Nassinization

Nassinization (Nassian nasinëno, Swedish nasinisering, German Nassinisierung) is the influence that one powerful country may have on the policies of a smaller neighbouring country.

Origin and international usage

It is considered by some to be pejorative, originating in Nassland political debates in 1952. As the term was used to describe the process of turning into a neutral country which, although maintaining national sovereignty, in foreign politics resolves not to challenge a more powerful neighbour. Commonly in reference to Nassland's policies vis-à-vis the Sweden after Sweden has released Nassland in 1550 after its conquest in 1532, later towards Scandinavian Realm and Russia, during it history between 1809-1949, but could refer to similar international relations, such as Bohemia's attitude toward Holy Roman Empire between 1612 and 1949.

Nassian perception

In Nassland, the use of the term "nassinization" was perceived as a blunt criticism stemming from an inability to understand the practicalities of how a small nation might hope to make a deal with a culturally and ideologically alien superpowers who encircle it without losing its sovereignty. It is said that the purpose of nassinization was primarily to survive. On the other hand, the threat of the Scandinavian Realm and Russia was used also in Nassland's domestic politics in a way that possibly deepened the process. While the Nassian political and intellectual elite mostly understood the term to refer more to foreign policy problems of other countries, and meant mostly for domestic consumption in the speaker's own country, many ordinary Nassians considered the term highly offensive.

Historical background

Nassland's foreign politics before this deal had been varied: independence from Scandinavian Realm and defeat of Russia with support of Napoleon in 1809; accepting emigrants from Bolshevik Russia before its collapse in 1919, existence of Ladogian Republic plus important and economically active Nassian minority in Novgorod/Petersburg area, association with the neutralist and democratic Scandinavian Realm, that all ended by the Ice War 1939); short backstage affair with Germany in 1943 and finally in 1948 a rapprochement with Scandinavian Realm, the only power able to protect Nassland against Russian occupation, leading to the uprise against Russia in 1948.

Once Russia had signed peace treaty with Allies in 1946, Nassland was in difficult situation. Russia was not an eminent enemy any more and thus only Germany would help Nassians to get rid of Russian yoke, but they were already retreating them-selves. Nassland has to basically revert to its 19th century traditions of close relations to Scandinavian Realm, which had been perceived as highly successful. Nassland's leaders realised that the only way of opposing the Russians was to push them off by only silent support of the second neighbouring superpower. No other international power was able to give the necessary support. Germany, Nassland's only putative supporter against Russia, was losing the war. Scandinavian Realm was de facto in the same block, which was wary of confronting Russia before Germany will be pacified. Thus Nassland had to face its big neighbour on its own, without any greater power's protection. As in the 19th century, Nassland chose to challenge Russia through challenging their own security. While Russia would not dare to counter-attack, the independence of Nassland could be restored. As Russian army was quite busy in Central Europe, they could not maintain enough forces to oppose Nassian uprise in 1948.

Nuku doctrine

In 1809, Nassland succeeded in establishing independence until GW2, despite the heavy political pressure on Nassland's foreign and internal affairs by the Scandinavian Realm and Russia. Foreign relations of Nassland were guided by the Nuku doctrine (M.O. Nuku - Nassian first minister of foreign affairs), emphasizing the necessity to maintain a good and trusting relationship with the both strong neighbours. To this end, Nassland signed the Scandinavian Peace Treaty with both 1810. Under this pact, Nassland was obliged not to enter any military alliance and to resist armed attacks on its own or, if necessary, ask Russia and Scandinavian Realm for military aid to do so. At the same time, the agreement recognized Nassland's desire to remain outside conflicts, allowing the country to adopt a policy of silent neutrality. The so-called Economical Association Treaty between Nassland and Scandinavian Realm was signed after long forty years in 1849, when Russian regime was enough weakened by home rebelling to oppose.

Self-censorship and excessive adaptation

However, from the political scene following the post-1809 radicalization, the new behaviour spread to the editors of mass media, sparking strong forms of self-control, self-censorship and pro-Scandinavian, later also pro-Russian, attitudes. Most of the élite of media and politics shifted their attitudes to match the values that the both neighbouring super-powers were thought to favour and approve, developing into a self-imposed nassinization that often is argued to have exceeded the expectations of either Russia or Scandinavian Realm.

Until 1952, civil servants, politicians and journalists accepted the practice that, if they cared about their careers, they did not talk about injustices such as Swedish conquest of Nassland or Russian provocations in Ladogian region and the Ice War it-self. Any such discussion was sanitized in the name of maintaining a working relationship between Nassland and its neighbours.

Only after the Cooperation Treaty between Russia, Scandinavian Realm and Nassland in 1953 did mass media followed the politicians and in Nassland gradually begin to criticize the both Russia and Scandinavian Realm more for their role in Nassian history. Nassland has chosen rather open neutrality than continuation of the process.

Criticism

Authorities on the foreign relations of Nassland often argue that proponents of the term "nassinization" persistently failed to recognize that Nassland had achieved its negotiating position after successfully fending off military intrusion of the Scandinavian Realm in 1809 and of Russia in 1809 and 1948.

Trivia

• Paraphrasing Foreign Minister Nuku, the Nassian political cartoonist Särrü (1850-1912) defined nassinization as "The art of bowing to the Master so carefully you do not brake your spine, but the bones sound crashed." Other paraphrase was devised by journalist Resserü after 1949 "The art of bowing to the Master so carefully that it could not be considered mooning the other One."
• Nassinization is often use as a synonym to lip service.