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Explanation of code used.
The ICA is one of the better examples of a basically corporate state in Known Space. Its government perhaps resembles that of pre-PRC Hong Kong, with a relatively small, efficient government bureaucracy at the core of a vast networks of public services provided by professional contractors. Only a few services -- the law courts, police, intelligence service, high-security communications and the like -- are actually run by the government itself. Although this system has its problems -- bribery and kickbacks seem so common as to be passé, for example -- most citizens of the ICA are proud of its efficiency and advancement.
Note that the ICA's military is not in fact centralized in the hands of the government. Instead, the ICA military is provided by numerous corps, each providing a specific service (infantry, interface, etc.) in a specific locale as stipluated by a government licensing contract. Although this might seem prone to juntas, the government keeps competition between the difference milservice providers quite high. Furthermore, the milservice providers themselves have little need to seize control, as the ICA government does its best to keep them empowered anyway.
The ICA has historically been one of the larger providers of privateering licenses, due partially to its corporatized nature, but also due to its proximity to Tripod Space, which resulted in the ICA granting privateering licenses by the thousands when the Tripod War began. As with other spheres which have granted privateering licenses, the ICA is now having to try to rein the licensees in, but is having little success. One ongoing effort is to get the privateers to join in with established milservice corps, but many are quite resistant to this. Some critics believe that war may be necessary to bring the privateers into the fold.
The ICA's intelligence service, one of the few agencies which are completely government-controlled, is one of the best in Known Space. It is simply called the ICA Intelligence Division.
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