Kommun
Jåtténe Kommun
Kväränlänge Kommun
Måna Kommun
Onderyds Kommun
Sankta Söfíje Kommun
9
Gvajllåds Län Söjlestad 1,312.59
Andräjshäms Kommun
Ädrúnaby Kommun
Bladstrams Kommun
Brynderyds Kommun
Frydekärke Kommun
Fvilhävns Kommun
Gåvetorps Kommun
Hjäffeblums Kommun
Jusingå Kommun
Liljeryds Kommun
Måsséts Kommun
Sådabuls Kommun
Söjlestads Kommun
Stänhöge Kommun
Storkvärns Kommun
Vilhelmstads Kommun
Viskestads Kommun
Zakrisfjälds Kommun
18
Kåra Stads Län Kåra 174.79 Kåra Stads Län[3] 1
Kireks Län Öddeskryfve 2,262.32
Anderslyds Kommun
Ågresköns Kommun
Öddeskryfve Kommun
Svänbergs Kommung
4
Ljenbäkks Län Nykojpeng 1,111.98
Björnaryds Kommun
Märänétjårps Kommun
Nykojpengs Kommun
Tålle Kommun
4
Mittedålts Län Strammesdal 2,392.60
Ängeskögs Kommun
Dålby Kommun
Krökekjulle Kommun
Strammesdals Kommun
4
Murräs Län Väjtspläjt 2,246.27
Flödsdålts Kommun
Jystehjälms Kommun
Nilshage Kommun
Stärríngebjörgs Kommun
Väjtspläjts Kommun
5
Rövings Län Hjeplingåde 2,056.14
Bjurbo Kommun
Brövensby Kommun
Flugesåms Kommun
Hajdlmälms Kommun
Hjeplingåde Kommun
Johansjyns Kommun
Kållkärke Kommun
Kvajls Kommun
Låkulle Kommun
Lårreby Kommun
Mynnestads Kommun
Niklasbruks Kommun
Ollefjäjls Kommun
Pådelsteds Kommun
Rökkehytte Kommun
Sanktestads Kommun
Värnbäkks Kommun
18
Söjdrekösts Län Fyrans 1,180.22
Annasbjörgs Kommun
Bö Kommun
Dalóveskjons Kommun
Fräddekjufs Kommun
Fyrans Kommun
Hämsderyds Kommun
Ljunga Kommun
Manúve Kommun
Måndeskryfs Kommun
Pålykestads Kommun
Tränneskjö Kommun
Vättsbjörgs Kommun
Vikehamms Kommun
Vrylle Kommun
15
Täbbjets Län Täbbjetsstad 1,254.55
Älfesjyns Kommun
Äseryds Kommun
Böngovs Kommun
Bröby Kommun
Färgangs Kommun
Förstekjulle Kommun
Grassemarks Kommun
Jönslunds Kommun
Lilhage Kommun
Störkärke Kommun
Täbbjetstads Kommun
11
Upplandas Län Kvröndesbljum 1,627.67
Fjurve Kommun
Kvröndesbljums Kommun
Lillebjörgs Kommun
3
Vejeks Län

(Vèžèks Stot)

Vèžèkstot 1,823.56
Čëllèdebjorkejts Kommun
Kitš-Jʹapfijks Kommun
Mjelmstrums Kommun
Vèžèkstodts Kommun
4
Government icon (black).svg
Government of Kara
Federal presidential constitutional republic
CapitalKara
Head of state
• Präsident (President)Kiri-Anna Päjtersson-Årdl
• Legisatur-Tålare (Speaker of the Legislature)Ebba Mej-Li Dalstram-Chen
Legislature
• Upper houseNationallegislatur (National Legislature)
Kara legislature diagram.svg
JudiciaryHövda-Demstoll (High Court)
Öfverdeme (Chief Judge)Vяn Jozev Jäðwяn
Major political parties
  Socialist
  Green
  Vezhek Advocates
  National Democrats
  Independent
  Centrist
  Conservative
  Christic
Assembly of Nations - member state • Association of South Ulethan Nations - observer state


Politics

The members of the legislature as well as the president are elected in partisan elections, although many candidates run (and win) without a party affiliation. Elections for the legislature are held every 2 years, with presidential elections occurring every 6 years. The legislature creates, debates, and passes federal laws with a simple (50% + 1) majority. Federal laws are subject to presidential veto, although this veto can be overridden with a 200-vote (or 2/3) majority in the legislature.

Several political parties have significant influence in the legislature, with the National Democratic, Centrist, and Conservative parties each holding significant power. Independent, non-party-affiliated representatives also hold a substantial number of seats in the legislature, but members do not vote as a group or in a bloc. The current president, Kiri-Anna Päjtersson-Årdl, is a member of the Centrist party.

Kåra Government Officials
President Kiri-Anna Päjtersson-Årdl
Speaker of the Legislature Ebba Mej-Li Dalstram-Chen
Chief Judge Vяn Jozev Jäðwяn
Political Parties in Kara[4]
Name Current Leader Left/Right Ideology Core Ideologies Seats Held Change (from 2023)
Centrist Ebba Mej-Li Dalstram-Chen Center-left to center Third-way centrism

Regulated capitalism

Ulethanism

78/300 (26.0%) Increase 28 (9.3%)
National Democrats Astrid Mari Gabrjälsson Center-left to left Social liberalism

Ulethanism

Liberal capitalism

65/300 (21.7%) Decrease 27 (9.0%)
Conservative Jöns-Rudolf Björgman Center-right to right Classical liberalism

Conservatism

Ulethanism

59/300 (19.7%) Increase 5 (1.7%)
Green Äve Gröndblad Left to far left Environmentalism

Social democracy

Ulethanism

17/300 (5.7%) Increase 2 (0.7%)
Christic Patrick Josef Christoffersson Right to far right Social paleoconservatism

Christic nationalism

Antiliberalism

6/300 (2.0%) Increase 3 (1.0%)
Socialist Ruejя Ŋяoveƹ Far left Socialism

Isolationism

Populism

4/300 (1.3%) Steady 0 (0.0%)
Vezhek Advocates Rašnar Glidèž Varies Vezhek nationalism

Karaskepticism

Ulethaskepticism

3/300 (1.0%) Decrease 1 (0.3%)
Independent none Varies Varies 68/300 (22.7%) Decrease 10 (3.3%)[5]

Presidency

Since the unification of 1979, Kara has elected presidents to 6-year terms. Elections are held on December 20th, with the new president sworn in on January 1st of the following year. Presidents are elected by popular vote; since 2008, presidential elections use a ranked-choice voting system to count votes.

Presidents of Kara (1979-Present)
Term Name Party
1979-1985 Jöns-Ålåf Brydeblom

JABrydeblom.jpg

Conservative
1985-1991 Mattéas-Vilhelm Gustafsson

MVGustafsson.jpg

National Democrats
1991-1997 Äƹe Olяmeð Ebrenя

AEbrener.jpg

National Democrats
1997-2003 Klara Birgitta Haskfryrsson

ABHaskfryrsson.jpg

Independent
2003-2009 Bяla Jozev Ŋelävя

BJNglaver.jpg

Centrist
2009-2015 Jaköb Üŋoilam Rubeŋя-Ultermann

JURUltermann.jpg

Independent
2015-2021 Ahna Èlišabeta Škri-Mmonejž

SMShkriMmonejzh.jpg

National Democrats
2021-present Kiri-Anna Päjtersson-Årdl

KAPajterssonArdl.jpg

Centrist

Legislature

Members of the national legislature are elected to 2-year terms, with every third legislative election coinciding with a presidential election. After each election, the legislature elects a member to serve as speaker (the speaker often, though not always, is a member of the largest political party in the legislature).

Speakers of the Legislature
# Term Name Party
1 1979-1981 Terje Birjer Vilhelmsson Conservative
2 1981-1985 Mattéas-Vilhelm Gustafsson National Democrats
3
4 1985-1989 Anders Stefan Andersson National Democrats
5
6 1989-1991 Märta Anna Blom-Fryde Conservative
7 1991-1993 Anders Stefan Andersson National Democrats
8 1993-1995 Ungoillam Zebbijastijènn Čjeloinneja Green
9 1995-1997 Jajov Mloŋ Wiljo-Jozeveme Independent
10 1997-1999 Enrieja Ŋijana Vajaba National Democrats
11 1999-2003 Bяla Jozev Ŋelävя Centrist
12
13 2003-2005 Ajan Myrdal Conservative
14 2005-2007 Mari-Isabella Samuelsson Centrist
15 2007-2009 Jaköb Üŋoilam Rubeŋя-Ultermann Independent
16 2009-2013 Ahna Èlišabeta Škri-Mmonejž National Democrats
17
18 2013-2015 Krijstjian Vollommejjsa Ŝjëʹëllja Centrist
19 2015-2017 Jöns-Rudolf Björgman Conservative
20 2017-2019 Astrid Mari Gabrjälsson National Democrats
21 2019-2021 Ana Яŋvlaj Centrist
22 2021-2025 Astrid Mari Gabrjälsson National Democrats
23
24 2025-pres. Ebba Mej-Li Dalstram-Chen Centrist

Constitution

The current constitution took effect in 1979 after it passed a national referendum. The document can be changed with the support of the majority of the legislature and a 66% majority of voters in the next legislative election.

Individual Rights

The Indevídjalle-Frydhäter (Individual Freedoms) section of the Karska constitution guaranteed several liberties and rights in its original iteration, with some later additions:

Liberty or Right Year Added to Constitution
Freedoms of speech and press 1979 (part of original consitution)
Freedoms of peaceful assembly and peaceful protest
Freedom of religious belief and practice
Right to speedy, public trial by impartial jury
Right to vote for all Karska citizens over the age of 18
Right to refuse to testify against oneself
Freedom from invasive searches without a warrant or probable cause
Freedom from discrimination on the basis of race, color, class, sex, gender, ethnicity, or nationality
Right to citizenship for children born to at least one Karska citizen parent
Freedom from discrimination on the basis of religion or disability status 1980
Freedom from enslavement beyond the reasonable punishment of a crime
Right to own weapons for purposes of hunting or personal defense, subject to reasonable government regulation intended to preserve public safety 1984
Freedom from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or preference 1988
Right to vote for all legal, permanent-resident aliens over the age of 18 who have resided in Kara for at least 5 years 1994
Right to marry without regard to gender for all unmarried, consenting individuals over 18[6] 2002
Freedom from discrimination on the basis of being transgender or gender-nonconforming 2007
Right to citizenship for children born in Kara to at least one permanent-resident alien parent 2018
Right to citizenship for all legal, permanent-resident aliens who have resided in Kara for at least 5 years 2021
Right to a free secondary education for all children between the age of 6 and 18 2025

Diplomacy and International Relations

Kara is a member of the Assembly of Nations (AN) and an observer state of the Association of South Ulethan Nations (ASUN). Additionally, Kara maintains diplomatic ties with a growing group of nations.

Embassies

Embassy Partner Kara Embassy Location Kara Ambassador Foreign Embassy Location Foreign Ambassador
Canterra flag.png Canterra
Filo Islands Gallower Lane, Upper Quarter, Newbel, Ulston, Filo Islands
Izaland flag.png Izaland Konokibe Lan, Aguri 2-sa 阿久里二沙, Juwon-ku 中央区, 中央區 Juwon-ku, Sainðaul Special Administration City - 作安崎特別自治都, 華邦 Izaland Vërnnè Märjäner 9 Jöns-Ålåf Brydeblomsväij, Kåra Norre, Kåra Stads Län, Kåra
Kojo flag ddtuga.png Kojo Lisken-Sofi Måknusson 2 Äƹe Olяmeð Ebrenяsväij, Kåra Norre, Kåra Stads Län, Kåra Agwae Shaumrin
Flag of Taira.png Taira 世倫市 Seirun, 中央世倫区 Central Seirun Ward, 世倫市都 Seirun Metro Area, 平國 Taira Niko-Bo Henning Svänsson-Frydemann 14 Dannjell Šafbvriesväij, Kåra Norre, Kåra Stads Län, Kåra Tomoko Nakajima
Flag of Ugawa.png Ugawa 伊陽区 Iyō, 治津市 Haritsu, 治津府 Haritsu, 鵜河 Ugawa Ahna Ungoillaminnja Ŝjëždžaèllju 3 Jöns-Ålåf Brydeblomsväij, Kåra Norre, Kåra Stads Län, Kåra
Flag of Wendmark-Đenkuku.svg Wendmark-Denkuku 10 Jöns-Ålåf Brydeblomsväij, Kåra Norre, Kåra Stads Län, Kåra
Flag of Wyster.png Wyster 8, Bric sie Agearder, Corvyr, Hreawirc (binderstat), Hreawirc, Wyster Ana Яŋvlaj 4 Jöns-Ålåf Brydeblomsväij, Kåra Norre, Kåra Stads Län, Kåra Icaenne Foburh

National Anthem

The official Karska choral version of the national anthem, Sjänge som Än.
The official Karska choral version of the national anthem, Sing as One.

Kara's national anthem, Sing as One, was written for the ratification ceremony of the United Kara Amendment; the first act of the National Legislature made it the official national anthem.


Audio

Karska Ingerish
Sjänge som Än Sing as One
Komme og sjänge som än

Komme, föräna vårt land

Vi kommer åt stå tillsamms

Vi kommer åt vår bara

Låt os stå för saningen

Låt os sjänge för rättvis


Vi är starka; vi är fräj

Vi älskar dämókrati

Vi ska hjälpe varandra

Vi ska sjänge för frädhät

Vi räspékterar andra

Vi räspékterar vårt häm


Utmaningar ställs inför

Utmaningar ställs öfferfun

Örättvis attakkärar

Örättvis vi bäkämpa

Komme, vi vinner kampän

Komme og sjänge som än

Let us come and sing as one

Let us go unite our land

For we are united as one

We unite for all that's fair

Let us stand for what is true

Let us stand for what is just


We are strong and we are free

And we love democracy

We will lend each other aid

We will sue for lasting peace

We respect each human heart

We respect this land that's ours


Challenges will come our way

Challenges, they shall not stay

And injustice may molest

But we fight it to the end

Come, the battle must be won

Let us come and sing as one

Demographics

Noun project 288.svg
Demographics of Kara
DemonymKarskan
Official languagesKarska, Vezhek (Vèžèk), Yumerth (Jumяð)
Ethnicities
Karska
  
33%
Yumerth
  
15%
Vezhek
  
5%
Mixed Karska, Yumerth, and/or Vezhek
  
30%
Other Ulethan
  
6%
Other Non-Ulethan
  
7%
Mixed, other
  
4%
Life expectancyIncrease 79 years
Birth rateDecrease 12.4/1,000 population
Death rateDecrease 10.7/1,000 population


Religion

Kara has not had an established state religion since the United Kara Amendment of 1979. Previous to that amendment, the government designated 3 state Christic churches (one for each ethnic/linguistic region). The 3 state churches have since united to form the People's Church of Kara.

Religious Identification in Kara, 2021

  People's Church of Kara (Christic) (51%)
  Holy Grace Church (Christic) (15%)
  Darcodian (Christic) (3%)
  Ortholic (Christic) (2%)
  Other Christic (2%)
  Judic (2%)
  Animist/Spiritualist (2%)
  General Spirituality (8%)
  Secular (14%)
  Other (1%)

Historically a Christic area, a significant majority of Karskans identify as Christic, although some other minority faiths have also gained traction, particularly through immigration. Religiously unaffiliated individuals also make up a substantial minority of the population.

People's Church of Kara

Initially founded in Kara city from a group of several different Christic organizations in the area in the 15th century, the Church of Kara was under the leadership of the Karska monarch until the mid-18th century. It uses a traditional liturgical service, with a particular emphasis placed on music and collective prayer in services. The church continues to play a significant role in Karska society.

For its first several centuries of existence, the church's leadership exerted tight control on ideas and information within the faith, maintaining a strongly conservative belief and policy system, which continued to be very influential in society, although this influence did decrease in the 17th and 18th centuries with growing secularism and independent thought. However, the church's direction changed as a result of the 1784 secession of the Holy Grace Church in Nådensted in Bjergdals Län, which attracted many believers with its strong yet liberal belief system. In response to this crisis, the People's Church loosened control in many areas, allowing more liberal ideas to gain traction within the church.

In 1928, the church's general council elected Hans Jösef Zakrisson as Head Priest of the church. Zakrisson, the de facto leader of the church's liberal wing and a staunch proponent of liberalism and democracy in society, led several reforms in the church that ultimately were very influential in the formation of modern Kara under the Union Treaty of 1934. Within a decade, the People's Church became strongly liberal-leaning (ironically, some conservative detractors defected to the Holy Grace Church, steering it to become more conservative than the People's Church). Since the 1930s, the church has held to a strongly liberal, universalist theology and a cultural emphasis on inclusion. However, the church has also remained open to a variety of theological and political ideas, and so there are some significant conservative factions within the faith, although many conservative detractors have left for the Holy Grace denomination in recent years.

Nonetheless, the liberal majority has steered the church's policy in a strongly progressive direction, such as was seen in its 1963 resolution urging the Karska government to open the country to refugees and its calls for preservation of minority languages in the 1980s. More recently, the church moved in 1995 to allow same-sex couples to be married by the church in places where such marriage was legal, and this move is widely understood to have been a key catalyst of the 1997 legislative decision and 2002 constitutional amendment guaranteeing the right to same-sex marriage in Kara.

In 2011, Jöne Mäjbjerg became the first openly transgender and non-binary priest in the People's Church, and a 2016 council canonized them and renamed their local church (Sankte Jöne Mäjbjergs Folkes- og Domkärke Äjbsö) in their honor.

Languages

Kara has three official languages, Karska, Vezhek, and Yumerth, each of which are native to one of the three founding nations of Kara. Each language retains a dominating presence in its native region and, by national law, state and local governments are required to use their region's native language as the primary language of government business and education. The national government also sponsors regional programs designed to preserve and promote Vezhek and Yumerth, especially among citizens with Vezhek or Yumerth ancestry living in Karska-dominated areas. Other languages also have some presence in the country; most prominently, Ingerish is taught in many schools and is regularly used when communicating with international tourists, businesspeople, and immigrants.

Percentage of Kara Residents Speaking Various Languages
Karska
  
89%
Yumerth
  
34%
Vezhek
  
17%
Ingerish
  
40%
Other
  
14%

Despite the linguistic diversity within Kara, Karska is spoken by a large majority of residents, and Karska fluency is widely considered essential for success in the academic, business, art, cultural, and political realms. While not mandated, national government business is generally conducted in Karska. Karska's dominance is further cemented by the education space: prior to 2010, all secondary school students were required to demonstrate proficiency in Karska to qualify for graduation, and even after the requirement's repeal, nearly 90% of secondary school graduates in Vezhek and Yumerth regions are proficient in Karska.

Karska

Karska (Kårska) is a Gaermanic language that is spoken in areas Kara once part of Karskat. It uses a 26-letter Latinic alphabet.

Karska Pronunciation
Letter IPA Rough Federal States Ingerish Equivalence
Aa ⟨a⟩ got
⟨ə⟩ or ⟨ɜ⟩ when at the end of some words problem
Ää ⟨ɛ⟩ ever
Åå ⟨ɒ⟩ dawn
Bb ⟨b⟩ bake
Cc ⟨s⟩ center
⟨k⟩ cave
Dd ⟨d⟩ dote
Ee ⟨ə⟩ (schwa) problem
⟨e⟩ (when the first letter of a word or accented) ever
Ff ⟨f⟩ fee
Gg ⟨ɡ⟩ good
Hh ⟨h⟩ home
⟨ç⟩ (when followed by "j" as in Hjeplingåde) hue
Ii ⟨i⟩ me
Jj ⟨j⟩ you
Kk ⟨k⟩ cave
Ll ⟨l⟩ low
Mm ⟨m⟩ mat
Nn ⟨n⟩ never
⟨ŋ⟩ (when before a "g") going
Oo ⟨o⟩ over
Öö ⟨œ⟩ like Kalmish "ö" in öl or möbel
Pp ⟨p⟩ pine
Rr ⟨r⟩ or ⟨ɾ⟩ rolled or tapped r (no Ingerish equivalent)
⟨ʁ⟩ (in a few locations with heavy Kalmish influence) related to Kalmish "r" as in groß or rätsel
Ss ⟨s⟩ so
Tt ⟨t⟩ too
Uu ⟨u⟩ clue
Vv ⟨v⟩ vow
Yy ⟨y⟩ no Ingerish equivalent, essentially an ⟨i⟩ in me with rounded lips
Zz ⟨z⟩ zoo

There are a few multigraphs in Karska:

Characters IPA Notes
ng ⟨ŋg⟩ Varies by region and speaker. A majority of speakers use ⟨ŋg⟩ for an "ng" not at the end of a word (ie Ljunga would be ⟨ljuŋga⟩) and ⟨ŋ⟩ for a final "ng" (ie Kojpeng or Kung as ⟨kœjpəŋ⟩ and ⟨kuŋ⟩, respectively). Some speakers use ⟨ŋg⟩ in all cases. A small minority use ⟨ng⟩.
⟨ŋ⟩
⟨ng⟩
sch ⟨ʃ⟩ Fairly uncommon. Equivalent to Ingerish "sh".
cc ⟨ʧ⟩ Very rare and only used in loanwords or place names, especially those with Kalmish influence. Equivalent to "ch" in Ingerish.
tsch
ctc
dsch ⟨ʤ⟩ Rare. Used only in loanwords and place names, especially those of Kalmish influence. Equivalent to Ingerish "j" as in "judge".
Accent Marks

In Karska, the first syllable of a word is always emphasized, except when otherwise marked with an accent on the vowel of the syllable to be emphasized. Áá, Íí, and Úú are prononced the same as their "core" letters (Aa, Ii, and Uu, respectively), while Éé and Óó are pronounced as Ää and Öö, respectively.

Example pronunciations of words/terms/names
Term/name IPA Rough Federal States Ingerish Equivalent
Ädrúnaby ɛdɾunaby Ed-run-ah-beu
Bördäjgrådes Län bœɾdɛjgrɔdəs lɛn Bor-deyg-rawd-uhs Len
Fjörnåde Repúblikka Kåra fjœrnɔdə ɾəpublika kɔra Fyoor-nah-duh Ruh-poob-lee-kah Kaw-ra
Hjeplingåde çjɛpliŋgɔdə Hyehp-leeng-ah-duh
Län lɛn Len
Märänétjårp mɛɾɛnɛt'tjɔrp Meh-reh-neht-tjawrp

Vezhek

Vezhek is one of Kara's official languages, and it is spoken in Vezheks Stot in the northwest portion of the country. It is generally considered to be a descendant of the Techerian languages, with heavy Karska influence in vocabulary. The language also shows some influence from Yumerth. It also uses a Latin-based alphabet, but is not phonetically consistent like Karska and Yumerth (quite the contrary — it is known for its extremely complicated spellings of seemingly simple words).

Vezhek Places, People, and their Pronunciations
Vezhek IPA Rough Ingerish Equivalent
Čëllèdebjorkejt t͡ʃəlɛdəbjorkaɪt Chuh-led-duh-byor-kait
Kitŝ-Jʹapfijk kit͡ʃ japfik Keetch Yahp-feek
Ahna Èlišabeta Škri-Mmonejž ana elɪʃabeta skri manaɪʒ Ahn-nah Ey-lih-shah-bey-tah Skree Mahn-aizh
Vèžèkstodt veʒɛkstot Vey-zhek-stoht
Zjuët zjyt Zyeut
Haatahhaŝa χataχaʃt͡ʃja Hah-tah-ha-shchyah

Yumerth

Yumerth is the only living member of the isolated Yumerdic language family that is spoken in the eastern portions of Kara. In the centuries since Kjellic settlement, Yumerth has had some linguistic interaction with Karska, and both languages have shared some words and linguistic features. Nonetheless, it remains a distinct language.

Yumerth is believed to have started developing its own writing system just a few centuries before Kjellic settlement, but this writing system never took off and was quickly replaced by the developed Latinic script used in Karska, although some new characters were developed to represent sounds present in Yumerth but not Karska. The alphabet has a phonetic orthography and has 20 letters:

Yumerth Alphabet
Letter IPA
Aa a
Ää æ
Bb β
Ðð ð
Ee e-ɛ
Ii i-ɪ
Jj j
Ll l
Mm m
Nn n
Ŋŋ ŋ
Oo o
Rr ɹ
Яя ɚ-ɝ
Uu u
Üü y
Vv v
Ww w
Zz z
Ƹƹ ʒ
  1. When declaring himself king, Eryk posthumously crowned his grandfather and father as Birjer I and Johan I, respectively, and so the first living monarchs named Birjer and Johan ruled as Birjer II and Johan II.
  2. While same-sex marriages were not allowed at this time, unmarried but long-term same-sex partners (like Jösef and Svän) were usually accepted as being a valid (although less "important" than a marriage) relationship, especially for royalty and nobility. In fact, in some wealthy families, same-sex partners could even adopt children, as did Jösef and Svän with their son, King Kristaf I.
  3. The state government fills the role of municipal government and is considered a municipality for statistical purposes.
  4. Thanks to Timboh's article on Navenna for the inspiration for this table!
  5. Includes 6 incumbent members who were re-elected after switching affiliation from Independent (4 to Centrist and 2 to National Democrats) for the 2025 election.
  6. The amendment was purely symbolic as the legislature guaranteed the right to same-sex marriage in 1997.