The Dothraki are often said to be Mongol hordes but fantasy-coded. No it's not historically accurate: that's the point. They have design elements that are redolent of something real, while deviating as much as the author likes.
Many such cases! High fantasy is redolent of mediæval Europe. Na'vi are redolent of Native Americans
So what would a fantasy realm look like if it's [definitely-not-the-USA-but-also-clearly-the-USA]?
I'm having a harder time than expected doing this.
By 'fantasy' I mean specifically the sort that seems mediæval – no electricity, no steam-engine. But if you want to go off in the comments imagining sci-fi or another genre I can't stop you.
- Overconfident vulgarity. Talk too loud.
- individualist rhetoric
- they deeply believe they are free, but have a particular meaning of 'freedom' that excludes financial stability and emphasises individualism. They blame the poor for their own poverty.
- evangelical monotheistic religion
- take big lacquered wagons everywhere when other nations walk
- obsessed with big crossbows
- generally, everything is oversized
- core myth "we are a union of free states, who defend liberty and our way of life, and spread freedom to others"
- invaded their land 200 years ago and wiped out the indigenous
- other countries talk about how bad their food is
- obesity
- large wealth inequality and it is racialised. Hospitals, schools are privately owned at extortionate prices (contrasting with other realms in the world)
- roads have tolls (not particularly the case in the modern USA, but it hammers home the private-ownership point)
- They view other prosperous nations as weak if they help the poor, or as barbarian if they're poor
- their gladiatorial games are scripted and tacky
- Militarily, they favour artillery bombardment and aerial bombardment from eagles or rocs or whatever the world has. Bombardment of civilian areas. The war crime of using Agent Orange war is one note that is easy to directly transfer
That seems like a long list but I don't find it very satisfying. I wish I could think of a handful of elements that could signify the USA. The use of red+white+blue and the big wagons are the closest I have so far.
Interested in hearing suggestions for the ruler's name and the country's name too.
I think there's context of specific eras of US history that could improve this.
For contemporary US most of these work pretty well. I think the main faction in Fury Road is a good analog to consider too.
Illogical patriotism of the serfs is also a strong hallmark. Thinly veiled to conspicuous racism is another that highlights the spectrum of false consciousness under the surface of the patriotism. Corrupt guilds that supply the military with ineffective supplies would also really work well.