Eight nations around the world have created the Forum for International Diplomacy, which declared the results of its first election today. (Unsplash)Around the world, nations have come together to create the Forum for International Diplomacy.
According to its Charter, the Forum aims to foster international diplomacy, develop friendly relations among nations, and bring the international community together.
Eight nations have already ratified the treaty, and there are set to be more to come with several others indicating an interest in joining the organisation.
Being the first to ratify the treaty, the countries of Mount Augusta, the Commonwealth, Yoahtl, Icenia, the Holy Jaded Empire, Varkonia, the Communist Cities Caretaker-Protectorate and Gensokyo are the Founding Members of the Forum.
Not just another UN attempt, says drafter
The Charter was drafted in a consultative process by a group of interested individuals from around the world, including citizens of some nations that have not yet joined the Forum.
Starting in November last year, the drafters met regularly to discuss ideas and contribute rules to what ultimately was ratified in February as the Charter.
“A major flaw [with past attempts] is that everyone wants to make it like the real UN, having a peacekeeping force,” a drafter from Mount Augusta said.
“Instead, it should be an organization that brings the server together as its main purpose. It should be used as a forum that brings out the opinions of everyone in an organized matter.”
Indeed, this is what has come to fruition thanks to the drafters’ efforts.
“The Forum does not intend to emulate the UN, and its rules have been drafted in a way to ensure this,” a Varkonian drafter said.
“It does not attempt to stop wars, ensure peace or impose any course of action on its members. This would be its main point of difference from any UN clone. Instead, the intention is to allow its members to come to a consensus on any issue and find ways among themselves to implement any consensus if they so wish.”
Less is more, Charter proves
The Charter contains very vew prescriptive rules and most seem only to target the Moderation, a group of elected impartial individuals who referee the work of the Forum.
In summary, the Charter, consistent with the drafters’ wishes, provides that:
- Nations have equal power. Each nation has the same number of delegates and votes. There is no favour given to any nation on any basis, such as citizenship, or economic, military or political power.
- Discussion is paramount. The main purpose of the Forum is to facilitate dialogue between its members.
- To that end, members can call “meetings” of the Forum, which are to be held in voice chat and closely refereed by the Moderation. These are open to the public, but only delegates will have speaking rights.
Although the Forum can pass resolutions, it is an unchangeable requirement that these are not binding on members.
And there are no mechanisms to attempt formal enforcement — this is something the drafters recognised would not promote consensus-building.
Members have their say, electing the first Moderation in race to ‘set precedent’
Although early on it was expected by drafters that R3Y_J04N, NeoTide and Aimuari would be selected as the first Moderation of the Forum, a completely different race ensued. None of the early bets contested the election.
One of these initial shoo-ins, who requested not to be named, said that they have withdrawn from politics as “the server was getting too toxic”.
Instead, the following moderators have been elected:
- specificlanguage of the Commonwealth
- Ahri of Gensokyo
A third moderator is yet to be elected. In two days the final moderator will be declared elected, after Gjum and jamietech tied triggering a run-off vote.
Newly-elected moderator specificlanguage said that he “wants to see the Forum have impact on the international politics scene”. He thinks that the race was so hotly-contested because “everyone wants to be the first to set the precedent on how the Forum is run”.
When asked what the Forum can achieve, specificlanguage was hopeful saying “in the short term at least some cooperation between very important nations”.
Members think Forum is a ‘good thing’
Feelings about the establishment of the Forum are overall positive.
“I think the forum will be a good thing for the most part,” the Deputy Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, brinton, said.
The Communist Cities Caretaker-Protectorate has “participated in the project from conception and are very supportive of the idea,” delegate SandFalls says.
“In the past and even more so in modern Civ, there has been an unwillingness to engage in serious server-wide discussion and debate. It is the hope of the Party and the CCCP that the FID will succeed where others have failed, and start a new age of diplomacy.”
Problems have been “bringing down” Mount Augusta, delegate Jovaz says. “Hopefully with the Forum, we will be able to solve the problems that affect our city, as well as the many other cities across the server.”
“If the Forum does live up to its full potential, I have high hopes for Mount Augusta and the server as a whole.”
This article was updated after posting to correct a formatting error that caused the lists to display incorrectly. No content was changed.Do you have the next big story? Let us know and we'll talk about publishing it.