Laying Groundwork

Day 1,677, 10:57 • Published in Austria Austria • by Rangeley


One of the steadiest shifts in eRepublik, compounded update after update, has been a move away from international cooperation, towards a selective focus only on battles that involve your own nation. This is even done to the detriment of national interests: when a focus remains on your borders, threats just beyond them can go unnoticed.

After we have fought hard for Austria in several key battles - working to secure international support diplomatically, supplying soldiers with supplies provided both by the state and from personal resources from myself and others to lessen the state’s load - I have now directed our soldiers to fight for Switzerland in their battle against Croatia.

I do this because Switzerland’s fight, and ours, are deeply interconnected. If Switzerland is able to halt Croatia’s advance, even turning back the war, our job of liberation becomes much easier. But there is also a deeper reason: if we are unwilling to look beyond our borders - unwilling to lift a finger to help others - who will look beyond their borders to ours?

Working Together

We must be prepared to lead by example, for this very issue hits quite close to home for us. Before Croatia’s NE began, we launched an effort to support a RW in Burgenland. If successful, we would be able to stop the war before it ever began by closing their border with us. I brought this case to our allies and to ONE’s organization. As the saying goes, “a stitch in time saves nine” - here was a chance to avoid, in a single battle, a fate of Croatia using Austria as a launching pad to go into Western Europe.

We were not able to secure enough support to win this battle, though we did receive help from many, which was deeply appreciated. We hoped to build on these connections in preparation for our next big stand. This came in Carinthia, where we again put up a strong fight - especially with heavy monetary support from Switzerland - and even earned the verbal support from ONE’s leadership. But other battles came up, and our battle was not prioritized by them.

Nor was the next battle in Upper Austria, where our troops and assembled allies were not enough on their own. We were once again, wiped.



Moving Ahead

From this failure, we can choose to become bitter: looking inward, focusing strictly on our own battles. Afterall, Croatia advances westward just as predicted - our earlier chances to stop them in one battle become, clearly to all, an opportunity sadly missed.

Or we can think again in the long term: applying lessons from our own shortcomings in aid of others. Where Switzerland was a loud voice in our defense, we will be a voice in theirs with the knowledge that their success would be our success, bringing nearer the day that Austria is at last liberated. And even in defeat, a continued cooperation lays a groundwork which can be built upon further: to demonstrate we can rise above the white noise of constant battles, choosing ones with true strategic impact over ones that offer mere “experience bonuses” or medals. We would earn further for ourselves the right to support from others in the future.

If Switzerland falls short in this battle - if this strategic opportunity does not come through - it will not be because we missed an opportunity to help them.

Responsibility

Even though it is undoubtedly harder for a small nation to earn international support, this is exactly the job the government is tasked with. Where we have fallen short, I take responsibility as President. But I dispute the notion that it is hypocritical to help Switzerland secure regions, as we did exactly the same for ourselves and simply came up short. A national government unwilling to aid others will find others unwilling to aid them.

We will continue our job to build friendships - to strengthen alliances, for the next time we call upon them. If we want others to help us - and we do need this help - we must help others. With the same certainty that I take responsibility for shortcomings, I stand by this decision, and firmly believe it sets us on the proper path, moreso than a blind focus on battles in Austria. For just as the greatest threats may lay beyond your borders, so too may your greatest hopes for liberation.