Aldricism

Aldricism is a political ideology that originally emerged in Shireroth and was defined by Hartmut Aldric, Duke of Calezi, Regent and Steward of Shireroth. It was first established as a political party, the Imperial Democratic Party of Shireroth, with a focus on individual rights, economic liberalism, and pragmatism. After Aldric's death, the ideology began to diverge, with the Elwynnese Democratic Party and the Shirerithian Imperial Democratic Party taking a more center-right approach, while the Imperial Democratic Party of Ransenar and other Aldricist parties abroad taking a more center-left approach.

In recent times, Aldricism is associated with policies of economic liberalization and the promotion of civil liberties, the Raspur Pact, civic nationalism, and internationalism. Modern Aldricist thought balances the role of the state and the market, and supports the concept of the social market economy while promoting a strong state to ensure law and order and trustworthy social institutions to promote a sense of duty and responsibility to the nation and community. The prevailing modern Aldricist thought is currently supported by the Union Democratic Movement in Natopia, the Imperial Democratic Party in Ransenar, and the Social Democratic & Liberal Alliance in Nouvelle Alexandrie.

Background

Aldric originally stood for election to the Folskraad of Shireroth under an independent banner, hoping to remain above party squabbles and cobble a coalition to govern Shireroth. The Imperial Democratic Party (IDP) was formed in Elsyran by Sean O'Callaghan in 1659 AN, capitalizing on Aldric's popularity in an effort to build political capital behind him and his goals. The Imperial Democratic Party of Shireroth is commonly known as the "mother of Aldricism".

During its start (1659 AN-1667 AN), Aldricism built itself around radical, core tenets to advance in Shireroth such as the expansion of individual rights and freedoms, Economic liberalism, emphasis on making economic and social mobility possible, pragmatism over populism, civic nationalism, and the free flow of trade, services, and goods. These basic principles came to define the policies and platforms of Hartmut Aldric while he served as Regent and Steward of Shireroth and in the administration of the Duchy of Calezi and Brookshire. Despite not being a member nor a founder of the party, Aldric came to lead the party in 1665 AN after their endorsement of his run for Steward in 1663 AN. With his endorsement and leadership, the Imperial Democratic Party of Shireroth became one of the largest parties in both the Folksraad and Landsraad of Shireroth in several elections. Steward of Shireroth, Lord Holly-Wythe, is the leader of the Imperial Democratic Party of Shireroth and leads a coalition government with the Imperial Order and the Kezan Joint List.

After Aldric's assassination in Brookshire on 12.VIII.1667 AN, the Imperial Democratic Party of Shireroth continued under new leadership. However, following the demise of Aldric, Shireroth experienced the Kalirion Fracture, with Ransenar, Elwynn, and the remaining territory of Shireroth carrying on their own regional versions of the Imperial Democratic Party of Shireroth. It was at the start of the 1770 ANs that the definition of what Aldricism was as an ideology began to change, with the Elwynnese Democratic Party and the Shirerithian Imperial Democratic Party taking a more center-right route and the Imperial Democratic Party of Ransenar (and the Aldricist parties abroad such as the Union Democratic Movement in Natopia and the Coalition for Federal Progress in then-Alduria-Wechua) taking a more center-left route.

Since this divergence within Aldricism, its defining features have been the subject of substantial political or scholarly debate. Aldricism has traditionally been associated with policies of economic liberalization including privatization, deregulation, globalization, free trade, austerity, and reductions in government spending in order to increase the role of the private sector in the economy and society. However, modern Aldricist thought has begun to emphasize more and more the need for the state to ensure that the free market produces better results that do not compromise the unity of the country and lead to political and economic instability. In Ransenar, the ruling Aldricist party, the Imperial Democratic Party has begun to promote the concept of the social market economy and a stronger role for the state with respect to the market, especially after its economic crisis from 1679 AN to 1682 AN. In Natopia, the Union Democratic Movement has promoted the concepts of radical expansions of human rights, expanding democracy, and federalism, coupled with many social market economic and social policies as well. Modern Aldricism has come to hold that individuals cannot be thoroughly depended on to act responsibly in all spheres of life, therefore believing that a strong state is necessary to ensure law and order, and that trustworthy social institutions are needed to nurture a sense of duty and responsibility to the nation and to their communities.

The prevailing modern Aldricist thought is that emerging from the active and powerful "banner parties" of Aldricism, the Union Democratic Movement in Natopia, the Imperial Democratic Party in Ransenar, and the Social Democratic & Liberal Alliance in Nouvelle Alexandrie (who all belong to the Aldricist and Neoliberal Conference), also commonly supports civil liberties, the Raspur Pact, and often embraces cosmopolitanism and internationalism. The Democratic Party in Elwynn has been defunct for many decades, and with its death, the more conservative strand of Aldricist ideology also perished.

Ideology

At its core, Aldricism is a synthesis of elements of liberalism and civic nationalism, combining them with equality under the law and democracy with a progressive and entrepreneurial spirit.

One of the defining features of Aldricism is its focus on the individual. Aldricists believe that individuals should be free to pursue their own goals and ambitions, as long as they do not harm others or compromise the stability and unity of the nation. This means that Aldricists support policies that promote economic and social mobility, including the free flow of trade, services, and goods, and a market-driven economy. However, Aldricists also recognize that the free market alone is not enough to ensure a fair and equitable society. Aldricism advocates for a social market economy, which balances the principles of a market economy with those of social policies aimed at reducing economic inequality and promoting a fair distribution of wealth. The approach is intended to allow individuals to be entrepreneurial and have the freedom to pursue their own economic interests, while also ensuring that everyone has access to the basic necessities of life or that they can recover from catastrophic life events. This means that the state provides a robust welfare system that provides support to individuals in need such as unemployment insurance, public health care, and social security, as well as initiatives that promote entrepreneurship and business innovation, such as tax incentives and loans for small businesses.

In addition to supporting a strong and active role for the state in the economy, Aldricists also believe in the importance of human rights and a commitment to internationalism. They support the Raspur Pact, setting international human rights norms and standards, and believe that all people should be treated equally under the law, regardless of their race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or other characteristics.

Overview

Modern Aldricism

Neo Aldricism

• Use of "Neoliberal" vs. "Neoaldricist", terms used interchangeably.
• Ongoing debate among political scholars over whether "Neo Aldricism" is truly more of an autochthonous Alduro-Wechua influence. The consensus is split among scholars and historians. Debates on the matter sometimes getting so specific over mundane matters that the debate over naming it the "Campos Influence" is all by itself a hotly debated topic.
  • Development of the national ideology of the Federation of Nouvelle Alexandrie: New Alexandrianism.

Organizations and parties

Since the Kalirion Fracture, Aldricism is also represented in other countries by the following parties:

•  Shireroth: Imperial Democratic Party of Shireroth;
•  Elwynn: Democratic Party of Elwynn (1680 AN-1684 AN);
•  Natopia: Union Democratic Movement;
•  Normark: Democratic Party of Normark;
•  Ransenar: Imperial Democratic Party of Ransenar;
•  Constancia: Imperial Democratic Party of Constancia;
•  Nouvelle Alexandrie: Social Democratic & Liberal Alliance.

See also

• Aldricist and Neoliberal Conference