Location: Tyrrhenia

Overview • People • Government • Economy • Trend • Analysis

The Hetmanate of Volzgrad is a colossal, devout nation, ruled by Hetman Fedor Vrangelev with an iron fist, and renowned for its parental licensing program. Its hard-nosed, cynical population of 9.593 billion are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent, corrupt government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Defence, Law & Order, and Education. It meets every day to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Krasnopol. The average income tax rate is 96%. A powerhouse of a private sector is dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry.

Billions of Blades are being blown on orbital weapons development, the police have reaffirmed their tough stance on drugs, pollsters are out of a job as elections have been cancelled, and terrified tympanists are finding themselves on the front lines armed only with kettledrums. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Volzgrad's national animal is the Steppe Jackal, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, its national religion is Eastern Catholicisim, and its currency is the Blade.

Volzgrad is ranked 23rd in Tyrrhenia and 94,056th in the world for Most Compassionate Citizens, scoring -245 on the Kitten Softness Rating.

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NationStates by Max Barry, author of and