Hemvärnost

Hemvärnost (Denieguan: Хемвäрност, "Allegiance to the Home") is a Socio-cultural phenomenon originating in (And mostly within) Dniegua. The concept of Hemvärnost introduces and mandates the idea that the home is the most important thing to the person. Hemvärnost does not clearly define "home", but the most commonly translated term is the Dnieguan term "Ronlund (Ронлунд)", which most closely means Homeland. It is, therefore, considered to be both the individuals House, the individuals community, and the individuals country. In this respect, then, Hemvärnost can be seen as a creed by which the individual is to live, where they may place the safety, security and well-being of their home (family), their community and their state above all else.

Hemvärnost culture is deeply seeded in Dnieguan culture, and has been for many years. Believed to have been an early construct of a legal system in the 13th and 14th Century, the term evolved to represent the culture of the Dnieguan people as a whole. Dnieguans are typically seen, portrayed and believed to be hearty southern people of strong body and mind with a proud and noble martial history. In most aspects of life, Dnieguan culture adopts these as truth and closely intertwines itself with these traditions. Dnieguan males are expected to be hearty, strong individuals of exceptional martial prowess. In this way, males are encouraged to join the military to learn to defend the homeland. Women, too, have expectations. Intelligent and independent, they are expected to be strong caregivers with a desire to succeeded in life.

Hemvärnost culture dictates a Dnieguans allegiance should be to his fellow countryman. The idea that defending ones state, community and home from aggression, foreign and domestic, is deeply rooted in this, and represented well in society. The Dnieguan Homeguard is an excellent example of this, with over 250,000 military members and some 4,200,000 reserve Militia, Volunteers, and other civilian members. Too, Dnieguan Gun culture widely represents this, with the permeation of firearms throughout society. The shashka , the traditional Dnieguan Swords, is a common symbol in day to day life, and is even seen as a right of passage; Dnieguan Males are often awarded a shashka upon their graduation from Secondary School. Many traditional weddings or other formal ceremonies where individuals are dressed formally will see individuals wearing a familial shashka at the hip, or military uniforms: a proud statement of warrior culture.

The same cultural phenomenon is often what causes many to view Dnieguans as being xenophobic.

Politically, the concept has earned Dniegua a "First-to-fight" reputation, with foreign deployments numerous and plentiful. However, these are not necessarily violent; The Dnieguan Navy currently operates two hospital ships, which have been on a "global wellness tour" since 2008, visiting impoverished, disaster-struck and devastated areas of the world, setting up medical aid, preforming free medical care and treatment to thousands. However, thoughout the 20th century, Dniegua was often involved in unpopular ind bloody conflicts, and unwilling to cooperate with many states it perceived as threatening its way of life. While this has mostly subsided in the modern age, many feel Dniegua is still very quick to anger.

Relation with the Military

The military as an entity in Dnieguan culture has existed for centuries, well predating Dniegua itself. In the 7th century, significant strife in the areas now belonging to Dniegua, Temuair, and Gratislavia created a number of marshal tribes; among these emerged those which later become the chief ethnic groups that today make up Dniegua. These tribes practiced a principal called Aarskomst, "Military First". This principal taught society that the most important thing was security of the home, and this could only be achieved by marshal prowess and ability. Males were taught from a young age proper soldiering, and served long terms of conscription, often from which there was little chance of leaving. This created a very culturally militant people.

Since the re-establishing and popularization of Hemvärnost in the 19th century Dniegua, the culture shifts to a military-first like state have been deeply explored and managed. The majority of Dnieguan males serve in a military or paramilitary role in their lifetime, and today Dniegua maintains the highest level of militant forces, at over 5% of all citizens, in the world. This has created a "unlimited" supply of military personnel, wherein the Dnieguan people are expected wholly to fight for their country in times of war. While the normal time in service is a mere 6 months active and 18 months reserve for the Armed Forces, Hemvärnost has caused a number of laws and acceptation that may allow for near-unlimited conscription in a time of "war", retaining troops as long as needed. This is not without opposition however.

The 20th and 21st Century have seen no sign of slowing. With expanding military budgets, spending and increased mobilization of rapid reaction forces, as well as glorification of the Military in much of global culture, it is believed that the policies and cultural impacts of Hemvärnost will only deepen in Dnieguan culture.

Traditional Familial and Gender roles

The impacts of Hemvärnost on traditional roles within the family is relatively unknown. Though the traditional familial unit seems to at least draw some influence from existing cultural teaching and practices, very little information on familial roles exists in traditionally written teachings or sources of influence. The majority of familial roles placed in common sources of Hemvärnost culture come from post 1900, with some earlier sources first appearing in the 1880s. The majority of these teaching mirror rather closely the traditionally accepted roles of Mother and Father in a traditional household: The father exists as the breadwinner, while the mother is a homekeeper. However, Women have traditionally been encouraged to find work, and be sufficiently skilled to act as a breadwinner or trade master to her children in the event of the fathers absence; this likely draws from the high probability of the fathers death in combat or of illness resulting therefrom in earlier ages, which had been translated to modern belief structure.

Women have traditionally been encouraged to study a trade skill or enter the medical field as midwives, nurses or similar positions involved with patient care. Academia has rarely been discouraged for women since the 1800s; however, suffrage was only given to woman who had advanced to the collegiate level of education in the 1864, and extended to all in 1906.

In Politics

The domestic politics of Skandera have long been effected by Hemvärnost; early models lay out local political framework and teach allegiance to higher ranking members of political classes, clergymen, and nobility.

In Academia

Academia is mostly effected by Hemvärnost, morseo than it has an effect upon it. While Hemvärnost places high value in education, the collegiate system, and indeed the education system in Dniegua, is heavily influenced by the notion of national pride. Teaching children the importance of civil obedience, assistance and cooperation, duty to the state and allegiance to themselves and there family above all else was extremely common until the end of the 20th Century. Today much of it still remains to a degree, but is significantly decreased.

Soldiers completing a conscription term are entitled to discounted collegiate period, or a two-year degree free of charge. Those discarded from a four year volunteer term are entitled to free education up to and including a Masters degree. Soldiers skills are frequently recognized as collegiate credit hours if applicable, and are permitted to transfer them as needed.

Individuals graduating with a PhD are awarded a ceremonial shashka as recognition. These are normally silver in nature, the Dnieguan color representing academic achievement and intelligence, with colored accents relating to there field. Young Medical Doctors are known as "Svaitelmekas", or "Within the Blade", referring to there ceremonial blades and recent discharge from medical school.

Hemvärnost is often attributed to the low amount of female graduate in higher-position "white collar" areas of Academia. Females are typically encouraged to go to school to achieve modern careers, but are, to the same degree, pressured to marry and begin building a family soon after leaving academia.