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Republic of Zeon

Parliamentary republic governing the colonies of Side 3 before and after the One Year War.
Jenxi Seow Published 11 Jun 2025 Updated 11 Jun 2025
Republic of Zeon

The Republic of Zeon was a parliamentary republic that governed the Side 3 colonies during two distinct periods: UC 0058-0069 and UC 0080-0100. It served as both the predecessor and successor state to the Principality of Zeon, being founded on the principles of Contolism and spacenoid independence. The name “Republic of Zeon” may have been applied retroactively to the original state, as some sources suggest the pre-Principality government was simply called “Side 3 Republic”.

History

First Republic (UC 0058-0069)

Foundation and Independence

In UC 0053, Zeon Zum Deikun was appointed Prime Minister of Side 3. Deikun was a philosopher who developed Contolism: a philosophical synthesis of both Ereism (an extreme form of Environmentalism, positing that Earth is sacred, and mankind was always meant to leave it and live in space) and Sideism (i.e. Space Nationalism, the belief that all space colonies has the right to self-determination and to strive for independence from the Earth Federation).

On 14 September UC 0058, Side 3 declared independence and established what would later be known as the Republic of Zeon. The name “Republic of Zeon” for this original state may be a later historical designation, as some sources suggest the pre-Principality government was simply called “Side 3 Republic”. The new nation was founded on the principles of Contolism and spacenoid independence, with Deikun serving as its Prime Minister.

The Deikun Administration

Since the people of the colonies were considered to be part of a lower echelon of society than those living on Earth, Zeon’s teachings were welcomed by the colonies, especially Side 3 (L2), which eventually appointed him leader of the Side. Deikun’s government implemented Contolism as the state ideology, emphasising both ecological preservation of Earth and the development of humanity’s potential in space.

The Earth Federation responded to Side 3’s independence with the Bardot Policy, which halted all resources to the colony. In response, Deikun responded by creating a colonial guard in case the Federation decided to invade the colony to stop their push for independence.

The Zabi Succession

The Republic’s first era ended tragically in UC 0068 when Deikun suddenly died of a heart attack during a parliamentary speech. His friend and closest advisor, Degwin Sodo Zabi, claimed that Zeon named him successor on his deathbed. Many believed that Degwin had Zeon assassinated, but no concrete proof ever surfaced.

When Degwin Sodo Zabi took control, he wiped out the opposition and abolished the Republic on August 15, 0069, and declared a transition to a monarchy. This marked the end of the first Republic of Zeon and the beginning of the Principality of Zeon.

Restoration (UC 0080-0100)

Post-War Reconstruction

With the destruction of the Zabi family during the closing stages of the One Year War, the Principality of Zeon transitioned to a Republic just before the end of the war and returned to its name of Republic of Zeon. The restoration occurred as part of the peace negotiations that led to the Granada Treaty.

Prime Minister Bakharo’s allies in the Principality of Zeon Assembly swiftly enacted the Principality’s reorganization back into Republic of Zeon before Zabi family loyalists could seize the reins and break the peace.

The Bakharo Government

Following the One Year War, the Republic of Zeon was created with a pro-Earth Federation government led by Darcia Bakharo. Although regarded by some as a Federation puppet government, the Republic had been granted a degree of autonomy.

Under the terms of the Granada Treaty, the Republic maintained limited sovereignty whilst operating under Federation oversight. The new government implemented democratic reforms and worked to rebuild Side 3’s infrastructure after the devastation of the One Year War.

The Final Dissolution

However, the Federation planned to dissolve the Republic by U.C. 0100, which would cause the name of Zeon and his Newtype theory to fade into obscurity. This impending dissolution led to internal tensions within the Republic’s government.

Republic of Zeon defense minister Monaghan Bakharo would devise the Co-Prosperity Sphere plan and sponsored the Neo Zeon remnants movement, known as the Sleeves, led by Full Frontal to continue the fight for Spacenoid independence. These efforts ultimately failed, and following the defeat of the Sleeves in the Laplace Incident, the Republic of Zeon retired their independence in U.C. 0100 and was folded back into the Earth Federation.

Organisation

Government Structure

The Republic of Zeon operated as a parliamentary democracy. Based on the post-war constitution, the government featured a president as head of state and a Prime Minister as head of government, elected by a legislative Diet.

The National Assembly served as the primary legislative body, with representatives elected from each of Side 3’s colonies. During the Principality period, this assembly was reduced to a rubber-stamp parliament, but it regained its democratic functions after the 0080 restoration.

Administrative Structure

The Republic was divided into administrative units corresponding to the individual colonies of Side 3. Each colony (or “Bunch”) maintained local governance whilst being subject to the central government in Zum City. This federal structure allowed for local autonomy whilst maintaining national unity.

Post-War Military

After the restoration in UC 0080, the Republic maintained only limited defence forces as mandated by the Granada Treaty. Maintaining a small defense force comprised of ships and mobile suits from the Principality of Zeon, the Republic of Zeon has taken on a more peaceful relationship with the Earth Federation.

The remnant forces were organised into:

  • Zeon Space Defence Force
  • Republican Guard
  • Mobile Assault Force (remnants)
  • Engineering Division

Economy

The Republic’s economy was primarily based on industrial manufacturing and asteroid mining. Side 3’s strategic position at Lagrange Point 2 provided access to asteroid resources, whilst its advanced manufacturing capabilities made it a significant economic power within the Earth Sphere.

During the first Republic, the economy was largely independent, though it suffered under the Federation’s Bardot Policy. The post-war Republic operated under Federation economic oversight, with many former military industries converted to civilian production under the supervision of Anaheim Electronics.

Society and Culture

Ideology and Philosophy

The Republic was founded on the principles of Contolism, which combined the ecological belief that humanity should leave Earth and let the planet return to its natural state, and the political notion that the space colonies should govern themselves instead of being controlled from Earth.

Contolism encompassed two main elements:

  • Ereism: The belief that Earth was sacred and humanity should migrate to space
  • Sideism: The principle of spacenoid self-determination and independence

Newtype Theory

He was also the creator of the Newtype Theory, which believed that humans, who have needed to communicate with each other throughout time, would eventually develop a sixth sense to mentally communicate. This theory became central to the Republic’s cultural identity and continued to influence spacenoid thinking throughout the Universal Century.

Demographics

The Republic’s population consisted primarily of spacenoids—humans born and raised in space colonies. This shared experience of space life contributed to a distinct cultural identity separate from Earth-born humans. The population was highly educated and technically skilled, reflecting the advanced technological requirements of space colonisation.

Behind the Scenes

The Republic of Zeon was created by Tomino Yoshiyuki as part of the political background for Mobile Suit Gundam. The concept evolved throughout the Universal Century timeline, serving different narrative functions in various Gundam series.

Naming Convention Evolution

The naming of the pre-Principality government has evolved significantly throughout Gundam media. Originally, according to Mobile Suit Variation, the pre-Principality government was simply called “Side 3 Republic”. However, since Mobile Suit Variations was out of print for a long period of time, this information was lost, and the pre-Principality government was referred to as “Republic of Zeon” in later sources.

This creates a historical ambiguity about whether the original independent state was actually named after Zeon Zum Deikun. In the original Mobile Suit Gundam, Jimba Ral (Char Aznable in Encounters in Space) stated that Degwin Sodo Zabi was the one who named the nation after Zeon Zum Deikun when he transformed Side 3 into a Principality, implying that it was not named “Zeon” prior to Deikun’s death.

The “Republic of Zeon” designation was definitively used for the Principality’s successor state after the One Year War, making the post-0080 government the clearest canonical example of this name.

The Republic’s final dissolution in UC 0100 was established to provide closure to the Zeon narrative arc whilst setting up future conflicts in the Universal Century timeline.

Appearances

See Also