Global politics in a.t.b. 2018?

[mjp.livejournal.com]

OK folks, discussion questions abound.

I'm doing a presentation at Otakon on politics in anime. The last one I did was in 2005 and the world and anime have changed enough to merit a near-complete reworking. I plan to spend a few slides talking about Code Geass and its allegory on world politics.

I want to get some opinions, facts (canon, fanon, or pure interpolation), and observations about political groups and their interplay on the world stage.

So here's your chance to expound; I'll keep an eye and ask clarification questions and such.

The Holy Empire of Britannia: We know the history of its founding, the suppression of the Revolution in the American colonies, and how the empire came to America after being semi-forced out. We know it's a pure aristocracy that treats colonial subjects poorly. But what is it like for Britannian citizens? Is there a parliament, and if so, is it a puppet for the Emperor or does it have some kind of post-Magna Carta legislative authority subject to Imperial approval? Can honorary Brittanians vote? What kind of health care is there? Taxes?

The European Union: Given that it formed in the 1800s, was there any kind of flux into socialism or even communism? What was the Industrial Revolution like? Did the various ethnic and national groups band together to oppose Britannia, or was there the same outflow of immigrants that the United States saw from the 1850s to the 1910s? Was there a spread of anti-Jewish or anti-Catholic sentiment? Was there a World War that created Hitler? Is there a unified European economic policy?

Potential spoilers for episode 3 indicate there's some military unity, but what bout the citizens?

The Chinese Federation: is it just mainland China? If there was a rise of communism, was there still Chairman Mao? Given that there's an imperial system of eunuchs, it seems that China is still back in the T'ang or Manchu-era system of government. Is China bigger than its current-era borders? Can they withstand Britannia militarily? What's their economy like? Does their emperor/head of state control power? Why hasn't Britannia outright invaded them?

Third parties: are there any major non-governmental organizations that help influence politics and policy (e.g. Greenpeace, Doctors Without Borders, Hamas, FARC, Hutu/Tutsi gangs, drug runners)?

Anything else? I want to get all the input I can, so feel free to bring up any points I might have missed.

I'll credit the community en masse for any info that goes into my panel. :-D

Comments

[lulu-quality.livejournal.com]

No, Villetta is a pure-blooded Britannian (that's why she's in the pure-blooded faction of the army along with Jeremiah and Kewell); however, as the DVD magazines indicated, she grew up in the slums.

Also here's an interesting section from one of the sound episodes (.884 - The Imperial Siblings)
Cornelia: (slightly disdainful) That Area no longer has the will to make even an attempt at defiance. Anyone can be Governor.

Schneizel: Cornelia, you have to leave them a little room for resistance.

Cornelia: Why is that?

Schneizel: The desire to resist is in itself a resource; if you shear away too much of that, all vitality in the Area will be lost.

Cornelia: Then we Britannians shall be the new life force. Isn't that enough?

Schneizel: There's a limit to that, and for that reason the Honorary Britannian system was created.

Cornelia: That system blurs the line between the ruler and the subjects. It must be made clear to them who holds the reins.

[lulu-quality.livejournal.com]

^translation courtesy of Celiss