The Republic of Izern 188 is a massive, genial nation, renowned for its avant-garde cinema, ban on automobiles, and ritual sacrifices. The compassionate, cynical, devout population of 1.996 billion Izern 188ians are ruled without fear or favor by a psychotic dictator, who outlaws just about everything and refers to the populace as "my little playthings."

The large, corrupt, socially-minded, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Administration, and Defense. The average income tax rate is 71.0%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Izern 188ian economy, worth 203 trillion banks a year, is led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology, Woodchip Exports, and Furniture Restoration. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 101,468 banks, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

The nation's faithful often say there is a higher power watching over them, EULAs remind customers that "Private Mode" is a browser setting rather than a promise, there is a growing belief that consciousness is a simulated illusion within a computer-generated reality, and ministers are now allowed to put suggestions in the governmental suggestion box. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Izern 188's national animal is the card.

Izern 188 is ranked 50,826^th in the world and 155^th in Izern for Most Developed, scoring 77.4 on the Human Development Index.