Fed up with politics, government meddling and corrupt society? Are taxes overwhelming you? If you've ever thought that if people followed your ideas, things would be much better, we have good news: you can ground your own micronation! It's not easy, but it's not impossible, and here you can read how. We will also show some successes, some failures and the true future of creating nations. Keep reading!
Steps
Step 1. Find out about your country
It would make sense to learn something about your nation before going on to found another one.
Step 2. Make a plan
Write the name of your new nation, its capital, its provinces and its language. Think carefully. If possible, make a flag, national anthem and symbols.
Step 3. Create the rules
As Bob Dylan said, "To live outside the law, you have to be honest." The same thought applies to the formation of a micronation: to create your own rules you must follow established rules and conventions. Much of the foundation for nation building is taken from the 1933 "Convention on the Rights and Duties of States", also known as the Montevideo Convention. These are the basic rules, formalized by the first article of the Convention:
The state, as an international entity, should possess the following qualifications:
- A permanent population
- A defined territory
- A government
- The ability to create relationships with other states
- The first ten articles explain that the existence of a state is independent of recognition by other states, and that a state is free to act on its own, as long as it does not intervene in the affairs of another state.
- Note that these are not really laws. You are free to declare yourself a nation anywhere and anytime. But no one will take you seriously and, as a result, your nation will have no legitimacy.
Step 4. Find a territory for your micronation
This is the hard part. With one exception, all land masses have been claimed by a nation. What is the exception? Antarctica. In this case, even if you were willing to deal with the climate and the problem of attracting a population, Antarctica is run by the most powerful nations in the world and they are unlikely to let you plant a flag and say "Mine!". However, there are possible solutions to this lack of soil to be claimed:
- Conquer an existing nation. There are a few small island nations that dot the Pacific, and they are unlikely to have a large military defense. Sure, that's a crazy idea - but crazy enough to work! You will need an army, a navy, and the support of the world community - which usually protects these small nations from invaders. This tactic has been attempted in the Comoros, Vanuatu and the Maldives, but has never been successful.
- Buy an existing country. If you are rich enough, you can buy an island, although the host nation is unlikely to hand over sovereignty to you. A corrupt or troubled nation might be convinced, but even then it is difficult: a group of liberals tried to buy Tortuga from Haiti in a time of crisis, but they were rejected. There are things that cannot be bought.
- Find a flaw in the system. The Republic of Indian Stream, for example, was founded on lands between the United States and Canada that were not precisely defined by the 1783 Treaty of Paris. It survived from 1832 to 1835, when it was annexed to the United States..
- Find regions that are unproductive for their government. Local authorities may be of no use in maintaining possession of a disputed territory that consumes only precious resources, economically and politically unproductive.
- At this point, you may think there's no hope, but we've left the best solution for last. Due to the shortage of land and the constant need for new spaces for humans, creative (and very wealthy) people have begun to claim the sea.
Step 5. Build an island
The ocean, they say, is the last great frontier. International waters are not claimed by any nation, and this has inspired original interest and endeavors.
- The Principality of Sealand. Sealand, initially created as a military base in the North Sea off the English coast during World War II, is a football field-sized structure that housed troops and weapons to strike against German invaders. After the war it was abandoned until 1966, when an independent DJ named Roy Bates - tired of fighting with the British government over his pirate radio stations - moved his operations to the island. The stations never returned to air, but he declared the floating fortress the Principality of Sealand. He raised a flag, declared himself Prince, and his wife Joan Princess. Sealand resisted lawsuits, and remains an independent nation to this day.
- Palm Island Group. While not a nation, the Palm Island Group off the coast of Dubai is indicative of the most promising direction for anyone looking to found a nation. 3 palm-shaped artificial islands extend into the Persian Gulf and provide a wonderful place for millionaires and billionaires from all over the world.
- The Seasteading Institute. Founded by the grandson of Milton Friedman and Peter Thiel, founder of Paypal; this pseudo utopian and liberal nation believes in the free market of government - an enterprise for democracy. Their hope is that experimental and innovative governments can generate new ideas of governance that will change the world. They are promoting the goal of building marine platforms with lax construction requirements, no minimum wages, and a limited restriction on firearms. Those who propose this idea see it as the next generation of free enterprise. Critics suggest that lax construction regulations, low-income workers and many guns in a nation led by pseudo John Galt are the recipe for disaster. While the Seasteading Institute's policies may not be right for you, it's reasonable to believe that the ocean really is the new frontier.
- The Republic of Minerva. A millionaire activist has piled sand on a reef in the Pacific Ocean south of Fiji and created an artificial island to found the Republic of Minerva. If you're not rich enough to create a territory, invent it - some of the less serious micronations claim lands on imaginary continents or planets.
- In addition to the traditional nations on earth, there is a free, unregulated and unexplored territory, virtually infinite - because it only exists virtually. You can call it the cloud, the network, or borrow a William Gibson definition and call it cyberspace, but people are spending more and more time making interactive emotional connections with their friends and colleagues on the internet. Virtual worlds like Second Life and Blue Mars create three-dimensional habitats, have their own currency, and their own constitution (the "Terms and Conditions of Use"). Flatter worlds like Facebook (social networks) encourage groups of people around the world to work together for the common good. Like the ocean, virtual territories will have an ever-increasing impact, and could be populated by independent nations over the next 100 years.
Step 6. Invite your friends
One of the fundamental elements for a nation - in addition to the territory - is the population. If the land you have conquered or built is not populated by indigenous people, you will have to bring a population yourself. Invite your friends and family to take part in this adventure with you, and you will have a small but loyal population.
- Nowadays, if you have a real interest, you will need to create a site. Use it to find like-minded people and give them a good reason to populate your new republic. You can offer work, money or the freedom to have many wives, or simply the opportunity to take part in the birth of a nation.
- You will have to decide what to ask your citizens. Will they have to pass a citizenship test or follow certain laws? What kind of identification will they need - a passport? Driver's license? A subcutaneous chip?
Step 7. Establish a government and a constitution
The success or failure of your adventure will be determined, in large part, by your government. Consider the success of the United States, which is based on a clear and defined constitution, but open to interpretation and growth. Without it, they could have become dozens of small disorganized nations and not a single, compact entity. Your government, and your constitution, should be guided by the principles on which you want to found your nation. Here are some examples of micronations, and the principles that distinguish them:
- Nova Roma, dedicated "to the recovery of the religion, culture and virtue of ancient Rome".
- The American Empire, based on a strong sense of humor and a love of science fiction, fantasy and games.
- Simulated politics or political movements. These micronations have strong, often controversial, political views. In the past, some of them have managed to attract media and political attention, but only in rare cases. Despite their little notoriety, they are some of the most common types of micronations.
- Cultural missions. These micronations, similar to historical designs, exist to promote a particular culture or tradition. There are many German micronations, such as Domanglia which attempt to recreate the culture and traditions of the Germanic Empire. Many of these include nationalistic and patriotic projects.
- Secessionist entities. By far the most serious form of micronations, secession entities are often even older than the other forms. Famous secession micronations include Sealand, Hutt River Province, and Freetown Christinia.
Step 8. Establish a legal system
Every good country has a system that determines how laws are enacted. Here are some examples of systems used in existing countries:
- Vote. This process requires citizens to make decisions regarding the management of the government and the election of officials. It is used in Switzerland.
- Authentic democracy. It is the people themselves who vote on everything. This process is much more complicated in larger countries, but it could be effective for your micronation.
Step 9. Declare your independence
Now that you have a territory, a population and a government with a constitution, it's time to declare your presence. One of these three things will happen, depending on what you have in store for the world.
- A collective yawn. The world could take a look at your Declaration of Independence and come back soon after to see a rerun of Star Trek.
- Welcome to the community of nations, an invitation to sit in the United Nations, and a request for embassies and ambassadors.
- An armed invasion. If your nation invades borders, breaks treaties, human rights, or other legal protocols, you may receive a visit from a police officer who informs you that your "Independent Nation of street number 43 bis in via Cavour" is in a territory that does not recognize your sovereignty and if you do not remove the flag from the roof he will be forced to fin you, or an invasion by the United Nations that will arrest you and tell you to get on the bulletproof Mercedes SUV that will take you to The Hague where you will be tried for crimes against humanity. Alternatively, your micronation could suffer the same fate as the Republic of Minerva: shortly after it was created by Michael Oliver, the island was invaded and annexed by Tonga (with the support of the international community).
Step 10. Create an economy
If you don't trade in dollars, euros or other currencies, you will need to create your own financial system. Do you want to found your nation on gold and economic security or on a whim and a prayer? Even though your word may be worth a lot to your friends, for public debt, you will need considerable economic stability. If you rely on an existing currency, you will still have to decide how to fund the government, and the best way to do this may be why you decided to create a nation: taxes. Through taxation, your government will be able to provide essential services, such as electricity, water supply, bureaucracy, and the military.
It is a fundamental obligation of every state (large or small) to be able to defend its citizens from enemies. Whether you decide to create a standing army, a national guard, a compulsory military service or other defensive solutions, you will need to consider this when writing your constitution
Step 11. Get recognized by the international community
If you can overcome all the problems listed in the previous steps, you can become a part of world politics. To do this, you will need to get the recognition of other nations. It will be necessary to become proficient in politics, diplomacy and know international law well. If these aren't your best skills, the wisest solution may be to recruit a group of experienced politicians to do it.
- This is perhaps the most difficult step of all. Some nations, such as Palestine, Taiwan and Northern Cyprus, have all the necessary requirements, but even today they are not recognized by many countries. There are no rules in this case - each nation has its own standards for deciding whether to recognize a state. Aspects that can influence the decision are the orientation towards Al Qaeda, communism and capitalism. They might consider your approach to human rights, or natural resources. In the United States, the decision to recognize a state is made by the President. Your request will be in the hands of whoever occupies the White House at that time and their political views may change a lot every four years.
- Additionally, membership in the United Nations requires none of the five powers the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Russia, and France to veto your membership. In other words, you will need to have a neutral stance on controversial issues like Palestine, Taiwan, Crimea, etc.
- If you live near or in Europe, try joining the European Union as well. This will ensure that your voice is heard in world politics.
Step 12. Manage your brand
Each nation needs a flag. This is the symbol of a nation par excellence, but there are other symbols that will help you create a national identity:
- The coin. What your coin will look like. Will it have your profile depicted on a gold coin and a 3d hologram on the banknotes or will you use a symbolic image like Lady Liberty or Charlton Heston? Will you use modern coins or will you try to recall the handmade coins of the past?
- State seal. You can create a fake Latin phrase such as "E Succubus Opes" or another catchphrase, and add images, such as a shield, to suggest that you are descended from a noble family - or you can clearly state your mission and have a logo from a graphic. A beautiful logo can be more valuable than the crown jewels!
- Official correspondence. With all the letters you write to the President of the Republic, the United Nations, the Prime Minister and other state offices, you must have a beautiful header on a high quality paper, with your seal.
- National anthem. You will need a hymn to play at major events.
Step 13. Determine what the official language will be
Each country must necessarily have a spoken language. To solve this problem, you could:
- Use an existing language (such as English or Italian). You could also use an ancient language such as Aramaic, just to give an example.
- Create the dialect of an existing language (Canadian English, American English, Calabrian, Milanese, Sicilian, and so on)
- Invent your language. If you opt for this solution, you will have to make sure that the citizens of your country understand it (in other words, you will have to teach it to all the inhabitants as well).
- You can combine languages to create a new one. Believe it or not, many of the terms in English are derived from Latin and other Germanic languages.
Step 14. Create a Microwiki article
This platform allows you to create an article on a site like Wikipedia. Go to micronations.wikiMain_Page and take a look at the guidelines. Then you could then write an article related to your micronation and have the opportunity to interact with other micronations. [Image: Screenshot-2020-07-23-at-13.28.39-p.webp
Check out the guide page for the country. It provides all the information on how your article should be structured
Step 15. Get busy
The world isn't getting bigger and governments aren't getting smaller, so the sooner you work to claim your independence, the sooner you can declare yourself Prince, King, Emperor, Ayatollah, Supreme Commander, or President for Life of your state!
Advice
- Micronationalism is a hobby that people of many different backgrounds are passionate about. Respect is the way to peace. Intolerance is the way to war.
- If your goal is to create a functional and independent nation, you will need infrastructure (roads, schools, buildings, hospitals, fire stations, etc.)
- Study existing and stable micronations. What made them successful (or what made them fail)? What can you learn from them?
- Be part of a community. There are many different micronationalist communities around the world.
- Become part of an organization. There are many organizations for micronations and for people trying to found their own nation. They could be a general organization similar to the UN, such as the Organization of Active Micronations (OAM) or the League of Secessionist States (LoSS), or they could have more specific objectives, such as the Micronational Cartography Society (MCS). It can be a great opportunity to meet other micronationalists who can help you in many ways. You could even found the United Micronations Organization!
