The Republic of Obliwek is a massive, environmentally stunning nation, ruled by Grand Regent Johan Sogovberg with an iron fist, and notable for its pith helmet sales, punitive income tax rates, and restrictive gun laws. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical, devout population of 2.084 billion Obliwekians are kept under strict control by the oppressive government, which measures its success by the nation's GDP and refers to individual citizens as "human resources."

The medium-sized, corrupt, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Defense, and Education. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Aigelgrad. The average income tax rate is 67.6%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Obliwekian economy, worth 300 trillion Marks a year, is fairly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Beef-Based Agriculture, Tourism, and Information Technology. Average income is an impressive 144,097 Marks, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.0 times as much as the poorest.

The nation's interest in space is at an all-time high while interest in saving the planet is at an all-time low, paralegals spend all day Hewlett-Packing attorneys' law briefs, sheep-like political loyalists repeat the mantra "one wheel bad, three wheels good", and photos of picturesque coastal buildings are set against a backdrop of smokestacks and ship hulls. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a well-funded police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Obliwek's national animal is the Obliwekian Black Eagle, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies.

Obliwek is ranked 222,507^th in the world and 3,217^th in The North Pacific for Largest Insurance Industry, scoring -3.95 on the Risk Expulsion Effectiveness Rating.