This is the story of Utopia a country that once had a distinct geography, a distinct history and a distinct people.

Utopia was located to the north of Middletopia; it had a mild climate and a large land surface in comparison to its population. The country was surrounded by coast and located on a peninsula, isolated from its big neighbours to the east and the south.

While in earlier times Utopia had been a major power involved in various wars, for the last 200 years it had been a peaceful country. This long period of peace appeared to be one explanation for the relative well being the country had come to enjoy.

Another important factor in Utopia's economic achievements lay in the culture and attitude of her people. The Utopians were a loyal and honest people with a strong Protestant work ethic.

These attributes had led Utopia to develop an advanced system of social security and to adopt a long-standing policy of economic equality. Reporters from the TV show "Good Morning!", a programme broadcast in the Big Country, had a hard time understanding how such a system worked. It was definitely alien to the Free-for-all ideology that existed back home in the Big Country.

How could people be persuaded to work hard if there were no major differences in salary? How could they be persuaded to go to work at all if they could obtain the same income by staying at home and phoning in sick?

As already mentioned, the answers to these questions lay in Utopia's culture. The Utopian people raised their children to have strong moral values, including their attitude towards work ­ such as always being on time and the importance of loyalty. They were brought up ever mindful of doing 'the right thing'. Each Utopian had, in effect, an inner social compass.

These Utopian values also explained the low crime rate, despite the fact that Utopia had a justice system where criminals, in practice, virtually went free - a stay in prison was more like a vacation than punishment. But for most Utopians the verdict itself, or rather the stigma of being sentenced, was strong enough to act as a deterrent.

However, the isolation and distinctive mentality of the Utopians carried with it, as we shall see, the seed of their eventual downfall.

- The long period of peace had resulted in naivety and innocence.

- Prolonged social stability had resulted in a trust of the governing elite, and a belief that these people would work for the betterment of Utopian people.

- The wealth of Utopia had, paradoxically, given rise to a troubled conscience. The peace that had made this wealth possible had been achieved through a realistic, though morally difficult decision in the World War; the Utopians' own interests had been given a higher priority than that of their neighbours. This had weighed upon the Utopian conscience after the War. There also developed an illogical feeling that this wealth had somehow been acquired through the exploitation of the Third World, rather than their own hard work ­ disregarding totally the fact that Utopia had never had a colony.

In the decades following the War, the Utopians had spent considerable amounts on their armed forces. The aim of this expenditure was, naturally enough, to defend Utopia and all it stood for. This was no mere defence of Utopia's physical borders, but also of Utopia's democratic government and institutions. Central to these Utopian values were the important liberties enjoyed by Utopian citizens. Utopia spent millions on her defence, developing modern weapon systems and advanced equipment.

It was all to be in vain.

The invasion that finally hit Utopia at the end of the century bypassed all of Utopia's defences and poured unmolested into their ancient and historical lands. Utopia's borders ceased to exist for all intents and purposes, and the invaders entered at will. Indeed, the prevailing social systems in Utopia even obliged the Utopians to pay living costs and arrange housing, schooling, dental care for the invaders.

The Utopian people proved to be totally unprepared mentally for the invasion. It took place in an almost dreamlike environment with no reaction or comment. The invasion didn't look like an invasion, it didn't sound like an invasion ­ where were the tanks and the planes? where the call to arms? where the pleas to man the barricades? ­ and therefore the Utopians assumed it wasn't an invasion. How could mere individuals arriving from far off lands be an invasion? So narrow were the Utopians in their understanding of an invasion ­ for invasion it was.

Officially, of course, it was all about refugees, people that were being persecuted and oppressed in their home countries. The warm reception given to these refugees by the governing elite was hailed as an example to the World of Utopia's humanity and brotherly love. Soon, the age-old Achilles heel of all elites, and the Utopian elite were no exception, was to surface ­ self-glorification. How better for the Utopian elite to impress the World than in a great display of national conscientiousness? The Utopian elite could now swagger amongst other elites as a moral power in the World. There was the minor problem of the Utopian people, but there are ways and means of dealing with such difficulties.

The reality, of course, bore little resemblance to the fantasy world of the politicians' hollow rhetoric. The difference in wealth between Utopia and the homelands of these newcomers was huge and plain for all to see. The actual motive for the invasion was pure and simple ­ money. They were all, without exception, simple economic migrants. These new arrivals were met by a generous benefit system and a boundless naivety. They quickly learned to use the system as they familiarised themselves to their new territories. They also began to develop a contempt of the native Utopians; some even began to adopt openly the attitudes of conquerors perusing their newly acquired territories.

The foundations of the Utopian society would, as a result of this mass immigration, change with disastrous consequences for the original, indigenous people. The Utopians were, in rapid succession, stripped of their wealth, their safety and their democracy.

Can something like this really occur without a whimper from the affected people?

In the fairy-tale land of Utopia it could ­ and did.