The Clans
Officially disenfranchised by the establishment of the military government, the Western clans remain a potent force in league politics. Their alliances dominate the political scene, influencing every level of government from the High Council down to the lowest levels of the civil administration. Concentrations of personnel from any one clan in a government institution or military unit are prohibited by the league charter (though there are several notable exceptions to this rule), supposedly to limit clan influence and the abuse of power. Despite this, the inter-clan alliances, ranging from local associations to the massive Zuccite and Maderan factions, have made a mockery of the legislation which only prohibits the accumulation of power by single clans. Indeed, only the smallest and weakest clans outside one of the large factions have no say in the government process.
The dynamic within and between the clans has wide-ranging effects on Western politics. Ideologyis the principal dividing line between the two grand alliances - the Zuccite tend towards conservatism and militant nationalism while the Maderan are more willing to adapt and seek diplomatic solutions - but this is a gross simplification of a very complex relationship. Minor incidents far in the past have grown into bitter feuds, coloring the relationships between the clans. The antagonism between the factions is well known and frequently makes itself apparent in the government and WFPA. The most famous incident involved Captain Juarez Ethan, a member of the Maderan faction, who was court-martialed after refusing the orders of his Zuccite commander. Far from an isolated occurrence, there are fears that such divisions could seriously hamper the effectiveness of the WFPA during the war.
Likewise, groups within a faction can be mutually antagonistic, such as the Hernandez and Olsen Clans in the Maderan faction or the Gutirez and Phillips in the Zuccite faction. These feuds require other members of the faction to tread carefully, placing limits on their actions and occasionally necessitating several layers of mediators. Furthermore the relationship between First Clans -those formed before the Protectorate - and newer clans impose additional restrictions on alliances. Few First Clans, who also call themselves "True" Clans, will freely recognize the authority of new clans, despite the success of some such groups.
The complexity of Clan internal politics makes negociations and deals extremely difficult. Each clan has its own style of negociation and traditions to observe, and their neqociators are carefully groomed over many cycles to prepare them for the difficult task ahead. Master/apprentice relationships are often used for this.
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