Earth's Pre-Federation Economy
Earth was a pre-warp Minor Industrial World prior to Vulcan First Contact in 2063, and suffered 40% regression following World War III in 2054. The following sections detail the political and economic changes the planet went thru between 1988 (the start of the Great Khanate) and the formation of the United Federation of Planets in 2161.
1988
At this time, there were just six powers making an effort at space development, all for the most part working independently. The Great Khanate initiated its growth by providing and working with the Chinese to develop the DY series of interplanetary spacecraft, a huge leap forward for the world. The craft would be licensed out to the other major spacefaring nations in short order, before the Khanate was brought down by combined international effort.
| Nation | Percent | RPs |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 32% | 47 |
| South Korea | 22% | 33 |
| European Union | 20% | 30 |
| Russia | 15% | 23 |
| China | 7% | 11 |
| India | 4% | 6 |
1996
The Great Khanate collapsed this year, and countries scrambled to uncover and salvage the covert organization's many hidden and captured technologies for their own benefits. Russia was the first to realize that it could seize greater control of those opportunities, as well as the world's limited space-related resources, if it had a greater alliance with which to influence the various international suppliers. It successfully signed on some of the former Soviet Union's client states, by offering them an avenue to access the promising space future. The nations of Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan joined with Russia to form the Eurasian Confederation, an organization of the newest space-faring nations working in concert with one of the oldest ones. This resulted in quite the resource bounty for Russia and her allies, at the expense of all of the other nations (excepting China, which remained unaffected).
| Nation | Percent | RPs |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 29% | 43 |
| Eurasian Confederation | 24% | 35 |
| South Korea | 19% | 29 |
| European Union | 18% | 27 |
| China | 7% | 11 |
| India | 3% | 5 |
2002
The United States, well aware of the fortunes to be realized in the solar system and understanding its grasp could only slip if it remained solitary in the pursuit of those fortunes, upped the ante considerably when it convinced its traditional allies, the United Kingdom and Canada, to borrow a page from the Eurasian Confederation's playbook and join with it in protecting and expanding their reach for natural Earth-bound resources and technologies. The European Union didn't require too much more convincing to join this new 'Western Alliance' and the organization was quick to take utmost advantage of the new combined opportunities, even as North Korea succumbs to the chaos of another famine and resulting coup. South Korea and China are left to deal with the influx of desperate refugees.
| Nation | Percent | RPs |
|---|---|---|
| Western Alliance | 64% | 96 |
| Eurasian Confederation | 16% | 25 |
| South Korea | 13% | 20 |
| China | 4% | 6 |
| India | 2% | 3 |
2003
China supports South Korea in absorbing the population and meager resources of the north peninsula, resulting in the formation of the Royal Republic of Korea. Surprising most analysts, the absorption goes very well and instead of weighing down the beleaguered nation, a slight economic gain is achieved.
| Nation | Percent | RPs |
|---|---|---|
| Western Alliance | 63% | 94 |
| Eurasian Confederation | 16% | 24 |
| Korea | 15% | 23 |
| China | 4% | 6 |
| India | 2% | 3 |
2018
With the re-emergence of the United Nations in 2011, a majority of the members of the Western Alliance choose to altruistically devote their resources and assets to the International Space Agency. However, the Unites States chooses to not put all of its eggs in the one proverbial basket, instead providing military and administrative support to the organization and retaining its own exploration capabilities with NASA (though it agrees to work in concert with ISA on common endeavors). The other per-existing space nations take note of the split US role and similarly refrain from joining their assets to the ISA, holding on to what resources they can in spite of the huge impact the international alliance has on availability.
| Nation | Percent | RPs |
|---|---|---|
| International Space Agency | 77% | 115 |
| Eurasian Confederation | 9% | 13 |
| Korea | 8% | 12 |
| United States (NASA) | 3% | 5 |
| China | 2% | 3 |
| India | 1% | 2 |
2031
In spite of growing world tensions, as decreasing resources are being funneled primarily to the active members of the New United Nations, the world's countries come together to successfully combat the threat of a swarm of asteroids approaching direct impact with the planet. The impressive notability of the cooperative effort convinces the less active members to form an opposing internal alliance to secure their perceived fair share of resources. The Eastern Coalition is formed from the merging of the Eurasian Confederation with Korea, China, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Vietnam, Iran and Japan.
| Nation | Percent | RPs |
|---|---|---|
| International Space Agency | 62% | 93 |
| Eastern Coalition | 36% | 54 |
| United States (NASA) | 2% | 3 |
2054
World War III has concluded, with massive desperation and rampant chaos. An aggrieved Colonel Green is rampaging through the remnants of the United States, Europe and Eurasia are devastated and the Far East is focused on retaining what control it can. The US has assumed control of large portions of the ISA, in order to retain some sense of technological baseline for the planet (and itself) and Australia has risen up to maintain some economic presence in space. Additionally, the technological boon of the post-2031 efforts in Africa have seen the countries of Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo and Sao Tome form the new Central African States, already establishing itself in the (figurative and literal) vacuum in space left by the relative pullback of the preceding (and damaged) nations.
| Nation | Percent | RPs |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Coalition | 44% | 39 |
| Central African States | 22% | 20 |
| Australia | 15% | 14 |
| United States (ISA/NASA) | 11% | 10 |
| Texas | 8% | 7 |
2063
To an observer of Earth prior to the 2050s, the world at the time of the Vulcan's First Contact would have seemed to be nearly disastrous and post-apocalyptic in comparison, but when compared to 2054, the recovery would have been obvious (though far from complete). Nations were still extremely cautious about working in concert with one another and expectations of hostility were expected to blow up again, as soon as the 'others' became strong enough. However, there were more than a few organizations and individuals that understood that a full recovery (or at least the survival of Humanity) required an off-world presence. It was the climax of their efforts, the breaking of the light barrier, that brought about a new epoch for Humanity. The Vulcans had arrived.
| Nation | Percent | RPs |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Coalition | 38% | 38 |
| Central African States | 25% | 25 |
| Australia | 15% | 15 |
| United States (ISA/NASA) | 13% | 13 |
| Texas | 9% | 9 |
2065
Two years after the Vulcans’ arrival, the New United Nations had been revived amid a near-universal realization: Humanity was not the galaxy’s only intelligent species. Recovery could no longer be treated solely as a personal or national concern; it had become a necessity for Humanity as a whole.
The Vulcans, acting as cautious protectors, helped prevent Humanity from destroying itself and created the political conditions for the Sparon–DeSoto Treaty. Although many remained skeptical of the aliens’ stated motives and even the full truth of their presence, that uncertainty strengthened the case for consolidating the various spacefaring services beneath a single command.
No government, however, was yet prepared to place its land, air, and naval forces under a unified Human authority. Australia, among several notable holdouts, remained too committed to self-determination even to rejoin the NUN at this stage.
The United States took a more cooperative position. It agreed to return the ISA to NUN authority, while keeping NASA fully dedicated to American national objectives. Texas likewise agreed to integrate its space assets with those of its former parent nation, on the condition that existing national resource claims remained valid.
| Nation | Percent | RPs |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Coalition | 33% | 33 |
| Central African States | 29% | 30 |
| Australia | 15% | 15 |
| International Space Agency | 13% | 13 |
| United States/Texas (NASA) | 11% | 12 |
2069
By this year, the Sparon-DeSoto Treaty was in place and the armed ships of the planet were now actively pursuing the protection of Earth under the banner of the United Earth Stellar Navy, rather than proactively preparing for international hostility. Granted, there was no evident threat to Earth, but the Vulcans did warn of dangers that the Humans were not yet prepared to face, and though there was no way the Vulcans themselves could have been successfully resisted, Humans have always been a species to seek self-reliance. Also, Earth was far from united: Australia was still pursuing its own level of self-reliance and it was an inspiration to a few of the smaller nations of Oceania. Though the present was still difficult (especially for the radiation-poisoned Far East), the future was proving to have a bright light at the other end. (The ISA has turned over all assets to the UEDP, to form the basis of the UESN.)
| Nation | Percent | RPs |
|---|---|---|
| Central African States | 30% | 33 |
| Eastern Coalition | 29% | 33 |
| United Earth Defense Pact | 26% | 28 |
| Australia | 15% | 17 |
2073
Galactic life starts moving fast now: the Tellarites come to the Sol system and, fortunately for the UESN's sense of confidence, they are the first ones to detect them. Back on Earth, there is still turmoil and struggles for survival: the Eastern Coalition, though still involved in interplanetary efforts, is having increasing trouble dealing with the medical issues that come with radiation and associated maladies and its economy is clearly deflating. Australia is still conservatively skeptical and is starting to see similar concern over stagnation, as other major regions of the world are steadily improving.
| Nation | Percent | RPs |
|---|---|---|
| Central African States | 31% | 35 |
| Eastern Coalition | 27% | 31 |
| United Earth Defense Pact | 27% | 31 |
| Australia | 15% | 17 |
2079
A turn for the worse, as global cooperation takes a hit: the New United Nations fails to convene, as internal struggles within a large portion of the membership result in a failure to meet quorum. However, the leaders within the UEDP vow amongst themselves to pressure their national leaders to meet the manning and fiscal responsibilities to maintain the fledgling United Earth Defense Force and the UESN. The Eastern Coalition is struggling to maintain the internal peace; they're having to hire mercenaries and arm their police forces with increasingly heavier weaponry in order to put down food riots.
| Nation | Percent | RPs |
|---|---|---|
| Central African States | 33% | 41 |
| United Earth Defense Pact | 28% | 36 |
| Eastern Coalition | 25% | 30 |
| Australia | 14% | 18 |
2113
With the lack of involvement by the rather defunct NUN, the Earth-committed UEDP has stepped in, utilizing their political (but never their military) power to influence national and international governance, ensuring the peace where possible and (with Vulcan assistance) providing advanced technical help where needed. UEDP leaders from the Eastern Coalition have been particularly influential on their nation, as their confidence and military strength are respected. Finally, not only as a corner been turned on handling the survival issues in the Far East, but steady progress has resulted in a complete eradication of war, poverty and disease around the world. Australia, one of the last hold-outs, witnesses the tremendous economic and technical gains over the last 3 decades and cannot but notice the complete stagnation of their economy, as mining and other resource space ships become much more capable, compared to their own aging fleet.
| Nation | Percent | RPs |
|---|---|---|
| Central African States | 35% | 70 |
| United Earth Defense Pact | 30% | 60 |
| Eastern Coalition | 26% | 52 |
| Australia | 9% | 18 |
Note: each following year, the global economy increases by 3 RPs.
2130
The Central African States, never having been involved in conflict in their nearly century-long history but well aware of the tolls of military dictatorships, expresses admiration and appreciation for the efforts of the UEDP, but suggest it is now time for the reins of Earth's governance to be turned over to the people of earth. The States suggest a world government based on democracy and the advancement of all Humanity and the call for a world council to convene in rebuilt Paris to establish such a government. The UEDP pledges to turn over all planetary representation to such an organization and by this year, not only is the Traité d'Unification drafted, but the Eastern Coalition, the newly re-united United States of America, the new African Confederation and most all of the remaining nations have signed it. The United Earth is finally formalized. (Australia and three other Oceanic nations remain non-belligerent holdouts.)
| Nation | Percent | RPs |
|---|---|---|
| United Earth | 95% | 243 |
| Australia | 5% | 13 |
Note: each following year, the global economy increases by 4 RPs (5 in 2135, 2140 & 2145).
2150 and beyond
Although acting as a united planet for 19 years, Earth was fully united when Australia and the three other holdout nations acknowledged their quality of life could only improve by joining the United Earth government and that there was no threat of an oppressive regime arising in its place. At this time, the monthly RP income for Earth is 340 and it would increase annually by 6 each year, until it achieves Major Industrial World status (with 400 RP) in 2160 (and Nation Capitol status and 500 RP the following year).