7.3 Meridian · Party-state · State capitalism with SEZs

Aspect	Design
Inspiration	Party-state systems that combine Leninist party organization with state capitalism and special economic zones (the brief cites ‘communism with Chinese characteristics’).
Land & climate	Geothermal coasts, hot springs and hydro-turbine gorges; Geotherm cores power heavy industry.
Capital	Steamgate (named for its geothermal port).
Currency	Gauge (GAU) – crawling peg to the Tessera, moved by the Standing Committee by at most ±2% per game month [ASSUMPTION]; strict capital controls onshore; SEZ accounts are freely convertible. Large reserves let Meridian hold the Gauge cheap to boost exports – a source of trade friction.
Religion	State-supervised religion: faiths may operate only through approved, Meridian-led faith associations; foreign-led clergy (e.g., the Oracle’s Lumen hierarchy) and the Open Hand are limited to private worship; Party members must be Unaffiliated.
Government	Paramount Leader (General Secretary + State Chair) and a 7-seat Standing Committee, chosen by a Central Committee at a Party Congress every 5 game years. Term limits exist by party rule – but the Congress can vote to suspend them (2/3 supermajority), making ‘term-limit removal’ an emergent political battle.
Economy	National champions (state-owned conglomerates run by appointed AI executives; humans work in them), private firms permitted but licensed, and Special Economic Zones – designated frontier cities with low taxes, foreign trade and private markets that boost growth but raise inequality and ‘foreign influence’ risk.
Freedoms	Low-moderate: wide consumer and cosmetic choice; tightly managed press and politics; a ‘Great Filter’ limits foreign news; internal movement uses residence permits (easier into SEZs).
Weaknesses	Political freedom near zero; corruption campaigns can target anyone; growth depends on the SEZ balance.
Aesthetic	Government: stately party halls and slogan banners. Climate: geothermal plumes, copper pipework, turbine gorges. Currency: neon-lit SEZ harbors with exchange boards beside plain onshore state banks. Religion: approved association halls in a uniform official style. Palette: red-copper, white, slate.

Why you’d choose it

Fast growth, prosperity and a merit ladder: work for a national champion, build a business in an SEZ boomtown, earn Party Standing – and watch the AI Standing Committee answer to growth, loyalty and unrest, never to ballots.