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	ADVANCEMENT PARTY

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The Advancement Party was a border-line communist party. The party never used the word "communist" to describe itself, as to do so would have been to violate laws banning communist groups from contesting elections. It did, however, go as close to communism as it reasonably could, and was accused by opponents of being a Communist Party front. Unlike the Communist Party, the Advancement Party never openly advocated revolution, and never advocated the complete nationalization of all industry. Rather, it tried to promote government control of the private sector without changing ownership. After restrictions on the Communist Party were lifted, the Advancement Party merged into it.

Colour and Emblem

The official colour of the Advancement Party was dark red, although a more medium shade of red (the same as was used by the Communist Party) was also prominently displayed. The party's emblem was a crossed hammer and wrench, a symbol sometimes used as an alternative to the more common hammer and sickle (used by the Communist Party).

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The party's name in Lendian was "lo Partido Adelanto".

Quote

"It is the duty of both citizens and state to work together for the benefit of all. Personal ambitions need not be supressed, but should be realigned so as to advance the interests of collective as well as those of the individual."

History of the Party

The Advancement Party was founded in 264 AP by Maria Sanvara, a former biology lecturer and prominent Educators' Guild member. The party was established to promote a platform "as close to communism as is permissable", with the much larger Communist Party barred from elections because of its "extremism". Sanvara deliberately took the Advancement Party as close to the brink as possible, but never violated the rules. The Advancement Party was considerably to the left of the Socialist Party, the only other left-wing party allowed to contest elections.

In the 265 AP elections, Sanvara was successful in gaining a seat for her new party, although most left-wing voters stayed with the Socialists. The Advancement Party itself came under investigation by the authorities for its various policies, but it was found that the party did not go far enough to come under the same restrictions as the Communist Party. The party continued to promote its various goals, and also began to criticise the larger Socialists as "not left-wing enough".

In 269 AP, the last restrictions on the Communist Party were lifted, allowing it to contest the elections of 270 AP. The Advancement Party welcomed the change, but was reluctant to join the Communists until they could be sure that the status change was permanent. The political situation of the time was highly fluid, with power shifting between the Imperial Council and the Emperor, and many feared that the notoriously anti-communist Emperor would gain the upper hand and revoke the Council's decision. Some also feared that even if the Council won, it would not retain its policy of tolerance towards communism - it was widely believed that the Council's tolerance was nothing more than a strategic move aimed at mobilizing all possible factions against the Emperor, not a signal of any real moderation.

However, when the Communist Party contested the elections without problem (largely as a result of Council protection), the Advancement Party decided that merging into the larger group was "safe". A year after the election, in 271 AP, the Advancement Party was disolved and its members joined the Communist Party.

List of Leaders

• Maria Sanvara (264 - 271)