Political Factions
Political factions are the various factions, groups, representatives, leaders, and organizations that contribute to or attempt to influence a fictional government. Fictional political factions offer worldbuilders an opportunity to create a wide variety of opposing groups, rife with conflict, that hold immense sway over the events that transpire within a fictional setting. Political factions may be political parties with different political beliefs [warmongers; isolationists; fascists; etc.] may be a political arm of a powerful non-overtly political faction [religious factions], or may be individuals or groups controlled by a subversive power [fictional companies; banking factions; foreign powers; etc.].
| Synonyms: political parties, politcal organizations |
| Example Mythonyms: the Brownsiders; the leftwing; loyalists; the Able Party |
Designing Fictional Political Factions
Overview
The design of political factions must begin with the design of a fictional government. How that government is organized directly impacts how political factions may form and interact with one another. For example, in representative democracies, political factions may be voting blocs that align themselves based on mutual interests. In more autocratic systems, political factions may be divided between loyalists and those more willing to challenge the current establishment (or outright rebels).
Faction Identity
Political factions often form unique branding that helps set them apart from other factions – this is particularly true of political parties. This identity typically includes association with a particular color, mascot or symbol, flag, slogan, and fashion. Political groups can have extremely long names, and possessing a shorter nickname can also be a part of a factions identity.
Corruption
Corruption is a common theme with fictional political factions. How these groups (and individuals within them) become corrupted as well as the causes they serve or abandon is a topic that worldbuilders will often seek to explore.