Kalistani Major History

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Poll reports that 2/3 of respondants are in favor of restoration of Privateer Act
Malivian provocations said to be driving support for Piracy
Kaliburg, Ananto
November 18, 4913


Poll of 23,673 voters, with a margin of error of +/- 1.35 percent, conducted between July 15 and October 30, 4913, by Vrassa District University/ Albin Harris

Kalistanis are firmly in favor of reauthorization of Privateering, says a recent poll conducted by the conservative leaning Vrassa District University. The University conducted a phone and text poll of more than 23,000 Kalistanis over a fourteen week period, in three waves, says project director Dr. Albin Harris. "Using voter databases, we reached out to a randomized sample of more than 23,000 registered voters in a survey. Voters were asked one question only, after we identified ourselves and what we were conducting the survey on. We asked Voters 'Do you Strongly Agree, Agree, Are Neutral or have no opinion, Disagree, or Strongly Disagree with the following Statement: The Government of Kalistan should reauthorize Privateering in the Ananto Strait and in the Anantonese Ocean." If they gave us any other answer than "No Opinion" we asked them a follow up question, about their response, and these qualitative answers were more enlightening than the longitudinal data we acquired from the Survey Question."

The results of the survey showed that 48% of all respondents agreed and then another 18 percent strongly agreed with the statement. Conversely, only 22 percent either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement. "These results in and of themselves, which we have strong confidence in, reflect a continued support in the population for non-traditional methods of defense of the Republic. What was really surprising was the level of support for these sorts of tactics, which have in the past and will continue to draw condemnation from the World, and maintain Kalistan's status as something of a pariah state." International Law, which Kalistan does not acknowledge, dictates that there should be freedom of movement on the High Seas, but Kalistan has historically reiterated that its security and sovereignty outweigh the international community's need and desire to enforce its will on individual nations.

"What is more interesting, I think," said Dr. Harris, "was the answer to the substantive question that we asked as a follow up. More than 35% said that not only should the Republic authorize piracy against other nations' shipping, but that we should invite other nations who Malivia is having a problem with to join us in our activities. Many of this group said that we should be looking for opportunities to magnify the effects of the interdictions on the high seas and in Kalistani National Waters with a multi national force of pirates roaming about, boarding shipping bearing Malivian colors, and if they are resisted, sinking the ship. That was a surprising response, which can be explained by several comments that we got which talked about patience with the backwater Artanian regime coming to an end in the Republic. It appears that the people of Kalistan are growing tired of Malivia's irritation and are beginning to look for more escalated solutions to the problem."

Kalistan has not yet reauthorized Privateering, but recent comments by the Premier and others in the Government have suggested that the Republic is warming to the idea. The people on the other hand are decisively behind the reauthorization, and will lend political support to the Government and the National Assembly if this is the way the Deputies should choose to go.