Iqiist Thought

Etymology
“Iqiist Thought” is originally derived from the Zikar concept of “Edek i Iqii”, which translates to “Art of the Community”. As a political concept, the Art of the Community came to primarily symbolize the mutualist relationship between an individual and their community. This concept itself has its origins in the communal relations of Estradia’s tribal groups and their history’s of communal interdependence and reliance. Iqiist Thought has its earliest mention in the early texts of the Estradian liberation movement. Specifically, the political concept of the “Art of the Community” was formulated in the work “The Flame of a Child: A Shared Desire”. Written by Sandro Urelles, this book became one of the core literary foundations for what would become Iqiist Thought. Often times, Iqiist Thought is shortened to Iqiism. Following this, its adherents within Estradia and globally have come to be known as Iqiists.

Cyclic Exploitation
At its core, Iqiist Thought puts forth a perspective of cyclic developmental exploitation on a global scale. As Kayode surmised, the whole of global development could be boiled down to, “…the exploited and those who’ve inflicted the welts upon their backs.” This point was particularly poignant in the context of Dihara, which had seen its population face centuries of colonization and enslavement by Auroran powers. This concept of cyclic exploitation is generally split into 5 parts or phases: Pre-Cyclical Sustenance, the Exploited, Cyclic Limbo, the Exploitee, the Reversion, and Cyclic Transcension. However, there is significant debate over the legitimacy, prominence, and overall existence of these terms.


 * Pre-Cyclical Sustenance: In general, this stage is considered to come before a nation experiences industrialization. By having a low population, ample land area, little connection with other communities, and an overall less materialistic culture, it is believed that a community can amply provide for itself without resulting to the exploitation of its neighbors. As a community’s knowledge of agricultural practices and industrial technologies and techniques grow however, its population and its demands begin to outgrow its means. How a society chooses to acquire thee resources it demands decides where they begin in the exploitative cycle.


 * The Exploited: Depending on a communities timeline of development, and the development of its neighbors, it can find itself beginning as an exploited society. Through economic, political, cultural, or military means, a society will find itself subservient to another power for an indefinite period. Through this exploitation, the exploited society’s own development is retarded in order to further the development of the nation(s) that exploit it. Often this subservience is ended through violent unrest, but at times can come in peaceful forms. However, a nations physical independence doesn’t necessarily mean it is also free of economic, political, or cultural exploitation.


 * The Exploitee: According to Kayode and Zabudu the decision that a community must exploit its neighbors represents a, “..tragic and reprehensible betrayal of moral values.” In Iqiist Thought it is believed that as a society reaches it’s internal carrying capacity, the decision to exploiting surrounding societies is considered an easier decision than for a society to reevaluate its own internal values and shortcomings. As such, the position of an Exploitee is never permanent. Eventually such a corrupted society succumbs to its internal weakness, itself becoming an exploited country through war or other means.


 * Cyclic Limbo: Cyclic Limbo isn’t as much a stage as it is a place between stages. After a society manages gain its independence from those who once exploited it, it exists in a sort of limbo where it is neither exploited or an exploitee. In general, this ‘phase’ is short-lived, a society very quickly becoming an exploitee or exploited once more. Without “internal reckoning”, it is believed that the exploited-exploitee cycle can never be broken. Some Iqiist circles believe that the stage of Cyclic Limbo doesn’t exist, societies exploiting or being exploited at all times. Exploited societies which then become exploiters themselves are known as “The co-opted”, as they have been captured by the exploiting nations above them.


 * Cyclic Transcension: This is a very difficult, rarely achieved post-cycle phase. It is believed that through significant introspection and review of a society’s values and shortcomings, and a political and economic turn inwards, that a society can free itself from the cycle of exploitative development. Through a determined focus on a society’s core competencies and its pursuit of personal and communal advancement, said society will be able to interact with its neighbors on equal terms whilst ensuring its own continued prosperity. This stage is the end goal of all adherents to Iqiist Thought and serves as the guiding principle for all subsequent Iqiist policies and developments.