Poland's MPP with Hungary is a death knell for PANAM

Day 1,143, 18:23 • Published in Canada Canada • by Jacobi

Conceptually the idea of a third alliance is an attractive one, because it adds a variable to an equation that has been playing out for two years. Us VS Them takes on a whole new meaning when Them isn't as homogeneous as it once was. Its fun, and exciting, and offers a bit of flavor to an otherwise stale dichotomy.


T-shirt slogan or geopolitical commentary. You decide.

Often, in real life, and in erepublik, a tripolar world is incredibly hard to sustain whether it be the three kingdoms period in ancient China or Russia's early stance in WW2, to the Brolliance or alliances like Sol. A third alliance or power must be able to stand up to another alliance without relying on the support of the other. An inability to stand on one's own two feet renders any outward appearance of independence merely populist windowdressing. Such is the gravity of the EDEN/Atlantis and Phoenix/PEACE that smaller proximate countries like Canada and France have not been able to seriously entertain leaving their orbit because no other choices truly exist. Sure, the pretentions to independent action have been there (see Brolliance, Entente) but fault lines stretching beyond Europe have remained pretty much the same since May 2009.

The PANAM treaty, the latest elixir for the United States to produce a third alliance out of relative geographic isolation, has not been so much an attempt to significantly break these lines but rather tries to free the Americas from erepublik's euro-centric politics. On paper, with the current configurations of EDEN and Phoenix should present PANAM with a golden opportunity to spread its wings and declare itself an independent entity. That an argument could be made that such an alliance could withstand a direct assault by either elder alliance without having to resort to begging is something that could not have been said by any previous entity. However, as related in an article by EDEN's Supreme Commander, the status quo is not something upon which much should be counted.

A switch by Poland, still the 2nd largest country by POP and XP, significantly shifts the balance of power squarely in the corner of Phoenix and that reduction of relative strength of PANAM should give prospective members pause. This is especially true in Canada, an EDEN nation that would find itself at a severe disadvantage fighting against Poland in a future invasion attempt. Poland's MPP with Hungary is a death knell for any idea that safety can be found by losing close relations with the remaining euro members of EDEN. At this juncture, either PANAM and EDEN divided will be asking to be conquered, or PANAM and EDEN side with one another, thus negating the purpose for PANAM in the first place.

I have nothing but respect for the idea of an American alliance, and I support the concept philosophically even if I argue for its legitimate value in present conditions. I feel that, however brief, a third power would offer an attractive difference from the Cold War-esque back and forth we've been subject to since December 2008. The ideal, unfortunately, does not fit the reality of the moment, and it would behoove Canada's new administration and Congress to consider that as deliberations with PANAM go forward. Ultimately, Canada's future continues to rely with the gravity and powers of its european allies, and will until those old fault lines are erased.

John "Jacobi" Carpenter,
former President of Canada, founder of the Brolliance