User:Semyon/Reformist League

Reformist League
The Reformist League is a political pressure group created in 2013. It was formally founded in 2001 as the Society of the Friends of Reform, in reaction to the significant political changes taking place at the time. The League adheres a centrist liberal philosophy of gradual change to the benefit of general welfare. It aims at the emancipation of various groups in society it deems in one way or another 'disadvantaged' and promotes a general democratization of politics and society. Among its most pressing demands are an end to institutionalized discrimination and the promotion of more direct forms of political representation.

The actual discussion on the continuation of the monarchy led to diverging internal pressures within the society. In order to avoid a split the friends of reform transformed themselves into the Reformist League, consisting of two separate branches: the moderate Friends of Reform, which represent a continuation of the classic line, and the Radical Society faction.

Philosophy
The basic tenets of the Reformist League remain those of the original Friends Of Reform, as put forth by their founding charter in 2001. This document expresses a belief in historical progress, achieved through the education and equality of mankind. The political philosophy of the organization is often described as 'centrist liberalism' and can be traced back to Enlightenment ideals and the ideological aftermath of the French Revolution. The league defines it political position in opposition to conservatives to the right, who seek to put a break on change deemed unnatural, and revolutionaries to the left, who want to speed up the pace of change.

Since 2013 there is an outspoken difference between the Friends Of Reform and the Radical Society. The latter deviates from the truly centrist position that has been the official stance since the start of the movement. The members of the Radical Society lean closer to the leftist opposition branded as 'revolutionary'. They do however insist on a clear distinction with those to the left. The Radical Society sees itself as just as centrist as the Friends, with the split being over at which pace reform becomes harmful to society. Insiders have drawn a parallel between their own stance and that of the French reformist Saint-Simon.

The liberalism of the Reformist League is foremost political in nature, as opposed to the economic variant most commonly found in today's liberal circles. It keeps its focus on the notion of citizenship, and the obstacles and opportunities created to/by it. The most important tenets of the League are spelled out in the following statements:


 * The political sovereign is the Lovian nation, embodied in the citizenry of Lovia.
 * Political power is exercised through the state, which is the guarantor of both active and passive rights.
 * Citizens are to acquire adequate representation within the state through the democratic process.
 * All people of Lovia have the passive rights accorded to them by the nation.
 * Active citizenship and the accompanying political rights should be extended to achieve equality more fully.
 * To this end of equality in the exercise of one's citizenship, emancipation of individuals and certain groups is needed.