New Countries in eRepublik and Their Potential Impact

Day 1,038, 16:48 • Published in USA USA • by Lieutenant Scheisskopf

The admin's impressed many with their fairly quick responses to v2 grievances, but what surprised me about today’s Insider was the admin's addition of six new countries-- Belarus, Cyprus, Macedonia, Montenegro, New Zealand, and Taiwan-- to the New World. While the notable snubs may be prominent in many gamers’ minds (I am disappointed to see that Egypt, for whom I petitioned months ago, was not included), I am taking this opportunity to look at the potential these 6 new additions will have on eRepublik warfare and alliance dynamics. I hope my assessments may be respectfully taken, and if they differ from your own or if I misunderstood part of the world, I hope you may respectfully share your insights with me and help me improve this article. Let’s get started.


Belarus
With the creation of eBelarus, a third country now separates the rival ePolish and eRussian nations in Eastern Europe. As Belarus holds small reserves of oil and natural gas, the new country could provide a unique resource twist for a continent which is notably oil-strapped; its possession of various minerals could justify the creation of either an iron or titanium region, although either adjustment would make this new country disproportionately mineral-rich given its real-life (RL) stature and resource allocation. The ‘new kid on the block’ would get significant attention were this the case.

Because of its strong ties, both culturally and historically, with Russia, eBelarus may drift into the Phoenix sphere and play a role similar to eSlovenia against EDEN member eCroatia, as a blocker and ‘spoiler’ in battle. eRussian citizens, and eUkrainian to a lesser extent, will be best positioned to woo the new nation and play the role of an influential ‘big brother’ in its formative days. In a portion of Europe which is fairly pro-Phoenix, the addition of eBelarus could add one more state to Phoenix’s Eastern European ranks.

eBelarus (squared), eMontenegro and eMacedonia (arrows), and eCyprus (circled) will have immediate regional impacts once they become functional states

Montenegro & Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
The addition of eMontenegro could play a large role in Balkan geopolitics in-game, despite the country’s small size. Currently, eItaly holds no direct border with any country across the Adriatic Sea, requiring anyone to move around the sea prior to entering the Balkans and Southeast Europe; eMontenegro could serve as a bridge linking the Italian Peninsula with the former Yugoslav countries, and make a more direct route into eCroatia, eBosnia-Herzegovina, and even eSerbia or eGreece. From a resource standpoint, eMontenegro may not hold much more than grain and maybe stone, since its RL wealth has come via a service-based and market economy without natural resource abundances. Because Serbia and Montenegro have a deep history, eMontenegro may join Phoenix as well, considering the country’s large ethnic Serb and Serbian-speaking population; alternatively, if a friendly rivalry with eSerbia developed, eMontenegro may join EDEN as a counter to eSerbia, but would need EDEN assistance to prevent conquest or political takeover (PTO).

Macedonia has its well-documented naming dispute with Greece, which combined with a general dislike of the Greeks, could be enough to sway the small country into Phoenix. However, the two countries do enjoy cordial relations, similar religion and cultural heritage, and engage in mutually beneficial trade, which could bring them to eGreece's side. If they opposed the eGreeks, eGreece may see an opportunity to solve the naming issue unilaterally and seek to conquer or PTO the new eMacedonia-- such a move would unquestionably drive the new nation into Phoenix’s arms, as could the Macedonian language’s similarities with Bulgarian. eMacedonia will likely hold above-average grain but not much else, so it would not become a coveted region for material wealth, although it could be a convenient point of transit linking eGreece with the Balkan states.

Greek and Turkish tensions have divided RL Cyprus and could make eCyprus a very contentious battleground, as well
Cyprus
The de facto division of Cyprus in RL could make eCyprus a hotbed for PTO and foreign intervention in domestic politics. Were the country to be based solely on its domestic population, the vast Greek-speaking and Orthodox majority would outnumber its Turkish minority and likely lead eCyprus closer to eGreece. However, it remains to be seen how many citizenship requests may come to eCyprus from eGreece or eTurkey, which will play a huge role in determining where the new island nation’s allegiances lie. Depending on its initial outcomes, eCyprus could be invaded by the country who becomes its enemy.

eCyprus will play a valuable role as another Eastern Mediterranean country, providing an additional link to eIsrael, as well as abundant oil reserves on its eastern coasts. Similar to eBelgium of previous months, this country may not be able to reach its full potential because of constant foreign intervention, however, but it remains to be seen how strong the intervention will be.

Could RL Chinese-Taiwanese tensions seep into eRepublik?

Taiwan
RL China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory, so it is very possible that eChina may seek to make that move official within eRepublik. In the New World, however, it is unclear to what extent eChina may lose citizens to the newly formed eTaiwan. A large exodus from eChina, or a large baby boom by young eTaiwan, could make unification of the two Chinas a ‘pipe dream.’ Depending on the level of Chinese-Taiwanese animosity in the game, eTaiwan could join Phoenix to spite their larger mainland neighbor, and in doing so, ignore stronger relations the island nation holds with the USA and other Western countries; time will tell how eTaiwan’s future politicians navigate their ship of state into international waters.

Kiwis are the newest addition to the New World’s Pacific map

New Zealand
eAustralia has a new neighbor to its southeast, and eNew Zealand may be blessed with several natural resources to equal its larger neighbor; in an unlikely turn of events, eNZ may hold high iron or be given titanium in its possession. The country will likely also receive at least one high grain region, and may also be given some wood/stone, as well.

eNZ’s international relations could run to either extreme. There is a healthy Aussie-Kiwi banter which could make the two countries opponents much like the eUSA and eUK have become. Alternatively, eNZ could join EDEN and its larger neighbor, as they both face a similar adversary in eIndonesia. Were eNZ to provide a link to South America, bordering either eChile or ePeru, a number of interesting geopolitical options could surface in the coming months.

The four squared regions on the New World map indicate where the new six countries are located, and where eRepublik’s attention may be drawn.

Looking Ahead, and Closing
The addition of 6 new countries could create a new geopolitical slant which gives eRepublik a shot in the arm for international affairs enthusiasts who may have become bored with the status quo and slower pace of v2 warfare. The admins’ willingness to add new countries could increase the possibility of seeing others in the future, and will give increased value to domestic and foreign politics as these young countries seek to establish themselves. A baby boom could lead any of them to prosper, but RL tensions and rivalries could make all of them the center of heated struggles in the months ahead. In any event, keep on fightin, New World! 🙂

God Bless America,

Lt. Scheisskopf

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