Introduction

A micronation is an entity whose members claim to belong to an independent nation or sovereign state but lack legal recognition by world governments or major international organisations. Most are geographically very small but range from less than square meters to more than a million square kilometers. They are usually the outgrowth of a single individual.

 

A micronation expresses a formal and persistent, unrecognised claim of sovereignty over some physical territory. Micronations are distinct from actual secessionist movements; micronations' activities are almost always trivial enough to be ignored rather than challenged by the established nations whose territory they claim. Several micronations have issued coins, flags, postage stamps, passports, medals, and other state-related items, often as a source of revenue.

 

To describe those entities, the term "micronation" dates at least to the 1970s. The term micropatrology describes the study of micronations and microstates by micronationalists, some of whom refer to sovereign nation-states as "macronations."

 

Micronations contrast with microstates, small but recognised sovereign states such as Andorra, Bahrain, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Singapore, and Vatican City. They are also distinct from imaginary countries and other social groups (such as eco-villages, campuses, tribes, clans, sects, and residential community associations).

 

Definitions

Micronations generally have several standard features, although these may vary widely. They may have a structure similar to established sovereign states, including territorial claims, government institutions, official symbols, and citizens, albeit on a much smaller scale. Micronations may also issue formal instruments such as postage stamps, coins, banknotes, and passports and bestow honours and titles of nobility. Micronations are often relatively small in both their claimed territory and claimed populations—although there are some exceptions to this rule, with different micronations having different methods of citizenship.

 

The Montevideo Convention was one attempt to create a legal definition distinguishing between states and non-states, with states having "(a) a permanent population; (b) a defined territory; (c) government; and (d) capacity to enter into relations with the other states." Some micronations meet this definition, others do not, and others reject the convention. Some micronations like Sealand and Austenasia reject the term micronation and consider themselves sovereign states; while officially considering themselves, other micronations have no intention to be recognised as actual states.

 

Academics Harry Hobbs and George Williams define them as "self-declared nations that perform and mimic acts of sovereignty, and adopt many of the protocols of nations, but lack a foundation in domestic and international law for their existence and are not recognised as nations in domestic or international forums."

 

History

Early history and evolution

Martin Coles Harman purchased the British island of Lundy in 1925, declared himself King, and issued private coinage and postage stamps for local use. Although the island was ruled as a virtual fiefdom, its owner never claimed to be independent of the United Kingdom, so Lundy can, at best, be described as a precursor to later territorial micronations. Another example is the Kingdom of Elleore declared on August 27, 1944, when a group of schoolteachers purchased the Danish island, which still exists today. A third example is the Principality of Outer Baldonia, a 16-acre (65,000 m2) rocky island off the coast of Nova Scotia, founded by Russell Arundel, chairman of the Pepsi Cola Company (later: PepsiCo), in 1945 and comprising a population of 69 fishermen.

 

History from 1960 to 1980

The 1960s and 1970s witnessed the foundation of several territorial micronations. The first of these, Sealand, was established in 1967 on an abandoned World War II gun platform in the North Sea just off the East Anglian coast of England and still survives. Others were founded on libertarian principles and elaborate schemes to construct artificial islands, but only three have had limited success in realising that goal.

 

The Republic of Rose Island was a 400 m2 (4,300 sq ft) platform built in 1968 in Italian national waters in the Adriatic Sea, 7 miles (11 km) off the Italian town of Rimini. It is known to have issued stamps and to have declared Esperanto to be its official language. However, shortly after completion, the Italian Navy seized and destroyed it for failing to pay state taxes.

 

In the late 1960s, Leicester Hemingway, brother of author Ernest, was involved in another project—a small timber platform in international waters off the west coast of Jamaica. This territory, consisting of an 8-foot (2.4 m) by 30-foot (9.1 m) barge, he called "New Atlantis." Hemingway was an honorary citizen and President; however, the structure was damaged by storms and finally pillaged by Mexican fishermen. In 1973, Hemingway was reported to have moved on from New Atlantis to promoting a 1,000 sq yd (840 m2) platform near the Bahamas. The new country was called "Tierra del Mar" (Land of the Sea).

 

The Republic of Minerva was set up in 1972 as a libertarian new-country project by Nevada businessman Michael Oliver. Oliver's group conducted dredging operations at the Minerva Reefs, a shoal in the Pacific Ocean south of Fiji. They succeeded in creating a small artificial island. Still, their efforts at securing international recognition met with little success, and near-neighbor Tonga sent a military force to the area and annexed it.

 

On April 1, 1977, bibliophile Richard Booth declared the Welsh town of Hay-on-Wye an independent kingdom with himself as its monarch. The publicity may have assisted the town's tourism industry based on literary interests, and "King Richard" (whose sceptre was a recycled toilet plunger) awarded Hay-on-Wye peerages and honours to anyone prepared to pay for them.

 

Japanese micronations in the 1980s

In 1981, drawing on a news report about Leicester Hemingway's "New Atlantis," novelist Hisashi Inoue wrote a 700-page work of magic realism, Kirikirijin, about a village that secedes from Japan and proclaims its marginalised dialect, its national language, and its subsequent war of independence. This single-handedly inspired many Japanese towns, mainly in the northern regions, to "declare independence," generally to raise awareness of their unique culture and crafts for urban Japanese who saw village life as backward and uncultured. Throughout the 1980s, a "micronation boom" in Japan brought many urban tourists to these wayward villages. These micronations even held "international summits" from 1983 to 1985, and some of them formed confederations. But the harsh economic impact of the Japanese asset price bubble in 1991 ended the boom. Many villages were forced to merge with larger cities, and the micronations and confederations were generally dissolved.

 

Australian and New Zealand developments

In the final three decades of the 20th century, Micronational developments in New Zealand and Australia included:- The Principality of Hutt River, founded in 1970 when Leonard Casley declared his property independent after a dispute over wheat quotas. - In 1976, an eccentric British monarchist created the Province of Bumbunga on a rural property near Snowtown, South Australia.- The Sovereign State of Aeterna Lucina was created in a New South Wales north coast hamlet in 1978.- In Victoria, a long-running dispute over flood damage to farm properties led to the creation of the Independent State of Rainbow Creek in 1979.- John Charlton Rudge founded the Grand Duchy of Avram in western Tasmania in the 1980s; "His Grace, the Duke of Avram," was later elected to the Tasmanian Parliament. - The Independent State of Aramoana was established in New Zealand in 1980.- The Empire of Atlantium was established in Sydney in 1981 as a non-territorial global government.- The Republic of Whangamomona was established in 1989. - A mortgage foreclosure dispute led George and Stephanie Muirhead of Rockhampton, Queensland, to briefly and abortively secede as the Principality of Marlborough in 1993. Effects of the InternetMicronationalism shed much of its traditionally eccentric anti-establishment mantle and took on a distinct hobbyist perspective in the mid-1990s. The emerging popularity of the Internet made it possible to create and promote statelike entities in an entirely electronic medium with relative ease. An early example is the Kingdom of Talossa, a micronation created in 1979 by then-14-year-old Robert Ben Madison, which went online in November 1995 and was reported in The New York Times and other print media in 2000. As a result, the number of exclusively online, fantasy, or simulation-based micronations expanded dramatically using MicroWiki or platforms on Reddit and Facebook. The micronation Ladonia coexists as both a physical territory and a large and active online community that resembles a third place, distinguishing itself from other micronations, either active online communities or claiming small physical territories. Several traditional territorial micronations, including the Hutt River Province, Seborga, and Sealand, maintain websites that primarily promote their claims and sell merchandise. 

Public attention

In recent years, a small but growing amount of attention has been paid to the micronation phenomenon. Most interest in academic circles has been in studying the anomalous legal situations affecting such entities as Sealand and the Hutt River Province, exploring how some micronations represent grassroots political ideas, and creating role-playing entities for instructional purposes.

 

- The 1949 British comedy film Passport to Pimlico shows how the inhabitants of the London neighborhood of Pimlico proclaim themselves independent to avoid the restrictions of post-war Britain. The film was an inspiration for Frestonia.

- In 2000, Professor Fabrice O'Driscoll, of the Aix-Marseille University published a book about micronations: Ils ne siègent pas à l'ONU (They are not in the United Nations), with more than 300 pages dedicated to the subject.

- In May 2000, an article in The New York Times titled "Utopian Rulers, and Spoofs, Stake Out Territory Online" brought the phenomenon to a broader audience. Similar reports were published by newspapers such as the Italian La Repubblica, O Estado de S. Paulo in Brazil, and Portugal's Visão around the same time.

 

- E. Peterbus Unum, the 18th episode of the animated sitcom Family Guy, involves protagonist Peter Griffin establishing his home and yard as the micronation of Petoria.

- Several recent publications have dealt with the subject of particular historical micronations, including Republic of Indian Stream (University Press), by Dartmouth College geographer Daniel Doan, The Land that Never Was, about Gregor MacGregor and the Principality of Poyais, by David Sinclair (2003) and An Australian Monarch about the Principality of Hutt River by William Pitt.

- In August 2003, a summit of micronations took place in Helsinki at Finlandia Hall, the site of the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE). The seminar was attended by delegations of the Principality of Sealand, the Kingdoms of Elgaland-Vargaland, NSK-State in Time, Ladonia, the Transnational Republic, the State of Sabotage, and scholars from various academic institutions.

- From November 7 through December 17, 2004, the Reg Vardy Gallery at the University of Sunderland (UK) hosted a micronational group identity and symbolism exhibition. The exhibit focused on numismatic, philatelic, and vexillological artifacts and other symbols and instruments created and used by several micronations from the 1950s to the present day. Representatives of Sealand, Elgaland-Vargaland, New Utopia, Atlantium, Frestonia, and Fusa attended a summit of micronations conducted as part of this exhibition. The production was reprised at the Andrew Kreps Gallery in New York City from June 24 – July 29 of the following year and was organised by R. Blackson and Peter Coffin. Peter Coffin organised a more extensive micronational exhibition at Paris' Palais de Tokyo in early 2007 called ÉTATS (faites-le Vous-même).

- The Sunderland summit was later featured in the 5-part BBC light entertainment television series How to Start Your Own Country, presented by Danny Wallace. The series told the story of Wallace's experience of founding a micronation, Lovely, located in his London flat. It was screened in the UK in 2005.

 

- Similar programs have also aired on television networks in other parts of Europe. In France, several Canal+ programs have centered on the satirical Principality of Groland. In Belgium, a series by Rob Vanoudenhoven and broadcast on the Flemish commercial network VTM in April 2006 was reminiscent of Wallace's series and centered on the producer's creation of Robland. Among other things, Vanoudenhoven minted his coins denominated in "Robbies."

- In 2006, the travel guide company Lonely Planet published a light-hearted guide named Micronations: The Lonely Planet Guide to Home-Made Nations.

- The Democratic Empire of Sunda, which claims to be the Government of the Kingdom of Sunda (an ancient kingdom in present-day Indonesia) in exile in Switzerland, made media headlines when two so-called princesses, Lamia Roro Wiranatadikusumah Siliwangi Al Misri,  and Fathia Reza Wiranatadikusumah Siliwangi Al Misiri, were detained by Malaysian authorities at the border with Brunei, on July 13, 2007, and are charged for entering the country without a valid passport. The hearing continues.

- In 2010, a documentary film by Jody Shapiro entitled How to Start Your Own Country was screened as part of the Toronto International Film Festival. The documentary explored various micronations worldwide and analysed the concept of statehood and citizenship. Erwin Strauss, the author of the eponymous book, was interviewed as part of the film.

- In 2010, a micronation conference was held on Dangar Island in Sydney, Australia. Micronations with representatives in attendance included the Empire of Atlantium, the Principality of Hutt River, the Principality of Wy, and the Gay and the Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands.

- The manga and anime series Hetalia: Axis Powers, in which the main characters are the stereotyped personifications of the world's nations, features several micronations as characters. As of 2011, micronations represented include Sealand, Seborga, Wy, Kugelmugel, Molossia, Hutt River, Ladonia, and the former micronation of Nikko Nikko.

- In 2012, a conference on micronations (PoliNation 2012) was held in London. Micronations with representatives in attendance included the Empire of Atlantium, the Republic of Molossia, the Grand Duchy of Flandrensis, Ladonia, Neue Slowenische Kunst, and Austenasia. A second conference was organised in 2015 in the Free Republic of Alcatraz in Perugia, and conventions and seminars were also organised in Aigues-Mortes (2016), Atlanta (2017), and Vincennes (2018).

- MicroCon, a convention of micronationalists created by the government of Molossia, has been held biannually in odd years since 2015, although its 2021 convention was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. MicroCon 2015 was held in Anaheim, California; 2017 was in Tucker, Georgia; and MicroCon 2019, the largest convention with 113 attendees, was born in Hamilton, Ontario.

- The Australian television comedy series Micro Nation is set on the fictional island micronation of Pullamawang, which remained independent from Australia because they "forgot to mail in their paperwork" at the Federation of Australia in 1901.

- In 2020, Netflix released the film Rose Island based on the story of engineer Giorgio Rosa and the Republic of Rose Island.

- In 2022, academics Harry Hobbs and George Williams published Micronations and the Search for Sovereignty, the 'first comprehensive examination of the phenomenon of people purporting to secede and create their own country.' The book discusses over 100 micronations.

Introduction

The idea of founding a country began as a game of the mind. Like many other micronationalists, we wanted to entertain the idea of how to go about creating our own country. After this initial phase, we slowly began to form an administration.

Being a nation-builder, I sometimes need to ask myself why I persist in making flags, creating anthems, and forming governments.

It does not mean I've rejected my old country. I could not have established this nation unless I was lucky enough to live in a part of the world where fundamental freedom still reigns. Sweden will always be my "home country," and nothing can change that. However, I have created my realm, my nation, within a nation, without ever taking up arms or raising my voice. The two kingdoms of Sweden and Unixploria live in happy coexistence.  

In a way, we all build nations to make things better. We build countries that we wish would exist. Besides, there is no real difference in quantity between macronation and micronation. If we were 300 million people united under one flag, we could undoubtedly claim independence and form a country, then why not do it even if you're just 10, 5, or 1 individual(s)?

 

Why start a new country?

– My personal experience

You might be inclined to ask: Why start your own country? Our intentions and rewards have centred on the freedom to build a state where my family's values, traditions, and history could become theirs. We did not feel our macro nations offered this and declared our independence.

As for royal lineage, one could argue that all the world's royal families are royal because somebody decided to make them so. Maybe it was due to historical circumstances, possibly because of heroism, and in some cases, even the result of pure coincidence.

We don't try to hide that we are not royal as blood lineage goes, but we are royals in our domain; we are royals in the State of Unixploria. We are, in fact, in the State of Unixploria. The name "kingdom" can, of course, also be applied to neutral statements such as "the Kingdom of Dreams" or "we live in a Kingdom on Earth." Unixplorians, on the other hand, live in the Kingdom of Unixploria, and the royal family has added a bit of regal eccentricity to our great nation.

The Kingdom of Unixploria is a vision that no earthly nation has yet achieved. We are humbled to be that beacon in a world lacking inspiration and ideas. Just as the elected kings and queens of ancient petty kingdoms are now lost in history, we still believe that what constitutes a great king or queen is not just a question of heritage by blood. It is a legacy of individual honour, blood, and an ethical compass pointing to good deeds.

A micronation certainly has support from various conventions, i.g. The Montevideo Convention states that to form your sovereign nation, you must have the following:

1. a permanent population
2. a defined territory
3. a government
4. A capacity to enter into relations with other states. Alternatively, our future country, with a functioning polity, government, and political cabinets

Furthermore, the first sentence of Article 3 explicitly states that "The political existence of the state is independent of recognition by the other states." (The Montevideo Convention, 1933). According to this, we can safely claim that we are a sovereign nation.

The Kingdom of Dreams

Micronationalism comes in many shapes and forms. Some nations are very serious about appearing like any macro national country, and others start their micronations out of curiosity or as a creative project. Unixploria results from everything mentioned, but this nation is about keeping dreams alive more than anything.

I've read several thoughts on various micronational sites arguing about how many worldwide micronations are. I never understood their debate. 900, 1000, or even 10 000 micronations might seem excessive, but is there an actual list with all the real micronations for us to browse? In all honesty, aren't we all just playing games here?

Sure, some put more effort into their micronational projects than others, but as far as I know, we are rulers of unrecognised countries. I intend not to ridicule or offend someone, just stating the obvious. I love micronationalism because it offers new viewpoints and diversity to societal life in our global village.

I can, of course, argue that I run a country just like any other. However, that would be an exaggeration on my part since very few outside our micronational sphere have ever heard of our empires, kingdoms, and republics. There's nothing wrong with building countries you wish existed, but creating a recognised nation with all the trimmings would take more than just a website and a flag.

I think of the Kingdom of Unixploria more like a project, a family within a nation without natural powers outside our realm. Our surrounding macronation (Sweden) could invade us whenever they please; we would be defenceless. They could even take parts of our land and do so with support from their legislation. I could argue that they're violating the Codex Unixploria, but it would not hold up in court.

As long as we behave, we can do as we, please. There isn't a single micronation in the world that can claim actual sovereignty. There are a lot of separatist movements in the world, some even form nations, but none of them started by saying, "we are a micronation." I'm not picking on anyone who wants to split from their macro nation. I'm just saying that if you are set on creating a particular country, you better prepare for complex challenges shortly.

As micronationalists, we contribute somewhat to that divide, even though we do it out of self-preservation. The latter is also my main objective/concern regarding micronationalism. In my darkest moments, I ask myself, "is it worth it all?"; do we need more separatism when our macro nations are tearing apart from ethnic and religious tensions? Are we contributing to the demise of countries and supporting mass anarchy?

Nation Building: A How-to Guide

1: Rules and regulations

Much of the basis for current nation-building comes from the before-mentioned Convention on the Rights and Obligations of States (1933), also known as the Montevideo Convention. These are the basic rules of Article 1 of the Convention:

 

The state, as a person with international law, should have the following qualifications:

- A permanent population

- A defined area

- The government

- The capacity to enter into relations with other states

 

The remainder of the first ten articles explains that a state's existence is independent of the recognition of other states and is free to act on its behalf — and that no form is free to intervene in the affairs of another.

Please note that these are not laws in the traditional sense. You are free to declare yourself a country anytime, anywhere.

 

What is a micronation?

A micronation is an entity whose members claim to belong to an independent nation or sovereign state but lack legal recognition by world governments or major international organisations.

Most are geographically very small but range from less than a square meter to more than a million square km.

They are usually the outgrowth of a single individual.

A micronation expresses a formal, persistent, unrecognised claim of sovereignty over some physical territory.

Micronations are distinct from actual secessionist movements; micronations' activities are almost always trivial enough to be ignored rather than challenged by the established nations whose territory they claim.

2: Claiming territory

This is the hard part. With one exception, existing nations have all claimed available lands. The exception? Antarctica. Even then, should you brave the weather and the lack of "population appeal," Antarctica is managed by the most powerful countries in the world, and it is unlikely that they will let you plant a flag and say, "Mine!" There are, however, still things to try to get around this lack of available land:

 

• Not advisable, but if you're a rogue, you could consider conquering an existing land. Many small island nations are scattered across the Pacific Ocean, and it is unlikely they have much of a defence force. All you need is an army, a navy, and support from the international community — many of which protect these small nations from intruders. This has been tried in Comoros, Vanuatu, and the Maldives but ultimately failed.

 

• If you are rich enough, you can buy an island, but it is unlikely that the host nation will relinquish your sovereignty. A more corrupt or destitute country may be easier to govern, but even that is difficult: a pack of libertarians tried to buy Tortuga from Haiti but were refused.

 

• Find a loophole. For example, the Republic of Indian Stream was founded on land between the United States and Canada, poorly defined in the 1783 Treaty of Paris. It lasted from 1832 to 1835, when the United States annexed it.

 

At this point, you may think there is no hope, but we have saved the best for last. As land has become scarce, but the human need for new land continues rapidly, creative (and economically well-to-do), individuals have begun to take to the sea.

The Principality of Sealand

No nation owns international waters, and this has spurred interest and activity. Great Britain created a military base in the North Sea off the coast of England during World War II. It is a football-field-sized structure that housed troops and weapons to strike at German invaders. After the war was abandoned until 1966, a DJ named Roy Bates, tired of fighting the British government over his pirate radio station, moved there to set up the business. The station never went back on the air, but he founded a micronation of the floating fortress instead: the Principality of Sealand. He hoisted the flag and called himself Prince and his wife, Princess Joan. Sealand resisted court challenges and remains an independent – but unrecognised – nation today.

 

The Seasteading Institute

While the policies of the Seasteading Institute may or may not be your cup of tea, it is a reasonable bet that the ocean is indeed the new frontier. Founded by the grandson of Milton Friedman and PayPal founder Peter Thiel, the would-be libertarian utopian foundation hopes the free market can generate new ideas about governance that will change the world. They promote the goal of building offshore platforms with loose building requirements, no minimum wages, and an abundance of firearms. Proponents see this as a key to the next generation of free enterprise. Critics point to building standards and low-wage workers with many guns, driven by a gang of selfish dictators, as a recipe for disaster.

The Republic of Minerva

A millionaire activist piled sand on a reef in the Pacific Ocean south of Fiji, creating an artificial island to start the Republic of Minerva. But if you are not rich enough to make land, make it up — some of the lighter micronations claim land on imaginary continents or planets.

 

Virtual micronations

In addition to the traditional territory-based nation, there is an untapped, unregulated, and unexplored area that is virtually unlimited because there is only plenty. Call it the cloud, or call it cyberspace. People spend more time emotionally and interactively connected with their friends and colleagues via the internet. Virtual worlds like Second Life and Blue Mars create 3-dimensional environments with their currency and constitutions.

 

4: Invite your friends

One of the essential requirements for a nation — apart from land — will be to build a population. Invite your friends and family to join you in this venture; you will have a small but dedicated population. If the land you conquer or build does not come with an indigenous people, you must bring your own to the party.

You have to decide what you demand of your citizens. What kind of identification will they need: a national ID card or a driving license? Do they pass a citizenship test or follow specific laws?

 

5: Establish a government and write a constitution

The success or failure of your micronation will be determined, in large part, by your leadership in management. When defining a constitution, try to make it open to interpretation and further growth as your nation grows and evolves. Without a cohesive constitution, your country may fall into the disarray of dozens of small nation-states rather than a successfully united micronation. Your government and political constitution should be guided by the principles you wish to establish from the outset.

 

Political simulations or political movements

These micronations tend to have strong political views and are often controversial. Some have attracted media attention or political interest in the past, but this is rare. Despite their relative inattention, they are some of the most common types of micronations.

Cultural missions

There are many Germanic micronations, such as Domanglia, trying to recreate the culture and traditions of the former German Empire. Similar to historical projects, these micronations promote a particular culture and tradition. Many of these also include nationalist and patriotic projects.

 

Separatist movements

By far the most extreme form of a micronation, separatist entities are often much older than other forms of micronations. Notable separatist micronations include the Principality of Sealand, the Hutt River Province, and Freetown Christiania.

 

6: Announce your independence

Now that you have territory, a population, and a government with a constitution, it's time to announce your independence. One of three things will happen, depending on what you have prepared for the world:

 

• A collective yawn. The world can look at your declaration of independence and quickly return to watching a Star Trek rerun.

 

• A welcome in the community of nations, an invitation to a place in the UN, and a request for ambassadors and embassies.

 

• An armed invasion. Suppose your nation has a conflict concerning borders, existing treaties, human rights, or other legal protocols. In that case, you can get everything from a knock on the door from a government agency informing you that your micronation is situated within a state that does not recognise your sovereignty and that you have to take your flag from the roof or be fined. Alternatively, your micronation could suffer the same fate as the Republic of Minerva. Shortly after libertarian millionaire and activist Michael Oliver created a landmass by pouring sand on the Minerva Reefs south of Fiji and proclaimed independence, the island was invaded and annexed (with international support) from Tonga. 

7: Establish an economy

You must create a financial system if you are not trading in dollars, euros, or other currencies. While your word can be counted among your friends, you need some severe collateral for the national debt to be of any use. Will you base your nation's prosperity on gold, securities, or a whim and a prayer?

If you stick to established currencies, you still have to decide how to finance your government, and the best way to do this is by some form of taxation. An option would be to create a Patreon or Fund Me site for fans to contribute to your cause.  

It is a fundamental duty of every state (small or large) to be able to defend its citizens from enemies. Whether this is a standing army, civilian guard, conscription, or some other defensive solution, this will be something to remember when creating your constitution.

Then again, if you have no enemies, you won't need to defend yourself and your citizens.

 

8: Recognition by the world community

If you block any unfavourable issues that arose during the founding of your country, you will become a micronationalist to be reckoned with in the world. To do this, you need other nations to recognise you. This will require you to be proficient in international law, politics, and diplomacy. If these are not among your most vital skills, you would be wise to recruit skilled politicians to take on the task.

This is perhaps the most challenging step of all. Some nations, such as Palestine, Taiwan, and northern Cyprus, have all the boxes checked but are still not recognised by many countries.

There are no rules here; each country has standards that establish recognition. Things that can affect the result are questions like where you stand on al-Queda or communism, or capitalism. They can depend on your attitude towards human rights or control over natural resources.

9: Manage your nation

Flag

Every country needs a flag, and yours will be different. This is the most prominent of national symbols, but other symbols may also help establish your national identity.

Currency

What will your currency look like? Will it have your profile boldly embossed on gold coins and in 3D holograms on paper money, or will you use a symbolic icon? Will you go full-tilt modern, or try to listen to a time when each piece was cut by hand?

 

State seal

You can create a faux-Latin phrase like "E Succubus Opes" or any other nice-sounding phrase and add some flourishing graphics with a shield, for all indications are that you are descended from royalty - or you can state your mission clearly in your language and have a graphic designer create a logo.

Official correspondence

With all the letters you will write to the President, the UN, the Prime Minister, and other Heads of State, you want fine stationery on high-quality paper embossed with your seal.

10: Make it happen

The sooner you declare yourself a prince, king, emperor, or Supreme Ruler, the better.

Micronationalism is a hobby and a serious thing that includes people from all different backgrounds. Respect is the key to peace. Intolerance is the key to war. Study existing and well-established micronations. What made them successful (or what made them miserable failures)? What can you learn from them?

Get involved

There are a lot of different communities out there. Get out and participate!

Creating a workable website, possibly with a blog feature used as a news service, is imperative. It can also be a good idea to create a Wiki article - there are several micronational wikis for you to use but do not forget that your nation must be more than a website and a Wiki article.

Join an organisation

There are a lot of organisations specifically for micronations and people trying to create their own countries. They may be a more general "UN-style" organisation, such as the organisation of Active Micronations (OAM), or they may have more specific purposes, such as the Micronational Cartography Society (MCS).

A friendly warning

If you take yourself and your micronation too seriously, existing governments may see you as a breakout movement rather than a country for fun. Most countries have a standing army that would shorten the process with a little upstart micronation.

 

11: The golden rules of micronationalism

• Be humble. Stand proud yet recognise what others have accomplished in the micronational sphere.
• Do not wage wars. Micronationalism is not a war simulation game.
• Do not steal the work of others. Look to others for inspiration, but do your own thing.
• All micronations are unique, and each has its pros and cons. Just like in life, you will encounter people you don't like. Remember that others may think the same about you.
• Also, remember: you stand on the shoulders of giants. That doesn't mean you have to embrace that position for eternity. You will grow and prosper if you have a viable idea or concept. You, too, will become a giant.