What IRL cultures have inspired you in worldbuilding?

[Gallio]

■ The Maori King Movement when it comes up to how people get the top job. (They're elected, not born or appointed to the role.)

Several historical societies had elected kings -- the Irish Gaels for one. More recently, the Kingdom of Poland was elective.
And there's a tiny country in the middle of Rome whose ruler, a king-equivalent, is elected.

 

[Karlin]

Chinese culture. And my own (Jewish and American- if you can call that a "culture")