Join the new world

Another excellent article is to come by SpeedKing. I shall say no more, and allow you to enjoy his work.

Ever since eRepublik Public Beta was started on November 20, 2007 (also known as Day 0 of the New World), United Kingdom and Canada were close. Because both countries are still related culturally IRL, are speaking the same language and have a border, why wouldn't it be so?


As most relationships in eRep, the one between Canada and UK is heavily influenced by the alliances. In January 2008, United Kingdom (along with Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Romania and USA) became a founding member of the Northern Alliance. In May, Canada joined the Mediterranean Alliance, founded by Spain and a few other European countries (Canada was, in fact, the only non-European member). In July the inner conflicts destroyed the alliance. Its charter was no longer in effect. This was a turning point in the foreign affairs of the New World.

Two members of MA (Spain and Canada), as well as the entire Northern Alliance and PANAM (most North and South American countries) soon formed ATLANTIS. As a response to this, FIST (Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Japan, Indonesia and Greece) united with the remaining MA members (Austria, France, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands and Portugal) and formed PEACE. Just to point this out, it has been more than two years and most countries have stood with their old allies.


ATLANTIS probably wasn't a good name to choose. Just like its namesake, the alliance sank after Sweden and Poland attacked their allies, Germany. In May 2009 ATLANTIS was no more. Most European countries formed EDEN. At the same time, USA, Canada, Spain, Ireland, and the United Kingdom were planning to form Fortis. The latter two soon dropped out of the talks. Spain followed suit. Canada didn't adopt the treaty, but was de facto considered to be a member.

As World War III neared, UK joined PEACE. It swapped regions with Hungary, which was seen by many as treason. Although the first attack on Canada was carried out by the French, Hungarians later used Scotland to gain territories in North America. Canada was subsequently erased from map. Obviously, they would never forgive this to the British.

As for the recent history, well, you saw it all yourself and I'm not going to retell it.



The article would be a little dry without the usual opinions. I asked some questions to UK and Canadian leaders of both ATLANTIS dissolution era and the current times.

“Canada and the UK were allies and so did fight together in the same wars and took part in sharing intell just as any other ATLANTIS member,” said Bruck. He was the Canadian PM from March to May 2009. “Although I was not President at the time, the UK and Canada worked closely during the invasion of France. Most all ATLANTIS was involved but the UK and Canada both share close borders with France and so were directly involved and were required to coordinate with each other often.” jerryGFL (UK PM March '09) downplayed this a bit. “I can't remember Canada doing too much. [Our relationship] was more than barely noticable and, yes, it was a good relationship. Towards the end of ATLANTIS SaraDroz was president and I think the intel services and that coordinated quite well.”

When asked about UK's alignment with PEACE, Bruck sai😛 “It was a shock for the world I think, most of all the UK's allies. During the final days of ATLANTIS it was clear that the UK was feeling neglected by it's allies and plans were being set into motion by PEACE to push the UK away from ATLANTIS. Looking back, I know more could have been done to keep the UK as allies but I also know a lot more was out of our hands and in the hands of the UK citizens.” He adde😛 “Not long after PEACE launched a major invasion of North America starting in Canada. Canada was not looking to fight the UK but was going to defend itself against an aggressor, even if they had been allies not long before.”

“I was MoFA under Hassan during the occupation of the Eastern Canadian seaboard. Of course, there was opposition in the Commons, but over a few months that resistance broke down and the UK became PEACE.” That's the legendary GLaDOS, now an American citizen. “I also offered Canada membership and it almost passed their congress, but I moved to England in the midst of some political chaos and one thing led to another.”

When asked about why didn't Canada, in the end, join PEACE just like UK did, GlaDOS responde😛 “It would have been possible back then, but the Canadians voted down the proposal to join PEACE and maintained their relations with the USA, the obvious nail in the coffin was the invasion of Canada.”


“I think that in-game alliances aren't everything. Everyone has people they get on with, regardless of country. I speak with Acacia quite a lot, and we get on well.” That's our current leader jamesw. “Most experienced players would probably get on with some canadians, simply because they don't keep up the "all of EDEN is evil" thinking; they know that there can be cool Canadians, so long as they aren't jacobi, who definitely is evil.”

“I completely opposed joining PEACE. At the time when joining was first proposed (June 2009) the UK had just come out of a long and brutal campaign against PEACE GC in Asia. I thought that if we joined PEACE we'd trade known friends for known enemies, and would be relegated to second class citizens and puppets in PEACE.” Believe it or not, that is the Treasurer of Phoenix Iain Keers speaking. “However, after convincing congress to reject PEACE membership at least once, I finally got tired of the constant American trolling. I thought "EDEN don't want us, the USA is being a massive child, and the only people saying 'take your time, make the right decision for the UK' is PEACE". To be honest, it is a similar situation to what USA is in now. Nobody likes them in EDEN, mostly the EDEN top 5 has some article attacking USA. I wouldn't be surprised if they saw their honourable enemies as being better than their dishonourable friends.”


When asked about the possibility of moving to Canada someday, jamesw sai😛 “Probably not. I've been helping most of Phoenix undermine them and their allies, for a while now. They're not really receptive to Brits at the best of times, either.” Iain Keers had a similar stance. “If, theoretically, I were to move abroad, I would probably move to France, Germany or Serbia. I have moved to Pakistan in the past. Personally I don't feel any desire to ever leave the UK on a long term basis, my previous moves being purely motivated by sentimental or military reasons, and I'd never pursue a political career abroad. Plus, of course, I doubt Canada would appreciate one of the primary architects of Phoenix moving to their country and setting up shop.” GLaDOS would consider living in Canada, although he doubts it will happen.

The six presidents who responded to my questions had different experiences with getting friends in the opposite countries. “I have not had any British friends (in eRep) since my time as President, so no, nothing changed,” said Bruck. “I don't have that much interaction with Canadians. I get on well with jbdivinus and acacia when we do occasionally chat though,” were the words of jamesw. “Jacobi was and continues to be a good friend of mine,” said GLaDOS.

And on that note, we shall finish. I hope you enjoyed this article as much as I did, 'cause this has been days in the making. Most thanks to SpeedKing for another excellent article.

GGRyan
UK Minister of Foreign Affairs