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[center][b]Franco-Iberia[/b][/center]

[b]Location[/b]
Southern Europe & North Africa

[b]Land Owned[/b]
France, Greater Maghreb (Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Western Sahara), Portugal, Italy, Spain

[b]Population[/b]
14.3 million

[b]Language Spoken[/b]
Arabic, Berber (unofficially), French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish 

[b]National History[/b]
Europe was spared the most direct effects of the nuclear apocalypse, but was scarcely prepared for the scale of the human crisis that followed. Mass migrations in Asia spilled over into Europe, and the old European Union struggled with how best to respond to the refugee crisis. Eastern nations wanted to address the refugee situation first; Western and Mediterranean nations wanted quick actions to guard against rising sea levels. Eventually the European Parliament found itself unable to control the actions of the member states or unify the confederation around a common course of action, and the "European dream" fell apart. While the old EU was no more, the individual nations still saw merit in maintaining close alliances, especially where there were shared priorities and shared crises. Spain and southern France, whose northern counterpart sought to side with Britain, were two of the first countries to form a political union, and Franco-Iberia was born a short 18 months after the formal dissolution of the EU. Both countries' ruling coalitions shared a common vision of widespread social reform in the wake of the war, innovative urban engineering projects whose designs could be used in new urban planning, and ecological engineering to restore the biosphere. This "techno-green" ideology would spread through Europe later, but the Franco-Iberian model is the oldest and arguably the most successful.

Since then, Franco-Iberia has extended across the Mediterranean ("The Romans are back" is a common joke) and down into North Africa. The Mediterranean Sea has turned from a threat to the greatest natural resource at Franco-Iberia's disposal, and the unification with North Africa brought Franco-Iberia a dynamic population and access to mineral resources. But perhaps the most striking aspect of Franco-Iberia was its focus on culture. Not only did the Union seek to preserve its past great works of art, but funded initiatives to encourage new generations of artists and authors to not only explore new art forms, but explicitly to continue the Renaissance and Enlightenment traditions. The Directorate-General for Education and Culture was aggressive in promoting and exporting European cultural works – especially through the media – to the rest of the world. For Franco-Iberians, their shared cultural history and the cultural infusion from North Africa has become a source of unifying pride. With such initiatives and stability, it is unsurprising that others sought to join Franco-Iberia in the face of a confusing and threatening world. Trésors de l'esprit is the byword; a citizen's riches should be carried in her mind and shared, not hidden away in a bank.

With its progressive attitudes, high standard of living, and thriving culture, Franco-Iberia has been a beacon for immigration. Highly-educated immigrants have flocked into its borders, not only to work in cultural fields, but on the massive infrastructure projects, such as Seventh Republic Paris and the Andalusian Solar Field Energy Project. The twin capitals of Lyon and Madrid gleam with new buildings. The restored Rome is a pilgrimage hub and world museum. Algiers' new port bustles day and night with a new class of low-energy cargo ships. Tunis is a shimmering resort city to the world, whose nightclubs and cafes thrum with the sound of a new generation of musicians. With such advantages, Franco-Iberians have admonished to conduct themselves in the best traditions of civilization and morality no matter the circumstances. After all, the guardians of Western Civilization could hardly do less.

[b]Leader[/b]
President Cécilia María Sara Isabel Attias 

[b]Description of Govt.[/b] 
Since its birth, Franco-Iberia has been governed by a President as head of state, serving terms of seven years. The actual business of national administration is handled by the Chamber of Deputies, whose seats are allotted to international departments based on population size. Franco-Iberia is one the world’s most democratic nations, having instituted universal suffrage within weeks of its most recent expansions. Although there are many political parties operating in this hothouse, politics have traditionally been dominated by the so-called Parti Gaulois, a nationalist (but strongly pro-Russian) organisation that have dominated both the presidency and the Chamber of Deputies for decades. Through their influence, Franco-Iberia has been officially allied to the Greater Russian Empire since its emergence into the post-apocalyptic world.

[b]Technological Overview[/b]
Despite not being the brunt of the nuclear holocaust, Franco-Iberia has used its recovery as a testbed for many technologies and practices that have proved advantageous during these turbulent times of human development. "The War Against the Sahara" helped stop the desertification of neighboring Sub-Saharan territories, "New City Algiers" became the standard for high-efficiency urban living with high quality of life, and the "Great Heavenly Dive" demonstrated that effective naval craft could be mass-produced with post-war refuse.

[b]Cultural Overview[/b]
Each region of the extensive Franco-Iberian European Union possesses a unique identity and unique elements, contributing, thus, to the making of national culture and to the civilization legacy. Franco-Iberia has set among its top priorities the protection of its legacy and the preservation of its member states' cultural identity.

[b]Military Description[/b]
Franco-Iberian military organisation retains many of the features that had sustained its member states prior to the nuclear holocaust, but the crippling aftermath of the Third World War has given rise to extensive changes in equipment and tactics. The core of the Franco-Iberian army is still its elite regiments of European infantry, although their composition and role have changed greatly since their extensive (and brutal) reorganization during the the country's formation. These soldiers are trained as riflemen and grenadiers, utilizing the large caches of modern weaponry reserved for this sort of situation. Regiments are totally self-contained organisations, and even include their own medical and logistic services. Alongside these elites, the bulk of the Franco-Iberian armies are made up of Douleur regiments – conscript light infantry given basic training and equipment, and which form the mass manpower of the President's armies. Lastly, Franco-Iberian armoured regiments are crewed by a special class of soldiers known as Utile. Originally irregular, almost exclusively immigrant, light infantry units who also serve as guards and watchmen, the Utile regiments have evolved to become custodians of the President’s war machines, and are busily building a whole new military tradition based on the resurgence of cavalry.

Alongside the regular Franco-Iberian forces, there are many irregular troops from various quarters, such as desert nomads, who fight more or less as guerrilla forces. North African commanders allow such troops a high degree of autonomy, understanding that they operate best when left to fight as they know best. 

The Franco-Iberian Navy is a single organisation that also encompasses the Aviation Corps. Franco-Iberian warships are strongly built and well armed, designed to operate almost as mobile fortresses in confined waters where the risk of surface and air attack is considerable and expertly fashioned from useable refuse. The Aviation Squadrons, a comparatively recent addition to Franco-Iberian military strength, as yet mostly employ redesigned versions of farming equipment, but are said to be rapidly re-equipping with new craft originated by the government’s own naval and aerial architects. There are also persistent rumours than the country may be attempting to acquire  technology from its Russian allies.