Ap Euro Stock Market Game : National Profiles for Contemporary Europe (21St Century)

AP EURO STOCK MARKET GAME: NATIONAL PROFILES FOR CONTEMPORARY EUROPE (21ST CENTURY)

Country Interaction of Europe and Poverty and Prosperity Objective Knowledge and States and Other Individual and Society the World (INT) (PP) Subjective Visions (OS) Institutions of Power (SP) (IS) AUSTRIA Permanent neutrality is a Austria has a well-developed In Austria there is religious Austria is a federal republic. Austria faces major challenges cornerstone of foreign policy. The social market economy with a freedom. The larger part of the Alexander van der Bellen (Green in relation to population aging capital, Vienna, is home to key high standard of living. It is the Austrian population professes to Party) made headlines across and the employment of older international organizations, 19th richest country in terms of be of Roman Catholic faith (around Europe when he won the largely workers. The financial including the Organization for GDP per capita. Banking and three quarters). This group is ceremonial presidency in an sustainability of public pension Security and Cooperation in insurance predominate. A followed by persons without extremely tight run-off vote against and health care systems under Europe (OSCE), the International strong industrial sector depends religious faith, Protestants, Norbert Hofer, of the far-right the demographic pressure of Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on exports, with Germany a key Muslims and members of the Freedom Party, in May 2012. population aging in a major and OPEC, the Organization of market. An austerity package Christian Orthodox faith. However, the election will need to policy issue. Petroleum Exporting Countries. aims to balance the budget by be re-run after Mr Hofer Austria is a member of the EU. 2016. It’s currency is the euro successfully challenged the result. The government has passed a The potential election of Europe's controversial new asylum law lets first far-right leader since World the government declare a "state War II had drawn an unusual level of emergency" over the migrant of media attention to an election crisis and reject most asylum- dominated by the migration issue seekers, including those from and widespread disenchantment war-torn countries such as Syria. with the political establishment.

FRANCE France is a key European and France has the eurozone's Secularism is seen today as one of The government of France is a France's colonial past is a world player. It has a strong second-largest economy and is the cornerstones of the identity of republic. Francois Hollande is major contributing factor in the military. France is influential in a leading industrial power, but the French republic, it follows that France's first Socialist president presence of a diverse Africa, especially in former has struggled to emerge from the position of religion in public life since Francois Mitterrand in 1981- multicultural population. It is colonies. France is a key member recession since 2008. It’s is very limited. Though Catholicism 95. However, the Eurozone home to more than five million of the EU. currency is the euro. has remained the predominant financial crisis, the migrant crisis, people of Arab and African religion, the "secular" state and recent terrorist attacks have descent. However, difficulty recognizes the right of individuals given political legitimacy to the far- integrating its multicultural to practice whatever religion they right National Front over the past population, especially its wish. In today's France, significant two years. Muslim inhabitants, has raised Muslim and Jewish populations. In fears of increased addition, France has produced radicalization. France has some of the world’s most suffered through three major influential artists, writers, terror attacks the past two philosophers and chefs. years.

GERMANY Germany is a major player in Europe's largest economy, The majority of the population (65 Germany has a federal An ageing population has led European Union and a proponent Germany is a leading to 70%) profess to being Christian parliamentary republic. Angela to concern over the continued of European integration. Germany manufacturer and exporter. (evenly split b/t Catholics, Merkel of the conservative Christian viability of Germany's high has also been front and center in Vehicles, machines and Protestants, and Calvinist Democrats won a third term as welfare and health spending. the current EU migrant crisis chemicals are key sectors. Its evangelicals). Muslims make up chancellor in 2013. There is also a debate about having accepted over 1.8 million currency is the euro. 3.7 percent of the population while how to improve integration of migrant refugees in 2015. 28.3 percent are unaffiliated or the many post-war immigrants have a religion other than whose labor helped fuel the Christianity or Islam. Germany economic boom. also has significant musical, artistic, philosophical, and culinary traditions Country Interaction of Europe and Poverty and Prosperity Objective Knowledge and States and Other Individual and Society the World (INT) (PP) Subjective Visions (OS) Institutions of Power (SP) (IS) GREECE Tensions with Turkey remain over In 2010-11, amid fears of an The historical and cultural heritage Greece’s gov’t is a parliamentary High unemployment has led to Cyprus and maritime boundaries. imminent default and of the debt of Greece continues to resonate republic. Post-2008 debt crisis and social unrest, massive street It is involved in a naming dispute contagion spreading to other throughout the modern Western subsequent years of austerity protests, strikes and violence with Macedonia. Greece’s ports countries, Greece's fellow world - in its literature, art, undermine confidence in toward immigrants. Fringe have been a main point of entry eurozone countries agreed two mainstream parties and lead to parties have emerged on both philosophy and politics. The Greek for illegal migrants traveling bailouts totaling some 240bn 2015 election victory of left-wing the far right (ex. Golden Dawn) across the Mediterranean from euros. The price of multi-billion- Orthodox Church, a member of the anti-austerity bloc Syriza. and the far left (ex. Anarchists) trouble spots in Africa and the euro EU and IMF bailouts has Eastern Orthodox Communion, is that often battle in huge street Middle East. It is a member of the been tough austerity measures. accorded the status of "prevailing demonstrations. EU. Six straight years of recession religion" in Greece's constitution, beginning in 2008 reduced the and Greece is the only country in economy by about a quarter of the world where an Eastern its previous size and drove Orthodox Church is clearly unemployment to record levels. recognized as a state religion.

ITALY Italian forces have been active in Italy has the eurozone's third Italy is a Christian country, some Italy’s government is a parliamentary There is concern over Italy's peacekeeping in the Balkans, largest economy and a huge 88 per cent of the population republic. Matteo Renzi leads a left- birth rate - one of the lowest in Africa and Middle East, and are public debt - second only to belonging to the Roman Catholic right coalition government Europe - and the economic present in Afghanistan. Similar to Greece's. It’s currency is the church, although only around a implications of an ageing Greece, its ports have served as euro. third of these regard themselves population. a main point of entry for illegal as 'active' in religious terms. Take migrants travelling across the the art works of Botticelli, Mediterranean from trouble spots Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, in the Middle East and Africa. It is Tintoretto and Caravaggio, the a member of the EU. operas of Verdi and Puccini, the cinema of Federico Fellini, add the architecture of Venice, Florence and Rome and you have just a fraction of Italy's treasures from over the centuries.

NETHERLANDS The Netherlands plays a central The economy is primarily The Netherlands has produced The government of the Netherlands is It is one of the world's most role in the European Union and services-based but trade also many of the world's most famous a constitutional monarchy. A left-right densely populated nations. As Dutch forces have been active in plays a major role. Since the artists from Rembrandt and coalition government was formed in in many European countries, UN peacekeeping efforts. After a credit crisis of 2008 hit world Vermeer in the 17th century to Van November 2012, after months of over-65s make up an longstanding policy of neutrality markets, the Dutch economy Gogh in the 19th and Mondrian in deadlock over plans to cut the increasing percentage of that between Europe's great powers, has struggled to recover from the 20th. It attracts visitors from budget deficit. Since 2005, the population, leading to greater the bitter experience of invasion recession. The government has across the globe. The Netherlands right-wing anti-immigrant Freedom demands on the welfare and occupation during World War introduced rounds of budget has a long history of social Party founded by Geert Wilders has system. There was concern II led the Netherlands to become cuts and tax hikes to bring down tolerance and is generally made significant inroads in that Dutch society's a leading supporter of spending, and unemployment regarded as a liberal country, parliamentary elections. longstanding tradition of international cooperation. has remained high. Its currency having legalized abortion, tolerance was under threat is the euro. prostitution and euthanasia, while when homosexual anti- maintaining a progressive drugs immigration politician Pim policy. In 2001 it became the Fortuyn was assassinated in world's first country to legalize 2002. Anxiety over increased same-sex marriage. It is also one racial tension intensified further of the most secular nations in the after the murder in 2004 of world, with a third of its population Theo Van Gogh who had made identified as non-religious and one a film on the position of women in four Dutch identified as atheists. in Islamic society. A violent Christians made up 25% of the Islamic extremist later population. Muslims 5%. confessed and was jailed for life. After Mr. Van Gogh's killing, the government hardened its line on immigration and failed asylum seekers. Country Interaction of Europe and Poverty and Prosperity Objective Knowledge and States and Other Individual and Society the World (INT) (PP) Subjective Visions (OS) Institutions of Power (SP) (IS) POLAND A new era began when Poland The economy has boomed The presence in the Vatican of Poland has been a stable There was a massive became an EU member in May since EU accession in 2004, Polish Pope John-Paul II was an democracy since the end of movement of workers to 2004, five years after joining and Poland is one of the important influence on the communist rule. In the years western Europe in the years NATO and 15 years after the end region's top-performing Solidarity movement throughout between the end of communism after Poland joined the EU, but of communist rule. Warsaw's countries, although the 1980s. The Roman Catholic and EU accession, power in Poland the exodus slowed down after profile on the international stage unemployment remains high. church remains a very potent force switched between the center right the global economic crisis took was raised by its support for the There has been marked in Polish life. and the center left, but the 21st hold. US-led military campaigns in Iraq success in creating a market century has seen the rise of the and Afghanistan. More recently, it economy and attracting foreign more forthrightly conservative and has found itself close to the front investment. Germany is now Eurosceptic Law and Justice Party. line in Russia's military campaign Poland's biggest trading partner. against Ukraine after the fall of Poland still has a huge farming that country's pro-Moscow sector - agriculture accounts for government in 2014. about 60% of the country's total land area - but the sector remains hampered by inefficiency, structural problems and lack of investment. Its currency is the zloty.

RUSSIA In the 2000s Russia adopted a Russia is heavily dependent on While Russians make up more Though Russia’s government is Separatists and latterly armed more assertive foreign policy oil and gas exports. Officials than 80% of the population and supposed to be a semi-presidential Islamists have made the stance, and began to promote its have been hesitant to privatize Orthodox Christianity is the main federation with open elections, Caucasus region of Chechnya perceived interests in former energy assets. A long economic religion, there are many other economic strength has allowed a war zone for much of the Soviet states more openly, even boom based on high oil and gas ethnic and religious groups. Vladimir Putin - Russia's dominant post-Soviet era. Many at the cost of antagonizing the prices started to end in 2013, Muslims are concentrated among political figure since 2000 - to thousands have died since West. The resulting tensions first when Russia's economic the Volga Tatars and the Bashkirs enhance state control over political Moscow - fearful of its control became acute in August 2008, prospects began to worsen. and in the North Caucasus. institutions and the media - a of the wider North Caucasus - when a protracted row over two This was exacerbated by a process supplemented more sent in troops to put down a breakaway regions of Georgia sharp fall in world oil prices and recently by an emphasis on fierce separatist rebellion in escalated into a military conflict the imposition of Western nationalism and hostility to the Chechnya in 1994, and again between Russia and Georgia. sanctions over Ukraine the West. five years later. With a pro- The Ukrainian revolution of following year. Some observers Kremlin now firmly in charge in February 2014, which ousted say the root cause is that the Chechnya, Russian has since Russian ally President Viktor economy is still too dependent declared the insurgency Yanukovych and ushered in a on raw material exports, as well effectively finished, although Western-leaning leadership, as the Putin regime's reluctance sporadic violence continues. triggered an even more serious to embark on reform to Russia continues to have one crisis in East-West relations, encourage diversification for of the worst human rights especially after Russia responded fear of imperiling its control. Its records in the world, especially by annexing Crimea. As a result, currency is the ruble. in regards to treatment of the US, EU and other Western homosexuals and those who states imposed sanctions against oppose the Putin regime. businesses and individuals close to President Putin. Add to this Syria's increasing military support for the Assad government in Syria's civil war, and some begin to fear the start of a protracted stand-off between West and Russia - and even a new Cold War. Country Interaction of Europe and Poverty and Prosperity Objective Knowledge and States and Other Individual and Society the World (INT) (PP) Subjective Visions (OS) Institutions of Power (SP) (IS) SPAIN Spain consists of most of the Spain was hit hard in the 2008-9 From Velazquez in the After the death of dictator Francisco One of Spain's most serious Iberian peninsula, plus the global economic crisis, and has seventeenth century, through Franco's in a democratic state with domestic issues has been Balearic Islands, the Canary undertaken painful austerity Goya straddling the eighteenth King Juan Carlos as head of state. tension in the northern Basque Islands and two North African measures. More than 27% of and nineteenth, to Picasso in the The constitution of 1978 enshrines region. A violent campaign by exclaves. Spanish forces have Spaniards were unemployed at twentieth, Spain has the proudest respect for linguistic and cultural the armed Basque separatist taken part in multilateral missions lowest point. The economy of traditions in art. Flamenco music diversity within a united Spain. The group ETA led to nearly 850 and peacekeeping, including in nonetheless began to turn and dance are widely admired country is divided into 17 regions deaths over four decades until, Afghanistan. Spain claims round by the end of 2013, and around the world while Cervantes' which all have their own directly after several stalled cease- sovereignty over the British the country saw stronger than novel Don Quixote is one of the elected authorities. Current PM fires, it disbanded in 2012. overseas territory of Gibraltar. It is expected growth the following most popular ever written. Cinema Mariano Rajoy from the Austerity measures imposed a member of the EU. year, with unemployment falling is much loved and the films of conservative Popular Party took by the government in an effort back to 24.5%. Its currency is directors such as Pedro office in late 2011. He faces to reduce the level of public the euro. Almodovar attract huge audiences. secessionist sentiment in Catalonia debt sparked a wave of Freedom of religion is guaranteed and electoral challenges from anti- protests and gave rise to the by the Spanish Constitution, austerity campaigners Podemos (We Can Do It) although the majority of the political movement. population is Catholic. SWEDEN Sweden joined the EU in 1995. Unemployment is low and the Sweden is relatively secular and Sweden’s government is a The country is a common Though a famously neutral economy strong. Public-private has a high population of atheists, parliamentary constitutional destination for refugees and country, a security doctrine has partnership is at the core of "the but it is far from an irreligious monarchy. A Social asylum seekers - immigrants allowed for the deployment of Swedish model", which was country. Religion still plays a ritual Democrat/Green minority coalition make up more than 10% of its Swedish forces overseas developed by the Social and cultural role, and with formed after inconclusive population. Democrats, who governed for immigration, the religious September 2014 elections most of the last 70 years until landscape becomes more diverse 2006.This mixed economy and complex. Sixty-four per cent of traditionally featured centralized the Swedish population are wage negotiations and a heavily members of the Church of Sweden tax-subsidized social security (Lutheran), but there exist growing network. The Swedes still enjoy Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim an advanced welfare system, populations as well. and their standard of living and life expectancy are almost second to none. Sweden was one of three EU countries not to join the single European currency. Swedish voters rejected it by a clear majority in September 2003. Its currency is the krona.

Country Interaction of Europe and Poverty and Prosperity Objective Knowledge and States and Other Individual and Society the World (INT) (PP) Subjective Visions (OS) Institutions of Power (SP) (IS) TURKEY EU accession negotiations have Turkey's largely free-market Today, although modern Turkey is Recep Tayyip Erdogan was sworn Kurds make up about a fifth of been tortuous, bedeviled by economy is increasingly driven a secular republic, Islam is the in as president in August 2014, the population. Kurdish disputes with Greece over by its industry and service religion of 98% of the population of cementing his position as Turkey's separatists who accuse the Cyprus. Former close ties with sectors, although its traditional Turkey. The main division in Islam most powerful leader. Turkish state of seeking to Israel have deteriorated, while agriculture sector still accounts is between Sunni and Shiite His victory in Turkey's first popular destroy their cultural identity liberal reformers throughout the for about 25% of employment. Muslims. presidential election capped 12 have been waging a guerrilla Arab region have looked to An aggressive privatization years as prime minister in which the war since the 1980s. Turkey's system of government program has reduced state economy tripled in dollar terms, Late 2015 and the first half of as a potential model. Turkey. involvement in basic industry, while fuelling fears of growing 2016 witnessed an uptick in Turkey has recently engaged in banking, transport, and authoritarianism. Turkey is a terrorist violence in Turkey's airstrikes in the south of the communication. An emerging parliamentary republic and the two largest cities and country to prevent Islamic State cadre of middle-class presidency largely ceremonial, so elsewhere. Several car bomb (ISIS) from gaining strongholds in entrepreneurs is adding Mr Erdogan is seeking changes to and gun attacks in Ankara in Turkish towns on its border with dynamism to the economy and the constitution to create an October 2015, and two attacks Syria. Turkey has also used ISIS expanding production beyond executive presidency. there in February and June encroachment as an excuse to the traditional textiles and His ambitions were checked when 2015 were followed by an bomb Kurdish strongholds in that clothing sectors. The his Islamist-rooted AK Party lost its attack on Istanbul's Ataturk part of the country as well. automotive, petrochemical, and parliamentary majority in June Airport. On 15 July 2016, electronics industries are rising 2015, before regaining it in snap elements of the Turkish Armed in importance and have elections in November, called after forces attempted a coup at key surpassed textiles within efforts to form a coalition failed. government and infrastructure Turkey's export mix. Its currency locations in Ankara and is the Turkish lira. Istanbul. Turkish Government authorities subsequently conducted mass arrests of military personnel, detained several thousand judges and journalists, and suspended thousands of educators in connection with the coup.

UNITED The UK is a key global player The UK was recovering steadily The UK has been a major force in The United Kingdom is a The UK is ethnically diverse, diplomatically and militarily. It from a slump that followed the global youth culture since the parliamentary constitutional partly as a legacy of empire. KINGDOM plays leading roles in the UN and 2008 global financial crisis with heyday of the Beatles and Rolling monarchy and Commonwealth Lately, the country has been (G.BRITAIN) NATO. Prime Minister David London's financial industry is a Stones in the 1960s.It has a rich realm. A center-right Conservative struggling with issues revolving Cameron, under pressure from significant part of the services- literary heritage encompassing the government took over from a around multiculturalism, the right of his Conservative based economy. However, works of English writers such as Conservative coalition with the immigration and national Party, scheduled a referendum on economists are in almost William Shakespeare and Charles Liberal Democrats in 2015. identity. Concerns about whether to remain in the complete agreement that Dickens, Scot Robert Burns, Scotland, Wales and Northern terrorism and Islamist European Union for July 2016, Britain’s economy will suffer Welshman Dylan Thomas, and Ireland have varying degrees of radicalism heightened after the which saw a vote to leave greatly from Brexit. Its currency Northern Irishman Seamus political autonomy. In the wake of suicide bomb attacks on (Brexit). Britain is expected to is the pound sterling. Heaney. According to the 2011 UK the referendum vote for Brexit in London's transport network in cease to be a member of the EU census, Christianity is the major July 2016, PM David Cameron 2005. There has also been a by 2019. religion, followed by Islam, resigned from the position. He was debate about immigration. Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism and replaced by Theresa May. Some advocate tough policies Buddhism in terms of number of on limiting immigration, others adherents. About 28% of the attempt to put the case for it as population claims to be a positive force. One of the “unaffiliated” – having no religion. more recent trends in migration has been the arrival of workers from the new EU member states in Eastern Europe in large numbers, and this played a major role in driving the campaign to leave the European Union in 2016.