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By Benton A. Career Which Vexillian political entity loomed larger this week than ever before? If the answer to this question eludes you, you have not been reading the newspapers (which is all right with us, since you can catch up on the news each week simply by reading this magazine). Or perhaps you have temporarily left the Vex and have just returned. So we'll tell you: the Westrian Realm, otherwise known as "that very big country on the other side of the Vex" -- sometimes even called "The Evil Empire," or "the country you love to hate" -- great cover-story material under any name. Ruled by its talented, versatile Chancellor Maximillian T. H. Suchy through the agency of the multi-tentacled B.W.A., Westria has grown from a collection of mainly middle-class people scattered in diaspora nearly everywhere on the face of the globe to the one of its largest, and certainly its single most influential, nation-state. What is more, it has established a community of autonomous and semi-autonomous overseas territories which can at times, especially to outsiders, look very mucy like an old-fashioned empire. Last week, for example, its efforts to take yet another troubled nation into its family, if only as a temporary guest, met heavy resistance from the neighbors, particularly from that bantam-cock among nations, the enigmatic UPRMI. But Westria's adroit diplomacy and careful regard for the niceties of foreign relations once again allowed it to weather the storm and emerge, if anything, stronger and more confident than ever. With its economy booming and its population one of the fastest growing on the planet, Westria shows every sign of vigorous good health. And yet, many observers believe, the Nemesis of Creativity, that spectre raised by Komdn don Ernhalt Teynby, may be about to swoop. The secrets of Westria's success may also prove the means of her undoing as they have for the spectacularly successful and expansive states in the long history of the Vexillium such as the empire of the Lilianans, just now being unearthed by the archeologists of Estontetso and Neoliliana. The charitable impulses which have motivated Westria to accept the wretched and huddled masses of so many far-off places into the embrace of the realm may be on the verge of |
swamping the government's to keep up with the demands they put upon it. Students of Westrian history warn that, while the national myth can inspire it to herculean efforts to adjust to its increasingly heavy burden, nothing in that myth gives it even a hint about how to close itself off and cut back, though these may prove to be necessary political and steps in the not-too- distant future. Like those of all countries in Vexillian history, even the greatest (one thinks of the mammoth Northern Gronk, still in the process of being liquidated), the resources of Westria are ultimately limited, its energy not infinite. Even the previously unflagging optimism of its remarkable leader has recently seemed more subject to fluctuation. So there are signs that "the Westrian Phenomenon" may sooner or later be forced to recast itself into a more manageable form. 
THE PIECES OF THE WESTRIAN PUZZLE: Put them all together they spell BIG -- yet far from as big as that behemoth of yesteryear, Northern Gronk, with its vast stretches of frozen waste at both ends of the planet. What will this form be? The answer to this question is var from clear. Some parts of the realm, like the hapless Wwww, could be spun off as independent entities, no longer a burden or partial embarrasments to its Westrian custodians. Although no other part of the realm seems so clear a candidate for eventual independence, what are now merely quaint and at times amusing localisms or regionalisms (one thinks of Gecko Gicko, for example) could eventually become full-blown nationalism, spawning their usual ugly brood of liberation movements and terrorist organizations compose of a half-dozen Post-Modernist university students with a talent for overheated rhetoric and unstable explosive concoctions. Still, a Westria at the crossroads is far from a Westria in crisis. Those who wish the Realm well will take heart from the tone of our interview with Chancellor Suchy. Those who wish it ill, if there are any such on the face of the Vex, will just have to wait for their jollies -- perhaps forever. -- with reporting by Wasweiß der Kukuks in IWK, Angelica Himmelfarb in Wwww, and Dushan Blastovic in Northern Gronk. |
| A panoramic view of the Westrian captial at Aurelius, showing the Kjellsplaatz Monument at right center and, in the left foreground, the National Grand Library in the Park of Westria. |
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: VEX Magazine likes to go straight to the source of the news, so when the idea for a Westria cover story came to us, we immediately requested an interview with the man behind the whole Westrian Phenomenon, Chancellor Max T. H. Suchy. Ushered into his elegantly appointed office in the governmental center of Aurelius, we found the Chancellor cordial and cooperative. The highlights of our hour-long interview follow. VEX: Thank you,
Chancellor Suchy, for taking time from your busy schedule to
grant VEX this exclusive interview. VEX: For a country which started out with its people in diaspora across the surface of the Vexillian globe, Westria's certainly been spectacularly successful. To what factors do you most attribute this? |
SUCHY: I would say there are several key factors. First off, people tend to forget that Westrians had been living more or less "normal" lives in exile, whereever that might have been. Westrians living in various countries pursued their ambitions just as they would have in that elusive homeland which finally became a reality. They started their own businesses, became established in the Vexillium- wide market, accumulating a tremendous margin of wealth and industrial power. So when Westria as nation-state finally became a reality, we already had the resources available to build this country very quickly and efficiently, with every major Westrian company or personality contributing. This rapid success, in turn, snowballed as well, allowing for further expansion and the quick generation of capital which could be re-invested immediately. The second factor is -- and I am saying this without false modesty -- the organizational skills of the BWA. The Bureau has come a long way since its conception as an agency for cultural and social preservation. Nowadays, it is the largest professional management entity on the planet. The key is that the BWA operates like a well-oiled corporation, without the traps of traditional politics. Decisions are made on the basis of what will most |
benefit the Realm and its citizens. Since the people running the nation are not politicians but professional managers, they can concentrate on what matters instead of such disturbances as fund-raising, campaigning for re-election, and catering to special interests. The perception of the BWA's effectiveness is so widespread on the planet that we now have had no less than five territories voluntarily join the Realm under our leadership, despite the majority or their populations' not being Westrian. The BWA is an internationally inclusive organization. Thirdly, we not only benefit from the rich natural resources of the Realm, which is the foundation for our economic strength, but also from being a neutral state, which allows us not to divert resources and attention to military matters and warfare. Instead, we focus on building the Realm in peace, while everybody else gets bogged down in war and conflict. VEX: You call your unique system a "Westocracy," but the "-cracy" part comes from the Greek word for "power." How can you insure that the power exercised by the BWA, which is now very great -- not only in the Westrian Realm itself but in the whole of the Vexillium -- stays benevolent, both domestically toward the realm's own peoples, and in international relations? |
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SUCHY: That's
an excellent question, and one of great concern to us. Internationally,
it is our neutrality that allows us to operate smoothly, with
a policy of non-involvement. We are basically an introverted
nation when it comes to which matters we opt to involve ourselves
in. Internally, our liberal policy of inclusion and collaboration
is the key. Elected officials from each prefecture act as consultants
to the BWA in the Realm's Parliament. Furthermore, we employ
special ministers for issues concerning the many other ethnicities
inside the Realm. This ensures that not only are the rights and
interests of the minorities represented, but also that we are
always aware of what the issues and concerns are in our localities.
Approval ratings are taken weekly, and in every prefecture. If
we find them slipping, we immediately devote our extra attention
to resolve whatever issues may be pending, to the satisfaction
of the local community. Also, the regional BWAs have VEX: It cannot be denied that in internal affairs this seems to succeed very well, but the success your foreign policies may not be so indisputable. For example, there was the recentembroglio over the destiny of |
Wwww. Of course you have explained you position in that matter at great length already, but what the uproar revealed, perhaps, was that other nations are getting to feel dwarfed by the realm. The one unavoidable fact about the Westrian Realm is that it is very BIG. How do you plan to deal with those perceptions and feelings on the part of other nations? SUCHY: We have
no problem with being big. Much of that was brought about by
the great The examples are many: the Maeru population of Westermarc chose the BWA over their own ailing
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neglectful
government. Ras Lanarch did the same. Deucoland elected to join
us rather than suffer from the depressions caused by Djerigan occupation and the liberation war. Niokolo Koba chose to learn our ways and accept our help to restore their national economy and settle their monumental debts. Now, in its turn, Wwww wants us to protect and guide them in their time of traumatic change. The BWA, although originally an entity designed to represent the rights of Westrians globally, has long transcended "national" or purely "Westrian" bounds. The BWA's is really a planet- wide international ideology, a movement with a philosophy of government that more and more people are willing to chose by their free will, simply because it works and because they have confidence in the success of their own people, under the benevolent management of theBWA. Of course we are still foremost the servants of Westrians Vexillium-wide, but fate has dealt us the opportunity to serve all sorts of people, all over the planet. We will never discriminate because people are not ethnic Westrians. Everybody deserves our full attention and respect. I believe it is the BWA "movement" sweeping the planet that is perhaps threatening to some governments, especially the more conservative ones. Governments see their own, sometimes archaic and manytimes inefficient, ways of government challenged by our unique approach. They know we are doing very well. For some, this is hard to swallow. BWA fractions are forming in many countries... |
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essentially political parties that mirror
the BWA approach to government. You know the BWA ran for election
in IWKand actually gained the highest number of votes. BWA parties
are running in other countries as well, with mixed success. Other
than the campaign in IWK, we have not actually endorsed any of
the "unauthorized" BWA parties in other nations. This
is primarily since we do not want to be perceived as trying to
topple a foreign government though infiltrating their system,
which we do not wish to at any time. So there is really no cause
for concern. VEX: There have been indications recently that the period of Westrian expansion may be coming to an end. Is that the case? If it is, it seems to put the Westrian Realm at a kind of crossroad. Where do you see the realm going from here, in terms of development? SUCHY: Well, let me first say: not in our wildest dreamswould we have imagined being able to establish such a magnificent Realm as we have today. We have essentially succeeded in incorporating all the major enclaves of Westrian population into the Realm, and all in a peaceful manner. Really, today there are only three major areas remaining, territories that are heavily populated by Westrians, and that have not been incorporated into the Realm yet. |
First, the Westrian remnant living around Baben Bay. With the recent weakening of Northern Gronk, we are already in the process of expanding Baben-Overbaben to include all of the bay and it's population. Second, there is a large concentration in Lazaward, Kalesthesia. As you know, the BWA was founded there. The third is, of course, IWK. Basically, if we somehow manage to integrate these last few enclaves, we will have accomplished all our so-called territorial goals for the Realm. Of course this would not mean that we will close our eyes and ears to other nationalities who may ask us for assistance, such as Wwww. There is, however, a saturation point, and a question of sustainability. If the Realm gets disproportionately large, it will become unmanageable. Our approach takes resources, and quite frankly, we have a lot of work to do to fully industrialize and develop the lands which we recently acquired still, such as Deucoland, Niokolo Koba, and, if they decide to return to the Realm, which is a good possibility, Wwww. We can not bite off more than we can chew, as this would do nobody any good in the long run, and might result in a backlash, or maybe even a collapse of the Realm.This is the crossroads, as you call it. We have seen the fate of several mammoth nations recently, and we have no intentions of being next to break apart. So we need to think very carefully about any future expansions. Personally I believe that we are close to the limit of sustainablility. VEX: Thank you
very much, Chancellor Suchy, for having given us this very informative
and forthright interview. Vex Magazine is honored by your favor
and your |
SUCHY: Ha ha ha! Well, I would be crazy to pass on an offer like this, wouldn't I? Yes, I find your magazine very informative indeed. I think I will pass on the wrist watch, however. I have seen the first issue in barber shops and dentists' offices in the Realm, so obviously it is gaining in popularity fast, with the gripping debut issue. I certainly hope that the venture will be a success. And I would be glad if you would pay me a return visit some time. My doors are always open to the press. Thank you!
 Alternative VEX cover prepared for this issue,Talk about being overtaken by events! Over the weekend, as this |
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issue of VEX was being planned by our editorial staff, the previously planned Westrian cover story was suddenly put into doubt by developments in the Wwww crisis which, for a couple days at least, made our "End of the Vex" cover of the previous week seem tame by comparison. Would Chancellor Suchy, or anyone else for that matter, still be around when the dust cleared? Would no news be good news, not for the usual reasons, but simply because all news would be bad news. And would anyone need to read the news when it was all necessarily written in the past and past perfect tenses? With even the most stalwart members of the crew of the S.S. Vexillium heading for the lifeboats and the captain locked in his cabin studying his ship's structural diagrams, our reporter, who thought he had signed on for a pleasure cruise, found himself instead desperately trying to follow and understand the swift flow of messages inundating the ship's communications center. When the captain finally emerged to declare confidently that all "abandon ship" orders were premature and that the old boat was still undoubtedly seaworthy, if only the passengers and crew would stop panicking, the general sigh of relief |
from all hands must have been audible even to the puffins perched out of curiosity on nearby icebergs. But in the meantime our staff was sent scrambling for material for what they thought might be their final issue. Pundits who specialize in worst-case scenarios were contacted for interviews, which they were delighted to give, as usual. Picture archives were searched for appropriate images of disaster. A missionary from Djeriga who has been preaching on a street corner in the neighborhood was brought in to record some of his best denunciations of an unbelieving world, so that our writers, unused to producing any rhetoric so dire, could study and imitate them. A small sect of "Flat Vexers" who had been pestering us to do a story on their convictions paid us their weekly visit, and suddenly they seemed eminently sane. In the end, however, the Vexillium moved away from the brink, our interviewer confirmed the reservations for his flight to Aurelius, and our Art Director found himself stuck with an extra cover that he hoped he would never has occasion to use. |
Westrian Chancellor Max Suchy during our interview.