Attaining the Throne: Growing a Nation

Disclaimer: This article contains satirical elements for the purpose of entertainment. Any and all potential references to modern day countries is completely coincidental.

Introduction:

The world has become modern: no longer do we fire catapults at our neighbours, no longer are walls surrounding our cities. In fact, it has become a whole lot deadlier. Nations are at war, and political conflicts are ubiquitous. Today, we look at a coarse outline of how a nation may survive in this shattered world and rise to become a leader with two very effective tools: fear and joy.

Step 1: Education

First, set up a common enemy, such as: the communists/the capitalists (either works just as well) and illustrate some evil deeds that they have done. Also, don't forget to cover things up, and casually block a few browsers and social platforms, and, of course, when someone asks why you did it, say: "the [insert the enemy you set] are trying to create chaos! We must stop them!" Now, with the free information blocked, you can safely plant ideas into your citizens' minds.

As the government, you will need to set some goals for your citizens to see. Children should be the main target, because what you teach will be the foundation of their knowledge and views of the world. You must educate your citizens about history, specifically, how the other great powers failed you, shamed you, or attacked you. You have to rally a "united spirit" of the citizens to overtake other countries, with a little hate in the mix as well. This will come in handy in the future.

Also, in this generation, we must promote engineers and scientists, especially nuclear scientists, as they are the key to holding authority in the world. We will achieve this by mass testing the population, and finding those who excel. Then, we will send them abroad to gain knowledge from other countries.

After these children have been educated of our nation's great visions ahead, and the evil countries that lie in our path, which stand to be surpassed, it is time to put them to work, or at least prepare them.

Step 2: Production

Once our next generation of citizens have grown up, with our goals of surpassing other countries ingrained in their minds, we must get them working. We will have our nuclear scientists return from abroad and work with top secrecy on nuclear projects. As for the remaining people, we will make them achieve the goals we had set before.

Here are a few good examples.

1. Become the world's largest producer of [insert material with high demand].

2. Becoming self-sustainable in terms of food production, power, and clean water.

3. Bring the average monthly income of the individual above 1000 USD a month! (assuming this income is common around this time)

Step 3: Attraction (roughly fifty years later)

In order to begin this step, all of the prior must be achieved, and in addition, you, as a nation, have not committed any crimes against humanity or violations of life.

By the time you get here, you can start ramping up the tax just so slightly and collect the money. Of course, all of these taxpayer dollars won't be put towards nothing. In fact, you will put this money towards the upgrading of basic facilities, especially schools (which in turn fuels Step One for the next generation). Right now, you would also want to open up your country more, and also promote tourism. This is a good way to obtain more money, but more importantly, attracting intellectuals from other nations to your country. By making your schools top-notch (off taxpayers' money, of course), you will attract young, smart people all across the world. Alongside that, by bettering basic facilities, you are making your country more accessible to the foreigners (especially for those who aren't as wealthy). In doing so, smart youths will come to your nation for education, and chances are they will stay here. This will also further increase satisfaction rates within the nation.

Not all intellectuals are attracted here for your education, however. You also need to make your country's market an accepting place for companies of other nations. Give them limited access to your nation's demand, but control that — you don't want them completely taking over any sector of your economy. That, for very obvious reasons, is a bad idea. You must incentivise entrepreneurs in your own nation to create their own companies, in varying fields of the economy. Meanwhile, giving them just enough leeway to 'learn' (steal...) from their competitors overseas. This will strengthen your economic capabilities as a nation as well as the power you hold on the world stage.

By doing all of the above (hopefully, you haven't wrongly massacred any groups yet), you will more or less have built the nation to be happy, cosmopolitan, and capable. Next week, I will continue on this topic, and talk more about how we begin going for the crown.