Well, one idea for a book that I'm writing at the moment (not this moment exactly), is set in the future, about year 3740. It isn't typically futuristic(spaceships and what-not), but its set in a time of a war brought about by pressures from climate change/global warming (I don't know if thats plausable; in my mind it is).
Anyway, would it be considered insensitive to use 'real' countries in my book (The waring parties are made up of Germania, Frenk, Spain and Italy vs Russe, Norweg, Swedin and Finland-ia) - As you can see I predictably altered the names, although its obvious which is which.
In fact, this is my second go at the 'story' - its more that the story is part of the world, rather than the world being part of the story. Since in both new and old versions take place in similar enviroments, but are different versions of the same story.
Or should I just make up names for the countries/ alliances?
Also, whilst I'm here. I've not really considered the smaller european countries, nor Africa or America really. I want to avoid it being world war, more of a western/eastern european war which perhaps overflows into the 'Mediterranean basin'. My point is, I want the war to be a 'back-and-forth' thing; long, arduous and quite evenly matched. Although some people might argue, 'why doesn't America'(or Africa or a large asian country) step in and finish the war quickly. I can't really just pretend they don't exist, and it seems cheap to just say "Oh, well they're all indisposed with civil wars and what not'.
Edit: I just noticed the stickied thread at the top; this probably should have gone in there.
