Transrhine

Transrhine officially referred to as the Peaceful Lands of Transrhine is a breakaway state located in Western Central Europe bordering France to the West, and Germany to the East. Transrhine has a population of approximately 25,197 people as of 2015 forming a tightly knit community, and covers a total land area of 2,791 kilometres squared.

Transrhine refers to itself as a 'self-governing country' based on a system of localised syndication, in which the people are regarded as being sovereign. The Constitution of Transrhine was ratified by popular vote in XXXX, and sets out the fundamental laws and political framework of the nation. Transrhine is divided into 8 communes, who collectively govern themselves through direct democracy in Communal Meetings, which are open to every single individual in the commune over the age of 18. Each commune elects a representative to attend the annual Council of Representatives, who reports on the decisions made by the people in each commune, and is able to act effectively in the event of an emergency.

In the 1960's a development project between France and Germany over the development of the Rhine flood defences was scrapped, and the villages that were evacuated for the development remained vacant. Soon, squatters moved in, and began a campaign to bring anarchists, hippies and other new age cultural movements together to form a nation and push for independence. The campaign was somewhat a success as several villages turned into new age anarchist communities, and became synonymous with attracting discriminated and ostracised groups from all over Europe. Members of the LGBT community and Roma people were among many of the people who emigrated to the region, alongside those disaffected by mainstream Cold War politics. By the end of the 1960's the campaign had moved towards a push for independence from West Germany. In 1969 Transrhine declared itself independent from West Germany, a move which recieved no response from the government at the time, with it being dismissed as unrealistic or fantasy. However as the nation established its own constitution and began issuing passports, the West German government took Transrhine's rhetoric more seriously.

Closely associated with the anarchist and hippy movements, Transrhine is a highly multicultural nation, with citizens originating from all across the world, drawn to Transrhine by its culture of openness, liberty and peace. There is specific emphasis on artistic and literary expression and artisan crafts in both Transrhine's culture and economy. Transrhinian culture has taken influence from various cultural influences from across the world, from Anarchism to New Age beliefs, and is based on a principle of the freedom to be the individual one desires to be, whilst being part of a close community. Labelled by many countries and political commentators across the world as a "nation of hippies," Transrhine has also been revered by anarchists and libertarian socialists alike, with some even labelling it a "utopia."