Country 1

Politics  

• Anarchy  

• Absolute absence of any kind of government  

 

History  

• An overreaching despot was overturned. A group of hippies questioned the  validity/necessity of a political state and concluded that it’s the moral right of people to live freely. They strive for a self-governing society.   

 

Economy and Finances  

• Open cannabis trade as it is considered a legal/medicinal substance  

• Self-sustaining economy  

• Destabilised currency  

 

Demographics (Language is always English )

• Male/female +/- 50%  

• Attracts a very young, idealistic population  

• People don’t age well, apparently... (oldest inhabitant only 74)  

 

Social  

• People live in intentional communities with a high degree of social cohesion and teamwork, which can sometimes lead to strife and discontent. 

• Zero violence, anything that may promote violence (guns, knives, bulletproof vests, hard drugs …) is strictly forbidden  

 

Geography  

• Subarctic climate in the north, temperate climate in the south  

• Vast mountain ranges. Capital with highest altitude of all nations.  

 

Ecology  

• No cars allowed in the cities, only bikes  

• They’re committed to composting and even have a ‘smell police’ who go  

around to make sure everyone is doing it properly  

 

Culture (food, religion, traditions, sports, national monuments, parades, …)  

• Running is not allowed as it means that you’re running away from something and the culture of fear is something they like to avoid.  

• Religion isn’t forbidden but simply hasn’t caught ground  

• … 

 

Tourism  

• Lots of individual travellers and backpackers  

• ...  

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Country 2

Politics  

• Free state  

• Recognised as a free state by UBN  

 

History  

• A courageous slave led the revolution against the Grand Duke (of country 3) and escaped over the mountain ridge with his followers (mainly men) to create their own free state.  

• Part of the army defected together with the rebel slaves, as they no longer agreed with the authoritarian Grand Duke of country 3.  

• They are in search of a new righteous way of living  

 

Economy and Finances  

• Developing country rich in gas deposits but lacking the know how   

• Still struggles to gain economic growth  

• Financial means still needed for further defence against country 3.  

 

Demographics (Language is always English )

• Young population  

• 80% male (the women were left behind in country 3 as they couldn’t escape)  

 

Social  

• Polyandry to increase the birth rate  

• Preference is given to girls so screening in the beginning of the pregnancies to abort boys   

 

Geography  

• Mild climate, influenced by the Gulf Stream  

• Rare flora  

 

Ecology  

• No environmental issues that they know of   

• Too busy trying to make their country viable to pay much attention to ecology  

 

Culture (food, religion, traditions, sports, national monuments, parades, …)  

• Adulation of the courageous slave who gave them freedom  

• Adulation of fertility leading to pageants  

• … 

 

Tourism  

• The odd biologist in search of new species (flora-related)  

• ...  

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Country 3

Politics  

• Grand Duchy, authoritarian Grand Duke  

 

History  

• Notorious for slavery (of women) and slave traffic to country 4 where (female) virgins are still being offered to the gods  

• They also capture girls and women from country 5 and ship them to their island near the coast of country 4 where they are sold on one of the numerous slave markets.   

 

Economy and Finances  

• Lost lots of their natural resources to country 2  

• Heavy military expenses as they still aim at recapturing country 2, now that they lost part of their army to country 2.  

• Income from the sale of virgins to country 4  

 

Demographics (Language is always English )

• Upper class of men 40%  

• 60% enslaved women  

 

Social  

• Big divide between the social classes  

• Upper class and slaves  

 

Geography  

• Mountainous  

• Cold, harsh winters   

• Two islands near the coasts of countries 4 and 5  

 

Ecology  

• Climate change is not human induced, so they do not invest in environmental programmes  

 

Culture (food, religion, traditions, sports, national monuments, parades, …)  

• Self-aggrandising, megalomaniacs in the upper class in order to rise in the pecking order and fall in the good graces of the Grand Duke. 

•        … 

 

Tourism  

• Wealthy people looking for slaves  

• ...  

 

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Country 4

Politics  

• Thearchy  

 

History  

• The oldest country recorded on this planet. Once rumoured to have been ruled by the Gods themselves. The Gods proclaimed the Northern peninsula (= Country 5) to be the home of pariahs, outcasts of society.  

• The country is now led by the High Priest, who is believed to be a descendant from the Supreme God. All (lesser) Gods in the Pantheon are revered as well.  

• To appease the gods vivisepulture of (female) virgins is a regular practice. The Gods decide when they will eat them.  

 

Economy and Finances  

• Cornucopia thanks to the gods  

• Self-sufficient as they produce their own crops. Humans are vegetarian, eating meat is the privilege of the gods.  

 

Demographics (Language is always English )

• Marriage is sacred (no divorce!), so people wait long to find ideal partner. Either single or married, no in-between.  

 

Social  

• Oldest civilisation  

• Strong belief in the Mystic.  

• Highly superstitious population  

 

Geography  

• Densely populated regions in contrast with fertile areas, with lots of orchards and vineyards  

 

Ecology  

• Greenest country of the planet: reusing as many parts/items as possible is the will of the Gods  

 

Culture (food, religion, traditions, sports, national monuments, parades, …)  

• Very steadfast culture, not easily affected by trends or hypes  

• … 

 

Tourism  

• Many pilgrims in search of their true selves  

• ...  

 

Country 5

Politics  

• Nomadic country  

 

History  

• The country has always been inhabited by nomads who travel around the country from pasture to pasture. Their way of life is now threatened by the settlements that are rapidly spreading and taking over their pastures.  

• The Gods of country 4 proclaimed the Northern peninsula (=country 5) to be the home of pariahs, outcasts of society. But the inhabitants of country 5 have always kept their distance of Gods who have never considered them as fully-fledged members of society. 

• They are also threatened by the slave hunters of country 3  

 

Economy and Finances  

• Cattle breeding (goats, sheep, camels, poultry …)  

• Barter economy  

 

Demographics (Language is always English )

• Limited homeownership: 80% nomads vs 20% settlements  

• Ageing, yet healthy  

• More animals than citizens  

 

Social  

• Strong family ties, shy away from outsiders  

• Self-reliant  

 

Geography  

• Arid desserts with many oases, semi-arid except for the coastal plains  

• Arctic climate in the extreme north  

• Minimal resources  

 

Ecology  

• There is no industry  

• Nomads carry everything with them  

• Pristine and untouched natural wonders  

 

Culture (food, religion, traditions, sports, national monuments, parades, …)  

• Oral traditions: many rich stories from these fabled lands stem from merchants who undertake the adventure of travelling there in the first place.  

•        … 

 

Tourism  

• Chiefly slave hunters  

• Some other merchants as well  

• ...  

 

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Country 6

Politics  

• Spiritual/Sectarian country  

• Spiritual leader recently deceased, cause of death unknown  

 

History  

• Under the leadership of the now deceased charismatic cult leader, male followers managed to separate themselves from country 8.  

• A belief that the world was going to come to an end had taken a grip on the population. The charismatic leader infected everyone with a doomsday scenario. So far, none of it seems true.  

 

Economy and Finances  

• High tax rate to maintain the lifestyle of the spiritual leadership  

• Massive brain-drain, as knowledge is feared.  

• Gains money from storing useless industrial waste  

 

Demographics (Language is always English )

• Male 70% female 30%  

• Brain-drain results in a big gap between young and old  

• Older population still under the spell of the deceased spiritual leader  

 

Social  

• Communes led by men  

 

Geography  

• Subarctic  

• Many wild, untamed rivers  

 

Ecology  

• Too busy trying to make their country viable to pay much attention to ecology  

• This country gets paid to stock up useless industrial waste in the Northern Bay that only freezes over in winter (so no one sees it)  

 

Culture (food, religion, traditions, sports, national monuments, parades, …)  

• Conspiracy theories in general do really well, definitely those relating to the death of the spiritual leader are now rife in this country.  

• … 

 

Tourism  

• People in search of spiritual guidance, or no longer satisfied with traditional religions  

• …  

 

Country 7

 

Politics  

• Diarchy  

 

History  

• After the death of the king his twin children inherited the throne. As they could not see eye to eye, they decided to split the country in a northern and a southern part. There is still a lot of discord between the two, regularly leading to warfare near the border. A civil war could be imminent.  

 

Economy and Finances  

• Drug trafficking especially with country 1.   

• The south has opium crops. The north is less fertile but has copper mines.  

 

Demographics (Language is always English )

• Lowly educated, young population  

• High birth rate  

 

Social  

• High unemployment  

 

Geography  

• Fertile south, mountainous north  

• Has given a share of its Natural Reservation to Country 10  

 

Ecology  

• It is not known what they do with their industrial waste as this industry is still in its infancy.  

• Mining industry causes heavy pollution  

 

Culture (food, religion, traditions, sports, national monuments, parades, …)  

• Close-knitted family traditions  

• Very warm and welcoming people  

• Since the death of the King this country's culture has been under pressure  

• … 

 

Tourism  

• Castles  

• Opium lovers  

• ...  

 

Country 8

Politics  

• Matriarchy  

 

History  

• For generations women have been the heads of the households, responsible for passing down property and family names. Children are bound to their mothers, who can change partners as they wish. Men may visit their current spouses only at night – a tradition known as ‘walking marriages’. The men are often away travelling in trade caravans to sell the local produce. They are responsible for house building, fishing and killing livestock.  

 

Economy and Finances  

• Agriculture  

• Arts and crafts.  

 

Demographics Language is always English  

• Population growth rate in decline  

 

Social  

• Women form the upper class and rule family life  

• Women are given more opportunities in life  

 

Geography  

• Very lush lands with lots of suitable areas for cultivation  

• Fertile  

 

Ecology  

• Little to no pollution  

• Tries to overtake Country 4 for label of ‘Greenest Country’  

 

Culture (food, religion, traditions, sports, national monuments, parades, …)   

• Traditional skills of arts and crafts are passed over from mother to daughter. Men are not privy to the secrets of the trade.  

• … 

 

Tourism  

• Tourists looking for traditional arts and crafts 

• Oppressed women looking for better opportunities in life 

• ...  

 

 

 

Country 9

Politics  

• Technocracy based on the principle of meritocracy: the individual’s capabilities and merits. The government consists of economists and scientists who proved their merits.  

 

History  

• Having lived through and survived multiple epidemics a group of scientists decided to take over the country ruled by a democratically elected government which had been saddled with huge debts a.o. to keep the elderly alive.   

• In this country there is no room for prolonged life for the elderly. Retirement homes are non-existent and the sick elderly 70+ are ‘eliminated’ from society as they no longer fulfil a useful role and their care costs too much. Mercy killing or euthanasia is a common practice to the satisfaction of all.  

 

Economy and Finances  

• Richest country  

• Advanced academically, developed highly advanced technologies  

• Heavily automated processes  

 

Demographics (Language is always English )

• Quite young population considering the practice of mercy killing  

• Heavily automated processes cause lack of broadly educated individuals  

 

Social  

• High standard of living  

• Socially awkward and reserved, many inhabitants only focus on what is of merit.  

 

Geography  

• Temperate climate but cold winters as not influenced by the Gulf Stream  

• Coastal plain  

 

Ecology  

• Being a model student (but not the Greenest Country, though) when it comes to ecology, this country tries to share its knowledge with those who are interested, sometimes overextending its reach and thus becoming meddlesome.  

 

Culture (food, religion, traditions, sports, national monuments, parades, …)  

• Focus on the individual, more important than the group  

• Focus on attaining academic achievements and global prestige  

• … 

 

Tourism  

• Oldest library in the world  

• Lots of conferences  

• Exchange of students  

• ...  

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Country 10

Politics  

• Polyarchy  

 

History  

• After going through a dictatorship, a constitutional monarchy and a republic, this country is trying a new approach to solve the question of what the most fair/equal political system is.  

 

Economy and Finances  

• Universal basic income  

• Influential families try to regulate the economy  

• Fisheries along the coastline  

 

Demographics (Language is always English )

• Evenly spread  

• Birth rate in decline, though.  

 

Social  

• Dissenting (political) voices put pressure on harmonious coexistence.  

 

Geography  

• Mild climate because of the Gulf Stream  

• When the country became a constitutional monarchy, it was given a part in the Natural Reservation by country 7  

 

Ecology  

• Marred by industrial mishaps in the fishing industry have caused severe strain on the environment. 

  

Culture (food, religion, traditions, sports, national monuments, parades, …)  

• Highly concerned with each other to the extent that it becomes annoying, so they are pretty nosy.  

• … 

 

Tourism  

• Tourism for some of the most wonderful landmarks.  

• Lovely climate, even on the different islands  

• …