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Lonely Bear - Russian SI [Second Thread] - Threadmarks

Not my stories author (sersor)

Star_Maker4 · Book&Literature
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The story continues (April-June, 1925)

The 'New Right' (Новое право/Novoye pravo) refers to a political phenomenon that occurred in the Russian Empire after the Old Right had been decapitated due to the reforms of the Russian Empire and the Russian civil war (in addition to the purges of the First Stalinism).

Reactionary elements of Russian society (parts of the nobility, the clergy, the bourgeoisie, and more) and other potential opponents of the Moscow regime had been mostly eliminated, by one means or another.

This caused the right in Russia to be tainted by the legacy of the Directorate of Alexander Kolchak and the persecutions of Stalin's RSDLP.

This meant that the Russian right had to re-invent itself for a new era, and so they did.

Boris Viktorovich Savinkov and his assistant Pyotr Vladimirovich Karpovich, allied to Moscow, essentially became the new central axis of the right of the Russian Empire.

It was relatively simple, Savinkov would not cause problems and in return he gained prestige, popularity and assets. In the process ensuring that Moscow had significant control over most of the 'acceptable' elements of Russian politics.

It is under these conditions that Savinkov and Karpovich created the Russian People's Party (Русская народная партия/Russkaya narodnaya partiya), a right-wing party with some slight leftist aesthetics.

The ideology formed in this New Right has a series of peculiarities that usually put it in the field of Nationalism, but it shares characteristics with other movements or regimes (populism, authoritarianism, etc).

Collectivism: Russia is essentially a society inclined more towards collectivism than individualism, where the nation and the Motherland as a whole are exalted. The problem of the Homeland/Rodina is inherently superior to the problem of the individual.

Savinkov approached this from a militant and nationalist angle, similar to Brusilov's reforms and militaristic thoughts that still lingered in the world at the time.

"Right to die for the Motherland", one of the favorite state mottos of the Russian army at the time, exemplifies quite well the nature of Savinkov's collectivism and patriotism.

This is where a 'cult of strength' or the cult of the strongest comes in.

Cult of strength/Slavophile faith: Although the New Right of Russia was collectivist, the truth is that Savinkov could not totally abandon his individualistic tendencies

But unlike the Narodniki and Trotskyism, Savinkov understood the collectivist nature of Russia. Another important difference is that Savinkov did not see the 'mob' or the peasantry as useless... yes, personally Savinkov saw them with some disdain, but they were the basis of the important 'rural capitalism' and the economic strength of Russia (thus they were very helpful).

So Savinkov did something that the Narodniki and Trotsky could not do, he accommodated his individualistic tendencies into a somewhat collectivist mold known as, 'cult of strength' or Slavophile faith.

This mold was simple, understanding that the masses of the Russian Empire had some particular characteristics, including a predilection for strong men in command of the Government (as long as it remained powerful, similar to the Russian liberal conservatism, Savinkov did see a strong state as a key-element of order, stability, morality and Russian culture) and of course certain elements of a religious morality, so to speak.

This mold was supposed to emphasize the tendencies of the Russian individual and the Russian people at the same time, through a collectivist framework with some individualistic elements,a 'perfect autocracy'.

Personal ability, personal-expression and personal will were exalted as elements of a 'Russian vanguard' (the most important elements of politics, what Savinkov called the 'collective dictatorship'), a vanguard for a people with a 'great resistance to earthly suffering' and capable of great self-sacrifice.

With this Savinkov was referring to the Russian Orthodox tradition, which as a branch of Christianity, had an important element of 'earthly suffering' in exchange for obtaining a better life in the afterlife ("Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.") and some form of morality. And self-sacrifice was exclaimed in historical events like the Patriotic War of 1812 against Napoleon Bonaparte.

Through this tactic, Savinkov was able to command the attention of the Orthodox and conservative-nationalist masses, as well as maintain an important leadership through a 'vanguard of exceptional individuals', without losing the masses, they just had to be convinced to which was a situation similar to the cult of personality the Tsars did (although the Tsars were always on top of the rest, of course...).

Religious Rhetoric: Once again returning to faith, Savinkov used a lot of religious rhetoric, naturally leaning towards Russian Orthodoxy (faith with more believers in the Empire, which did mean more votes for him).

While Savinkov obviously had to avoid the problematic elements of religious extremism, in reality he was not very religious. Savinkov believed in certain esotericisms and supernatural forces (signs, omens and communication with the dead), but Savinkov's Orthodoxy remained mainly a coat of paint for his nationalism and rhetoric, giving his movement a moral compass/superiority complex and a 'sacred rhetoric'.

Collective Dictatorship: Savinkov learned from Marxist rhetoric, all states are dictatorships but everything depends on which class leads the forces of the state.

Savinkov was 'committed' to his model and to Russian democracy, so he defined Russia as a 'Collective Dictatorship', not of a class but between the various elements of state power.

In particular this Dictatorship was occupied by: The Tsar, the Premier, the Duma and other state services (police, secret services, army, etc).

The elements of the 'vanguard' of the state, who commanded politics and the execution of said politics within Russian society.

Third Russia, a "Colorful Russia": Due to Russian state law and policies, Great Russian chauvinism was prohibited and greatly limited, a more than acceptable measure in a country with more than 100 native ethnic groups.

"All ethnic and cultural groups in the Russian Empire are equal.

Therefore, the Russian state must uphold values such as equality, unity, harmony and mutual assistance among all the groups that make up Russia.

Any form of discrimination against ethno-cultural groups is prohibited by law, every act that undermines national unity is an attack against Russia and its people, for which they are prohibited." -Constitution of the Russian Empire under Nicholas II.

So the belief in the 'natural' superiority of one group of people (strong and virtuous) over another ('weak and unworthy'), was irreconcilable with the Russian state.

Savinkov could take advantage of the fact that the majority of Russians (citizens) were Slavs and Orthodox, but he could not be a racist. So he had to find a new methodology, like he did with his individualism.

So he created his own concept of a 'Third Russia' (derived from the concept of a third Rome), which according to Savinkov was the result of Moscow being 'reborn' as the Third Rome.

"A strong and free city, an axis around which millions and millions of peasants and workers unite, not as conquerors or conquered, but as free people of a free and sovereign country." - Savinkov about the city of Moscow.

In this concept there was a strong civic nationalism (similar to the one that emerged during the career of Mikhail Skobelev), where all citizen elements would theoretically be a vital part of Russia, being Rossiyane (Pоссияне - term used to refer to all citizens of Russia, regardless of their ethnic origin).

Essentially, each part of Russia would be part of a common patrimony, "colorful and varied" with some autonomy in economic-administrative matters, as opposed to the "universal merging" of the West (concept derived from Konstantin Leontiev and to some extent, of the young Eurasianists).

Because of this, there should be a 'cultural revival' and 'cultural transformation, including the revitalization of some forms of traditional culture, like the ones from the First or Second Rome (in this way, getting some support among the ethnic groups more adjusted to the mold of the Russian Empire - Savinkov was talking, in theory, of a new culture, not necessarily of the Russian-Orthodox supremacy).

Rural Capitalism: In his economic stance, Savinkov was a capitalist that drank heavily from Stolypin agriculture-rural policies.

Basically Savinkov argued that Russia was a primarily peasant nation in its economic foundations (although capitalism and industrialization had advanced considerably), so the economy had to be organized around small and commercially oriented landowners.

Despite this creation of a free market for citizens throughout Russia, the state was to continue to play a huge role in the economy and society.

"Self-expression, through camaraderie - A form of personal rebirth, when one serves others, everyone grows in a voluntary union of free and strong people, without losing themselves."

-Explanation of the collectivist and individualist nature of Savinkov, in his writings about a New Russia.

(OOC: "When one act in the service of others, we become greater than ourselves, without losing who we are" - This comes from the Eternal Cylinder...I just love the quote, and the game).

Savinkov's Russian People's Party (Русская народная партия/Russkaya narodnaya partiya) soon found itself uniting and leading the remnants of the Right left behind by the civil war.

Savinkov and the state services would see to it that such groups did not get too out of control, essentially the New Right would form a 'compatible right' with the Russian state (to avoid a future civil war), from the ashes of the old government of Skobelev and several events of Russian modern history.

Not only this, but Savinkov also began to find important allies, including the Grand Duchess Maria (daughter of Tsar Nicholas II) and the Eurasianist Krasnovites under Pyotr Nikolayevich Krasnov (Savinkov saw the Cossacks as a potential bedrock of social and political order due to their status as landowners and their traditional military discipline).

Mutually beneficial alliances for several reasons:

* Maria Nikolayevna advanced her political interests, and Savinkov gained support among the monarchist elements of society in opposition to his political rivals.

The party could benefit from the image of Maria, as an independent but still conservative woman. She in return asked for concessions from the party leadership.

Because of this alliance, Grand Duchess Maria's legacy on the Russian right remains considerable (even in some foreign feminist movements she is seen as an empowered woman, although Russian feminists have more contradictory ideas).

*The Eurasianist Krasnovites (right-wing early Eurasianists, certainly close in some ideas to Savinkov) gained a new and important platform by allying with Savinkov, who accumulated more importance and political momentum thanks to them.

The alliance of the Russian People's Party with the Krasnovites would result in the division between the Eurasianists of the Left and the Eurasianists of the Right, who had different ideas in their understanding and supposed future of the movement.

Savinkov's party would soon face its first elections, so before they were subjected to Russian electoral rules, the January-July period was full of movements and public events to gain additional political support before the election campaigns.

All Russian ideologies and thoughts during this time can be summed up to some level, to different understandings of 'Humanism'.

As a definition, humanism is about a vision or system of thought, where importance was given to 'human' qualities and not to divinity, supernatural or 'irrational' elements. Also expressing the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasizing common human needs and seeking solely rational ways of solving human problems.

Trotsky's ideology sought to change people, without really changing the system in which they live or their material conditions.

And so underestimating the role of an important part of the population, despite continuing to believe in the 'exceptional' qualities of some.

The humanism of the Russian Liberals was a 'Bourgeois Humanism', which sought the implementation of a model that syncretized many beliefs (some Russian beliefs and other non-Russian beliefs).

However the liberals failed on one important point, believing that their system and morality was 'natural' to all human beings (human nature), and thus all Russian liberals came to similar conclusions (the system is left untouched, because that's the way things are). Which inevitably produces stagnation or setback, leading to other problems when the influence of Western Liberalism had never taken root in Russia.

The humanism of the Russian Social Democratic Labor Party was a 'revolutionary Humanism', or a humanism of change and progressivism.

Instilling beliefs in the equality of human beings, but pressing for important changes in the system (development of the productive forces, evolution of the welfare system, development of infrastructure, etc).

A thought that was not for everyone or always victorious, but was predominant thanks to the advantageous political position enjoyed by the RSDLP and have some good results.

Savinkov's ideology added characteristics of different types of elements or humanisms, some in direct opposition, but they were summed up to the expression of the human will and of the nation above all things (with a bit of humanism and Christian morality despite that Savinkov was not a devout believer).

In this it resembled an individualistic bourgeois mentality, but without leaving behing collectivist elements (which prevailed in the RSDLP) or the exceptionalism that existed in Narodniki/Populism and Trotskyism.

Maybe some form of Patriotic Humanism is the right word.

*******

[Perspectives, and Premiership]

*

Minister Alexei Brusilov was 71 years old and approaching his 72nd birthday in August 1925, in his life the general and war hero had seen enough.

Having lived in various parts of the Russian Empire, and served in one way or another in different campaigns, such as the Russian campaigns in the Qing dynasty or the most recent Russian civil war.

In recent times, the old general had dedicated himself to special assignments and inspection of the armed forces. The main burden of work went to Deputy Minister Anton Denikin.

The old general was sitting at one of the tables in the Moscow Kremlin, waiting for Emperor Nicholas II for a rather casual meeting between the two.

When the emperor arrives, the same old greetings are exchanged, until finally the old general starts talking about the main topic. "I've been arguing with Denikin, and I think it's time for me to step down as minister. I wanted your opinion before making a decision."

Nicholas was a little surprised, but it wasn't a completely unexpected comment. "Well, what are your main reasons for leaving the position?" Nicholas asks curiously, before taking a sip of water.

"Sooner or later it had to happen, I'm old and my health isn't what it used to be. Of course, I'd still be around to help but…" Brusilov tries to explain.

"Brusilov, I respect you a lot. I think it's your decision, if you wish to withdraw, everyone would respect it" The Emperor insists, respectfully extending his hand to Brusilov.

"Thank you very much your highness." Brusilov exclaims shaking hands with the Emperor, with similar respect.

"I'm 57 years old and I've never really gotten totally used to losing, I guess that happens to everyone.

It's not that I haven't appreciated them, but I've always been different in some form…after all, I have been stranded for 57 years (almost 58), and only Dad could understand that.

Dad, Elena, Nicholas, Mikhail. They're not, and I'm still here.

It's kind of sad, even on top of the world, I keep losing things and I'm really lonely.

I came to respect Brusilov as a kind of friend, but eventually we too must part ways.

We all get old, and die in one way or another.

I wonder how much I have left."

-Nicholas Alexandrovich Romanov.

*

Tsar Nicholas II attended the funeral of his cousin, the son and heir of Tsar Alexander I of Bulgaria who had died in sad circumstances.

The funeral was held in a church in Sofia, rather humbler than Nicholas had thought, but that didn't mean it was an ugly place.

It was nice, under other conditions, many would have enjoyed being there that day.

Among all those present, the Tsar naturally focused on spending some time with his companion.

"My only son..." Alexander Sergeyevich Romanovsky was crying, in private of course, the monarch of Bulgaria could not afford to be seen by many people.

The Tsar of All Russia was an exception to the rule, as on many other occasions.

Nicholas was silent for a few moments, simply sitting next to Alexander Sergeyevich.

"Nicholas, I am sorry that you are here and see me in this state..." Alexander Sergeyevich mentions with some concern of making the Tsar impatient.

But Nicholas is sympathetic. "Don't worry, take as much time as you need. There's never too little time for grieve." Nicholas insists to his cousin.

"But how can I handle this? A father should never bury his son, I don't know if I am capable of continuing in these conditions..." Alexander Sergeyevich exclaims.

When his parents had died, Tsar Alexander III had spoken with him. The situation was again very similar.

"Once I heard: I did not know what to do of life when you were no longer here, but as you remain in heaven, I learn that lesson every day" Nicholas replies, from somewhere deep in his heart, now open for Alexander Sergeyevich.

In that room there were no tsars, there were men crying for their children.

*

"How are things going?" Tsar Nicholas II questions his Premier, Iosif V. Stalin.

"I'm already planning Denikin's successor as Deputy Minister, in case I win the election of course, of course." Stalin calmly mentions it, as he continues his work.

"Well, I don't want to sound rude. But who are your main candidates?" Nicholas asks with interest.

"I was thinking mainly of Frunze and Voroshilov, although of course it all depends on some upcoming consultations and votes." Stalin responds.

"...Between the two, I think Voroshilov is the best, but there is no denying that there are other possible candidates." Nicholas II mentions to his Premier, indicating to take this into account. "Perhaps Tukhachevsky, Budyonny or another. The civil war left us with some promising commanders."

"Promising, perhaps. But some are still too young and naive. You have to be careful with both the young military and the old military." Premier Stalin insists, sighing. "What do you plan to do after the election?" Stalin asks.

"Mmm? Keep reigning, if I don't die before. Why the interest?" Nicholas II asks curiously.

"Just curious your highness, maybe I'll retire after these elections. Working requires strength, and by 1929 I'll be 50 years old..." Stalin mentions.

"50 years is not the end of the world." The man with more than 50 years indicates...

"Sorry if I sounded a little rude, but neither of us are any younger than when we started our positions. But there are few alternatives." Stalin returns to his work, but the weight on his shoulders remains the same. "The point is that there are still so many things to attend to, so much work and so little time...I am worried about who will be my successor within the RSDLP and the Premiership."

"I understand the sentiment." Nicholas II answers. "What would you do if people don't want you to go?"

"...I don't think it will happen, I haven't really done much, Your Highness." The humble Premier mentions.

"Don't underestimate yourself." Tsar Nicholas II calmly adds.

The position of Premier doesn't look like much in a semi-constitutional Russian monarchy, but under the right politicians and groups, it has been a 'dual power' position in Russia.

A strong Tsar and a strong Premier have guaranteed important political terms in the Russian Empire. When there is only one strong Tsar or one strong Premier, the situation can vary much more.

On the other hand, when there are two, power stops power, or they help in times when Russia needs it most.

Stalin as Premier was the best example of this duality of powers between the Duma and the Tsar (Nicholas II in this case). Which at the time was a surprise to many Russians.

Not so much because it was an affront to the monarchy, but because Stalin was initially a strange figure in Russia.

He was a Georgian with a Caucasian accent leading the big Russian Empire, a former apprentice priest turned into a socialist, and a man of peasant origin (unlike his predecessors, who came from the nobility) now living in Moscow with the persons of the highest part of Russian society.

A contradictory figure without a middle ground (many loved him, and many hated him), but who fit perfectly into what Russia was.

After men like Stalin, the Premiership used to not be the same.

So the question of succession was always of interest, inside Russia and outside Russia (during the Great Cold War, organizations like the CIA in the United States always saw the Russian Premiership as a matter of paramount importance).

*******

[Korean politics in the Russian empire

A portrait of Premier Iosif V. Stalin is prepared for a parade in Seoul, federal city and one of the great centers of the Korean peninsula under the Russian Empire due to its history as old capital of Korean states.​

After the successful development of the Russian economic policy on the Korean peninsula (industrial modernization, infrastructure construction, advancement of vital services, etc.), it is natural that similar to other developing or already-developed regions of the Empire, came a period of remarkable political maturation in Russian Korea.

This political maturation was the result of decades of development of various Korean socio-political circles, which existed among students, peasant-worker associations, and Russian-Korean intelligentsia.

In the early 20th century (1919-1924), the first attempts at centralization in political parties were led by Nam Man Chung (남만 춘/Нам Ман Чхун, also known as Namm Pavel Nikiforovich), but this failed due to infighting between the leadership of the mentioned circles (mainly between Nam Man Chung, Kim Sa Guk, Lee Hyun Geun and Kim Chhor Hong).

Despite this there were still salvageable early political figures, such as Yi Donghwi, Pak Ding Shun and Pak Hon-yong.

It is due to this period of initial work that the first true political parties were finally consolidated on April 17 of 1925. Currently, many of the first Korean parties in Russia were founded in Irkutsk Oblast (Irkutsk), Primorsky Krai (Vladivostok) and Manchuria (Port Arthur, Mukden and other cities).

This occurred mainly because of factional struggles between different political circles in Korea, and the failure of attempts at further unification (such as the Verkhneudinsk unification congress in Buryatia in 1922).

It was the 'Irkutsk circle' who finally took the lead, establishing the Social Democratic Labour Party of Korea (한국사회민주노동당/Социал-демократическая рабочая партия Кореи), due to the coordination between Kim Jae Bong and Pak Hong Yong.

Bringing together young politicians like Kim Dan Ya, Kim Yong-bom, Mu Chong (born Kim Mu-chong), Choe Yong-gon, and Kim Hyong-jik (whose family would later become one of Korea's most renowned political dynasties).

Obviously the Social Democratic Labour Party of Korea is the Korean section of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, which at this time dominated the politics of the Fourth Duma (despite this, the first elections of the SDLP of Korea turned out to be somewhat negative for the group, although it makes sense, since they were created shortly before the 1925 elections like other Korean political groups).

The Social Democratic Labour Party of Korea promoted an identical platform to that of the RSDLP of the First Stalinist period, although over time the political culture of Korea inside of Russia has diverged over the decades (they are still affiliated with the RSDLP, but there are differences in certain ideas or particular positions - it should also be noted that not all Korean mainstream trends are the same in Russia proper, or vice versa).

After the formation of the SDLP of Korea, other political parties would be formed, now that the 1925 elections were approaching:

*The National Democratic Party (국민민주당), center-right and right-wing party (conservatives liberals, conservatives and others).

The National Democratic Party was created under the slogan "Prosperity, Democracy, Justice and Work" by Ahn Changho "Dosan", Choe Nam-seon, Sin Chaeho (whose ideas would later would inspire some Korean anarchist, nationalist and libertarian movements or parties) and Park Eunsik, all from the 'Vladivostok group'.

Yi Yun-yong, Chang Myon, and Lee Beom-seok were part of the political youth of this party at the time of its founding.

*The Triune Party (삼위일체 파티), a 'liberal-progressive' party, founded by Jo So-ang as a moderate and centrist alternative to the SDLPK and the National Democratic Party.

This party follows the concept of Jo So-ang known as "Equality between individuals, Equality between ethnicities and Equality between nations", which are the fundamental principles of Jo So-ang's concept of "Three Principles of Equality" (which includes or supports 'immediate political equality' through the democratic process, equality in educational opportunity, equity of economic development, and pacifism).

*Small or unclear religious parties-movements were founded, which could be divided into:

1-"Traditionalists" (conservatives of religious tendencies that existed in the Korean peninsula).

2-"Cheondoism/Chondoism" (a collection of 'reformist' and utopian movements, centered around the Korean peasantry and internal cultivation to approach 'Heaven', which functions as an 'instructor' and representative of what is good and just) .

3- The Korean Orthodoxs, Koreans who converted to Orthodoxy due to the advance of Russian influence in parts of Korean society.

*The Syndicalist Federation of Korea (대한생디컬리스트연맹), a group made up of Korean anarchists and labor unions, who were not affiliated with the Social Democratic Labor Party of Korea (generally due to ideological discrepancies).

Although it is a promising start for Korean policies (which over the decades would have more relevance in the rest of the Russian Empire and the international situation), the truth is that they have always been particularly problematic for one reason or another.

It cannot be denied that in modern times Korea is one of the most densely populated and developed regions of the Russian Empire (especially in the Far East), but in reality this is a perception that tends to hide many of the details and particular characteristics of what it is this region.

Factionalism-infighting, militarism, political dynasties, sexism and domestic violence, labor strikes, student movements, corruption and various other situations form an intricate political-social culture and history within Russian Korea.

All in part began in the period between 1919-1922 and 1937, after the basic development of the Korean peninsula under Tsar Alexander III, began a new era of development under Tsar Nicholas II (closely linked to the development of the Covenant of Nations, foreign policy, the second industrial revolution and more).

Initially there was a significant disparity within the Korean peninsula, with the northern regions (more interconnected with Manchuria and the Far East) growing much faster than the southern regions of the peninsula.

With the exception of important outposts such as the city of Pusan-Busan, considerable southern portions of the peninsula remained largely 'agricultural-rural', it wasn't actually that bad to some extent.

In urban and rural areas, Korean productivity and demographics were growing at a considerable rate (in some regions the population multiplied by 10 times), but there was also a improvement in the quality of life for the average Korean with increased access to services and modern infrastructure, better salary and/or other major reforms during the reign of Tsar Nicholas II.

Under these conditions, a native entrepreneurial class grew up, there were further developments in the Korean proletarian and peasant politics and society, and of course there were different movements or groups developing, as in other parts of the Russian Empire after economic development and/or the Russian civil war (where the Koreans played a part in the Russian rear).

The identity of the Korean nation was strong and would obviously survive even within the colossal Russian Empire, but it was obvious that being within the empire (a different situation from when Korea was part of the Chinese dynasties' sphere of influence) would cause certain changes in its culture or its surroundings.

Korean cuisine, architecture, and certain parts of Korean culture moved to nearby regions, particularly Inner Manchuria and Outer Manchuria.

But it was also clear that there was a 'break' between the Korean generations, a cultural gap that was opening up day by day for different reasons. Culture, economy, politics and more.

Korea had effectively modernized and this involved changes in traditional Korean culture.

The traditional monarchy, traditional social relations and traditional philosophical education in Korea had been structurally replaced in almost all-senses.

1-Korean nobles were still there but their roles were reduced to purely ceremonial things, similar to Central Asia.

2-The socio-economic barriers had been legally swept away, and there were important advances in social mobility thanks to greater access to education, infrastructure and industrialization.

In this process there were also some changes in the way of doing things, for example the re-organization of Korea's traditional police and military forces into modern state services. Conscription in particular has left its mark on Russian Korea (where Russian military traditions began to linger in Korean culture).

3-The aforementioned modernization of education, now under more STEM principles, not based on the same cultural conceptions as Taoist, Buddhist or other forms of thought.

There were also different particular tendencies as result of this:

*Eastern, the tendency to adopt traits or characteristics of Russia, such as Orthodox Christianity, Russian fashion, Cyrillization of Korean, or the like.

*'Japanizers', name given to Koreans who saw the modernization of Korea reflected to some extent in the Empire of Japan and Ethiopia.

Of course these Koreans did not want a civil war like the one that was happening in Japan at that time, but the Korean corporate upper class was very attracted to the corporatism of the Japanese Zaibatsu (which had already been implemented in the Russosphere, more specifically in Ethiopia, through Solomonic companies).

*The aforementioned Cheondoism / Chondoism, a movement that took root especially in the rural portions of the south, adding elements of Taoist, Buddhist and Korean shamanism thought with the new ideological trends that existed at the time (especially utopian thoughts and even to a certain extent agrarian socialism ).

There were no more militant peasant forces, but it did not mean that the social, cultural and political participation of the peasants stopped.

Moreover, with the democratic reforms and increases in quality of life, it increased considerably.

*The aforementioned anarchist and nationalist tendencies that existed in Korea, which evolved over time due to factional divisions among early Korean political circles-movements and groups.

The most significant Korean political divide occurred between the 1930s and 1950s, which is an issue we can explore later.

Today the regions that make up Russian Korea are extremely developed and there are undoubtedly several positive points in their development (such as the rapid process of reconstruction after natural dis

Korea is a center of economic development, manufacturing and socio-cultural exchange, but this does not mean that we should forget several of the problems that exist.

The old hermit realm has troublesome tendencies to this day, and can still be a pretty secluded place when interacting with regions outside of the Russosphere (much news from the region is fake or not properly reported to the outside).

Architectural concepts of "sustainable tourist hotspots" on the Korean peninsula, designed by the country's authorities and travel agencies during the 2000s [Main setting: the mountains of the peninsula] - These concepts also belong to the so-called Korean Solarpunk, a style that became popular in the peninsula after decades of progress in the environmental policies of the Russian Empire.​

*******

[Artek]

Painting about the Artek camp for children of the Russian Empire.

On June 16 of the year of 1925, the Russian government created the international children's center "Artek" (Арте́к), located in the city of Gurzuf on the shores of the Crimean peninsula near the Black Sea and the city of Medved' -gora (Медведь-гора, which means 'Bear mountain' - the city is also called Ayu-Dag by the Crimean Tatars).

The Artek camp was created on the initiative of Zinovy Petrovich Soloviov, president of the Russian Red Cross and associate of the Ministry of Public Education, Technology and Culture in the government of Premier I.V. Stalin (in the period of 1920-1925, the minister of this ministry was Pyotr Mikhailovich von-Kaufman).

Initially the idea was that it would be a sanatorium (establishment designed for patients undergoing important curative treatments or regimens, Soloviov in particular aimed at the treatment of tuberculosis) and camp for children of the Russian Empire.

However Solovyov's intentions greatly expanded, as Artek was ultimately placed under the Ministry and not the Russian Red Cross (although with Soloviov managing the staff, we can say that the Red Cross had some influence in the initial management of the establishment). Transforming the camp into a children's and youth center run by the Russian state.

The camp essentially became the most notable camp of Russian children's-youth organizations, although its origins were quite humble.

The camp received about 320 children from Moscow, Ivanovo-Voznesiensk and the Crimean peninsula. A small number of children compared to the enormous size of Russia (with a population of more than 300 million people).

But then the establishment grew considerably, for some particular reasons. In 1926 the camp was expanded so that it could be open all year round, and Artek was selected as a point of interest by youth organizations from other member countries of the Covenant of Nations.

The first foreign delegations were received and, therefore, the prestige and importance of Artek grew significantly.

More important than the size or the number of children received (which was increasing year after year), the important thing that Artek did and the work of Soloviov and FF Shishmariévu (officially the first director of Artek), was the establishment of a model that was spreading throughout the Russian Empire and countries of the Covenant of Nations.

After the rise in popularity of Artek, similar camps developed in other parts of the Russian territory, such as Orliónok (in Krasnodar), Okean ("Ocean", located in Primorsky Krai), Molodaya Gvardia ("The Young Guard", located in Odessa), and Zubrenok (Minsk), among others.

The greatest achievement of the common prosperity of the Russian Empire and the Covenant under the reign of Tsar Nicholas II, was not so much the development of 'luxuries', but their expansion throughout the masses.

Chess, ballet and caviar were all 'luxury goods' or 'high culture' in various countries, before they began to spread to the common man (a phenomenon that occurred in Russia and other countries).

The creation of abundant societies, not societies more stratified by economic inequality.

Of course there were more prestigious camps than others, but at least they were accessible to a large part of the Russian youth (particularly those affiliated with established organizations, such as the Pioneers).

Between the 30s-40s Artek already had more than 150 buildings, 3 medical centers, a school, the "Artekfilm" studio, 3 swimming pools, a sports stadium with a capacity for 7,000 people and playgrounds for different needs, among others characteristics.

By 1949, the camp was receiving more than 300,000 children from Russia and other countries, effectively becoming the largest and most important children's center in Russia in the 1960s (a time of significant economic and geopolitical change).

*Culture.

As mentioned, the Artek camp was placed under the Ministry of Public Education, Technology and Culture.

A ministry that was changing direction, due to the new socio-cultural ideas that were running throughout the Russian government at this time.

Artek was the first step in a series of cultural policies developed during the reign of Tsar Nicholas II. In which, the state guaranteed that from official institutions to companies, factories and town halls should held cultural evenings or other important tasks for the socio-cultural development of Russia.

Cultural evenings in this context mean that Russian families (naturally, made up mostly of 'average people') perform, appreciate and/or educate themselves in all kinds of cultural activities, such as music, drama, folk dance, linguistic preservation, etc. The golden age of culture under Tsar Alexander III was a good time for the country's great artists and noble elite, but the rule of Tsar Nicholas II was when all of this really began to reach the majority of Russian citizens.

The cultural policy of Tsar Nicholas II and his various Premier's was simple, although Russia was a predominantly Slavic (Triune nation) and Orthodox country, one could NOT govern Russia as a nation-state in the Western sense of nation-state (concept which developed predominantly between the 17th and 19th century).

So the Russian state had to find another way (with concepts already explained above about what it meant to be a Russian in the Russia of Alexander III and Nicholas II).

As a result of this political and cultural situation, there were several interesting periods for Russian culture.

Particularly in the 1920s, several experiments in film and early animation were developed in Russia (in its beginnings, mainly consisting of short proofs-of-concept for new styles and techniques, rather than using traditional methods to tell a story).

*******

[International]

April 1, raid by the police of the Emirate of Ha'il against communist groups formed by Palestinians and Jews in the city of Jerusalem, Palestinian territory.

The repression against the left (formed by different ethno-religious groups) in the territory of Palestine is very important to understand certain issues of the Emirate of Ha'il in modern times.

Such as the problems facing the country in South Arabia and Palestine, terrorism from both ends of the political spectrum, problematic laws and more.

Long live the 1st of May 1954! - Leftist poster from the Arab-Jew groups of the Emirate of Ha'il before re-organization in the mid-XX century (50s-60s).​

April 3, the Ford family business conglomerate of the United States begins to control private aviation companies between Detroit (Michigan) and Chicago (Illinois).

April 4, birth of Fariza Vagabovna Magomadova, a Russian citizen from the Chechnya region (later a pioneer teacher in women's education efforts in the North Caucasus).

April 5, border tensions between socialist Flanders and the Netherlands (part of the British sphere) rise.

Dutch chauvinism is on the rise due to the fact that right-wing groups and ideologies are firmly established in the country and to some extent in its society, not only influenced by the British Social Aristocracy, but also because the population feels 'threatened' surrounded by socialist countries like West Germany (with the history of Germany and the Dutch in recent times being somewhat...complicated).

Flanders and the Netherlands would be a point of possible conflict between Socialist Europe and British-aligned Europe, with the Flemish and the Dutch being elements of a much larger game in the competition for power, influence and geopolitical interests in the inter-war period.

April 7, death of Patriarch Tikhon of Moscow and All Rus', at the age of 60.

Tikhon is succeeded by Patriarch Sergius (born Ivan Nikolayevich Stragorodsky), noted for his loyalty and assistance to the Moscow regime (especially during WW3).

Sergius was not much of a reformer, but continued to a certain extent the policy of pacification and re-organization started by Tikhon shortly before his death, due to the new religious movements in post-civil war Russia. And under his patriarchy, the 'patriarchal' factions (previously followers of Tikhon loyal also to the secular government in Moscow) were consolidated.

April 8, more than 450,000 British citizens and people in British custody are sent to the Imperial state of Australia, to support various plans that the Imperial Federation has in the region.

Free white citizens (remember that Australia had the White Australia policy) have access to low-interest loans and skills training for various developed high-pay jobs.

The criminals and people in British custody are essentially forced labor that helps the hard work of the aforementioned British projects in the region.

April 9, 2 killed and 11 injured in clashes between leftists and members of the Emirate of Ha'il police after the aforementioned raid of April 1.

April 12, funeral and burial of Patriarch Tikhon, one of the biggest events in the Orthodox world at that time.

April 14, Intensification of Marxist and anarchist activity in portions of the southern Balkans with the advance of Greek groups and their allies (who by this time support the doctrines of the European Socialist Union, a 'Balkan federation' and further centralization of its ideological movements).

April 15, marriage between James Stillman Rockefeller (of the renowned Rockefeller family) and Nancy Carnegie (grand-niece of the industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie).

April 16, Crown Prince Sergey Romanovsky of Bulgaria dies prematurely.

This due to a blood infection, the result of a blister produced during the sporting activities of the young prince.

The death strongly impacted Bulgarian society at that time, in particular Tsar Alexander I, who was 39-40 years old at the time.

The funeral takes place a few days later at St Nedelya Church, Sofia.

April 23, the Kingdom of Italy in exile (composed of Libya and Tunisia) begins to renew its naval forces with British help.

April 24, various monarchist groups in East Germany continue to put forward optimistic views about the restoration of the monarchy in Germany.

Unfortunately for them, after April 26 of this year 1925 (in an important parliamentary vote), the Red-Black Front begins to simply consolidate more power in the hands of a few men.

As is the leadership of the Front, Manfred von Richthofen, the Strasser brothers and a few associates, such as Wilhelm Frick (subordinate of Gregor Strasser, a Bavarian-born lawyer who escaped the socialist revolution in the West) and Hermann Wilhelm Göring (minister without portfolio of the government of the Red Baron).

April 28, budget announcements in the Imperial Federation demonstrate the success of the country's Keynesian reforms in economic reconstruction and development.

Winston Churchill (Prime Minister) and Edward VIII (King-Emperor) announce even more improvements in the economic situation of the country in the future.

This is actually true in part, but also, partly untrue, British economic policy has a considerable 'miracle period' during the inter-war period.

But they were more temporary solutions that benefited the country's economic elites and not the average citizen.

The truth is that British capitalism needed more markets and exploitation of resources in its search for growth, after the economic loss of several key assets and/or the disruption of world trade due to various world events after the Fashoda War.

And the only way to do this was through war and elimination of major geopolitical rivals. Due to this, although the war did not come until 1937, the interwar period saw the increase of militarism in imperial society and many war preparations for various campaigns.

May 1, big celebrations in the European Socialist Union for the first May 1 of the People's Chancellor Ernst Thälmann.

During this event Thälmann creates the Freie Deutsche Jugend (FDJ, Free German Youth).

An organization dedicated to teaching Marxist ideology to West German youth (especially important against the 'anti-proletarian ideologies' that were being fought against during this time in Western Europe) and various activities.

The FDJ was mainly divided into two groups, the Scouts between 6 and 14 years old, and the adolescent-young adults (which included an age range between 14 and 25 years).

May 3, race relations between American Jews and whites in the United States worsen, as President Henry Ford ramps up his anti-Semitic speeches and propaganda in semi-official newspapers like the Dearborn Independent (which de-facto functions as the newspaper of the National Republican Party).

Some Jewish gangs of the inter-war era became some of the best known anti-Fordist militants of the time (especially after 1927).

"If fans wish to know the trouble with American baseball they have it in three words: Too much Jew."

-President Henry Ford in 1920...

(OOC: This is something OTL Ford apparently said.)

May 5, in the United States the debate between creationists (generally Christians, although the term could apply to other religions) and believers in the theory of evolution intensifies.

This after the state of Tennessee approved a new law, so that the theory of evolution should be compulsory taught in the state-schools, as a more 'correct' or rational view of biology.

Other states would soon follow Tennessee (especially in the Deep South), but keep in mind that at the time, this was a very divisive and important issue.

May 7, Todor Nikolov Panitsa, Hristo Tatarchev and other leftist Bulgarian-Macedonian revolutionaries join the efforts of the Greek communists from the southern Balkans against the Peloponnesian Dictatorship and other capitalist-imperialist forces.

Similar to the Turk Mustafa Kemal, these Bulgarian-Macedonians had been disappointed by the original Macedonian revolution and the results of the Ottoman dissolution.

Instead of an independent Macedonia, they called for the creation of a communist Balkan federation, with an autonomous Macedonia (which at least according to their plan would adopt Esperanto, for some reason...).

The legacy of Macedonia's so-called 'Federalists' is more important than it seems, especially in the partisan-guerrilla movements and post-World War III order in the Balkans.

May 8, referendum in the United Boer States confirms the willingness of the Boer population to join the imperial state of South Africa (part of the Imperial Federation).

Soon the process of unification between the two regions begins, creating a South Africa that contains 'South Africa proper', Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and Bechuanaland Protectorate (Botswana).

May 12, President Henry Ford, a few months after winning the 1924 elections, already announces that he has no intention of pursuing a fourth term.

The question of course becomes who will be Ford's successor within the leadership of the National Republican Party and in the US presidency.

Ford has tried to educate two main heirs of the Fordist Wing, his own son Edsel, and Prescott Sheldon Bush, however after Ford is no longer president, many things can happen.

May 15, the United States passes the Wheeler Act, named after lawyer and prohibitionist Wayne Bidwell Wheeler.

The law establishes that the country's armed forces, such as the navy, are used to enforce certain national policies, as in this case the prohibition of alcohol in the United States.

This marks an unprecedented step in Fordism, where the militarization of American society increased. At first we see this with the armed forces getting involved in a supposedly exclusive role for civil forces (such as the police), and later we see it in a adoption of military characteristics by the civilian structures of law and order.

May 18, the speaker of the parliament of socialist France, Maurice Thorez, announces new laws known as the 'Reparations of Vergonha'.

Vergonha is an Occitan word that translates as 'shame', and refers to the social effects that the policies of the pre-revolutionary states had against minority languages and cultures in France.

The policies of pre-revolutionary France were called "sanctioned systematic linguicide" and even "genocide" by the government of the République Populaire Démocratique de France (Democratic People's Republic of France, DPRF).

"France, has the miserable honor of being one of the few states that succeeded in the diabolical task of destroying its own ethnic and linguistic patrimony and moreover, of destroying human family bonds.

Many parents and children, or grandparents and grandchildren, have different languages, and the latter feel ashamed of the first because they speak a "despicable" patois. And no element of the grandparents' culture has been transmitted to the younger generation, as if they were born out of a completely new world.

This is the French State that has just entered the 20st century, a country where stone monuments and natural landscapes are preserved and respected, but where many centuries of popular creation expressed in different tongues are on the brink of extinction."

-Official statements of the DPRF regarding the Reparations of Vergonha.

These reparations included economic aid to families affected by the so-called Vergonha, policies to revive or help rebuild-preserve local identities and local cultures, recovering the nativist policies of the government of President Jules Guesde.

The 'standard' French of Paris was still the key language for administrative matters, but at the local level there began to be resurgences of 'non-standard' languages (patois) in administrative matters, cultural festivals, social situations, etc.

The demographic crisis and consequences of repeated civil wars in France at the time had driven some of France's minority languages to a near extinction situation, but remarkable results of the Reparations can be seen today.

For example around 39% of the French population in the Occitanie region can speak Occitan along with standard Parisian French.

May 19, birth of Malcolm Little, African-American activist against racism and racial segregation in the United States of America.

May 23, an earthquake hits the Toyooka region, Hyōgo (Empire of Japan).

May 26, death of one of the leaders of the Sicilian mafias in the United States.

Chicago mobster Angelo Genna died in hospital shortly after crashing his car at high speeds, while he was being chased by members of the North Side Gang (with whom Genna had a notable criminal war).

May 28, British intelligence services activate new protocols to try to deal with possible foreign spies.

"No alien person known to be engage in subversive activities abroad, should be allowed on imperial territory", according to authorities, a reasonable politic that had mixed results.

May 30, about 1,500 to 2,000 citizens of the Republic of China are massacred by Black KMT troops, due to their opposition to the policies in the 'free territories' (land administered by the Black KMT, who rules a state in all but name).

The free territories claim to be communes or anarchist groupings, but in reality they are more like personal fiefdoms of Chen Jiongming and his allies.

The troops collect resources from the population to get their vital supplies, which would be normal, if the civilian population did not have to endure various abuses of the anarchist administration (sometimes being used practically as slave labor, suffering from abuses of power, violence and more).

After this incident, motivated by the anarchist Zhang Ji, the Black KMT instead of reconsidering its policy, continues to insist on the same...

Which eventually leads to the defeat of the Black KMT by inner and exterior forces, because no one would support for too long a group that wanted and/or actively participated in the death of:

*Ethnic minorities.

*State officials of other governments (past or present in the Chinese civil war at the time).

* Capitalists.

*Socialist-Communists and their allies (the CPC and the Left KMT).

*Married people.

*Women.

*Kids.

*Dogs.

*Literally admitting that millions of Chinese should be killed to achieve Anarchism.

The anarchists of the Black KMT became comically evil, and the communities that might originally support them either re-organized against them or joined their enemies (primarily the Left KMT-CPC).

(OOC: The Black KMT is not only based in some dangerous tendencies of Chinese anarchist or Makhnovia, but also the terrorism of the Peruvian Shining Path in events like Lucanamarca massacre)

June 1, intense North American heat wave causes deaths in parts of the United States.

June 2, in North America the state of Canada (part of the Imperial Federation) officially claims all the land between Russian Alyaska and Greenland (also part of the British Empire and de-facto Canadian), up to the North Pole.

This Anglo-Saxon arctic is more important than it seems, especially during the times of the Great Cold War and the fear of climate change.

June 7, serial killer Wilhelm Brückner commits suicide on Hassenberg (East Germany) after escaping from the police forces of both Germany's (West and East Germany).

On June 6, Wilhelm Brückner, age 31, attempted to murder his former brother-in-law and successfully murdered his ex-wife, his own mother, his own sister (Wilhelmine), his sister's husband (Eduard Rosenbauer), and the five children of the couple (four girls aged 2, 10, 16 and 19, and a boy of 8).

The Brückner family was originally from Bavaria, now the Free Republic of Germany, but during the second great war (where German imperial authorities tried to recruit Wilhelm Brückner, but was repeatedly discharged due to his mental problems) and after the German revolution they moved to Lindenberg, in West Germany (Prussian Republic of Germany).

After the murder of 9 people, Wilhelm Brückner tried to cross the border to East Germany (more specifically to Hassenberg, his hometown), exploding a brief border and legal problem between the two Germanys.

In general during the inter-war period and the subsequent Cold War, people have tried and/or managed to cross the borders between the two Germanys.

Some of them are criminals, which has caused problems due to the lack of extradition agreements, diplomatic fights, geo-political fights and more.

The Brückner case was one of these early attempts by criminals, and is recognized for the brutality of the case, the 'mysterious' suicide before capture, Wilhelm's own personality (mental problems, religiosity and interest in the supernatural) and the tense time that was the inter-war period.

June 9, an estimate of 500 people have died from the heat wave in the United States.

June 13, Charles Francis Jenkins demonstrates a synchronized transmission of images and sound at Jenkins Labs (Washington DC, United States).

June 14, in the Prussian Republic of Germany, the anti-Communist response against the artistic trends in the Free Republic of Germany (Socialist Realism), the decay of most Vanguardist movements in East Germany and the rise of the Red-Black Front, give birth to a new artistic trend known as Neue Überlieferung (New Tradition, also some times called New Lore or New Custom).

This New Tradition trend started as a movement in East German painting, but soon spread to other art forms such as literature, music and architecture, and was even seen as a representation of the 'public attitude' of Germans from East Germany.

This New Tradition sought a practical 'new engagement' of art with the reality of the modern world (the great industrialization of human societies, the changes produced by capitalism, and to some extent various historical events that affected the daily life of human beings), objectivity and tradition. The New Tradition thought that Vanguard movements and other new artistic trends of the time had broken with the sense of order and tradition, in favor of representing emotional and subjective experiences: "Wide but superficial - Delight in ideas, but not real new ideas, will to drama, but no real drama" (such were the New Tradition's criticisms of European avant-garde movements and socialist art).

So the New Tradition search to going back to the traditions, movements and 'laws' of previous art movements, but now influenced by East German nationalism (a romanticism for nationalism and a pride or admiration for the Classic) and an 'an all-business attitude' of a industrial-capitalist modern country (similar to British and American customs).

Critic to the 'New Tradition' of the Prussian Republic.

Painting of the New Tradition trend - Life Hussar and woman.

New Tradition architecture, with inspiration from various historic periods.

New Prussian fashion from East Germany in the 20s-30s, a mixture of different uniform elements (like the German Totenkopf).​

June 18, the Red-Black Front begins the expropriation of land and economic assets from the old East German elites (elites that descend from the landed nobility or big capitalists of the German Empire), with the aim of using these new assets to reorganize the economy to 'more productive directions'.

June 20, Palmiro Togliatti initiates the New Agricultural Policy, with which the Italian government makes more emphasis on continuing the development and productivity of agriculture in the Federative Socialist Republic of Italy.

The objective was the development of the productive forces necessary in the construction of socialism (especially after the coup against Bordiga), the creation of vital reserves of important resources for civilians and the military, and the development of self-sufficiency in access to food products (such as wheat, fruits and vegetables).

June 21, creation of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Youth League by Vietnamese communists, who receive support from West Germany.

June 23, the Black KMT kills 52 people and wounds 117 others on the island of Shamian (within Canton), in the event known as the Shamian Massacre.

After this the Chinese anarchists also attempted an assault on Hong Kong, but were stopped by Imperial Federation troops.

June 27, earthquake of magnitude 6.6 in Helena, Montana (United States).

There were no flukes, but there was about $150,000 in damage.

2 days later (June 29) the earthquake in Santa Barbara, California (with a similar magnitude, between 6.5 and 6.8) occurs, with 13 deaths and 8 million dollars in damage.

June 30, Sweden's largest theater, the Swedish Theater in Stockholm, is destroyed in a fire.

In their time the Hitlerites blamed the communists, Jews and other 'enemies of Swedish culture'. The theater would be rebuilt after 1928 (when Hitler came to power in Sweden).