An army country

[kanithardm]

Although i do agree, not many PC class citizens.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

A possibility might be to read Heinlein's Starship Troopers. Forget the abomination of the movie! The people in Heinlein's book get the right to vote by completing federal service. Generally can be completed through military service, but can be anywhere in the government.

I could see a similar foundation used in a fantasy nation where magic was possible.

 

[Ourph]

Beware civil wars. There was a country with that policy only a few years back, called Yugoslavia....

Switzerland and Israel also have compulsory military service for all able bodied (male) citizens. Since it's tradition of citizen/soldiers extends back to the Renaissance period, Switzerland might be a particularly apropo model to investigate for this idea.

 

[Tonguez]

You'll need to explain who is doing all the farming to feed a nation which has such a high proportion of people on active duty.

Spring planting and fall harvest were two of the biggest factors commanders in medieval times had to deal with, as their armies would often disperse during those times (at least, until professional armies arose; along with sufficient resources to make them possible).

I think two factors can be used to manage this

1. Druids- at 5% this is a reasonably sized part of the citizenry. Druids act as homeland defence and spend most of their time supervising food production. The Helots still do the heavy lifting but are unable to revolt because they have druid overseers
2. Except for the elite (and maybe the Ranger Corps) Soldiers are not on duty everyday of the year. Instead the Planting and Harvest seasons are 'down time' when soldiers return to their families and work the feilds. Planting and Harvest times are then Holidays marked with approapriate festivities. It is unlikely the neighbouring nations will attack during this season as they too are concentrating on there own agriculture.

In one 'Bronze Age' setting I've used there was a nation of related City-States populated by a mix of Hobgoblins, Humans and Ogres who were all considered equals (although Hobs dominated). The nation was very militaristic, they were the only nation with iron and had halfling slaves (helots). Having Ogres and Hobgoblins threatening to eat them and the Humans threatening to sacrifice them to the gods is what kept the haflings from rebellion