[FH] Great Powers Revised

8 posts ยท Dec 14 1999 to Dec 16 1999

From: Laserlight <laserlight@q...>

Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 20:48:34 -0500

Subject: [FH] Great Powers Revised

> Pop GDP ActMen MilBud

Pop GDP NAC 685.6 5,848.1 ESU 2,183.5 1,853.7 FSE 189.4 1,320.5 NSL 123.1
1,139.0 IF 422.9 546.4 PAU 469.2 241.1 IC 527.2 235.0 Japan 124 2400 OU 23.7
219.4 FCT 40.0 212.4 Israel 4.4 27

Revisions: Ireland and Greece to FSE, S Korea to ESU, Turkey to IF, Japan
separated from NAC plus a couple other minor adjestments. The main nation not
included is Taiwan, at 20 pop and 95 GDP. Of course, all this doesn't mean
anything concrete for 2 centuries later, but it might be a helpful guide to
proportions. For example, when I design the IF fleet list (after hiring a
consultant from the ScanFed), I'll give them about half the points of the NSL
FTFB fleet (and fudge a bit since the FB doesn't have all active ships).

It also gives a clue as to the most likely arena for political action in 2183:
ESU attempts to woo Japan away from NAC. Meanwhile ESU citizens put triple the
tax rate into the defense budget that the NAC
does (which is historically the case--Russia was at 17% when the US
was about 6%, IIRC, during the height of the Cold War).

From: Beth Fulton <beth.fulton@m...>

Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 14:31:18 +1000

Subject: Re: [FH] Great Powers Revised

G'day,

> These are the >> 1988 << figures for the areas which will later become

Ahh its suddenly a lot clearer thanks;)

> Pop GDP

Given what these are I guess there as good a start as any (if you're going to
start anywhere it may as well be there, any reason you didn't use the CIA
worldbook though, its a bit more current?). However as you point out its only
a rough guide for 2 centuries into the future, so I think we'd all
do well to be careful about proportionality statements - I think you'd
find
off world colonisation benefiting NAC/FSE etc disproportionally more
than the ESU for instance.

I was about to say "have fun populating", but after my last effort I think you
guys have the wrong impression of me already;)
Thus I'll stick with the much more lady-like "Have fun".

Beth

From: Laserlight <laserlight@q...>

Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 07:08:35 -0500

Subject: Re: [FH] Great Powers Revised

> Given what these are I guess there as good a start as any (if you're

a) 200 years from now, who cares? b) the Dunnigan book has it all in one place

> However as you point out

Or the right impression....

From: Izenberg, Noam <Noam.Izenberg@j...>

Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 15:43:15 -0500

Subject: Re: [FH] Great Powers Revised

From: Laserlight

> Japan 124 2400

I'm not sure if this can apply to any other FT powers, but there is virtually
no connect between the 1988 population or GDP for Israel and the FT nation of
New Israel. Old Israel is destroyed utterly in 2027, and New Israel is built
almost entirely from the diasporic remnants of the people (which numbers a few
times the indigenous population of Israel today).

> The main nation not included is Taiwan, at 20 pop and 95 GDP. Of

IMO, If Tawan isn't part of ESU, IC, or OU, it's probably either
aradioactive/chemical wasteland as a result of war or one of the
stronger minor powers.

> It also gives a clue as to the most likely arena for political action

Mayhap. But if Japan keeps it tech edge, it won't be listening to too much
wooing from any major power. It'll be able to stand on its own and forge
alliances on its terms.

From: Laserlight <laserlight@q...>

Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 21:43:38 -0500

Subject: Re: [FH] Great Powers Revised

Noam said
> IMO, If Tawan isn't part of ESU, IC, or OU, it's probably either

Same trio I came up with for Taiwan to be annexed by, but which one?

> It also gives a clue as to the most likely arena for political

True--but the ESU would be happy just to get Japan _away_ from NAC.

From: Allan Goodall <agoodall@a...>

Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 23:12:22 GMT

Subject: Re: [FH] Great Powers Revised

On Tue, 14 Dec 1999 21:43:38 -0500, "Laserlight"
<laserlight@quixnet.net> wrote:

> Noam said

Personally, I think none of the above...

> It also gives a clue as to the most likely arena for political

Japan is unlikely to be wooed into joining the ESU. Too many problems
historically. Okay, this IS the far future, and we know how alliances change
(Britain once owned chunks of France, then fought against France, then became
an ally; in this century alone Britain was best friends with Japan, then
fought a war against Japan, and is now cordial with Japan).

Assuming that things aren't patched up (50 years later, China is still
rightfully bitter at Japan), both Russia and China have historically been at
odds with Japan. So has Korea. There's a LOT of anti-Japanese sentiment
in the ESU to be overcome. Especially since a Japan in the ESU would tend to
rise to a position of dominance.

Going by Jon's naming of the figures in Stargrunt, he seems to suggest that
the Japanese forces are mercenary forces. This suggests Japan has formed a
somewhat belligerent neutrality, a nation housing off shore dataforts and
renting soldiers to the highest bidder. The Japanese don't appear to be part
of the ESU, or any other, structure.

From: Laserlight <laserlight@q...>

Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 19:12:20 -0500

Subject: Re: [FH] Great Powers Revised

> Same trio I came up with for Taiwan to be annexed by, but which one?

Okay, why not?
> It also gives a clue as to the most likely arena for political
(snip)
> True--but the ESU would be happy just to get Japan _away_ from NAC.

This doesn't seem to have much bearing on the GZGverse. ESU already has China,
India and Russia in one organization. I can imagine their "political
infighting" emphasizes the "fighting" more than the "political".

> Going by Jon's naming of the figures in Stargrunt, he seems to

Canon says NAC considers Japan to be under its protection. Maybe the ESU's
efforts have been at least partially successful, to separate the two?

From: Allan Goodall <agoodall@a...>

Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 03:09:37 GMT

Subject: Re: [FH] Great Powers Revised

On Wed, 15 Dec 1999 19:12:20 -0500, "Laserlight"
<laserlight@quixnet.net> wrote:

> Same trio I came up with for Taiwan to be annexed by, but which one?

My mistake... I read Taiwan and thought Japan. Actually, I could see the ESU
annexing Taiwan...

> This doesn't seem to have much bearing on the GZGverse. ESU already

Historically China and Russia didn't get along all that well, so you do have a
point. But it's hard to see China, Russia, and Japan all in one group. It just
seems to grate... I wonder if Japan is still as xenophobic/xenophilic in
the Tuffleyverse as it is today...

> Canon says NAC considers Japan to be under its protection. Maybe the

Or, take it the other way. The ESU's attempts to annex Japan force an
independent Japan to seek help... or the NAC offers the help, knowing Japan
can't refuse.