The Democratic Republic of Ardok is a huge, socially progressive nation, ruled by Anthony Lecter with a fair hand, and remarkable for its national health service, hatred of cheese, and absence of drug laws. The hard-working, democratic population of 755 million Ardokians hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The large, corrupt, liberal, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Defense, Industry, and Welfare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Suhl. The average income tax rate is 77.6%.

The frighteningly efficient Ardokian economy, worth 83.2 trillion Ardokian leks a year, is quite specialized and led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Tourism, Arms Manufacturing, and Retail. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is an impressive 110,212 Ardokian leks, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 3.6 times as much as the poorest.

Diplomats in Ardok are furious at constant police surveillance, Anthony Lecter has just been declared ruler of Ardok in an international press conference, warfare increasingly resembles a video game, and fancy dress parties are raided by military police for new recruits. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Ardok's national animal is the Tiger, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Ardok is ranked 35,399^th in the world and 1,141^st in The North Pacific for Most Advanced Public Education, scoring 5,712.15 on the Edu-tellignce® Test Score.