Republic of Novgorod

Overview
The Republic of Novgorod is a city-state in the central lowlands of the large snowy tundra in the north of the map. It was founded by Acidtrack4. The capital settlement is referred to as Veliky, Novgorod.

Government
The Republic of Novgorod has a public assembly in which every citizen can vote on state decisions. This assembly is overseen by an aristocracy called the "princes" that appoint individuals to specialized roles from their ranks. This "nobility" is partly elective: the people can vote them out of power, but they name their own heirs. This governmental structure is therefore democratic, but also guided by the most qualified minds.

The Social Contract
Novgorod's constitutional document is the Social Contract, which contains a series of Rights and Duties, detailing what benefits citizens are gauranteed and what freedoms they must give up for these benefits.

Foreign Relations
Novgorod is pacifistic and cordial whenever possible, being a strong proponent of free trade and open diplomacy between nations.

The Northern Accord
Novgorod is the founding nation and, along with Chireiden, is the diplomatic center of The Northern Accord, a defense treaty between the nations of the tundra and the Mare Bosstrum. In particular, it has very close ties to its neighbor, Archturk, which was founded at about the same time.

The Daggersea Deep Tunnel
Novgorod and the Zeelist ZFF to the south are collaberating on an international undergound rail and roadway. Novgorod was able to secure good relations with the Zeelists after they shifted away somewhat from fascist ideology, and now considers them valuable trade partners. There are plans to expand the DDT to include other nations.

Geography
Novgorod controls a rough rectangle of land between Archturk and Austria, extending inland from Veliky Novgorod, which is strategically placed on a large, flat island on the coast. Most of this territory is a gently rolling tundra that becomes gradually rougher and thickly forested farther inland. The region is bitterly cold and unsuitable for agriculture, but quite scenic and strategically valuable.