Comments on: Alternative Borders II: Oceania

By: Chirol

Chirol — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 13:19:20 +0000

Sonagi: I’ve got a number of other regions on my list for htis series, including N. America. I just can’t promise you when I’ll get around to it =) As you perhaps have noticed by my light posting, I’ve been pretty busy the last month or so. So yes I’ve already planned it, but can’t promise when you’ll see it!

By: Sonagi

Sonagi — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 13:10:04 +0000

I wasn’t kidding, guys. It would be interesting to see the result of your creative cartography skills applied to ethnically diverse and complex North America.

By: Sonagi

Sonagi — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 00:35:34 +0000

Is an alternative borders map for North America in the works anytime soon?

By: Hunter

Hunter — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 21:07:22 +0000

whoops, very true. apologies

By: Chirol

Chirol — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 10:48:33 +0000

Curzon: The post is entitled alternative borders, not major changes. Of course the difference in this aren’t as radical as say those in Central Asia. But that doesn’t make them less important or interesting.

As to Indonesia, of course it’s a dysfunctional state and theoretically, every island could split off and become its own country too. That would be a second alternative though it seems unlikely most of them could manage on their own, but perhaps I’m wrong. I’m no expert on Indonesian affairs.

As for borders within the islands, those too (such as Eastern Malaysia) are the result of colonial borders however from what I understand, they don’t cause anywhere near the trouble that the ones I mention do.

Hunter: Because I highly doubt they have the ability to become a stable state. More likely they’d remain mired in poverty and become an outright terrorist haven which would simply force outsiders like Australia, the US, Philippines etc to come right back in.

By: Curzon

Curzon — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 02:41:10 +0000

Are you referring to the author of the post? That would be Chirol.

By: Hunter

Hunter — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 21:05:25 +0000

i’m curious why you’d consider a revived, independent “sultanate of sulu” the “worst case,” curzon

By: Curzon

Curzon — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 19:03:05 +0000

Greater Indonesia? Please. Indonesia can barely keep itself together as it is, with civil wars recently raging in Aceh and Timor. If anything, proper borders would eliminate the borders within islands, such as in eastern Malaysia and New Guinea, and make each island its own state.

And when it comes down to it, there really aren’t many differences between this map and the current map…

By: Eddie

Eddie — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 18:34:48 +0000

Recalling the main justification for the Bali bombings (Aussie support for East Timor’s independence), it would seem Islamic guerrillas and terror groups intend to reconquer East Timor if they ever got the chance. A nationalistic Indonesian government might pursue the same goal, especially if Australia’s attempts to close the Gap in the South Pacific / SE Asia fail over the next decade or so.

By: Dan tdaxp

Dan tdaxp — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 17:55:38 +0000

Abandoning islamic portions of the New Core to the Afro-Islamic Gap to shield us from bad connectivity… Interesting

By: Catholicgauze

Catholicgauze — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 17:29:18 +0000

Why does your Caliphate of Indonesia also include East Timor? Also, the Filipino Muslims have a separate culture and language from the Indonesians.

By: sun bin

sun bin — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 16:34:32 +0000

Another point: if you believe in your map, would you also believe Kosovo be integrated into Albania, and Macedonia into Greece? :)

By: sun bin

sun bin — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 16:33:17 +0000

I would say Blakanization/fragmentation more likely.

There has been a lot of discontent in East Malaysia (Sabah, Sarawak), that KL robbed them of their oil. In addition, the indigeneous people in Kalimantan are neither Malay nor Muslim. (most of the Malays there are immigrants after independence)

In the other islanders has similar relation with Java “chauvinism”.

So my prediction will be:
1. independence of Sabah, Sarawak,
2. independence of Indonesian Islands
3. secession of Southern Philippines, and southern Thailand.

but (1) is the most likely.