The Republic of Beryllium 4 is a titanic, genial nation, ruled by Joseph Detler with an even hand, and remarkable for its burgeoning fox population. The compassionate population of 10.39 billion Beryllium 4ians have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Welfare, Education, and Healthcare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of New Berlin. The average income tax rate is 19.4%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The Beryllium 4ian economy, worth 461 trillion pesos a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Furniture Restoration industry, with major contributions from Gambling, Basket Weaving, and Door-to-door Insurance Sales. Black market activity is notable. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 44,450 pesos, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.7 times as much as the poorest.

Joseph Detler has just been declared ruler of Beryllium 4 in an international press conference, the Beryllium 4ian Tourism Bureau has described the abolition of coastal defences as a "kick to the groyne", lifeguards are more concerned with watching for sharks than struggling swimmers, and it's considered a valid legal defence to say "a demon made me do it". Crime is relatively low. Beryllium 4's national animal is the fox and its national religion is Communitarianism.

Beryllium 4 is ranked 149,276^th in the world and 5^th in Elements for Most Cultured, scoring 64 on the Snufflebottom-Wiggendum Pentatonic Scale.