Kalistan

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Empress published Political Theory: An Introduction
Book critical of liberalism promoted in attempt to popularize academic subject
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
November 6, 5711


Her Imperial Majesty signs a limited First Edition of Political Philosophy text

When one thinks of popular literature, they rarely think of political philosophy as a subject. However, a new book, written by the erudite sovereign of Ananto and Kalistan, Her Imperial Majesty Empress Carolina II Ananto aims to change that. Her new book, Political Theory: An Introduction, published in the capital by Black Bear Publishing is a 365 page long explication and justification for the political system within the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan, and a fairly deft contrast of our system of government with the system and ideology inherent in liberal democracies.

"The subject is presented as a fictional novel, aimed at the college aged audience in their early 20s," said critic Valerie Holloway, of La Moda. "Its story revolves around a man, John Smith, who wakes up one morning, inexplicably transported to a fictional nation known as the 'Amereca.' This fictional land represents itself as a utopia in all things, but John very soon discovers that indeed, it is as he describes, '...a mix between a topless casino, an amusement park and a prison...' which treats consumption as the highest civic virtue and spends its time convincing all the people there that the rest of the world does not even exist. It's a very bizarre tale indeed, and some of the things Her Imperial Majesty describes baffle the imagination. And yet, underneath it all is a stinging indictment of liberalism as an idea, rather than an actual practice gone off the rails, capitalism that has turned predatory and then vampiric, and a government which is so corrupted that it no longer serves anything like a national will, but instead spends its time enriching itself. All under the banner of '...liberty and justice for all...'."

Smith is initially befriended by a local outcast and self described social reformer, Jennie Adams, who serves both as a not completely reliable partial narrator and supplier of important exposition. Adams is associated with a group of nominally left wing reformists who spend their time pointing out the problems in society while avoiding definite solutions. "It seems more important for these center-leftists to have the issues on the table to maintain relevance than to actually solve the social problems that underlie these issues," said Holloway. "Eventually, Smith comes to the conclusion that Adams' outrage is largely performative and she is no more interested in solving the problems she and her group spend their time pointing out than the people who are causing the problems in the first place, and a twist toward the end shows him that her kind of opposition merely serves to reinforce the system, rather than doing anything to actually change it in any meaningful way."

The story itself serves as a comparison and contrast between what Smith calls "correct order" (which Adams derides as dictatorship and tyranny, when she sets out to take his personal reformation up as a cause) and the sort of formal, but substance-less liberal democracy of most modern democratic nations that exist on Terra today. Smith compares this fictional dystopia to many of our real democracies, even those that pretend to be monarchies, but leave all important decisions to the will of elected majorities, and where elections are little more than popularity contests that you would see in primary and secondary schools. It is a defense by negation, which shows the alternative to be too dreadful that the null looks good in comparison. "Smith did describe some benefits he got from living in this alternative universe," said Holloway. "For example, he described getting a dopamine rush when Adams gave him the opportunity to actually vote in a very 'important election,' but later he confessed that the rush was over too quickly and left him feeling duped because the supposed 'election' was actually to vote in a televised singing contest not unlike the real world's FOMAT. It was an event of cultural significance for sure, but when he realized that there were 15 times as many votes as people watching the program, he learned that within the aggregate, his individual vote didn't matter at all. It didn't have even the most minute outside chance to change the outcome, and the outcome felt predetermined anyway- The contestant hyped by the show's 'judges' was the one who won anyway. This is obviously a metaphor for voting in normal liberal democracies."

The story describes other horrific examples of the liberal democratic hellscape our protagonist was forced to exist in: Newscasts which decried police brutality in this supposed liberal utopia cutting directly into a commercial for ice cream where happy families had no problems at all that they needed to worry about, let alone the images of police brutality that literally just aired on the same program, which then cut to a commercial for a drug that treats an illness which is not real, but which the drug company created an ad for anyway to get people to buy drugs they don't need, which have terrifying side effects at an alarming rate, which then cut to a news story about how drug companies earned record profits for the 30th straight quarter, which then cut to a story about homelessness and hunger among the working class. At one point in the story, Smith asks Adams why people put up with it, and her answer is "What do you mean? Look at how good we have it compared to billions around the globe. Yeah, it always feels like it could be better, but this is the best system on the planet, and just needs a few tweaks here and there to make it better."

The book at the end is revealed to be a systematic examination of alternatives. Smith spends his time wishing he could return to his beloved Kalistan, comparing each incident and example throughout the book to its Kalistani equivalent. The liberal democracy comes out unfavorably in almost every category, but Smith also opines how some lessons could be taken from the visit to the fictional dystopia to improve Kalistan, "if nothing else, than to prevent Kalistan from ever turning into some horrific liberal democratic capitalist nightmare like what I wake up to everyday." The story ostensibly ends with Adams turning her back on Smith, dismissing him as a "fascist pig," and joining her friends in his ostracism. The reader spends their entire time hoping Smith makes it back to Kalistan, but the epilogue reveals that he never does: Instead he adapts to his new life, getting a job that doesn't pay him enough to pay rent or buy enough food to eat, but he adopts an addiction to commercial television and the internet, and almost stops thinking about Kalistan all together, until one day he speaks Egelian to a person with a large flag on the back of a monster truck, and the person calls the police to have him deported as an illegal migrant.

"It's largely, and thankfully a work of science fiction," said Holloway. "I think, disregarding the fact that it was written by the Empress, the book was very well written and keeps its audience in mind, making several important cultural references that the youth will certainly pick up on, as an effort to draw in her audience. It's not preachy at all, but the narrative is also not dry. The author has a way to paint her prose with just enough gilding to make it shine, but not make it gaudy or too poetic. We feel for Smith as we should for a protagonist, but he himself is not perfect. Sometimes, for example, you catch his sympathy for some aspects of his new life showing through, like the glee he seems to take in being able to just go into a massive super-market of some kind and see nine million of each item from wall to wall, anything you want from clothing to auto parts to highly processed and salty foods. He, at times, feels like he made it here in this Amereca, and it made his home feel relatively austere. But for the most part you want him to escape from the soulless consumption and the mindless political drivel inherent in all liberal societies, which is a hundred miles wide and never more than an inch deep. You cheer for him and the ending is made that much more bitter."

The book is expected to sell well, despite its matter of fact title. "[The Empress]... is a great author," said Nadine Wright, who purchased a copy and obtained an autograph from the Empress at the book signing event in Kaliburg. "I study political science here at Kaliburg Imperial and I have read a number of her academic papers. She has this way of getting to the point, in an elegant and efficient way--She makes me feel very smart. But I also love reading horror stories, and so I think this one is right up my alley. Plus I will certainly learn something while reading the book. I understand that the liberal mind is almost schizophrenic in its outlook at the world, but we wouldn't ever directly experience something like that in this nation. Its a thrill to think about how she will tell this story."

House Ananto, which oversaw the publishing and the marketing for the book says that House Ananto covered the publishing costs, allowing House Ananto to set the retail price for Political Theory: An Introduction. "The book is selling for a nominal $3.00 Imperial," said Holloway. "Her Imperial Majesty announced that all the profits for the book will be donated to rural infrastructure development programs under the Ministry of Infrastructure. She will make no money from writing the book." In fact, the book is also already provided as a proof version electronic download on several sites across the Empire for free, but downloaders are also encouraged to buy copies of the book to support rural infrastructure.

@LaModa