What even is new Noxus?

And by new, I mean current.

Look, we all like to have our little debates about how Noxus started to fall from its true self the moment Boram decided going against natural law (hint: Sion resurrection) was a good idea. And we like to glorify that idea of old Noxus by saying how it had more "honor" and stuff and would never resort to the things that made Riven quit.

But let's be real here, old Noxus could actually have been a lot worse. Especially on social issues.

If Darius's old lore motivations are still part of his character, the aristocracy of Noxus prime are all a bunch of cowards who use other people and behind door deals (like actual nobles arguably) and tend to be incompetent when put into military situations (while this isn't always true, the only Noxian Nobles we saw lead an army was in Kled's origin lore and these are people with golden armor who hide behind others while asking for a retreat. Doesn't sound very Noxian to me). And that's why we like Darius right? Because he's a man willing to change Noxus with his own two hands and his axe.

But Darius isn't the problem with current Noxus. The problem is that we don't know what Swain wants for Noxus in the current lore. Hell, I don't know what he wanted in the old lore. I always felt like he just wanted to remove the aristocracy in favor of his own control, but beyond that I wasn't sure he wanted Noxus for the nations interest. All I really know now is that Swain no longer needs to be subtle (hence why he brought Sion out again).

Which brings me to the problem I'm having with Noxus past and present: what's the difference and why cheer for either?

Riven and Kled (Noxian Uncle Sam) both seem to represent ideals of what Noxus should be (or at least, Riven represents that Noxus has fallen from those ideals. Riven's character annoys me though). Kled is the most extreme version of it. He's the guy you don't want to be representing your nation to others.

Then we have Sion, our only real link to the old Noxus (I'd argue Elise and Karthas, but I don't know if they are older or as old as Sion). Sion however is one person, so his opinion can't be seen as the most popular opinion (the guy doesn't look like he gave a crap about who disagreed with him). From Sion's quotes we can tell he has no respect for magic and really follows "strength above all" philosophy in combat. He loves war, it's basically his religion (his quote, "This is what passes for war?!" Is meant to be insulting on modern combat. Modern Noxus for example is prone to using magic and even child soldiers, something Sion could see as cowardly and pathetic tactics. He's a brute force kind of guy). But Boram uses magic to prolong his life (maybe he started his dirty habit after Sion's death) so it's possible that magic wasn't viewed overly negative by Noxus back then, or it was and only the elite used it (which could paint Sion as not a natural born Noxian, similar to Darius who came from a conquered area).

I'm starting to think that all of the Noxians who glorified Noxus traditions and values are from the countryside/conquered peoples who were taught these values from the conquering force. While many of the more regal Noxians (Vladimir, Leblanc, Swain) have lived closer to the aristocracy and deal with the actual politics which only seem to accept Noxian traditions at face value.

So the glorified Noxus of the past? Maybe it was falling long before Sion's death, and only people like Sion and Darius can life as monuments for the people on what true Noxians are while the upper class abuses others to keep their power.

Basically Noxus is Rome/America.

"Make Noxus great again" is a phrase that needs an actual definition of when it was "great" which may not be what the commoners think it means.