The Republic of Obliwek is a massive, orderly nation, ruled by Grand Regent Johan Sogovberg with an iron fist, and remarkable for its keen interest in outer space, compulsory military service, and restrictive gun laws. The hard-nosed, hard-working, cynical, devout population of 2.226 billion Obliwekians are ruled by a mostly-benevolent dictator, who grants the populace the freedom to live their own lives but watches carefully for anyone to slip up.

The medium-sized, corrupt, well-organized government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Education, and Administration. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Aigelgrad. The average income tax rate is 68.7%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Obliwekian economy, worth 346 trillion Marks a year, is broadly diversified and led by the Arms Manufacturing industry, with major contributions from Beef-Based Agriculture, Tourism, and Information Technology. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 155,521 Marks, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.9 times as much as the poorest.

Many friends and relatives of Grand Regent Johan Sogovberg have been given ambassador jobs in tropical island nations, most people attending churches are maintenance workers, citizens live in superstitious fear of the mysterious glowing clouds that float over Obliwek, and the world outside is only known of in folklore. 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, and its national religion is the Obliwekian Orthodox Church.

Obliwek is ranked 22,581^st in the world and 607^th in The North Pacific for Highest Poor Incomes, with 87,346.6 Standard Monetary Units.