by Max Barry

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The State of
Father Knows Best State Suspiciously Liberal Dictatorship

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5

Fast Facts

Official name

Stadės Jenha (State of Jenha)

Official language

Laplian

Government

Unitary non-partisan constitutional republic

Capital

Tubang Sambėr

Currency

Jenhan dollar

Area

15,793 sq km · 6,098 sq mi

Population

20,100,088

Nominal GDP

1.409 trillion USD · 70,112.4 USD per capita

2022 values


Flag (left) and emblem (right)

Jenha, officially 'Stadės Jenha' (State of Jenha), is an island country in Southeast Ignii, situated at the junction of the Ignian and Basiric Oceans and sharing maritime borders with Indra to the north, Tongga to the northeast, the Parsinies to the southeast, and Indranesia to the south. Its territory comprises one main island, Maradipa, and 76 satellite islands with a total land area of 15,793 square kilometres. The country has a highly urbanised and multicultural population of 20 million, and nearly a third of the country's land is urban. Its capital and largest city is Tubang Sambėr. The name 'Jenha' is derived from the Tongguan characters '文華', meaning 'cultural brilliance'.

Jenha began as a colony of the Lang Empire in the 8th century AD, serving as a major hub of trade in the region and a stepping stone for Lang expeditions to the west. Owing to its strategic position, control over Maradipa shifted between the Tongguan dynasties and the thalassocratic empires of Indra and the Indranesian archipelago until the 17th century with the arrival of the Velevites and the establishment of a Velevite trading post in 1800, later transferred to the Laplian Insular Company in 1821 following the defeat of Velev in the Velevite–Laplian War. In 1870, the Laplian Insular Company was acquired by the imperial government of Laply and reorganised into the Laplian Insular Union, comprising the modern territories of Jenha and Indranesia, resulting in direct rule under Laply. The islands were later occupied by Tonggua in 1941 during the Second World War. Following the surrender of Tonggua, Jenha was returned to Laply whilst Indranesia declared its independence in 1944. Jenha later proclaimed independence in the same year, shortly defending against failed invasion attempts by Indranesia in 1945 and 1947. Another attempt in 1948 was thwarted by the explosive eruption of Mount Sa'ati that destroyed 60 per cent of Sa'ati island, resulting in over 40 thousand deaths. It was not until 1955 when Indranesia withdrew its territorial claim over the entirety of Jenha and recognised it as an independent state.

Jenha's early years of ethnic tensions and conflict shaped its fledgling government, dismantling its liberal democracy in favour of an authoritarian government and forcefully imposing multiculturalism and civic nationalism. The country maintained neutrality throughout the Cold War and was not a member of the United Nations until 2008. Despite having very little natural resources, Jenha rapidly developed to become one of the world's leading economies by the 1980s and even acquired a nuclear arsenal. In the 1990s, Jenha transitioned from military to civilian rule and introduced limited elections.

The Jenhan economy combines an export-oriented model and the exploitation of its strategic positioning as a hub of international trade. Dirigisme is heavily practiced with important sectors of the economy mostly controlled or monopolised by state and military-owned enterprises. Its low corruption and tax rates, stable government, and trade-friendly laws have consistently attract foreign direct investments and other global economic forces. Such favourable developments propelled Jenha to become a highly developed country with an advanced economy that pivots upon free trade and its role as a maritime shipping hub, as well as its information technology industry and cultural exports in recent years. It has the second highest GDP per capita by PPP in Ignii and ranks highly in many social indicators of quality of life. Jenha enjoys free education and healthcare since 2022, one of the fastest internet connection speeds, and global influence as a soft power through the recent global emergence of Jen-Pop and other Jenhan media.

Jenha is a unitary constitutional republic with no political parties. The Body of Government is the collective name for the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches, comprising unions and organisations. It practices a state ideology that imposes unanimous decision-making. The country is known for its strict moral laws of public etiquettes, prudishness, and enforced codes of courteous conduct alongside the advocacy for harsh punishments, including corporal punishment. Although the extent of said laws have been criticised by international observers for its 'draconian' nature and the situation of civil rights and political freedom in Jenha have been questioned and even condemned, Jenhan public opinion towards authoritarianism in Jenha remains positive, and the country consistently ranks amongst the safest, cleanest, and happiest in the world.

The State of Jenha

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