Social: Arnland

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Arnland is a homogeneous society with a population of approximately 3.4 million people. Arnish people are generally very hospitable and welcome new business contacts and friendships, but the change from a communist regime into a democratic system has proved again it is not a simple change of mind. A newly formed, free‐market economy with inadequate law and general freedom allowed corruption and organized crime (OC) to flourish and take an important role in private and public life. Politics and current events are important to Arns and are often talked about in private or in public forums. People have very strong opinions and despite a pretty large participation in elections, usually are not happy with how things are done by the Government.

The majority of the population is at least nominally Christian and belongs to the Lutheran Church of Arnland. The education system is well structured and schooling is compulsory through nine grades.

Regional Context. Arnland’s geographic location makes it the gateway from mainland Europe to the region. The people of Arnland are typically very welcoming and do not display signs of discrimination towards outsiders, however still hold an underlying feeling of distrust towards their neighbors of Torrike and Denmark. On the surface, interaction with these two nations is tense, and historical disagreements are not easily forgotten. At the same time, Arnland needs Torrike to help maintain some economic security and sees Denmark as an entry point to the EU. Nevertheless, Arnland’s announced plan to withdraw from the GBCC further increased tension and different expectations between the northern and southern societies. While the northern counties would like to continue their good relationship with Torrike, there are still many who covertly support the idea of reinstating a Torrike-led empire for regional security, stability, and economic reasons. In the south people view things differently and see this change in political situation as an opportunity to pursue membership of the EU and gain the associated benefits of open borders and better job prospects. They also look favorably on the UN, primarily because of the assistance that can be gained.

Political Context. The equality of citizens before the law is questionable. Neither awareness of human rights, nor a culture of standing up to protect them, has been promoted among citizens. The involvement of large masses of the population in the shadow economy, their need to adjust themselves to living under conditions of imperfect laws and high fiscal pressure does not contribute to fostering a law‐abiding culture among citizens, or their willingness to live in compliance with the laws. Many times, the direction of authorities at the local level play a greater role on influencing society than the effective laws, norms or official authority of the nation.

Social Statistics

Social Statistics of Arnland

Measure	Data	Remarks (if applicable)
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)	USD $58.4 billion (2017)	GDP per capital USD $17,176 (2017); GDP growth ‐5.8% (2017)
Labor Force	$ 2.01 million	Occupations are: Service (60%), Industry (37%) and Agriculture/Fishing/Forestry (3%)
Unemployment	16.8%	Youth unemployment trending beyond 26% (2017)
Poverty	8%	Half of those below the poverty line live in extreme poverty, subsisting on less than USD $30.25 per day
Investment	USD $18 billion (2010)	See Foreign Direct Investment in Economic Variable
National Budget	USD $103 billion	2017

Population Movement (Immigration and Emigration)

Transiting of human persons and smuggling from other countries, remittance flows, and legal and unauthorized movement for economic reasons are some of the major migration issues confronting the Arnish public and policy makers.

Immigration

According to official statistics offered by the Ministry of Labor, approximately 25,000 foreigners entered Arnland as migrant workers in the period 2013‐2017. They are mainly employed in the construction, trade, service and education sectors. Around 75% of them come from Torrike and EU countries. The latter are mostly specialists working for Western companies that operate in Arnland. The majority of foreign immigrants are employed in Alsstad and a few other big cities. Employment of foreigners is regulated by a 1999 act that creates a liberal, attractive, and favorable legal framework for hiring such workers.

Arnish law provides for the settlement of refugees and asylum seekers. It has signed readmission agreements with Torrike and Denmark, taking responsibility for deporting illegal immigrants from third countries who are entering Torrike and Denmark via the Arnland border. Currently, averages of over 1,200 to 1,400 foreigners apply for refugee status annually (only 80 applicants were recognized as refugees last year); about 3,000 officially registered refugees live in the country.

Various international and human rights organizations have criticized Arnland’s asylum system for its legal weaknesses, corruption, high risk of forced return, and use of detention. Arnland also does not provide protection for failed asylum seekers or others who need humanitarian protection.

Emigration

The potential for migration from Arnland remains high due to such push factors as unemployment and poverty. The unemployment rate remains high, despite a recent slow decline. In addition, illnesses are a major concern and access to quality medical is scarce, especially in rural areas. These mostly economic hardships have at different points combined with episodes of political instability to boost migration flows.

In terms of pull factor, complex and contradictory migration experiences are convincing Arns of the limitations of the possibilities actually offered by destination countries. While not as powerful as they were in the 1980s and 1990s, the impact of pull factors is still considerable. Cultural motivations, for example are influential. There is a simple urge to experience an apparently alluring outside world, especially among young people. This was particularly true in the wake of the isolationist years of the Communist regime.

Access to education is a key emigration factor. A growing number of Arnish students are enrolled in universities in Torrike, Poland, Denmark, and the United States. Satisfying career interests outside the job‐scarce Arnland environment is another pull factor. Arns view migration as both an individual and family survival strategy. Moving abroad is seen as an investment in the future, creating opportunity for a second generation of “migrants” and their children. To Arnland this is seen as a brain drain impacting their long term economic stability and growth. Good connections, significantly better working conditions and the proximity made Denmark the main recipient of Arnish emigrants. The scale of the exodus was not noticed in the beginning, however in recent years has become a significant issue between the two countries as Arnland accuses Denmark of deliberately enticing the best and brightest Arns across the Öresund.

Population Distribution

Rural

During the communist period, planned communities were built in some parts of the countryside to house workers of the huge collective farms, many of which were built around formerly private estates. Following the collapse of Communism, these farmers became independent smallholders. Even though rural‐to‐urban migration accelerated in the 1990s, the country’s population is still roughly one third rural.

Urban

The country’s urban population is generally evenly distributed among the country’s major cities, the largest of which is the capital of Alsstad. Large apartment blocks, often with several units sharing kitchens and toilets, were built under communist rule, but, because the construction of new residences has been unable to keep pace with the movement from the countryside, cities are overcrowded, and there has been a proliferation of poorly constructed dwellings.

Demographics

Arnland’s population of 3.4 million is a rather homogeneous society with a relatively new socioeconomic structure. Economic status and education levels are found to be the main factors in distinguishing between the classes. Today, links to OC and/or former Communist party ties are not as synonymous with the upper class as they were in the past. Historically an agrarian society, industrialization and the drive for global competitiveness, has forced the shift to higher urbanization. Equal rights between men and women are a priority in Arnland.

Category	Statistic	Category	Statistic
Population	3.4 Million	Urban population Annual urbanization rate	62.0% No Data Available
Age distribution (%)	0-25 years: 1.3 Million 25-44 years: 1.25 Million 44+ years: 1.85 Million	Infant mortality rate	No Data Available
Median age	No Data Available	Life expectancy at birth in years	77.6 years Males: 75.5 Females 80.1
Population Growth rate	- 3%	Ethnic groups (%)	Arnish: 75% Torrikan: 12.4% Bothnian: 7% EU: 5.2% Other 0.4%
Birth rate per 1,000	10.06	Religions in OE (%)	Lutheran: 80.4% Roman Catholic: 2.9% Islam: 1.6% None Specified/Observed:15.1%
Death rate per 1,000	10.05	Languages	Arnish English (95%) Torrikan
Net Migration rate per 1,000	-2.2	Literacy rate (older than 15)	98.4% Males: 98.5% Females: 98.4%

The family is the basic household unit. It may vary in size through having other relatives live with the core family or through taking in boarders to increase income. Often two or more core families may live together. It is common for newly married couples to live for a time with the brides’ parents. Traditionally the husband was the ruler of the family while the wife took care of day‐to‐day operations. The reality nowadays may be quite different. Tasks were traditionally assigned according to age and sex and while this still exists in rural areas, the urbanization process has forced changes in this system as more and more often both parents work outside the home.

Population

The population of Arnland decreased by 102,118 since the previous census ten years ago. The Arnish population has decreased slowly in the past few decades. This is attributed to decline in the economy and coupled with high levels of emigration. The greater Alsstad area had the largest single population with 690,000, while Helsingborg, the nation’s second largest city, was home to 225,000. Around 62% of the population live in urban areas of ten thousand or more. The population density is 146 per square kilometer.

Over the last decade the birth rate has slowly declined while the death rate has increased from 9.9 per 1,000 to 10.05 per 1,000. With a marginally positive growth rate, Arns are concerned of the potential of negative growth looming. Life expectancy for males and females born in 2017 was 75.5 and 80.1 years respectively. The national population is relatively young; 1,257,000 people are in the 25‐44 age group, and 1,309,000 people are younger than 25.

Birth Rates

The birth rate has slowly declined over the past decade to its present status of 10.06 births/1,000 population. Migration and ineffective health care have been the primary causes of the decline. To compound the situation, many of the Arnish youth are gravitating towards postponing marriage and children in favor of education and careers, so it is expected that the birth rate will continue to decline.

Marriage Rate

Arns favor endogamy, the practice of marrying within a specific ethnic group, class, or social group, rejecting others on such a basis as being unsuitable for marriage or other close personal relationships. Traditionally, young people chose partners at social events. Historically, parental approval and blessing were sought. Marriages against parents’ wishes were rare in the past, and matchmakers mediated between two families. The parents’ role in the marriage has been preserved in contemporary Arnish culture through their responsibilities to organize and finance the wedding ceremonies and festivities for their children. The festivities show the family’s social status. Most marriage ceremonies today are both civil and religious.

In traditional society public opinion pressured young people to marry early. This still leads to many marriages between the ages of 17 and 25. It also leads to a high number of divorces (3.71 per 1,000 of population), very rare in the traditional past. The Catholic Church prohibits divorce and the Lutheran Church discourages it. Civil courts grant divorce, adjudicating property and custodial rights.

Death Rate

Arnland has potential to be in a demographic crisis due to its increasing death rate and falling birth rate. A factor contributing to the relatively high death rate is a high mortality rate among working‐age males from preventable causes such as alcohol abuse and smoking.

Labor Force

There were some 2.01 million persons in the labor force. Services accounted for 58.1% of the workforce, with 37% in industry and 4.9% percent in agriculture. About 16% of the labor force was officially reported as unemployed although youth unemployment trending beyond 26%. There are large numbers of underemployed and unregistered unemployed workers.

The minimum employment age is 17 years old; although children aged 15 to 17 can be employed by businesses with governmental permission. However, child labor is a problem. Children have been known to be recruited to help distribute and sometimes sell black market items, such as CDs and DVDs.

Social Issues

Arnland adhered to a strict Communist philosophy and operated as a repressive regime until 1991. Prior to the Communist overthrow, the governing elite enriched themselves at the cost of ordinary people. This resulted in increased poverty in the country as a whole. Anger and mistrust in the government ultimately led to the assassination of Lars Peterson 1 May 1991 and the subsequent violent fall of Communism in Arnland that same year. Following the transition four relatively quiet years followed with a new free market economic system that was generally expected to start a new era of prosperity. This turned out to be a cover for criminal behavior across the country which emerged during the run‐up to 1996 elections and ended in an armed revolt, leading to the near‐total collapse of government authority. The central government struggled to restore credibility and trust since that time.

Recently, a number of political demonstrations were held across the country, most noticeably in the center of Alsstad, in the lead‐up to the last presidential election. Most protests in the past year were in response to domestic political and economic developments within the country and were initiated by the Greater Arnland Democratic Alliance (GADA) calling for an independent and free from EU influence. These protests caused significant traffic disruption within the center of Alsstad and other mainly west‐orientated counties. A number of these were significant incidents, with reports of violence.

Social Groups

FEM is a protest group based in Alsstad, founded in 2008. The organization is well known in the country for organizing protests against human trafficking, international marriage agencies, sexism, sexually based violence and other social, national, and international ills. Female university students between 18 and 20 years old form the backbone of the movement. Some of the aims of the organization are to develop leadership, intellectual and moral qualities of the young women in the Arnland and to build up the image of Arnland, the country with great opportunities for women.

Social Grievances

Arnish officials clearly care about their place in the administration hierarchy and do everything it takes to maintain their positions. It does not exclude false promises, corruption and bribery. Reforms are limited to throwing the burden of the situation in Arnland onto the shoulders of ordinary Arns, or touch on minor problems not relevant considering current economic situation. Losing the last elections, the opposition proved it had failed to find the proper mechanisms to act and is facing more and more failures both mobilizing the public and arranging efficient measures to oppose the government’s actions with which it disagrees. Polls show that people are not happy with the situation. Arnland is seeing more and more spontaneous protest movements that unite those who are able to speak up for their rights, however their voice seems to be lost within overwhelming propaganda spreading across all media controlled by central government.

The population has slowly started to divide based on its location in the country. The inhabitants from the northern counties, convinced by their local leaders, see advantage of continuous close, mutual cooperation with their closest neighbor, Torrike, and have actually started to believe it’s the only way of improving their lives. Although aware of the potential benefits of joining the EU, the tradition, life style and threat against rising prices are what concern the average Arn the most. On the other side are the people living in the south. This more industrialized and densely populated region sees only advantages of joining EU. It’s not only about easier business relations or prosperity but the benefits of new regulations in law and other social and business domains which would have to be introduced to meet the EU requirements. Although many can’t imagine life without bribery, it is believed that it would suppress common corruption and bribery and make everyday life much easier and more transparent.

Corruption

Arns have grown up knowing one thing – you get nothing unless you give something in return. Bribery and corruption in Arnland is so common, that for many it is no longer perceived as a criminal activity but a way of life. The general acceptance has always been the greatest obstacle whenever someone was trying to highlight the problem and initiate the public debate. Frustrated by the preferential treatment given to the affluent minority in areas such as healthcare and education, the underprivileged majority continue to voice their disapproval. Unfortunately, their protests, as usual, have fallen on deaf ears. The Government has either been unable to find evidence of corrupt behavior or unwilling to pursue the issue to the fullest extent.

Poverty

Around 8% of Arns are currently below the relative poverty line, which is based on a level of income set at 60% of the median household income. The average wage is USD $1,200 per month, and for most, payment is delayed for several months. Wage arrears are an all too common feature of daily life. Almost half of those below the poverty line live in extreme poverty, subsisting on less than USD $30.25 per day.

External Interaction

After the fall of communism, the country began to experience a significant number of social, economic and political problems which had to be solved by employing new approaches based upon the principles of an open society and respect for human rights. This had both positive and negative effects. On human rights the United Nations was one of the first international organizations to offer assistance to Arnland. The following UN agencies are active in Arnland: the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Increased openness and access to social media has opened Arnland and the Arnish to the world, and vice versa. The way politicians, industry, consumers and the media do business in Arnland has changed. The value of social media is beginning to dawn on those in political office, whose work and very professional survival hinges on the needs and perceptions of their constituents however if can have both a positive and negative impact. The social web has global reach and is ripe with opportunities. No longer is it possible for Arnland to operate as a closed society. Media message spin, misdirection, or misinterpretation can cloud a political message as it passes from candidate, to spokesperson, to media, to public but this chain can be broken by something as simple as a Facebook page update or a Chat. External media manipulation can swiftly influence the view of the masses. Information can pass between huge numbers of people anonymously with the potential to incite reactions in support of, or against, a group or individual with immediate consequence.

The mass organizations and other associated recognized groups have embarked on a very active social networking function to meet the expectations of an educated population. Virtual interaction is now possible between individuals and organizations across the globe. By applying the principles of a social democracy, emphasizing not the individual rights and liberties but portraying the opportunities for individuals to publicly participate in organized political activities.

Education

A positive legacy from the communist regime was its approach to early education which resulted in an almost 99% literacy rate within the Arnish population. Currently, in theory, the country’s constitution and the “Law on Education” should have a significant impact on improving the educational system. The Law on Education was adopted in 1991 and secured the main principles of Arnish education: democracy, priority of humanistic values, organic connection with history, culture and traditions, continuity, and diversity of educational opportunities.

However, in practice, the country continues to allocate insufficient funds to the education system. Teachers are grossly underpaid and instead of educating themselves in new teaching methods to improve general levels of education, they have created conditions where private lessons are the only hope for students interested in higher education. Additionally, with the curriculum being changed almost every year, many schools lack the required textbooks and supplies for each registered student.

Schools receive 50% of their funding from the city budget and 50% from the national Government budget. Starting in January 2010, the Council of Ministers of Arnland gave general education schools the option to independently manage the financial resources assigned from the state budget. As a result, some school principals have turned to their relatives at municipal and county government levels as a means of acquiring additional funding for the school

Educational Structure

The education system is organized into five levels; preschool, primary, secondary, higher, and postgraduate education. Children attend school from age six. Education is compulsory and universal through the first nine grades. Students may graduate after the ninth grade at age 16 and may work with special permission or enter vocational and technical schools. Since the number of specializations in these schools has decreased, most students finish the full 11 grades. A curricular revision is introducing new courses and programs for gifted children, which again by many are perceived as a new field for bribery and corruption promoting only those who can afford “free” courses.

In post‐secondary education, undergraduate degrees are granted directly by universities. The Highest Attestation Commission of the Ministry of Education grants candidate and doctor of science or arts degrees in a bureaucratically complicated system. Every major field of learning is covered in major universities. Every large and medium‐sized urban center has at least one institution of higher learning. Varying levels of corruption can be found associated with higher education. Altering entrance exam scores, buying course grades, and creating false diplomas are all examples of common practices.

Kindergarten

Preschool programs are attended by two‐thirds of all Arnish children, mainly from big cities. Children aged six months to three years, enroll in nursery school. Children aged three to six enroll in kindergarten.

Primary and Secondary School

Primary and secondary education, otherwise known as general schooling, is easily divided into three phases or levels. They are younger school, middle school, and senior schools. Younger school comprises of grades 1 to 4. Grades 5 to 9 are usually referred to as middle school, while 10 to 11 are senior school. Despite the names, students typically study in the same school building throughout their primary and secondary education. The objective of general school is to give younger students knowledge of the arts and sciences and teach them how to use it practically.

In 2009, Arnland for the first time joined and took part in world’s global program measuring quality, equity and efficiency in school education known as The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). PISA assesses the extent to which 15‐years‐old students have acquired key knowledge and skills that are essential for full participation in modern societies.

Tertiary Education

The Ministry of Education, which supervises and coordinates the activities of higher schools, manages higher education. According to the “Law on Education”, higher education institutions (HEIs) included the following levels and categories of establishments: Level I – vocational schools and other HEIs of a corresponding level; Level II – colleges and other HEIs of a corresponding level which teach Bachelor and junior specialists courses; Level III – institutes, conservatories, academies and universities that teach Bachelor’s and Specialist, as well as junior specialist courses; and Level IV – institutes, conservatories, academies and universities which teach Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Specialist courses.

The degree system is under reform. The old system had only one stage of undergraduate studies, the degree of “Specialist”, awarded after five years of study. The next system comprised two stages: undergraduate and graduate, with degree levels. In 2007, Arnland again revised its tertiary education system and decided to sign the Bologna declaration. It introduced a three cycle education system with state awarded degrees:

1. First Cycle Degree: Bachelor’s Degree (3‐4 years)
2. Second Cycle Degree: Master’s Degree (1‐2 years)
3. Third Cycle Degree: Doctoral degree (3‐4 years)

Several forms of corruption can be found in higher education in Arnland. Forms of corruption include bribery, embezzlement, extortion, fraud, ghost instructors, abuse of public property, nepotism, cronyism, favoritism, kickbacks, cheating, plagiarism, and research misconduct. They rarely appear on their own. Forms of corruption are often connected in bundles. For instance, assigning a high grade to a student in exchange for a bribe implies fraud. In addition to classical forms of corruption, gross waste in educational management and sexual misconduct take place in higher education institutions. This is exacerbated by the exemption for national service for those individuals undertaking higher education.

Religious Diversity

Although the majority of Arns proclaim some sort of denomination, the country as a whole is not very religious. The Lutheran Church of Arnland has the largest congregation with about 80.4% membership; however, less than 10% regularly attend services. Historical influence from Framish missionary monks and a small Polish population brought Roman Catholicism to Arnland. Even though only representative of 2.9% of the population, it is the most active denomination, with 80% of its members regularly involved in the church. The Lutheran Church in Arnland is organized in a similar way to Lutheran churches across the world. The church has 6 geographical synods, one in each county. Each synod has a Bishop. Every six years the Church Assembly votes via an ecclesiastical ballot for a Presiding Bishop, who will serve the following six-year term.

Under Arnish law, confirmed believers are obliged to pay 7% of their income tax as a church tax. Additionally, taxpayers can choose to give 1.1% of their annual income tax return to an organized religion recognized by Arnland or, alternatively, to a social assistance program run by the Arnish State. People are not required to declare a recipient; in that case, the law stipulates that this undeclared amount be distributed among normal recipients of such taxes in proportion to what they have already received from explicit declarations. However, this law is not strictly enforced and the State has been known to keep some if not all of the undeclared tax.

A separation of Church and State was declared in a constitutional amendment in 1982. Despite the separation, many traditional religious holidays are still celebrated, primarily to benefit from the day off rather than to honor its origins. As an example, Arns mark Saint John’s Day, the longest day of the year, to celebrate the country’s pagan heritage by gathering around giant bonfires and creating floral flotillas to float along local rivers.

Common Languages

Arnland’s population of 3.4 million is culturally and linguistically homogeneous, the dominant ethnicity being Arnish. The official language is Arnish. It is not uncommon to find other languages spoken particularly along the northern and western borders of the country. English is also spoken by many Arns as a second language.

Human Rights / Universal Health Care

The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs runs Arnish health care, with all the working citizens contributing to the cost. In theory, health care is available free of charge to all citizens of Arnland, however, in practice, the free services only cover basic provision. Patients often have to pay for extras such as specialist equipment required during surgery. As a result, the provision of free medical care has increasingly been replaced by chargeable care. Often, doctors and consultants will also charge a fee for their time. Arnland’s comprehensive and free health care includes primary and specialized hospitals and research institutions. The healthcare structure is created by a large network of primary level health care units in rural and urban areas. Polyclinics comprising departments covering several medical and mental areas are in hospitals, workplaces, women’s consultation clinics, rural physician’s ambulatories and outpatient departments in rural hospitals.

Some attempts have been made in recent years to reform the funding system by introducing obligatory health insurance. This past year, the Prime Minister promoted a bill on setting up a mandatory health insurance system, but the plans did not get off the ground, owing to political instability and institutional inertia.

Health Standards

The standard of medical care is generally adequate although it varies from very good to very poor throughout the country. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated in 2015, that every third Arn aged 18‐65, including every fifth aged 18‐25 suffer from hypertension. An additional 29% of the respondents are overweight and 20% suffer from obesity. In the same study, 36% of Arns smoke tobacco, including 31% of those who smoke every day. Some 80% of the daily smokers are men.

Primary and Secondary Care

Primary healthcare is provided by polyclinics in towns and cities, but health care for many rural Arns still means a village clinic run by an isolated doctor or healthcare assistant and administered by the village council. In general, primary health care fails to impact on the major healthcare needs of the population – stroke, heart disease, maternal and child health, sexual health and cancers – although in some areas incentive schemes have been cost effective.

The organization of primary care delivery is based on the territorial‐district principle by which the area serviced by a particular healthcare clinic is partitioned into catchment areas with a certain number of residents. Each catchment area is assigned a primary care physician; however, internists and pediatricians typically act as the primary care providers.

Patients may seek care by a specialist directly without formal referral from their catchment area physician and this opportunity is widely used. The practice is further encouraged by the local physicians themselves, who are paid at fixed rates regardless of their workload and performance and thus have little incentive to compete for patients. In addition, the very low level of skills of catchment-area physicians and lack of equipment often encourages patients to bypass the primary care level altogether.

There is very little training in healthcare administration and little opportunity to relate to European and American experience. Medical education is strictly regulated by a small number of postgraduate academies and does not easily embrace modern standards and indeed the immediate healthcare needs of the population.

Citizens that go to a recommended doctor typically find that the necessary medicine is not immediately available. In many clinics and hospitals, the equipment is old and outdated. An alternative to the State clinics are the private clinics available in Alsstad and other larger cities. These clinics typically have better facilities and can provide care that is more comprehensive for those who can afford it. For the average Arnish citizen, there is common, and not completely groundless, fear that doctors in these clinics will do their best to prescribe as many procedures as possible to keep getting money until the patient’s funds run dry. It is also true that getting treatments from such clinics is significantly more expensive than slipping modest bribes to the common state‐employed doctor. It should be noted, that those able to access military medical facilities enjoy a much higher standards of care.

A list of hospitals in Arnland can be found in the Infrastructure variable.

Centers of Social Power

The overall indicators of development of the institutional network of Arnland’s trade unions points to the formation of a decentralized system of trade union organizations. The baseline tendency lies in the gradual separation of unions or hired workers and businessmen (employers). At the same time, the biggest trade union association, AFTU, preserves the tradition of simultaneous membership of both hired workers and employers. In some sectors, several trade union structures are active, which may enhance the effectiveness of joint pressure on the sector employer on the condition of coordinated actions, but impair the effectiveness of trade unions and lead to their rivalry.

There is a trend towards the establishment of youth and women’s trade unions as a manifestation of the general growth of the youth and female movement in Arnland. One example of a women’s union is the All‐Arnish Trade Union of Countrywomen of the Agro‐Industrial Complex of Arnland (an AFTU member). Youth trade unions are active mainly among students. In industry and agriculture, youth trade union movement is much weaker: the All‐Arnish Trade Union Youth Initiative is the only youth union active in the industrial sphere. At the same time, youth organizations are being formed within separate trade unions, for instance, a youth organization is active within the Trade Union of Workers of Power Engineering and Industry of Arnland.

Business Associations

The Federation of Employers in Arnland (FEA) is the most powerful all‐Arnish employers’ organizations, representing employers’ interests in economic, social, and labor relations and protecting their rights and interests at the national level. There are two governing bodies within the FEA, The General Assembly and the Board. The General Assembly of the Association is the supreme governing body that exercises the general management of the Association and is responsible for making vitally important decisions. The Board of the Association is responsible for the day to day functioning of the organization between the General Assemblies. FEA represents ten national organizations, six all‐Arnish county organizations and 165 city and municipal organizations. FEA has been a member of the International Organization of Employers since 2003.

The Arnland Federation of Trade Unions (AFTU) is an all‐Arnish voluntary association of trade unions that represents the national‐level industrial sector in the city of Alsstad and its surrounding region. It is the largest trade union confederation in Arnland, with about half the million members. As of March 2016, 19 national trade unions and ten regional trade unions were associated with the AFTU. The aim of the AFTU is to express and represent the interests and protect the rights of its member organizations, coordinate their collective actions, promote unity in the trade union movement, represent and protect labor and the socioeconomic rights and interests of trade union members before state and local authorities, and represent the interests of members in their relationship with employers and their organizations. At the international level, the AFTU is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation.

Upper Class

Under the former Communist control, Arnish society was officially classless with three equal groups; workers, peasants, and working intelligentsia. In reality the Communist Party elite enjoyed an immensely preferential status, with several internal gradations. Since the fall of the Communist regime in 1991, the former Party elite have lost their place atop the socioeconomic food chain. Current Arnland Socialist Party (ASP) members that formerly were part of the Communist elite can still be found in positions of leadership in the counties, although it is becoming much rarer as time passes. The emergence of the Arnland Prosperity Party (APP) has brought about a new cadre of political elite and upper class. The fall of Communism also allowed the opportunity for new businesses to flourish giving the most successful owners a niche in the upper class as well. Though not formally recognized as part of the socioeconomic structure, members of the OC network deserve consideration when discussing the varying levels of socioeconomic influence.

Middle Class

A term that has become more popular over the last couple of years is “middle class.” The concept is new under its present English appellation, which now describes a certain income level, as well as the social status that comes with that income level. Arnland’s rising middle class is more sober and practical, if equally misguided about their social identity as a middle class. Usually they are people with steady white‐collar jobs, which allow them to purchase the clothes, cars, vacations and, most importantly, homes that have long been associated with a typical Western life style. They likely have a higher education and quite possibly a greater sensitivity to cultural and environmental issues. But they often miss the mark when it comes to middle class values.

Working Class

Traditionally the working class has been defined as a social class made up of wage laborers (and their dependents) engaged in material production in industry or agriculture who do not own the means of production they use in their labor. The working class thus differs from artisans, peasants, and the intelligentsia. Traditional boundaries between white‐collar and blue‐collar workers have changed in the past decade with changes in the economy as well as the intellectualization of physical labor (e.g., an increase in the number of skilled worker in automated plants) and the simplification of intellectual work (e.g., the existence of a large number of low‐grade engineers with only specialized secondary education) have undermined the usefulness of the key criterion used in defining the working class. Career fields that exemplify this shift are education, health care, and research professionals, all dependent upon state budgets, are in the lowest income bracket. Unemployment among blue‐collar workers rose when heavy industry shifted its production focus.

Social Mobility

Movement between classes is not a common occurrence. With only a small portion of the population living below the poverty line, the opportunities for upward mobility are limited by their financial means. Education is one way of improving ones social status, but again this is not always easy, for example among education and health care professionals.

Criminal Activity

When compared to other European countries, the criminal threat in Arnland does not appear to be significantly different. The patterns observed in crimes reported indicate a significant percentage of incidents occurred on public transportation or in locations frequented by large numbers of foreign tourists. These incidents tended to be non‐violent as street criminals in Arnland are not prone to violence. In 2017, the majority of reported criminal activity consisted of petty theft (pick‐pocketing, purse snatching) or fraud. Incidents of hate crimes directed against non‐Arnland ethnic and religious minorities continued to decrease, but remain a concern. Violent crimes directed against foreigners are relatively uncommon.

In the past, harassment, extortion, protection rackets, and intimidation with ties to organized crime were widespread and had been usually reported against foreign investors or business interests in Arnland. In some cases, it appeared that individuals with local commercial interests, who may have had links to organized crime groups, were behind these incidents. Nowadays, the Arnish criminal scene is characterized by diversified criminal plans that, in their complexity, show one of the highest criminal capacities in the world. In fact, they co‐exist in mutual assistance. The four levels of organized crime found are

• Terrorist organizations has been described variously as both a tactic and strategy; a crime and a holy duty; a justified reaction to oppression and an inexcusable abomination. Obviously, a lot depends on whose point of view is being represented. Terrorism has often been an effective tactic for the weaker side in a conflict. As an asymmetric form of conflict, it confers coercive power with many of the advantages of military force at a fraction of the cost. Due to the secretive nature and small size of terrorist organizations, they often offer opponents no clear organization to defend against or to deter.

• Mafia-type organizations are characterized by a rooted control of the territory, by systematic collusive practices and by qualified external projections, through which they assure the development of transnational illicit activities. The mafia-type organizations are based on clan structure, families and are essentially indigenous although their district opportunistic vocation renders then open to interactions with other organizations, to the formation of functional cartels and to network logistics, thus developing a marked service attitude.

• Criminal gangs are extremely fluid and mobile on the territory, gifted with high versatility and often given to activities of service with respect to the interests of the mafia associations. These gangs are versatile, essentially predatory, and ready to move on the national territory or abroad with precise operative and collusive connections. They often adopt hypertrophic criminal attitudes, i.e., excessively violent with regard to the targets they intend to pursue.

• Criminal aggregations have transient structures and are only tied by temporary and occasional opportunities to commit illegal acts. They work on the territory, both specializing in basic criminal activities, (ferrymen, forgers, motorboat drivers and more) and adapting rapidly to other unknown activities.

The closest examples of a mafia-type organization in Arnland are the county governors. Various governors have long been suspected either as members themselves or being closely linked to OC. Criminal gangs are the most visible OC group to the public, often involved in violent coercive behavior and territorial gang fights and are often confused with the terrorist groups Novus Ordo Mundi or APF because of the nature of some of their activities. There are two, known and active, terrorist organization in Arnland – Novus Ordo Mundi (NOM) and Arnish Popular Front (APF). With the diminishing role of the NOM, the APF has retained much of the NOM’s Marxist ideology but is far more radical and violent in approach and has already demonstrated its intent with attacks targeting EU and NATO interests and people in Arnland, Denmark, Germany, and Poland.

At the lowest level of the organized crime network are the criminal aggregations. Business owners, particularly foreign ones, are the most likely to interact at this level threaten with harassing or coercive measures as the most common method.

Although the police in Arnland are not completely innocent, they don’t routinely pester foreigners for documents or bribes. Prostitution is legal and although procurement is not, it is rarely the subject of investigation. It is often discreet and common in hotel lobbies and bars.

Transnational Crime

Most transnational crime is smuggling and human trafficking. This is most often committed by organized crime groups or their low-level associates. Smuggling is a lucrative crime in Arnland. Criminals use sea, land, and air routes for opportunistic smuggling. The latest technique being observed is the use of unmanned drones to survive border crossing sites and actually transport small amounts of illegal products. Smuggling in Arnland includes beer, cigarettes, drugs, and humans. For more in-depth detail see the Transnational Crime page.

Blood sport. A Torrikan criminal organization founded by immigrants from the Middle East and West Africa has spread into Arnland. Blood sport has members from Torrike, Poland, Arnland, Framland, and Belarus. They are aligned with the Donya Syndicate from Kujenga, Africa. Loosely organized, Blood sport tends to be local leaders using teams of younger teens for pickpockets, surveillance and early warning, courier work, and burglary. Suspected leaders operate at the transnational level coordinating smuggling operations and transferring funds. In Arnland this includes smuggling and human trafficking along the Kattegat coast on the west.

Uber Cyber “Tree”, also known as “SPRUC_3”, “Spruce 3”, “3ntity”, and “Entity”. This is a decentralized Anonymous network of “Black Hat” hackers which is anti-NATO in political position. Spruce-3 is linked to numerous hackers throughout Europe.

Its criminal activity includes infiltration and exploitation of banking vulnerabilities and “Dark Net” operations including illegal cryptocurrency mining and use of “dark wallets”. The financing network and channeling of funds hasn’t yet been identified. Spruce 3 successfully mounted a complex center of operations in the Onion Tor network (Deep Web), using encrypted access to establish a secure communication network on the “Dark Net”.

Ziepiekkalns Izturiba (ZI), AKA “Ziepiekkalns Resistance”. Ziepiekkalns is the name of the suburb of Riga, Latvia where the group formed in early 90s and are a transnational criminal organization involved in kidnapping, prostitution and human trafficking; weapons trafficking; drug trafficking; financial crimes ("Dark Net"/"Dark Wallet" operations, illegal cryptocurrency mining and money laundering); European smuggling; protection; extortion; fraud; counterfeiting; corruption of politicians, local law enforcement, and unions; loan sharking; illegal high-stakes gambling; cargo hijacking (sea and truck); and homicide.

Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs

Multiple local outlaw motorcycle gangs operate in Alsstad and Helsingborg. These are involved international smuggling via the seaports and airports. These gangs are homogeneous, meaning they are Arns, and not minorities. They are often are hired by county governors for smuggling, harassment, and intimidation. At least four of these gangs are affiliated with the US-based Furnace Motorcycle Club (MC) but have not “patched over,” meaning Furnace has no chapters in Arnland. The Furnace MC is a multi-racial club with multiple chapters in Torrike, Framland, Bothnia, and Otso. They have been targeted by the APF due to their American, and therefore NATO, connections. Law enforcement agencies are concerned this will lead to future violent confrontations. EUROPOL is especially concerned about the spread of outlaw motorcycle gangs into Europe from the US, Canada, and Australia. Since 2005, there has been steady growth in the membership of such gangs worldwide. In Europe, the number of clubs has more than doubled.

Basic Cultural Norms and Values

Gender Issues

Traditionally, men went out to work and women took care of the home. After Arnland’s independence, that arrangement changed rapidly. While old notions of gender segregation and male dominance prevail in some rural areas, Arnish women have been famous for their independence and many anthropological and historical works point out that their assumed past subordination was often overstated. Currently, women participate in every aspect of political, economic, and social life. Women are equal under the law and attend universities and work in the labor force in numbers commensurate with their share of the population.

Some speculate a sign of the female independence is Arnland’s low population growth. The newer generations of Arnish women are more educated than before. As a result, more and more are being found in the labor force. It is true, however, that women continue to perform many of the same domestic tasks they did in the past while assuming new responsibilities.

In Arnish culture, men are given preferential status and treatment. Women are assigned the position of the “soul” of the family, while men are the “head.” Men are to support and defend the family while women raise the children and keep themselves chaste so as not to disgrace the family. How much of the ideal was ever found in the real world is problematic. Currently, like their neighbors in Torrike, Arnish women are often considered one of the most liberated in the region. However, this view is not well received by Arnish men, who would like to preserve the traditional and “old fashioned” status and are trying to achieve that by all means, including domestic violence. It is more common in rural areas, where geographic and social isolation, poor law enforcement response times, concerns about confidentiality in small communities and limited service options entrap woman in violent relationships.