History PlayingWith / RepressiveButEfficient

* '''Straight''': The [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny People's Republic of]] {{Ruritania}} may do things like [[BigBrotherIsWatching spy on its citizens]], use [[DisproportionateRetribution the death penalty]] [[AllCrimesAreEqual for everything from stealing a loaf of bread to murder]], disallow critical or insufficiently reverential comment about the government or its leaders, forcibly sterilize anyone whose genes it feels are not "good enough" for its SuperBreedingProgram, and [[GovernmentDrugEnforcement force people to take Happy Pills]], but at least there are good schools, top-notch hospitals (all paid for), and the trains run on time.

** Ruritania's autocratic regime does have a strong grip on its civilians, but [[WhatTheRomansHaveDoneForUs the economy is secure, the borders are strong, culture is vibrant, and homelessness and poverty have been significantly decreased]]. The government goes above and beyond in supporting its own people, and the average citizen still has certain liberties (although maintined and held in line by the state). The only thing that makes Rurutania's government "autocratic" is that none of the leaders were voted into power.

** The communist government of Ruritania even treats [[AndroidsArePeopleToo robotic androids]], [[InnocentAliens aliens]], [[PreserveYourGays LGBTQ+ people]] [[HandyHelper and people with disabilities]] equally. On top of that, The government of Ruritania also [[CastFullOfGay consists entirely of LGBTQ+ people]]. The nation has already entered PostScarcityEconomy when compared to other nations.

** The People's Republic of Ruritania provides some type of BreadAndCircuses.

** The authoritarian's infrastructure looks more advanced but is AwesomeButImpractical - the maglev trains everywhere use more power and carry less than [[BoringButPractical freight trains wood tie tracks]] and the slower trains are capable of handling tighter turns which allow for better service within the geography - not to mention buses would be cheaper still.
* '''Double Subverted''':

** The AwesomeButImpractical tech is actually ConspicuousConsumption because they're ''just that good.''

** There's a [[TheCoup military coup]] in heretofore democratic but struggling Ruritania. As soon as TheGeneralissimo has consolidated his power, reports from the country, which alluded without fail to the state of disrepair of its roads, bridges, canals, ports, railways, etc., turn on a dime and describe them as being state-of-the-art. This applies whether the alleged improvements were real, tangible, and meaningful; whether they were negligible or illusory; or whether it's become [[FromBadToWorse even worse]].
*** The foregoing could also be inverted if a democratic regime replaces the authoritarian one.

* '''Invoked''': An authoritarian regime takes over {{Ruritania}}, and wants to establish or maintain its credibility to the masses.

* '''Defied''': The PRR decides it's not responsible for infrastructure, and [[PrivatelyOwnedSociety lets everything be privatized]].

* '''Conversed''': "Did you know they based the hyper-efficient country, Ruritania, on UsefulNotes/NaziGermany?" "Right, like [[Recap/StarTrekS2E21PatternsOfForce that]] ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}'' [[Recap/StarTrekS2E21PatternsOfForce episode]]. Only now that perception is DatedHistory."
* '''Implied''':

** Ruritania seems like a nice place, but its citizens have a constant paranoia that [[NothingIsScarier isn't ever explained.]]

** The people decide [[LibertyOverProsperity efficiency isn't worth the price of repression]] and revolt.

* '''Reconstructed''': The less authoritarian new government gets in over its head, with a depression setting in that it can't fix no matter how hard it tries. The PPR replaces it, either by counter-revolution or [[LandslideElection at the next election]], having demonstrated its VetinariJobSecurity.

** The AwesomeButImpractical tech is actually ConspicousConsumption because they're ''just that good.''

* '''Subverted''': The authoritarian regime's infrastructure is impressively efficient and well-maintained ... for the elite class and visiting journalists. Behind the façade and propaganda, it's falling apart.

* '''Double Subverted''': The regime's lower classes have a much lower standard of living than the elites, but further examination reveals that the basic necessities are taken care of, with budget left over for enough BreadAndCircuses to prevent widespread discontent.

* '''Enforced''': WriterOnBoard

* '''Implied''': Nothing is known of Ruritania's form of government, but its law is effective, if strict; its police force, while a bit harsh, keeps order perfectly; Ruritanian towns are clearly vibrant and flourishing, and [[RunningGag trains do run on time]].

** [[WellIntentionedExtremist The People's Party of Ruritania]] wants to prevent [[TheRemnant an uprising]] or the LesCollaborateurs from happening, so it decides to provide everything its citizens could want (and then some), to keep people on their side and [[StockholmSyndrome make them like the PPR regime]].

** Ruritania's autocratic regime does have a strong grip on its civilians, but [[WhatTheRomansHaveDoneForUs the economy is secure, the borders are strong, culture is vibrant, and homelessness and poverty have been significantly decreased]]. The government goes above and beyond in supporting its own people. The only thing that makes Rurutania's government "autocratic" is that none of the leaders were voted into power.