History PlayingWith / PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny

** Ruritania goes through a [[RevolvingDoorRevolution series of revolutions]], each [[FullCircleRevolution installing a new dictatorship more brutal then the last one]]. Ruritania is currently the "Totally Not a Dictatorship (We Pinky-Promise[[TradeSnark ™]]) State of Ruritania".

** ...but despite technically being a democracy, [[DemocracyIsBad they aren't good people]].

** The People's Democratic Republic of Ruritania is run by an authoritarian, but not totalitarian government. It can be called a "flawed democracy", as there's obvious government corruption, most parties across the political spectrum are [[RuleAbidingRebel loyal to the president]], who promised to serve for only four years... [[PermanentElectedOfficial thirty years ago]], opposition parties are allowed to exist but are never allowed to have any real power. As long as you don't complain too much about the government, your life is pretty much normal, but say something wrong in a newspaper or on social media and suddenly you start having endless bad luck. However, there are enough BreadAndCircuses that most people don't mind the regime too much.

** Ruritania ''was'' a democratic republic run for the benefit of the people living there, until the present ruling party took power. To maintain a veneer of legitimacy, said party don't bother to change the name or the constitution but rely on all manner of LoopholeAbuse to [[LawfulEvil maintain power "legally."]]
** The People's Democratic Republic of Ruritania started out as a very libertarian, egalitarian society, which unfortunately left a power vacuum. A few WellIntentionedExtremist types seized power to prevent the old rulers from seizing power back, and ended up making it a FullCircleRevolution with a nicer name. Oops!
** Only a small elite fraction of the population actually have the protections and benefits of citizenship, hence it is technically a democracy.

** The PresidentForLife has a fit of BrutalHonesty, renaming his nation to the Dictatorship of Ruritania.
** The Dark Militaristic Empire of Evulz is a secular liberal democratic federation. Its 'Emperor' is (currently, anyway) largely [[PuppetKing a ceremonial figurehead with severely limited powers]] who is [[ElectiveMonarchy elected by and from among members of several noble dynasties]] -- including those who are married or adopted into them -- for five years, may serve for no more than two terms, and also must have their mandate approved by the Imperial Supreme Assembly (in other words, the parliament) ''and'' confirmed by a national referendum. Furthermore, representatives of said Supreme Assembly, who form the government, are also regularly elected directly by every adult subject of the Empire. The 'Militaristic' part came from the fact that its military was the core part that the constituent realms of the 'empire' united around at the outset, prior to deeper integration. As for the 'Dark'... well, the first Emperor just thought [[RuleOfCool it would sound cool]].
** A now wealthy and well educated secular liberal republic with heavy elements of direct democracy has stuck with an incredibly negative [[AppropriatedAppellation Filthy Band of Rabble]].

** The People's Republic of Ruritania is... a functioning democracy, once the characters get to see something other than enemy propaganda.

** ...except that despite technically still being a democracy, [[DemocracyIsBad they aren't good people]].

** Ruritania's actual name in its own language translates to "Peaceful, Environmentalist, Feminist, Workers' Democratic Republic of Ruritania", none of which is true.

** The People's Democratic Republic of Ruritania is actually one of the least authoritarian countries in the world, genuinely living up to its name.
* '''Enforced''': Ruritania, though a FictionalCountry, is a [[NoCommunitiesWereHarmed thinly-veiled]] parody of and TakeThat to a real country with a similarly false official name.

* '''Conversed''': "I can't believe Ruritania calls itself a republic still; everyone knows they're anything but." --Alice, while reading the paper.

* '''Played for Drama''': The Democratic People's Republic of Ruritania ''successfully'' presents itself as a {{Utopia}} and an ideal vacation destination to the rest of the world, especially by virtue of its misleading name. In truth, the country is an Orwellian dictatorship that shoves the vast majority of its population into absolute poverty and violently keeps them from revealing the truth to the rest of the world. [[SceneryPorn Its best vacation destinations]] are breathtaking to look at, and [[SkyscraperCity its wealthiest cities]] are [[CrystalSpiresAndTogas marvelous technological wonders]], but everywhere else is a [[DeathWorld complete wasteland]] [[CrapsackWorld filled with people desperately trying to survive]]. Alice and Bob are [[HawaiianShirtedTourist clueless tourists]] visiting Ruritania's finest places, but through a series of unfortunate mishaps and bad luck, they find themselves squarely in one of Ruritania's many {{Wretched Hive}}s, seeing Ruritania's worst through their own eyes and being viciously chased by government agents seeking to [[KilledToUpholdTheMasquerade "silence" them to maintain Ruritania's masquerade]] of Utopia to the world.

** The Republic of Ruritania can't be described as a functioning democracy but it's not a dictatorship.
** The People's Democratic Republic of Ruritania is run by an authoritarian, but not totalitarian government. It can be called a "flawed democracy", as there's obvious government corruption, most parties across the political spectrum are [[RuleAbidingRebel loyal to the president]], who promised to serve for only four years... [[PermanentElectedOfficial thirty years ago]], opposition parties are allowed to exist but are never allowed to have any real power. As long as you don't complain too much about the government, your life is pretty much normal, but complain too much and suddenly you start having endless bad luck. However, there are enough BreadAndCircuses that most people don't complain much.

** except that despite technically still being a democracy, [[DemocracyIsBad they aren't good people]].

** Ruritania's actual name in its own language translates to "Peaceful Environmentalist Workers' Democratic Republic of Ruritania", none of which is true.

** The Oppressive Tyrannical Dictatorship of Ruritania is a dictatorship turned democratic. The people have tried to change the name, but the vote on ''what'' to rename it always ends in a tie. They wonder, [[DemocracyIsFlawed "Why did we become]] [[DemocracyIsBad democratic again?"]]

** Ruritania goes through a [[RevolvingDoorRevolution series of revolutions]] each [[FullCircleRevolution installing a new dictatorship more brutal then the last one]]. Ruritania is currently the "Totally Not a Dictatorship (We Pinky-Promise[[TradeSnark ™]]) State of Ruritania".

'''Basic Trope''': A dictatorial {{dystopia}} gives itself a nice, democratic-sounding name.

* '''Deconstructed''': All the world's governments had the best intentions when they started and so they all had democratic names. Unfortunately, {{Realpolitik}} kicks in and the progressive policies and democracy must be dropped. It's a point of shame for every leader, but they can't change it because of the idealism that every citizen embraces.
* '''Reconstructed''': The very names give people in and out of the government ideals to which to aspire, and once some semblance of order comes to the country, they're reminded of the principles under which the nation was created and redouble their commitment to them.

** The [[OverlyLongName Free and Liberated Workers’ Just]], [[LightIsNotGood Light-Filled]], and Gloriously Peaceful [[Literature/AmericaTheBook Shiny Happy People’s Democratic Socialist Federal Republic of Ruritania]] is a military-ruled [[BigBrotherIsWatching Orwellian]] [[WretchedHive thousandthworld hellhole]] where IndividualityIsIllegal and where the smallest ThoughtCrime warrants [[FateWorseThanDeath horrific]] [[Room101 eternal]] [[AndIMustScream torture]].

** The [[OverlyLongName Free and Liberated Workers’ Just]], [[LightIsNotGood Light-Filled]], and Gloriously Peaceful [[Literature/AmericaTheBook Shiny Happy People’s Democratic Socialist Federal Republic of Ruritania]] is a military-ruled [[BigBrotherIsWatching Orwellian]] [[WretchedHive thousandthworld hellhole]] where IndividualityIsIllegal and where the smallest ThoughtCrime warrants [[FateWorseThanDeath horrific]] [[{{Room 101}} eternal]] [[AndIMustScream torture]].

** Ruritania goes through a [[RevolvingDoorRevolution series of revolutions]] each [[FullCircleRevolution installing a new dictatorship more brutal then the last one]]. Ruritania is currently the "Totally Not a Dictatorship (We Pinky-Promise[[{{Tradesnark}} ™]]) State of Ruritania".

** The dictator of Ruritania is named [[PunnyName Peebles]], and, invoking {{Egopolis}} and {{Pun}}, he calls the country "Peebles' Democratic Republic of Ruritania."

Back to [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny the main article]], brought to you by the News and Information Agency of the Glorious, Joyful and Happy People's Democratic Republic of [[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife TVTropia]]!

** The Dark Militaristic Empire of Evulz is a secular liberal democratic federation. Its 'Emperor' is (currently, anyway) largely [[PuppetKing a ceremonial figurehead with severely limited powers]] who is [[ElectiveMonarchy elected by and from among members of several noble dynasties]] -- including those who are married or adopted into them -- by the Imperial Supreme Assembly (in other words, the parliament) for five years, may serve for no more than two terms, and must have their mandate confirmed by a national referendum. Furthermore, representatives of said Supreme Assembly, who form the government, are also regularly elected directly by every adult subject of the Empire. The 'Militaristic' part came from the fact that its military was the core part that the constituent realms of the 'empire' united around at the outset, prior to deeper integration. As for the 'Dark'... well, the first Emperor just thought [[RuleOfCool it would sound cool]].

** The People's Democratic Republic of Ruritania is run by an authoritarian, but not totalitarian government, it can be called a "flawed democracy", there's obvious government corruption, most parties across the political spectrum are [[RuleAbidingRebel loyal to the president]], who promised to serve for only four years... [[PermanentElectedOfficial thirty years ago]], opposition parties are allowed to exist but are never allowed to have any real power. As long as you don't complain too much about the government, your life is pretty much normal, but complain too much and suddenly you start having endless bad luck. However, there are enough BreadAndCircuses that most people don't complain much.

** The Dark Militaristic Empire of Evulz is a secular liberal democratic federation. Its 'Emperor' is (currently, anyway) largely a ceremonial figurehead with severely limited powers who is [[ElectiveMonarchy elected from members of several nobility dynasties]] -- including those who are married or adopted into them -- by the Imperial Supreme Assembly (in other words, the parliament) for five years, may serve for no more than two terms, and must have their mandate confirmed by a national referendum, Furthermore, representatives of said Supreme Assembly, who form the government, are also elected directly by every adult subject of the Empire on a regular basis. The 'Militaristic' part came from the fact that its military was the core part that the constituent realms of the 'empire' united around at the outset, prior to deeper integration. As for the 'Dark'... well, the first Emperor just thought [[RuleOfCool it would sound cool]].

* '''Subverted''': The People's Republic of Ruritania is... a functioning democracy, once the characters get to see something other than enemy propaganda.

** The People's Republic of Ruritania gets no aid from other countries because it's all going to their rival neighbours the Democratic People's Republic and Commonwealth of the Peaceful, Definitely Not Oppressed Tropese, who routinely threaten to bomb all their neighbours.

** Ruritania goes through a [[RevolvingDoorRevolution series of revolutions]] each [[FullCircleRevolution installing a new dictatorship more brutal then the last one]]. Ruritania is currently the "Totally not a Dictatorship We Pinky Promise State of Ruritania".

** Tropeistan calls itself something in Ruritanian which can be translated as either "People's Republic of Tropeistan" or "State of Tropeistan." The protagonists never visit Tropeistan, and what they hear about it is extremely contradictory: they hear positive and negative things from sources of all political persuasions and varying degrees of trustworthiness.

** "Why would they call themselves that unless they have somthing to hide."

** See Exaggerated.

** Continuing from Double Subverted #1, the DirtyCommunists turn out to be or become ChummyCommies -- but then [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Dirty Capitalists]] take control.
** Continuing from Double Subverted #2, the next government brings in changes that build on Ruritania's good aspects, making life appreciably better for most people.

* '''Discussed''': AliceAndBob, Ruritanian nationals, argue MyCountryRightOrWrong versus MyCountryTisOfTheeThatISting over the designation of "People's Republic."

** The [[OverlyLongName Free and Liberated Workers’ Just]], [[LightIsNotGood Light-Filled]], and Gloriously Peaceful [[Literature/AmericaTheBook Shiny Happy People’s Democratic Socialist Federal Republic of Ruritania]] is a military-ruled [[BigBrotherIsWatching Orwellian]] [[WretchedHive thousandthworld hellhole]] where IndividualityIsIllegal and where the smallest ThoughtCrime warrants [[{{Room 101}} eternal]] [[AndIMustScream torture]].

** The Dark Militaristic Empire of Evulz is a secular liberal democratic federation. Its 'Emperor' is (currently, anyway) largely a ceremonial figurehead with severely limited powers who is [[ElectiveMonarchy elected from members of several nobility dynasties]] -- including those who are married or adopted into them -- by the Imperial Supreme Assembly (in other words, the parliament) for five years, may serve for no more than two terms, and must have their mandate confirmed by a national referendum. The 'Militaristic' part came from the fact that its military was the core part that the constituent realms of the 'empire' united around at the outset, prior to deeper integration. As for the 'Dark'... well, the first Emperor just thought [[RuleOfCool it would sound cool]].

** The dictator of Ruritania is named Peebles, and, invoking {{Egopolis}} and {{Pun}}, he calls the country "Peebles' Democratic Republic of Ruritania."

* '''Averted''': Ruritania simply calls itself the State of Ruritania, or even just Ruritania.

* '''Played for Drama''': The Democratic People's Republic of Ruritania ''successfully'' presents itself as a {{Utopia}} and an ideal vacation destination to the rest of the world, especially by virtue of its misleading name. In truth, the country is an Orwellian dictatorship that shoves the vast majority of its population into absolute poverty and violently keeps them from revealing the truth to the rest of the world. [[SceneryPorn Its best vacation destinations]] are breathtaking to look at, and [[SkyscraperCity its wealthiest cities]] are [[CrystalSpiresAndTogas marvelous technological wonders]], but everywhere else is a [[DeathWorld complete wasteland]] [[CrapsackWorld filled with people desperately trying to survive.]] Alice and Bob are [[HawaiianShirtedTourist clueless tourists]] visiting Ruritania's finest places, but through a series of unfortunate mishaps and bad luck, they find themselves squarely in one of Ruritania's many {{Wretched Hive}}s, seeing Ruritania's worst through their own eyes and being viciously chased by government agents seeking to [[KilledToUpholdTheMasquerade "silence" them to maintain Ruritania's masquerade]] of Utopia to the world.

** The Dark Militaristic Empire of Evulz is a secular liberal democratic federation. Its 'Emperor' is (currently, anyway) basically a ceremonial figurehead with severely limited powers who is [[ElectiveMonarchy elected from one of several nobility dynasties]] -- even if they are married or adopted into it -- by the Imperial Supreme Assembly (in other words, the parliament) for five years, may serve for no more than two terms, and must have their mandate confirmed by a national referendum. The 'Militaristic' part came from the fact that its military was the core part that the constituent realms of the 'empire' united around at the outset, prior to deeper integration. As for the 'Dark'... well, the first Emperor just thought [[RuleOfCool it would sound kewl]].