The People's Republic of Zurshia is a huge, orderly nation, ruled by Czet with an iron fist, and remarkable for its infamous sell-swords, compulsory military service, and stringent health and safety legislation. The hard-nosed, cynical population of 871 million Zurshians are kept under strict control by the oppressive government, which measures its success by the nation's GDP and refers to individual citizens as "human resources."

The medium-sized, moralistic government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defense, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Zaptus. Citizens pay a flat income tax of 39.1%.

The strong Zurshian economy, worth 64.4 trillion kronor a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Door-to-door Insurance Sales, Information Technology, and Woodchip Exports. Black market activity is notable. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 73,916 kronor, but there is a significant disparity between incomes, with the richest 10% of citizens earning 261,642 per year while the poor average 15,077, a ratio of 17.4 to 1.

Patriots insist that size does matter, every microwave and toaster is being disassembled and probed by inspectors, the face of Czet is a permanent feature of the Zaptus skyline, and children must be board certified to append "Jr" to their name. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Zurshia's national animal is the Shrike, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Zurshia is ranked 46,881^st in the world and 715^th in The East Pacific for Most Corrupt Governments, with 43.87 kickbacks per hour.