We at Coming Anarchy are enchanted by small or unrecognized polities in the process of becoming full-fledged countries. Recently Micronations — The Lonely Planet Guide to Home-Made Nations was released to give adventure-travellers an alternative the run-of-the-mill UN-recognized states.
Here are countries where the national anthem is the sound of a rock being dropped into water, where the currency is pegged to the value of Pillsbury’s cookie dough; where the citizens vote in a poodle as president and where if you’re lucky, the king will put on a pot of tea when you stop by.
Some of the micronations covered include the Principality of Hutt River which is ruled over by self-proclaimed Prince Leonard and has its own currency. There are even independent outhouses in this book! For some unknown reason, Australia seems to have a disproportionate amount of microstates.
If you are looking for more information, or would like to start your own micronation, head on over to Micronations.net. To get a taste of the lifestyle, read one man’s account of his newfound micronationalism.
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ComingAnarchy.com » Blog Archive » A Sealand Travelogue! added these pithy words on Dec 07 06 at 9:52 am[...] While reading an article found through Younghusband’s last post on micronations, I came across a travelogue by someone in the UK who’d travelled to Sealand to repair fire damage. Not only did he go there, he filled out a visa application, had his pasport stamped and everything. There are dozens of pictures and lots more information about the tiny disputed country. On top of that, he’s made 3 trips there! [...]
ComingAnarchy.com » Blog Archive » Home is where the hook is added these pithy words on Jan 13 07 at 11:51 am[...] Sent to us by Sean and picked up by John is the attempt by torrent site The Pirate Bay to buy Sealand (the micronation which we have talked about before). Apparently you can become a citizen if you donate money. I wonder if they recognize dual citizenship? I could use an extra passport. What say you? [...]
ComingAnarchy.com » Blog Archive » Micronations caught on film added these pithy words on Dec 27 07 at 11:13 am[...] there was the guidebook and then the travelogue – now you can get a better look at some of these micronations through [...]
Catholicgauze added these pithy words on 07 Dec 06 at 4:10 amPerhaps Australia’s disproportionate amount of microstates is due to its culture. Many observers have noted that Australia has many similarities to America (especially the “Midwest”). Both countries were founded by people on the outer fringe of British culture. Even after Australia’s prison days were over many came to Australia to live a more individualistic life. The microstate could be an out branch of this phenomenon.
Kurt added these pithy words on 08 Dec 06 at 12:51 amBeing a libertarian myself, I am familiar with these microstate concepts, particularly the libertarian ones. They are rather flaky. The most recent one was Eric Klien’s Oceana project from the early 90’s. Eric had made quite a lot of money in the stock market during the 80’s and, being the libertarian that he is, thought it would be cool to start one of these ideas.
So, he dusted off a plan for an ocean city-state idea that Pilkington Glass came up with in the 60’s and hired an architect to make a new design based on the Pilkington design. Needless to say, without any revenue stream, he ran out of money and that was that.
Now, because he is freaked out about Drexlerian “grey goo” nanotechnology, he has started the “lifeboat” project, which aims to build space colonies in orbit. Of course, there is no money to do this, so its just an “online” idea.
I think you all get the idea here.
Phil (Pacific Empire) added these pithy words on 08 Dec 06 at 6:32 amI think the situation in Australia is that the microstates became a fad, or a self-perpetuating phenomenon, although culture probably plays a part as well. Apparently the electricity delivered to one of the “principalities” was classed as an international export? Haven’t heard of anything like that in New Zealand, although the joke “Republic of Whangamomona” has its own presidential elections, and issues passports, every year (thats more of an excuse for a piss-up).
Libertarian microstates are also fascinating although most of the attempts have been abject failures. One of them was on the previously-unclaimed sunken atoll Minerva Reef, between Tonga and NZ, in the 1970s. Tonga immediately claimed the area and invaded in full force (ie a couple of dozen armed men, and some convicts, in one patrol boat). Fiji claimed the area later, it is still disputed. Apparently the libertarian millionaire responsible later tried to set up another microstate in Vanuatu, during the lead-up to full independence.
I think there have been more recent attempts in Somaliland and on a cargo ship in the Philippines, as well as the one Kurt mentions.
