Geopolitics is defined as an analysis of a country's international position in relation to its geographical features. This paper describes a fictional state, Trestia Republic. The Trestia Republic is located in the eastern hemisphere and is one of the leading exporters of uranium. The paper provides an analysis of the fictional country’s geopolitical structures, boundary classification and disputes, its relationship with its neighbors, some problems with international dimensions, and its foods and taboos.
Trestia’s core area is located in the east of Trestia and surrounds the country’s capital, Mandana. The core area is the heart of the state and continually reinforces national unity. It neighbors some of the largest uranium mines in the region to the west. It also has the highest concentration of population, technology, and resources.
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The capital area of Trestia Republic is Mandana, the country’s designated administrative division, and houses its government seat. Trestia’s capital area is the most populous area of the country, with 1,567,853 people. It houses its parliament building, the chief presidential quarters, and the main offices to various governmental regulatory and service institutions. Mandana is situated in the central part of the country. It originated in the early 1879s as a trading center meant to service migrating communities. Mandana has attracted migrants from the rural Trestia areas, including people from the twelve tribes. The city is the largest in the country, followed by Horaki and Bandina. Mandana is also the principal industrial area in the country. The largest employers are the uranium processing industries and light-manufacturing industries.
Most of Trestia is composed of population and agricultural ecumene , where people have built their permanent homes and work areas that are utilized for economic purposes. It is a part of the total state area brought together by transportation lines and provides economic support for most occupants. Trestia’s population ecumene is located along the coastal boundary due to the economic trade facilitated by communities migrating via the sea, its mild climate, and fertile soils. The ecumene along the coast extends along the north and the southern borders. The ecumene is divided into four sub-categories, including the core, sub-core, intensely effective area, and minimally effective area. The sub-categories are distinguished based on their distance from transportation lines and their population density. The gradation starts at the core, whose center is the capital Mandana, then extends outwards towards the ecumene boundary. The ecumene boundary cuts Trestia’s map in almost equal halves. The rest of the country’s area is largely arid and semi-arid since it borders the Tatu Desert located to the west. The population ecumene occupies about 65% of the country’s geographical area.
The rest of the country’s geographic area is occupied by empty area s lacking permanent human settlements. They are barely populated and are beyond Trestia’s communication and transportation networks. These empty areas are concentrated on the west and are primarily arid areas and abandoned uranium mines.
Trestia’s effective national territory (ENT) , which is the portion of the state that the central authority has control and can exercise coercive power, extends slightly beyond the ecumene boundary. There are three islands located in the Barat Ocean, which are part of the nation’s non-effective national territory (N-ENT). Though they are connected to Trestia’s communication and transport networks, the government has not yet established control over the regions.
Boundary Classification
Geometric boundaries are created without considering any physical or cultural boundaries. Trestia is bordered to the north by Kamaldi, Rustia, and Ompolo. Additionally, it is bordered to the West by Ninilla, Jilka, and Tatu Desert, which is the largest neighbor to the west. Tatu Desert extends to the southern boundary. Lastly, Trestia is bordered by the Barat Ocean and Tramaldia to the east. Another water body, Lake Yala, borders the country to the northwest. The geographic boundaries are drawn in straight lines along the described position. The country is located between the 23 rd and the 37 th parallels.
Apart from geometric boundaries, Trestia also has several physiographic boundaries that distinguish geographic areas that share common physical characteristics. For example, most of the west of Trestia is a low-lying desert region. The gradient gradually rises towards the central region. Towards the west is a low-lying plain. The northwest area of the country is a swampy green area since it borders Lake Yala. Lastly, cultural boundaries distinguish differences in ethnicity and religion. The western boundary is a cultural boundary between Christianity and Buddhism, while the Kamaldi- and Rustia-Trestia boundaries are cultural boundaries between English and Spanish.
Boundary Disputes
Territorial Border Dispute
A territorial boundary dispute exists between Trestia and Tramaldia, which is a dispute over the location of a physical border due to changes in physical features or lack of precision in previous mapping exercises. The dispute between the two sovereign states is over one island, Baka, located between the two countries in the Barat Ocean. Baka is located to the south of Tramaldia and the east of Trestia. It is at least 27 kilometers from the nearest Trestia port and 43 kilometers from the nearest Tramaldia port. Baka is a small island measuring about 20 acres of land. Its soils are fertile and are characterized by lush green vegetation.
Additionally, the shores are also a source of income for both Trestia and Tramaldi residents due to large shoals of fish around the area. Initially, the island was considered inconsequential until residents from both countries started claiming it. A recession in the ocean’s water level led to the exposure of large portions of land that could be used as fishing bays. Consequently, Trestia and Tramaldi started negotiations but disagreed since both countries laid claim to Baka. The countries presented the case to the International Courts. The case is still in litigation, while a diplomatic row between the two countries worsens. The territorial border dispute is a hot dispute between the two states.
Functional/Operational Dispute
A functional dispute also exists between Ninilla and Trestia, whereby the two nations disagree about border management responsibilities. Both communities that live near the Ninilla-Trestia border practice cattle keeping as a chief source of income. One of the main challenges these communities face is rampant cattle rustling between rival communities. Sometimes communities from Ninilla steal cattle from Trestia and cross the border with the cattle and vice versa. Ninilla feels that it has taken the necessary precaution to prevent such cases by increasing border patrol. It also prevents, to an extent, the entry of cattle rustlers into Trestia. On the other hand, Ninilla accuses Trestia of failing to adequately manage its borders and abandoning the responsibility of border security entirely to Ninilla. This sentiment might arise due to the economic differences between the two sides. On the east of the border lies Trestia’s empty area, which is barely connected to its communication and transport networks.
On the other hand, Ninilla’s side of the border is near its capital and is part of its core area. Therefore, people living in Trestia live in poverty and resort to crossing the border searching for opportunities, while those Ninilla have not motivation to cross the borders. This might have caused a laxity in managing the border’s security on Trestia’s side, the operational dispute source. The dispute is a cold dispute, where Trestia deflects talks about border security management.
Additional Issues Caused by Shared Resources
Apart from the operational and territorial disputes that Trestia faces, other issues arise due to shared resources. One of the most contentious issues arises between Trestia and Dilka, which share river Tindi. The river drains into the Barat Ocean and supports Trestia’s agricultural sector. It originates in Ninilla, passes through Dilka, and ends in Trestia. The three countries do not have an agreement governing river abstractions. Therefore, over the past few years, Dilka has taken advantage of the lack of restrictions and constructed three out of the five targeted dams along the river. The dams led to a significant decrease in water volume, which affected agricultural production in Trestia. After Dilka built the first dam, Trestia started talks to create abstractions regulations and requested the country to stop the construction. However, Dilka proceeded with the construction, which became a source of strife between the two states.
Another issue that arises from the Tindi river is the difference in pollution regulations between the three states. Dilka lacks a pollution policy that prohibits the discharge of effluent into water bodies. Therefore, industries discharge effluent into the river, which contaminates water that eventually flows into farms in Trestia. Trestia started environmental policy talks with Dilka, which also involved Ninilla. The countries agreed that a safe environment was in the trio's best interest and developed environmental pollution policies, but Dilka is yet to implement the suggested policies.
Trestia Allies
Ompolo is Trestia’s ally due to the cultural continuity between the two states. Kamalis, which is the third-largest tribal group in Trestia, occupies the northern part of Trestia. The same tribe makes up the majority of Ompolo’s population. They share the same cultural values, which creates harmony between the two sides.
International Dimension Issues
Due to the laxity that Trestia displays in border security management, arms dealers and traffickers take advantage of the empty area near the Ninilla-Trestia border. They use this unmonitored region to smuggle arms into and out of the country, which adversely affects national security and supports cattle smuggling operations in the region. Another international dimension issue is piracy in the Barat Ocean waters, mainly perpetrated by Binza nationals. Binza borders Trivaldi to the east and is home to some of the most notorious pirates.
Foods and Taboos
Trestia’s staple food is rice. Other common foods include maize, wheat, and arrowroots. An interesting aspect of Trestia’s culture is that obscenity is a taboo. Therefore, most of the country’s media platforms are free of obscenity, including advertisement campaigns and print media.
Choice Concepts
Linkage theory , which describes how one negotiation could influence the process or outcome of another, is applicable in negotiating environmental protection policies between Ninilla, Dilka, and Trestia. When Dilka agreed to implement a suitable pollution policy, Ninilla was more willing to participate in the two states' pollution policy negotiations. The country was motivated by the willingness of the two states to take responsibility for the environment. Trestia has an enclave named Namri, which is politically attached to it but physically separated by surrounding foreign territory in Rustia. The country also has an exclave named Taga, which is separated from the mainland by Tramaldi. Trestia obtained Taga and Namri through annexation , defined as the political process of extending national sovereignty over a new land piece. One of the correctional policies in Trestia is that criminals are subjected to servitude in the uranium mines, which is the state of a person who is, in this case, involuntarily subjected to the state as a servant.
Conclusion
The Trestia Republic is one of the leading exporters of uranium. Its core area is located in the east and surrounds the country’s capital, Mandana. The city is the most populous area of the country, with 1,567,853 people. Trestia’s is located along the coastal boundary. A hot territorial boundary dispute exists between Trestia and Tramaldia. Moreover, a cold operational dispute also exists between Ninilla and Trestia. Sharing resources, such as water bodies, breeds conflict, such as the issue between Trestia and Dilka. Ompolo is Trestia’s ally due to the cultural continuity between the two states. International dimension issues present in Trestia are arms trafficking and piracy. Trestia has an enclave and an exclave named Namri and Taga, which it obtained through annexation. The government subjects criminals to servitude in the uranium mines.
