Micronation
A micronation is an entity created by an individual or group that claims to be an independent sovereign state but is not officially recognised as such by any United Nations member state or major international organisation.
Micronations are distinguished from actual sovereign states and from conventional political movements by their lack of legal standing under international law and their often small size, novelty, or humorous nature.
Characteristics
[edit | edit source]Most micronations share these common traits:
- A declared name, flag, coat of arms, and other national symbols
- Claims of territory (physical or online)
- A constitution or founding document
- Citizens, passports, currency, stamps, or titles (often sold or honorary)
- Websites and social-media presence
Micronations range from serious political projects to artistic statements, social experiments, or tourist attractions.
Types
[edit | edit source]Micronations are usually classified into several broad categories:
- Secessionist – claim physical territory (e.g., Principality of Sealand, Republic of Molossia)
- Simulationist / online – exist primarily or entirely on the internet
- Historical / cultural – revive or imagine historical states (e.g., Kingdom of Talossa)
- New-country projects – attempt serious colonisation (e.g., Liberland, Asgardia)
History
[edit | edit source]The modern micronation phenomenon began in the 1960s–1970s with entities such as:
- Principality of Sealand (1967)
- Republic of Minerva (1972)
- Kingdom of Talossa (1979)
The internet boom of the late 1990s and 2000s dramatically increased their number and visibility.
Recognition
[edit | edit source]No micronation has ever been formally recognised by a UN member state as a sovereign country. Some have received limited diplomatic recognition from other micronations or have been involved in court cases that indirectly acknowledge their existence as private platforms or associations.
Notable examples
[edit | edit source]- Principality of Sealand – oldest surviving, on an offshore platform
- Republic of Molossia – famous for humour and tourism
- Grand Duchy of Flandrensis – Antarctic environmental project
- Empire of Atlantium – progressive global micronation
- Christiania – semi-autonomous district often considered a micronation