Statehood

The units of 'states' in Shra are the oases. Each one takes pride in its independence. Several smaller ones are to some degree vassals of larger neighbors, though in theory fiercely independent. Politically most oases are oligarchies, with a handful or sometimes a single family dominating politics year in year out.
There are a number of exceptions:

• Akwe, Anakwe and Arakw (the Triplet) are ruled by a single human family that appoints kings and queens over each village. These kings have much autonomy, but must take care not to affront the rest of the family, otherwise the other two will turn against him/her.
• Gma Aggway in the Ihgrb Tim is basically two separate political entities living together in the same town. The surre are dominated by three to four powerful families; the humans have a king who is backed up by a council of elders.
• Qurqimi in the northwest is ruled by a god-king who is considered to be both ilwah and surre at the same time. He is always male and wields absolute power within the community. Some have made it prosper while others brought it to the brink of disaster.
• Ruxima, at the northern edge of the Ifasam, is a direct democracy where no-one is allowed to rise above their peers. Decisions are made by the whole community.
• Tuiga in the Iqbit Tim has an elected tyrant who rules for half a year. Tyrants can be re-elected but are not allowed to serve two terms in a row. The townsfolk are weary of powermongers, making re-election across years possible but difficult too.

Like on Earth, money and good connections play a major role. On Shra there is the additional element of shwu, which is hoarded by the rulers, who try to keep it from the greater population. Their intelligence enhanced by the shwu, they almost always manage to outwit their opponents. Most rulers fall only when outside disasters like extreme weather or disease strike and the society is turned upside down, which is rare.

Law and customs

Most law in Shra is determined by custom, which changes little over the years. Some have lawbooks but most rules are transmitted orally. An exception is Tagadur, where a caste of priests maintains the Grand Tome of Law, a thick book with hundreds of rules written in obscure Lah, interpreted by the priests only.
All settlements have strict rules concerning water and food management. In other areas they vary and sometimes weird taboos and customs pop up. For example in Tighram is forbidden to eat camel meat; in Hasasd there is a list of 49 words that can be written but not be spoken, on the penalty of death; in Gaffa people are allowed to look from one eye only, covering the other with a patch.
The oligarchs who rule in most oases act as both lawmakers and judges; there is no trias politica in Shra. However they need to keep the traditions and the sentiments of the common people in mind, who will riot when the people in power transgress to far. A handful of places, like Ruxima, operate by trial by peers.

Feuds

Disputes and grievances frequently lead to violence in Shra. This will call for retribution, because the people of Shra value their honor. Often this descends into a spiral of revenge and counter-revenge: a feud. Feuds can rise up between families or even whole settlements. The rivalry between the humans of Axidir and the surre of Zenj is centuries old and infamous.