Marrascania

Republic of Marrascania República de Marrascània (Catalan)
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto: Hoc unitum Prosperatur (Latin) ("United we Prosper")
Anthem: "Viva Marrascania"
Provinces of Marrascania
Capital	Tangier
Largest city	Casablanca
Official languages	Berber Catalan Portugese
Recognised regional languages	Arabic French
Demonym(s)	Marrascesco
Government	Unitary parliamentary constitutional republic
• President	Adam Tintinyà
• Prime Minister	Cristofol Mestre
Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Chamber of Deputies
• Lower house	Legislative Assembly
Independence from Arriola
• Declaration	June 10, 1945 (1945-06-10)
• Recognized	March 15, 1946 (1946-03-15)
Area
• Total	710,850 km2 (274,460 sq mi) (78th)
Population
• 2020 estimate	43,843,292
• Density	61.67/km2 (159.7/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2020 estimate
• Total	$1.62 trillion
• Per capita	$36,987
Gini (2020)	40.3 medium
HDI (2020)	.889 very high
Currency	Peseta (MRP)
Time zone	UTC+1
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+212
Internet TLD	.ma

Marrascania officially the Republic of Marrascania (Catalan: República de Marrascània) is a country located in the Maghreb region of North Africa. The country overlooks the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Mediterranean Sea to the north. It also shares borders with Algeria to the east, Mauritania to the south, and a maritime border with Gibraltar across the Strait of Gibraltar and Spain across the Alboran Sea. The capital is Tangier, while the largest city is Casablanca.

The first state in Marrascania was founded by Idirs I in 788 AD as the Idrisid dynasty. A series of independent Islamic dynasty's followed, the most powerful being the Almoravid and Almohad dynasties which ruled parts of Iberia. During the Reconquista, Islamic influence was pushed out of Iberia, and as a result, the Marrascesco dynasty's weakened. The Portuguese Empire began expansion into Marrascania in the 1500's, eventually securing much of the northwestern coast. Spain and Arriola also began expansion into the region to compete with Portugal. Over the next 300 years, the Iberian nations would conquer much of northern Marrascania, frequently clashing with the Ottoman Empire which also sought control in the region. Arriola eventually consolidated power in Marrascania, and organized the regions as a defacto integral part of the nation. During the Aranese Civil War, many Marrascescos opposed the new regime in Arriola, creating violent conflicts and independent sentiment. Following World War II, Marrascania sought independence from Arriola which was recognized in the Treaty of Valencia in 1946. Since independence, Marrascania has remained stable and prosperous. It has remained a close ally to the United States and Western Europe, where it was used to counterbalance Francoist Spain and Arriola.

The sovereign state is a parliamentary democratic republic with a President which mainly has ceremonial powers. The Parliament includes an upper house, the Chamber of Deputies and a lower house, the Legislative Assembly. The lower house approves the Prime Minister, currently Cristofol Mestre. The country wields significant influence in Africa and is influential in Europe, leading to its classification as a regional and middle power. A majority of the population identifies as Catholic with a minority identifying as Muslim, despite being located in traditionally Muslim lands. This situation has limited Marrascania's influence in the Arab World and has led to tensions with its neighbors.

Marrascania is a member of the United Nations, Union for the Mediterranean, African Union, Alliance of Independent Nations, the OECD, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The nation has campaigned for membership in the European Union since 2004, however, requests have been denied based on its geographic location. However, it joined the European Union Customs Union in 2016.

Etymology

Medieval Arab historians often called Marrascania al-Maghrib al-Aqṣá (المغرب الأقصى (meaning "the Farthest West") to distinguish it from neighboring regions then called al-Maghrib al-Awsaṭ (المغرب الأوسط, meaning "the Middle West") and al-Maghrib al-Adná (المغرب الأدنى, meaning "the Nearest West").

The term Marrascania derives from the city of Marracech, which was also known as Marrakesh during the Medieval era. The city served as the capital of the Almoravid dynasty and Almohad Caliphate and thus became the center of early Marrascania. The origins of the name "Marrakesh" are disputed but it most likely comes from the Berber words amur (n) akush (ⴰⵎⵓⵔ ⵏ ⴰⴽⵓⵛ), meaning "Land of God".

During the European conquest of Marrascania, various countries called the region different names. Portugal named the area Marrocco, which is likely where the "Marra" in Marrascania was derived from but Latinized from Marr to Marra. By the mid 1600s, several Aranese documents show the territory as Marrascano or Marrascania. Historians have found that the difference was largely based on the gender of the words surrounding the name of the territory or based on the gender of the described features. Documents that have masculine descriptors of Marrascania used Marrascano, while those with feminine descriptors used Marrascania. The feminine name eventually became more common in government proceedings and eventually became the accepted name for the territory. During the integration with Arriola, the region was known as the Marrascanian or Marrascesco provinces. Marrascania became a common nationalist term during the mid-Twentieth Century when Marrascania sought independence from Arriola.

History

Aranese control

Aranese Civil War and Marrascesco War of Indepenendence

Main article: Aranese Civil War

In February of 1945, Marrascania was transferred back from Allied control to the Second Aranese Republic. During the period of Allied occupation, Marrascania had been administered separately from Arriola. This included running its local government and the creation of some institutions that facilitated joint administration among the Marrascesco provinces. The creation of these institutions facilitated a separate and nationalist Marrascesco identity which had supplanted an Aranese identity by 1945.

Delegates from across Arriola gathered at the Andorra Conference in May of 1945. Marrascesco delegates highly supported the concept of a federal Arriola as it would give Marrascania its own political powers. However, as talks at the conference broke down, the Marrascesco delegates found themselves increasingly pushed to independence. The Aranese Civil War restarted on May 23 and on June 10, 1945, Marrascania unilaterally declared independence from Arriola. The newly established Marrascesco Republic typically aligned with the Tercaras in the civil war and remained opposed to the CNT/FAI and the concept of a united Arriola which included Marrascania. Fighting continued through February 21, 1946, when a ceasefire was declared. The Treaty of Valencia, signed on March 15, 1946, recognized the independence of Marrascania while Marrascania recognized the Aranese Federation. Many Tercaras fled to Spain, Portugal, and Marrascania while Marrascania saw an influx in capitalist-supporting refugees from Arriola.

Post-independence

Immediately following independence, the provisional government which governed the Marrascesco Republic began to make plans to formalize a new constitution for the country. Delegates met in Fes, a symbol of governance throughout historical Marrascania, to discuss a new constitution. The delegates decided on a unitary, bicameral, parliamentary system. The new constitution also redefined the official name of the country to be the Republic of Marrascania. In the immediate aftermath, multiple political parties were formed including the Lliga Marrasescano and Front socialista Marrascania (FSM) which represented both sides of the Aranese Civil War. The 1946 election proved a victory for the centrist Republicans but both parties made significant inroads to the political system. A worry about violence or a potential proto-fascist or communist government takeover prompted concern both in Marrascania and worldwide. Prime Minister Jeremies Bransuel appealed to the United States to provide financial aid to Marrascania in order to prevent the spread of extremist ideologies. Marrascania was included in the Marshall Plan to help rebuild its economy and infrastructure from World War II and the Aranese Civil War. The United States and the United Kingdom also began to build a stronger relationship with Marrascania, seeing it as a counterweight to proto-fascist regimes in Portugal and Spain and to a communist regime in Arriola.

In 1957, Marrascania joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the only African nation to do so. Integration with European markets, a growing market, strong infrastructure, and liberal economic policies led to the "Marracesco Miracle". The Marracesco economy outpaced the Spanish economy, which went through similar reforms over the same period. By the mid-1970s, Marrascania had a living standard comparable to Spain or southern France. Economic growth was brought to an end due to the 1970s oil crises. With a large Jewish population, Marrascania was a strong supporter of Eretzora and was targeted by other Arab nations. This further distanced Marrascania from its Arab neighbors.

In 1979, Mauritania declared war on Marrascania in an attempt to take the Sahawri provinces in the south. Marrascanian forces quickly pushed back the Mauritanians. By 1981, Marrascania was victorious in the war. Marrascania continued to pace with Southern and Western Europe in terms of economic development during the 1990s. A strong infrastructure and social welfare campaign of the 1990s and 2000s left the government with significant amounts of debt. However, the country created a strong network of high-speed trains with the help of France. Additionally, a national healthcare system was built modeled on that of Spain and Italy. An application to join the European Economic Community in 2004 is rejected.

The 2008 Recession created a debt crisis in Marrascania, similar to Spain and Iceland. The country was able to bail out its financial sector, but economic development did not pick up until 2012. As a result, Sahawri separatism in the south rose. Despite widescale demonstrations, a 2019 referendum on the independence of Southern Sahara failed.

Government and politics

Military

The Air Force, Navy, Army, and Coast Guard collectively form the Marrascania Defense Forces (MDF). The MDF is headed by the General Staff which reports to the Minister of Defense, which reports to the Prime Minister and President. In case of immediate threats or wartime the President has the ability to issue directives to the General Staff.

Additionally the Gendarmerie, a military force subject to military law and organization, primarily polices internal matters. The force remains under the General Staff and Defense Ministry. Internal security is governed well and political or extremist violence is uncommon. The Gendarmerie also monitors the Marrascania-Algeria and Marrascania-Mauritania borders.

Marrascania has maintained defense spending at around 2% of GDP since 1995. The Marrascesco-Mauritanian War increased the size of the Marrascania Defense Force, but it was scaled back in the years following the war. Despite this, Marrascania has displayed its ability to deploy forces across the Mediterranean to achieve its objectives. This was demonstrated during the 2011 NATO intervention in Libya and a small contingent force that participated in the Afganistan War. Marrascania also deploys its military on peacekeeping missions across Africa. Currently, Marrascania has military forces in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Côte d'Ivoire.

Foreign relations

Marrascania has a structured system of foreign relations. The country is a member of the United Nations, African Union, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Organizational of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) among others. Marrascania is also a recurrent non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

During the Cold War, Marrascania aligned itself with the United States and its position was primarily used as a counter to the regimes in Spain, Portugal, and Arriola. Marrascania remains a strong ally of the United States but has distanced itself since the Iraq War which it did not participate in.

Throughout its independent history, Marrascania has clashed with various countries of the Arab World. This is primarily due to the vocal support that some Arab Countries have given to the Muslim minority in Marrascania as well as opposition to historical Marrascesco support for Eretzora. Historically, Marrascania has had strained relations with Algeria for which it shares a border. The border has never been clearly demarcated and both parties have accused each other of hosting militants or forces which would undermine the other country. Algeria has long accused Marrascania of covert support for France during the Algerian War for Indepedence. Marrascania has accused Algeria of hosting Islamic and Berber militants and terrorists. Libya under the rule of Muammar Gaddafi was intensely critical of Marrascania claiming the land was still occupied by Europeans. On multiple occasions, Gaddafi encouraged open revolt by Muslims in Marrascania in an attempt to "drive the Europeans back across Gibaltar". Marrascania ended officials relations with Libya in 1980 and Switzerland was generally the intermediary between the two countries. Marrascesco-Libyan relations remained strained until 2011 when Gadaffi was overthrown in the Libyan Civil War. Marrascania took a major role in the 2011 NATO military invention in the civil war and has since attempted to stabilize Libya. Marrascania also has had historically poor relations with Mauritania, primarily since the Marrascesco-Mauritanian War.

Aranese-Marrascania relations have been mixed but have greatly improved since the Aranese transition to democracy in 1982. During the Cold War, both countries were in opposing blocs, and Aranese refugees primarily capitalists, traditionalists, and persecuted Christians politically pushed for opposition to Arriola. Despite this, the Marrascescan government limited its hostility toward Arriola. Marrascania sees Arriola as both a strategic and cultural partner. Arriola has also helped bring Marrascania into the European institutions it seeks to join. The countries remain on good terms, however, some domestic political figures in Marrascania dispute Arriola's holding of Loiza. The Marrascesco government has never maintained a position on the issue.

European Integration

Marrascania has long considered itself a "European Country" despite being geographically located in Africa. To support this claim, Marrascania points to its long integration with Arriola, a predominantly Catholic religious identity in the country, and cultural similarity with many Southern European nations. However, Marrascania has generally not been considered a European country by many other nations in Europe. A 2004 application for Marrascania to join the European Union was rejected on the basis that Marrascania was not European, and thus did not fulfill the Copenhagen Criteria. Since 2013, Italy, Malta, and Spain have occasionally voiced support for Marrascesco membership into the European Union for migration reasons. These countries suspect that more African migrants would apply for asylum in Marrascania, and thus Marrascania would reduce their migrants under the Dublin III Agreement.

Despite a failed application, Marrascania has continuously sought to join institutions that align with the European Union. Marrascania has been negotiating with the European Union over its ascension to the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) since 2011. In 2016, Marrascania joined the European Union Customs Union which was seen as a step toward EFTA membership. Much of the discussion within the European Union has focused on if Marrascania is a European country or simply a former European colony, and if the Marrascesco economy can handle the competitive forces of being integrated with the single market.

Administrative divisions

Map of the Provinces of Marrascania

Marrascania is composed of twelve provinces which are further divided into cities and municipalities.

Province Capital Area (km2) Population (2021) Aviz Casablanca Marroc Fez Marussi Mellala Mazices Temara Moulouya Vista Chica North Draa Agadira Ourica Marracech Piera Maladrid South Draa Ifni Southern Sahara Dajla Tarragena El Aaiún Tingitania Ceuta