Lets talk about Junkers.

[worldstrider]

I overall like Xoria's description for completeness with the exception of the religion analysis. Junkers could be as he says but are just as likely to not have much use for "deep religion".

In the 1800's we had what's referred to as a "Great Awakening" where many people began to make serious commitments to the Christian faith, prior to that, with the exception of some segments of society, most common, working class farmers, etc. saw no use for any practice of religion. They didn't see value in it or have the time for it. Neither of these states were universally true but in general, your working class American then believed in "God" but had no use for "religion".

Junkers would very much fit that role and mindset.

I think summarizing it:

1) Junkers would be cosmopolitan--able to "fit in" wherever they went by virtue of their skills. Keeping their own identity but smart enough to pick up useful traits from the societies where they lived. They would know how to "act the Roman when in Rome".

2) Not necessarily a strictly "by birth" society but an assimilative one with a strong familial background at its roots. This would give it cultural and intellectual diversity and tradition would give it unity.

3) Definitely individualistic.

4) Also an "emerging society"--Junker affluence has rapidly expanded and it brings all sorts of change in. Fast growing cultures usually take pride in their growth and expansion. I think many Junkers would be "progressive" wanting accelerated change while others would be "traditional" and suspicious of too much too fast.

5) Adaptable

I patterned the Junker Congress idea roughly after "Gypsies"--who, by the way, have their own international congress. And like the Junkers, not all gypsies take part or are even aware of it. Their congress is an idea that the minority 'practice" in the hope that as a people they will "grow into it". That was my concept as well.

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