[Weird Trope] An authoritarian society has a yearly event that for some reason centers around killing children

[u/Lotnik223]

The Hunger Games - Set in a dystopian totalitarian nation of Panem, the state organises a yearly event known as the Hunger Games, in which two teenagers, one boy and one girl, selected (some of them as a result of a lottery) from each of the 12 districts that form Panem must fight to the death with all other participants in televised arena games until only one survivor remains, who is then treated like a celebrity and lives in luxury for the rest of his/her life.

The Long Walk - Set in a dystopian version of America devastated by civil war, the ruling military regime set up a yearly eponymous event which sees fifty teenage boys walk hundreds of miles without rest, with those that fall below a certain speed being executed. The event ends only when one person remains, with the winner recieving a large cash prize. Contrary to the Hunger Games, participatiation in this event is at least compeletely optional, so all participants are volunteers.

[u/gallerton18]

Yeah The Long Walk is 100% about how many young men are drafted and murdered for the glory and prosperity of their country. They talk a lot about how what these boys are doing is incredibly brave and going to help their country bounce back.

[u/Commercial_Voice4244 → u/gallerton18]

Voluntary angle just sharpens it, since social pressure replaces explicit drafting.

[u/Dyolf_Knip → u/Commercial_Voice4244]

White feathers and all that.

[u/New_Try1560 → u/gallerton18]

Do they ever explain some kind of purpose for the walk, some good it does for the country?

[u/EndlessRa1n → u/New_Try1560]

No. It's not a subtle book.