The Socialist Republic of Ashkia is a massive, efficient nation, ruled by Ash d'al Kria with an iron fist, and notable for its digital currency, complete lack of prisons, and compulsory military service. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical, devout population of 1.836 billion Ashkians 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, corrupt, moralistic, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Education, and Law & Order. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Kia. The average income tax rate is 62.5%.

The thriving Ashkian economy, worth 219 trillion Ashes a year, is led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Tourism, and Book Publishing. Black market activity is extensive. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is an impressive 119,591 Ashes, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.4 times as much as the poorest.

Factories are regularly demolished to make way for low-cost housing areas, the government has legalised small-scale capitalism, exceptionally talented workers are praised more than Revolutionary heroes, and the nation's new foreign policy of 'very disproportionate retribution' has its neighbors on edge. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Ashkia's national animal is the Komodo, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its national religion is Azhkinism.

Ashkia is ranked 27,206^th in the world and 1,549^th in Lazarus for Most Cultured, scoring 83 on the Snufflebottom-Wiggendum Pentatonic Scale.