The Holy Empire of Bisht is a huge, safe nation, renowned for its compulsory military service, frequent executions, and public floggings. The hard-nosed, democratic population of 320 million Bishtians 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 Defense, Education, and Law & Order. The average income tax rate is 27.7%, but much higher for the wealthy.

The Bishtian economy, worth 17.1 trillion bishtoins a year, is dominated by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with significant contributions from Information Technology, Basket Weaving, and Retail. State-owned companies are common. Average income is 53,447 bishtoins, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.2 times as much as the poorest.

Supermarket milk is a shear-thickening fluid that can stop small-caliber bullets, citizens hear a diversity of opinions from a range of billionaire-owned corporations, 90% of active duty BAF personnel have been laid off and replaced by robot kill-drones, and politicians are losing their jobs in a plan to make the government 'leaner and fitter'. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Bisht's national animal is the Dragon, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Bisht is ranked 88,551^st in the world and 273^rd in The Leftist Assembly for Most Developed, scoring 58.08 on the Human Development Index.