Ametà
Ametà, officially the Crowned Republic of Ametà and until 1961 known as A metà, is a Meridan island country consisting of a large volcanic island bearing the nation's name, as well as several smaller, uninhabited islands. The capital city, and largest city, is Porto Ametà. The Ametàn people discovered and settled the islands around 3,500 years ago. They developed an Ametàn language and Ametàn cultural identity.
Crowned Republic of Ametà Lepupalika Aupuni ʻo Ametà | |
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 Flag | |
Motto: "Ametà, E lilo ke Akua i poʻokela" "Ametà, Let God Be First" | |
Anthem: Himeni o Ametà' | |
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| Location | Ametà is an island in the southwestern central Meridan sea. |
| Capital and largest city | Porto Ametà |
| Official languages |
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| Recognised regional languages |
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| Ethnic groups | |
| Religion |
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| Demonym(s) | Ametà |
| Government | Republic |
| Aram Ajiana | |
• King of Ametà | King Giulio Janove |
| Legislature | Parliament |
| Established | |
• Republic formed | 1861 |
• Independence from Yinshan | 1935 |
• Independence from Serria | 1961 |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,510 km2 (580 sq mi) (N/A) |
• Water (%) | 5.7 |
| Population | |
• April 2021 estimate |  754,211 (16th) |
• 2021 census | 754,211 |
• Density | 499.48/km2 (1,293.6/sq mi) (3rd) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2021 estimate |
• Total |  $6.81 billion (N/A) |
• Per capita | $9,031.26 (N/A) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2021 estimate |
• Total | $6.577 billion (N/A) |
• Per capita | $8,721 (N/A) |
| Gini (2021) |  21.1low · N/A |
| HDI (2020) | 0.341 low · N/A |
| Currency | Serrian lira (SAL) |
| Date format | dd/mm/yyyy |
| Driving side | left |
| Calling code | +88 |
| Internet TLD | .at |
Ametà is a unitary parliamentary democracy with six administrative divisions. The nation is a member of the League of Serrian States and the Serrian Economic Cooperation Treaty as a full member. Because of the Ametàns' seafaring skills, pre-20th-century Western explorers referred to the entire people as the "Navigators.” The country was occupied by Yinshan from 1899 to 1935, and by a Serrian colonial administration until 1 January 1961, when it achieved independence.
In July 2014, King Giulio Janove became the head of state, succeeding King Franco Janove. President Ajiana returned to power after a landslide victory in December 2018, beginning a fifth term as President.
Name
Originally named A metà by Serrian navigators for its location, the island's people adopted this name after millennia of isolation and no formal western-style government. Serria, during its period of expansion and during its period of exile from its home archipelago, established trade relations for farming and fishing goods found near around Ametà's rich natural landscape. When the island nation received independence in 1961, it did so with the shortened name of Ametà to establish its own identity.
History
Settlement
The exact dates of the first settlements on Ametà are unknown, but archeological evidence suggests the first settlers arrived approximately 3,500 years ago. Being an isolated island, scholars believe the navigators used celestial navigation in an attempt to survey the sea for islands in large settlement waves, and eventually found the island. Culturally and ethnically, Ametàns' are an isolated pocket of what is believed to be a lost people. Oral tradition recorded by modern historians suggest the island sought to reach back out to mainland Cancodia, however there is no evidence this occurred until Western discovery millennia later.
Pre-Western contact history
The island remained an agricultural society for millennia, focused on its fishing and limited farming onshore. Over time, a hereditary monarchy was established, and although numerous dynasties and ruling families would switch places, it led to the culture which holds strongly over the island today. Various polytheistic beliefs developed during this time, specifically the belief in the Six Gods, a key tenet of Ametanism.
Western discovery
A Serrian exploring vessel, the Marco Santoni led by Serrian Navy Captain Roberto Malfigo, discovered the island in 1534. Malfigo and his crew made contact with the Ametàns, becoming the first outsider to visit the island since it was first settled thousands of years ago. Malfigo is credited with giving the island its predecessor name, A metà (literal Serrian translation: halfway). They exchanged gifts and established the basis of translation between the Ametàn language and Serrian. Malfigo and his crew left the island in early 1535, and left behind two men to maintain relations and learn more about the culture. Unfortunately, diseases isolated from the island ravaged the population, which declined rapidly, but the lack of colonization attempts shortly after this weakness led to a steady recovery in native population.
In 1541, Malfigo returned with two other ships, and the crews exchanged further gifts with the natives and formally established relations. Malfigo would report back to Serria that they had discovered the "Kingdom on A metà". On this voyage, the Serrians, with the permission of local leaders, established the first Catholic church on the island, and built a monastery for the Order of Serria, which is still in its original building today. Serrian Catholicism became popular on the island and popularized both the culture and the language.
Republicanism
Continued trade relations with the Eastern and Western empires following first contact with Malfigo's voyage led to new exchanges in ideals and government types. During the first waves of the Enlightenment in the 17th and 18th centuries, traders began translating new texts to the Ametàn language as well as Serrian, which had begun to solidify itself as a common second language for locals.
In 1721, a group of local scholars educated at Western-run schools on the island led protests against the centuries-long Mera family rule. The size of the protests, combined with the passion of the new leaders, led to the 87-year old King to willingly abdicate. On 2 March 1721, the Republic of A metà was established, with a unitary parliamentary representative democracy. This order lasted for 12 years until unrest and distrust in the system overtook the newly established Parliament, who requested for Serrian aid to quell unrest.
Colonization
In 1735 the Serrian protectorate of A metà was formally established. Similar to other Serrian Serthenian colonial administrations, little was done to enforce cultural similarity. Serrian colonial rule often consisted of a discussion with local leaders, a tribute, and an agreement on security. The existing parliament agreed to reorganize itself into a smaller council of elected male landowners, and the Grand Master agreed. The Serrian Army and Navy agreed to enforce the laws and decisions made by local rulers, with the caveat that they did not interfere with its critical interests. This autonomous method of administration, known as "Lasciali stare", or translated "Leave them be" doctrine was widespread throughout Serrian Serthenia.
Throughout colonial rule, Serria continued to enforce the local council's decisions, often with grave consequences. In 1811, a local council decision regarding taxation led to widespread protests. The Serrian Army, ordered to enforce the orders of the Council, returned fire on a violent mob of two-hundred protestors following orders from local leadership. Known as the Bloodshed locally, it severely weakened Serrian-Ametàn relations and decreased the legitimacy of the council-style government.
Following the decrease in support for the council, in 1861, the second Republic of A metà was declared, which reorganized the council but strengthend democratic institutions and included women in the franchise and in the ability to vote for office. Despite its trivial status in advancing Ametà's independence, 2 June 1861 is known as Republic Day, and is still celebrated today as a major holiday on the island.
Occupation
In 1924, simultaneously with the Yinshanese invasion of Metropolitan Serria, a campaign was launched against the weakly defended island protectorate. Within three days, the island was lost to the occupiers. Harsh reprisals and conditions were sustained during the occupations, and many civilians suffered during the 10-yearlong occupation. Supply ships, sunk frequently from Kerthenian submarines, led to starvation, as the occupying troops on the island prioritized Ametà's limited resources for themselves. The famines which ensued during this period is known locally as the Struggle. Towards the end of the war, Kerthenian carrier wings and long-range bombers destroyed and military infrastructure built by Yinshan. The island remained occupied until after the war, when the atomic bombs detonated in Icaria led to Yinshan's forced peace with the Allies.
Liberation
On 1 January 1935, shortly after the end of the war, the Serrian Navy and Army replaced the Yinshanese occupiers. Immediately, an infrastructure program was created funded partially by the Serrian government, although receiving harsh criticism from nationalists criticizing the use of tax money to fund foreign recovery while Serria itself struggled. However, following the Serrian Economic Miracle, these sentiments quieted. Serria maintained Ametà's status as a protectorate, despite all others being disbanded in the late 19th century. This unique status led to the political situation culminating in independence 26 years later.
Independence
By 1940, most infrastructure had been rebuilt. The Order of Serria monastery had been repaired, schools rebuilt, and ports and airports refurbished. Following the return of protectorate status, local leaders renegotiated the administration of the colonial administration to mimic the first Ametàn republic under a constitutional monarchial system. This conflicted with Serria's monarch maintaining its position as head of state, and a compromise was reached to hold an election by the end of the decade on the status of the future of the island. Political pressures within Serria encouraged this movement to continue, as strained budgets following the war limited its ability to govern the island.
On 4 December 1949, the election was held, and independence won a respectable majority. The vote was split onto three options: Status Quo, which received 34% of the vote, Archdiocese (Serrian ascension to statehood), which recieved 14% of the vote, and independence, which recieved 52% of the vote. The Treaty of Porto Ametà was signed shortly after in May 1950, which agreed to hand over sovereign control to the new constitutional monarchy on New Years 1961.
Preparations for the handover continued throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, including the design and name for the new country. By poll, the title Crowned Republic of Ameta was chosen alongside the new flag. Six stars represent the polytheistic origin of Ametà's indigenous religion, while the unity of the stars represent the monotheistic majority of Catholic Ametàns. The blue represents the Meridan Sea, the lifeblood of the island, and the gold its Serrian colonial history. The white stripe represents the pure intentions of the Ametàn people.
Modern history
Following independence, the Ametàn economy struggled. Facing increased costs of living and limited industry to contribute to an increasingly globalizing economy, the island's government turned to tourism. Being one of few volcanic islands in the Meridan sea, this industry exploded, with tens of thousands of Serrian tourists flocking to the beaches, mostly from Agios, Paros, and Granto. Ametà joined the League of Serrian States in 1965, and the Serrian Economic Cooperation Treaty shortly after.
In 1982, the island abandoned its flailing domestic currency, the Mar, for the Serrian lira. Despite domestic movements to join the Council of Democratic Nations, a neutrality constitutional amendment passed a national referendum in 1998, solidifying the islands' role as a neutral state in the Meridan despite its strategic location.
Geography
Ametà is a small, volcanic island in the central Meridan sea. Thousands of kilometers away from its nearest neighbor, SUNC, its central and isolated location in the Meridan sea maintain it as a strategic political and military location. The rich volcanic soil allows for moderate agricultural industry to thrive, and the shallow pale-blue beaches create the tourist attraction which on which its economy is sustained.
Politics
Despite being a constitutional monarchy, the royal family on Ametà holds significant influence and is politically active. Constitutional authority gives the elected President most executive powers, however political decisions are often handled publicly in disputes between the royal court and the parliament. National elections are held every 5 years, and the President is elected every other election. To much Western criticism, local politics are much by appointment as opposed to by election, and only national level offices are subject to free, fair, and guaranteed elections.
Foreign relations
Similar to its colonial past, Ametà retains a neutrality clause in its constitution, limiting its ability to form defense treaties with other nations, however it does not limit other actions. Ametà, as a small tourist-based economy, maintains positive relations with most of its neighbors, however holding a strained relationship with Yinshan due to the years under occupation. As a member of the Serrian Economic Cooperation Treaty and the League of Serrian States, the island maintains close ties with Serria, but falls short of a defense agreement.
Armed forces
The armed forces of Ametà are small. Lacking a formal army, the island relies on its gendarmerie to protect its sovereignty on land. Its small navy of corvettes and patrol boats enforce its large exclusive economic zone, and its Air Force composed of older maritime patrol aircraft and trainers limit its ability to defend against invasion. Most of the island's large military facilities are leased to the Serrian Defense Force who operate Draghi Air Force Base and Imperial Navy operating Naval Base Ametà jointly.
Demographics
Population
Ametà holds a relatively small population of approximately 750 thousand citizens. The island's cultural and ethnic groups compose of native Ametàns, which are 79% of the population, Serrians, which are 11% of the population, and the remaining 10% being a mix of Barko-Kolonian, Yinshanese, and varied Cancodian. Population growth has staggered on the island as costs of living rise and wages stagnate, however government programs and tax incentives have attempted to encourage population growth.
Language
The Ametàn indigenous language is taught alongside Serrian in the national school system, and is unrelated to other languages in the region. The origin of the language is known to be from the group that settled the island roughly 3,500 years ago, but further information is unknown on what happened to the ethnic group which settled the island. It is widely believed that Ametà is the last speaker off its family of languages, although undiscovered tribes could have related languages.
Religion
Ametànism, the polytheistic religion which dominated the island before Western contact, still makes up for approximately 13% of local religious belief. The dominating religion in the nation is Serrian Catholicism following years of colonial rule and Serrian schooling, at over 60%. 14% identify as agnostic or atheist, and the rest are mixes of region and world faiths.
Economy
The Ametàn economy is heavily centered around tourism, with tourism being the nation's main source of revenue. Other economic sectors include local agriculture, fishing, and a small shipbuilding economy. Globalization, technological advancement, and the rapid growth of the internet weakened the nation's service sector, however its high-end tourist market has helped alleviate the damage. The nation receives money from the LSS and SECT as well as low-interest loans from these organizations.
Culture
Ametàn culture is heavily based around the island lifestyle, with fishing and surfing maintaining themselves as popular pastimes. Farm work is also common for young Ametàns, and has become a part of the nation's hardworking culture. Serrian influence has led to a culinary combination of an abundance of seafood and Serrian traditional dishes, as limited supplies often led Serrian chefs to incorporate seafood heavily into pastas, pizzas, and other traditional foods.
Infrastructure
The nation's infrastructure, while capable of handling tourist traffic, often struggles. The national airport is maintained by the Serrian Defense Force as an auxiliary facility to Draghi Air Force Base, however the nation's bridges, schools, and roadways often fall into disrepair. With one of the smallest economies on Kerbin and a low per capita GDP, the nation struggles to keep up with competitive infrastructure, education, and public services. Electric power is generated through oil, natural gas, and more recently, offshore wind power, although Ametà has struggled to fund alternative energy projects in the past.