Hi there, i wanted to know what you guys think of this;

The British wizarding political system is basically a parliamentary-type system although there is no voting(no elections either). The Wizengamot, meets frequently to discuss topics and its members are drawn from illustrious families. The seats are heriditary and as a result a huge disproportionate of the influence in wizarding society is in the hands of purebloods.

The Minister is voted in by a simple majority of the Wizengamot. He can only be sacked/recalled by a 2/3 vote. The heads of Departments are nominally appointed by the Minister although the positions often go to the heads of the factions in the Wizengamot. An exception to this rule is the Department of Mysteries, which secretly answers directly to the Sovereign. Officially, the state of emergency imposed in 1664 is still enforced. (That means no rights for citizens)

I'm sure you've noticed that instead of using the term 'government', the term Ministry is used instead. This is because according to the agreement signed in 1692, the Sovereign is nominally recognised and officially the British Ministry of Magic is under the direction of the Muggle Prime Minister. In truth, the Ministry is autonomous and runs without interference.

The Ministry is also corrupt, beaureucratic and nepotism runs rampant. This is observed in Lucius Malfoy's bribing of Cornelius Fudge, Harry Potter's trial before the Wizarding council and Percy Weasley's rapid rise in the ranks.

This situation is causing a lot of tension and resentment in the population of which only 18% is pureblood, with 52% of mixed-blood and 30% muggleborns. In the years up-to, during and following Voldemort's first rise to power, the latter two groups have grown more vocal in demanding their rights, eventually leading to, after Voldemort's second rise, to the Wizarding civil war- which pitted four factions against each other.

The first faction encompassed Lord Voldemort's group and some very powerful but non-affliated individuals. This faction supports the annihilation and banishment of non-purebloods.

The second faction is the Ministry faction, which supports the current status quo. As a result, most of the old families are here, including Albus Dumbledore, Cornelius Fudge, Rufus Scrimgeour, Amelia Bones and Arthur Weasley.

The third faction is a diverse umbrella of groups but is lead by Jules Buckley, an oxford/beauxbatons graduate. This group is allied to the last faction. Their aims are enfranchisement and a complete democratic system.

The last faction, is the Red Faction, which is a militant group which is supported by the British Government and the EU. It is lead by Jean Dubois(France) and Harry Potter (Britain). Their main aim is to reunify the muggle and wizarding worlds. The Red Faction is allied to Jules Buckley.(More on this faction later)

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That's all for now, what do you guys think? Should i continue writing about this idea i have? Does anyone want to co-author?

 

Political fics are always high on my read list, however very few manage to do it even passingly readable. If you're going to write this, be prepared for quite alot of effort, way more then the standard fic generally would get.

 

I would agree with Xiph0 on either keeping your facts straight or get real world political trappings that you know will spark RL political arguments.

I think it would be interesting if you want to base Harry's political philosophy on Marxism or Leninism, but do cover it somewhat so readers know you are writing fiction not making a pseudo-political statement. Call it Green faction or emerald faction if you want but something like "red faction" is just asking for flames.

Good luck on that. There are too few political HP fics out there, much less good ones.

 

I couldn't really think up a name for the faction...so bugger that one, does anyone have any ideas? And i'm using the term 'militant' because of the tactics employed. For example, i would argue that Lord Voldemort is more of a terrorist rather since he attacks and withdraws without holding onto territory. The fact that he makes quick strikes and leaves people dead, causing widespread terror and fear is exactly what many terror groups aim for.

As for militant, the tactics employed in my opinion would be equally vicious, including and not withstanding bombings of rival factions. Also, collective punishment-if the husband murders and rapes, then his family home would be burned to the ground and his family members arrested and held.

As for political philosophy, i've always thought that what you follow is how you're brought up and the influences you have especially through college/university. For example the crux of the socialism movement was at the LSE. So whatever harry's philosophy would be whatever he grew up with/influenced by. I was thinking that he would be brought up in France...

As for the group, it's basically a europe wide group. Harry leads the one in Britain but in France, another guy leads it. I was also meaning to tie in a 'collapse of the romanian ministry' and the fall of the iron curtain...but that may be too heavy.

I'm just writing to expand my skills. Well i'd also need a co-author since the scope is huge...

 

Since someone asked for a sample, here's a link:

http://www.writely.com/View.aspx?docid=bcf4dxmpx3gp9

It's only around a thousand words and it's part of the 'feels real' factor that i'm trying to introduce.

NOTE: It's not chronologically arranged...its deliberate and the chapter isn't finished/polished yet.

 

Just read that chapter. Whats with the use of Muggle newspapers?

Apart from that, it looks good form what i can work out. Your ideas for the political syste sound good, though I would agree with changing the name of the Red Faction.

 

The wizarding world has been exposed in Britain after the bloody assasination of a member of the royal family by Death Eaters. I'm meaning to tie that in as an inconsequential part of the background.

 

A lenninist or Marxist political view point.....so tell me....Harry is working for/witht he EU a democratic trade bloc to merge the muggle and wizarding worlds in communism?

 

I don't see where everyone is getting the communist thign from. He has said that he jsut clled it red for a lack of anything else to call it.

 

I guess I was jumping the guns. But I doubt I was the only one thinking about revolutionary communism when 'red faction' popped up. But if you really want to know:

1. He hinted that it was international (Britain and France) which fit the mode of ideological Marxism or socialism pretty well.

2. Then there's the fact that he gave the impression of an oppresive static quo, oligarchic aristocracy dominating the British ministry. Naturally, Harry's opposition group would be naturally somewhere along the liberal/socialist/democratic lines.

3. He already mentioned a 3rd faction aimed at "complete democratic system" that is allied to Harry's group. I assumed Harry's group was socialistic, which is believable. Liberalism/socialism isn't too far apart idelogically.

4. I did think Harry's group would fall along the more progressive Maxist/revisionist marxism ideological curve except for the fact that he said Harry's group was "militant" which made it closer towards Lenin's thing and his "vanguard of the proliteriot".

Notice I didn't at any point say communism in general OR stalinism, which is quite different and not ideological so much as a historical practice. I just thought he might be going for ideological Marxism, which I thought fit pretty well. Internationally organized (diff. leaders in diff. countries), oppressed group trying to actively topple a corrupt regime, allied with what seemed to be a democratically minded intellegentsia (Jules Buckley). It's not a bad concept...just thought he should be careful about placing the 'red' comment together 'militant'.

As for the EU, well, I had to ignore it as he did say that Harry's 'militant' group was supported by the EU. That far as I know...would not happen lol.

 

Who would have thought we were a bunch a political scientists! And all this time I thought we were all back-stabbing spork assassians!

 

didn't you know that they are one and the same?

 

What wonders never cease...

Well, IMO your story idea has a lot of merits. But what I don't understand is why the EU would be involved in bringing the wizarding world together with the muggle world. I thought the EU was an economic alliance between the states of Europe. Wouldn't it be better if say the UN was helping? And yeah, when I read Red Faction I immediately thought that Harry's faction were communistic in ideal. Also, would Dumbledore really side with the ministry as it sounds he would if he has always been so fascinated with muggles in cannon and is always jabbering about unity of houses and shit like that. Wouldn't it be safe to assume he would feel the same way about joining the two worlds together?

 

Screw those guys especially Stalin. Let me guess HP just wants the best for the people as a whole so he sets himself up as a the ruler who just so happens to be more equal than everyone else. But that was an innapropriate use of the term 'red' yes. I don't understand why he wouldn't just push for a fully democratic society, since his main allie within the country is doing the same. And why exactly would he want unity with muggles?

 

Thats a good point. Whats his reasoning for unity with the muggles? Is it for the continued survival of the magical races? Because he once lived as a muggle and knows how advanced muggle technology is and how it can be beneficial to the wizarding world? Or what?

 

I realised and I commented on it.

This does relate ot his fic you said it would be cool if he had any of these ideologies int his fic and I commented ont hem and their usefulness to this fic. Understand?

How does it benefit Harry or wizarding society in general? Just let their presence be known so more which hunts could begin. Religious zealots would go apeshit. And is muggle society any less bigoted?