Kalistan

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Nationalists aim to reorganize
"Empire has retrenched Long Enough," says Nationalist Leader
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 7, 5732


Kalistani Nationalist Propaganda aims to inspire National Pride across Empire

A new campaign by nationalist organizers in the Institutional Party aims to build support for the Nationalist position in the Empire. "We aim to remind Kalistanis of their National heritage, and most importantly, their national birthright," said Nationalist Club of Ananto and Kalistan President Gina Allen. "The Empire has retrenched long enough--A generation of retrenchment may make Kalistan leaner, but eventually we are going to come out of the trenches and start advancing again. Most Kalistanis alive today remember the end of the Empire just over a quarter century ago, and we haven't gotten over it, despite what the Orthodox Wing of our Party would like from us. The end of the Anantonese Empire was a national embarrassment, but some of us want our government to take a more robust stance not only to formally reunite the Empire, but to take the Crown Lands as well."

So far, there appears no public move by the Crown or the National Assembly to either move for reunification or for formally annexing the Crown Lands. "The Law in Kalistan is what it is," said Chancellor of the Empire Sir Johnathan Mickelson last January, when questioned for The National. "It forbids a forcible annexation of the Crown Lands. And there is clearly no interest in either Lodamun or Gaduridos for reunification. It is just not on the Emperor's agenda right now."

Alllen dismissed the Chancellor's sentiment. "It may not be on his agenda, but its on ours. And to this end, we are organizing nationwide to reclaim the majority." Allen said Nationalist clubs across the nation are organizing to get voters to start voting for nationalist candidates in local and general elections. "If we can provide Nationalist Government, Kalistan can see a new Anantonese Century once more."

Allen said Kalistan is the natural leader of the Anantonese Basin. "We are really the last Imperialists standing," said Allen. "Its natural that we should be dominant in our corner of the planet, that we should be the ones to direct affairs through this basis. We sit astride one of the most important crossroads for strategic force movement, shipping and commerce. It makes sense that we, and specifically our interests, should be at the center of the conversations around movement through our part of the world. Others have to take Kalistani interests into account. If they feel they can sidestep us, we must make it known that this is not acceptable in Kalistan any longer."

Allen says she and other Nationalists are inspired by the organizational successes of the New Democrat Club in Kalistan. "They reminded us all what retail politics are: They went door to door across Suldanor and Odufaray, and they spoke to people. They found out what people wanted, they told people what they would do and they let the chips fall where they may. It is time we started getting out of our clubs and doing the same things. Its time we start getting nationalists across this country mobilized. If people are reminded of Kalistani greatness, we think they will support Nationalist Candidates, and with a majority, we can request a different government, one focused on Kalistani greatness on an international stage."

Allen was careful to drift too far toward ultra nationalism. "The thing about nationalism in much of the world is that they define their national identity by who they are not. There is an easy step from defining yourselves negatively, and scapegoating an other. In this nation, we are not scapegoating. Kalistan's issues are structural, and they are external to our nation. But we know that the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan is a great nation. It deserves to reoccupy our historical borders, and our goal now is to go get that, regardless of if anyone stands in our way. It would be better for everyone if they didn't."

Allen believed that if Nationalists were to claim a majority in the National Assembly, they could be in a better position to represent the popularity of the Nationalist position to the Emperor. "We think the His Imperial Majesty is probably on our side. The Anantos are nationalists at their core. We see it daily in statements from those closest to the Emperor. So far he has not come out for any of the factions, and this works to our advantage while recruiting. If the people see the Emperor taking a more nationalist stance on the world stage, people will switch their support from the Orthodox position, that takes a middle position, to a stronger, pro-Anantonese position that we are seeking."

The Nationalists, for their part have launched a coordinated advertising and outreach campaign in all corners of the Empire aiming to sign new members up to various Nationalist Clubs, as well as to get them to turn out for local and National elections. "The Democrats showed that even a small group can blunt the hegemons in our Government. How much more effective will the Nationalist Clubs be? We shall see, but I predict that we will be quite effective at representing our message to people who are either affiliated with a different position within the Party, or are not affiliated politically at all."

@TheNational