Free People of Earth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Free People of Earth is a worldwide government body in Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game series, specifically in Shadow of the Giant.
Contents |
[edit] Foundation
The Free People of Earth (FPE) was introduced by Peter Wiggin, Hegemon of the Earth in Shadow of the Giant in an attempt to create a world government free of war. Peter developed a Constitution of the Free People of Earth, which indicated that only democratic countries which guaranteed civil rights would be allowed in. Before a nation was to be inducted, it was required that the nation hold a plebiscite in which the people of that nation voted to join. Unlike previous international government organizations, the Free People was intended to have a strong central government to control all armed forces and foreign affairs for its members. Peter explained to Virlomi, "We'll keep the word nation, but it will come to mean what state means in America. An administrative unit, but little more."
The Free People of Earth also recognized groups that were not previously independent, especially groups that wished to separate from their parent nations.
[edit] Member nations
Initially, the Free People of Earth consisted of these nations:
- South America
- Africa
- Europe
- Other
In addition, the nations of Runa and Nubia were recognized; the former a section of land contributed by some South American nations, the latter a region of Sudan claiming independence. The capitals of the government at this point were Ribeirão Preto, Brazil; Kiyagi, Rwanda; and Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Following military action in Peru as a result of the newly formed nations, Peru held a plebiscite and joined the Free People. As a result of these victories, Belize, Cayenne (possibly French Guiana), Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic held plebiscites. After similar action in Sudan, South Africa, Nigeria, Namibia, and Burundi reform their governments and are admitted to the Free People. Colombia also petitioned at this time to become a member. Belgium, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovakia began to plan for plebiscites soon after, along with the Philippines, Fiji, and "most of the tiny island nations of the Pacific." It is mentioned that "it seemed inevitable now that all of Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa would be part of the FPE".
As a result of the conflict between China, Russia, and the Islamic world, other nations joined the Free People during this time. Armenia appears to be holding a plebiscite, and Suriyawong mentions that Thailand has joined the Free People as well. Several countries are apparently allied with the Free People, including Burma, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Serbia, Austria, Greece, and Belarus, though it is not clear how far this alliance extends. During the conflict, the people of Belarus are urged by Vlad to join the Free People.
One year after the beginning of the conflict, Russia joins the Free People. By this time, Peter is in control of less than half the world, indicating that either or both China and India have not yet joined, as together they comprised over half of the world's population. From this point on it is not made entirely clear which nations have yet to join. Bangkok, Thailand became the fourth capital of the Free People.
The last chapter of the novel takes place around half-a-century after the previous chapter. It is mentioned then that the only nation that has yet to join the Free People is the United States.
[edit] Military
According to Peter, the military of the Free People consisted of the combined miltaries of all its member nations, though at all points during the novel it suggests that each nation's military still acts separately, though usually under the control of a Battle School graduate with an affiliation with the Free People. As the novel progresses, though, more alliances between national militaries are clear, and it is apparent that they join forces later on during the conflict between China, Russia, and the Islamic world.
In the last chapter, Peter mentions that Petra Arkanian remained head of the defense department of the Free People, being the last member of Ender's jeesh to remain on Earth.
[edit] Future
Sometime after Peter's death, the Free People collapsed, and was replaced by Starways Congress. It is not entirely known how this happened, and is expected to be explained in one of the two novels forthcoming from Orson Scott Card, Ender in Exile: Ganges or Shadows in Flight.
| Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game series |
|---|
| Anton's Key | Battle School | Command School | Dragon Army | Formics Free People of Earth | Hierarchy of Alienness | International Fleet Molecular Disruption Device | Pequeninos | Philotes | Philotic Web | Stark |
| Books | Characters | Concepts |
