Reality, Meet Fiction: Treaties

Reality:

This week has certainly been interesting with regard to world news. Great Britain decided on June 23rd to leave the European Union. It will be interesting to see the long-reaching effects the move will have on immigration and the world economy.

Source

While the EU is an economically-centered alliance, it certainly calls to mind older alliances that were more centered on military help. And while these alliances were often helpful, one has to look no further than WWI to see some of the disastrous consequences that treaties could bring.

Fiction:

If you have multiple countries in your storyworld, how can you use them and their treaties to your advantage as an author?

Why has your country made (or avoided making) treaties? Is there something in its past? What does your country seek to gain by making a treaty? What does the reciprocating nation hope to achieve? What strengths, weaknesses, and characteristics does this reveal about your countries?

Is your alliance primarily economically based, focusing on trade, currency, and regulations? Or is it primarily militaristic in nature? How has this changed the cultures of the two countries? Has increased trade diluted your national culture? If so, what's the opinion of the people?

What disadvantages are there to being part of this trade agreement or alliance? Do other countries drain your country's monetary resources? Does it dilute or change culture? Could being part of a military alliance drag your country into a war?

Although this was shorter than normal, I hope it gave you some good food for thought! 

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