Maps of Greater [insert country]

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by VetLegion
Hey, it's a big site, I can't know you all.

Well, he's a bloodthirsty Norsk. Don't confuse them with the glorious Swedes

[Gangerolf]

I forgive you. Both of you. (But Spiffoire it's "Nordmann". "Norsk" is the adjective)

BTW, there aren't any Swedes in Finland, only Finns who happen to speak Swedish. I think that's the official version anyway. So I don't think they suffer much, but if they did I would be the first to call for an invation, or nuking, whichever is cheaper.

[Maniac]

I thought there was a Swiss minority in Finland.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Spiffor
Indeed, that's really aggressive, and it corresponds to an ethnical vision of the nation, which is seriously destructive.

AFAIK, there is no vision of greater France. There used to be one, prior to WW1, back when we wanted Alsace Lorraine back, and when we claimed much of Africa for ourselves.

But AFAIK, now that the time of revanchism is gone for us, we have no dreams of greater France, and we don't base our identity on ethnical principles. Our government might defend French citizens abroad (like any government actually), but it doesn't defend people from some French ethnical groups that has no ties with our citizenship.

er, em, De Gaulles support for Quebec Libre?? I mean I know thats ancient history to you young folks, but its at least more recent than WW1.

And then theres France's continued patronage of the Lebanese Maronites (im not against that, its put France and the US on the same side for once, but is there not a sense of the Maronites "frenchness")

Oh, and there was the French help to Rwanda Hutus, motivated at least an part by the sense that the Tutsis would pull Rwanda out of the Francophonie (?)

And of course Frances continued political intervention in most of francophone west africa.

Of course many Americans would see the EU as the principle project for "Greater France"

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Spiffor

Obviously, but that's because Africa is our playground, not because it's our territory, nor is it because there are ethnical groups we feel obliged to protect.

well not like tribe x against tribe Y - more to help french language elites in general, and to have french cultural dominance and political dominance reinforce each other. Not that Im against it, mind you, but I think theres definitely some cultural content to it.

[lord of the mark]

Originally posted by Gangerolf
I wanna invade somewhere But going with the minority excuse it would have to be places like North Dakota or Costa Blanca, which aren't that easy to move my army to...

theres still the remnant of a small Norwegian immigrant community in Brooklyn, NY. I mean the Lutheran nursing home isnt much of an empire, but at least its on the coast

[Bereta_Eder]

Originally posted by VetLegion
By the way, protecting a minority of own nationals abroad is a pretty aggresive philosophy if you think about it. For example, Croatia has in its constitution that it is obligation of the state to care for Croatians abroad. In the case of Bosnia, that means we would (and had) militarily intervene in case their existence is endangered. Similar to Turkey and Cyprus if you will.

It's disgusting that you refer to the occupied parts of Cyprus as the North republic of turkey's cuprus or what's called by turkey

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Bereta_Eder
It's disgusting that you refer to the occupied parts of Cyprus as the North republic of turkey's cuprus or what's called by turkey

I suppose you oppose that disgusting "FYROM" acronym too, then?

[Bereta_Eder]

Yes Skopjie is more fascinating

But those are two different things. One is a silly squabble over a name the other is an invasion with
untold suffering. using that name legitimizes it
of course it's used in a off topic forum of a games site by some constipated croation so i guess we must view it with its right proportions. still an unhealthy impression though.

[Az]

The Turkish Republic of Cyprus

True peaceful people, who accepted the peace proposition by the UN, unlike their violent southern brothers.

[Bereta_Eder]

How more miserable can you become?
I can see having fun with Skopjie but that just downgrades you as an (internet - granted) person

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by lord of the mark
er, em, De Gaulles support for Quebec Libre?? I mean I know thats ancient history to you young folks, but its at least more recent than WW1.

It's the closest we have to an idea of greater France. And even then, I don't think anybody envisioned a Québec belonging directly France (I wouldn't be surprised if De Gaulle wanted an independant Québec under French influence however).

And then theres France's continued patronage of the Lebanese Maronites (im not against that, its put France and the US on the same side for once, but is there not a sense of the Maronites "frenchness")

Indeed, there are some populations we feel closer ties with. Québecois, Waloons, French-speaking Swiss, Maronites, and I think we even have fairly significant ties with the Coptes of Egypt.
However, it's nothing close to a country based on ethnicity: unlike Croatia, we are not legally bounded to assist them when they're in trouble. Unlike Germany, we don't grant them citizenship if they just ask.
And actually, for a long time, this feeling of sympathy extended to the Arabs (the North African Arabs in particular), despite the fact that we have no ethnical traits in common.

Oh, and there was the French help to Rwanda Hutus, motivated at least an part by the sense that the Tutsis would pull Rwanda out of the Francophonie

It was mostly motivated by pure greed. Francophonie is an instrument of power in Africa, but it's not the aim in itself. Basically, Rwanda and Congo saw the struggle between Washington-supported groups and Paris-supported groups. In the case of Rwanda, we didn't hesitate to side with the genocidial maniacs until the **** hit the fan

And of course Frances continued political intervention in most of francophone west africa.

This is also rapidly changing with the end of the cold war. We now are aware that francophione Africa isn't a playground that can only be ours. The Yanks are a serious competition. This is why we are now increasingly tied with English-speaking Africa: we have dramatically expanded our horizonts, just like we have considerably changed our methods (in the old times, that pesky Gbagbo would have already been dead for years, to be replaced by a convenient pawn)

Of course many Americans would see the EU as the principle project for "Greater France"

Well, that's our idea too (though it's more subtle than that: we don't want their territory, nor the hassle it is to manage it - we just want their resources).
Too bad the other Europeans disagree with the concept

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Az
The Turkish Republic of Cyprus

True peaceful people, who accepted the peace proposition by the UN, unlike their violent southern brothers.

QFT. You should have added "barbaric"

[VetLegion]

Paiktis, first, stop misspelling Skopje. It's Skopje, not Skopjie, Skjpje or whatever.

Secondly, I did not comment legitimacy of Turkish Republic of North Cyprus. I just called them what they call themselves. I don't think I've given it international recognition just by that. Sure, I'm important in world politics, but nobody knows I post here

[Bereta_Eder]

I already explained the reasons of my post. You can play deaf all you want. Skopjie Skpie skopie is too difficult. I think they should be called Skopia. It's much more easy.