You ever just feel ... blessed?
When my buddy KhAnubis told me I’d be talking about micro-nations today, I was ready.
Btw, hi.
My name is DSM, I’m here on behalf of KhAnubis and I will talking about micro-nations today.
I have given many minutes of my life to staring at maps, following border lines and seeking
out microscopic islands in the middle of nowhere.
Triple Geography on Monday mornings might have been my nightmarish reality back in school,
but I think I’m ready to rekindle that love by asking the question you’ve already seen
in the title.
Are Micro-Nations Real Countries?
Well, since I’m pretty into my words, I figured I should start with what the general
definition of a country is.
We are discussing the micro versions of “nations”, so let’s just chuck in that definition as
well.
So this early on, it’s important to note that while the two are synonyms, a “nation”
and a “country” are still technically classified as two separate entities that can
come together.
While we’re on the synonyms, we should probably have a quick look at those.
Life is short.
Be a pedant.
I’m gonna get into those in more depth in just a second.
Foist of awl, let’s have a look at why micro-nations have their own Wikipedia page.
So, what we can garner is that micro-nations say they’re countries, but the slightly
bigger countries don’t appear to agree.
Let’s have a look at the official list of micro-nations; at least they’re recognised
somewhere.
Quite a few, as you can see!
While there is an entire Micronations Wiki fandom with many additional names that aren’t
included in other lists, for the sake of this particular video, I’ll be sticking primarily
with the more “official” one from Wikipedia.
[yes, favourite flags are a must]
[have you seen the uniform of the Aerican Empire’s dictator, it’s everything]
Looking back at the definitions Google & Wikipedia have given us, I noticed a few similarities,
like:
Some form of definitive “leader”.
An established government.
People who are united by a certain identity.
But is that all you need?
Well, there’s also this useful checklist from the Montevideo Convention in 1933, written
by people who knew much more
than I do:
So, if the world’s governments aren’t acknowledging micro-nations as actual countries,
it’s fair to assume that these nations probably don’t meet the “requirements” to be
a country.
I’m not gonna assume, I’m a guest!
That’d be rude.
I am hosting, though, so let’s play a cheeky game for a minute.
We have the four important points of the Montevideo Convention, but do our micro buddies meet
all of them?
Micronations with permanent populations Micronations with defined territories
Micronations with governments Micronations in relations with other states
After all that, how many are left?
However, when it comes to deciding who is what, it’s less about logical reasoning
and more about politics.
Queen Anastasia of Ruritania, a micro-nation enclaved in the United States, described micro-nations
as a political statement and a direct response to how they felt things were being run in
their countries of origin.
A lot of people on the outside believed they were simply roleplaying, which is understandably
a term that micronational leaders do not care for because it carries with it the implication
that their duties aren’t being taken seriously.
Many of the countries we reside in today and had drilled into us during Geography were
also heavily contested at the time.
So it’s no real surprise that current micronations are receiving the same treatment.
However, we are at a point in humanity where the political climate is still as fierce as
ever - but more and more people are less afraid of taking a stand.
Countries are complicated.
Some are still fighting over land and borders, some are judged solely on their defence strategies
and some are ... just straight chillin’.
Are countries determined based on how well they can defend themselves?
A segment on RT news mentioned that your status as a country lies in how well you can defend
your borders, which may hint at why some have none.
How many countries were born out of war?
If no already-recognised country recognises a micronation as its own country, it is not
a country.
That’s probably the simplest definition there is at the moment.
Are they nations?
I’d say so.
They’re united by a lot of things and that’s what a nation is.
But are they countries?
Not yet.
However, in the last 30 years, some countries have changed their names, some new countries
have been born, and some just wanna update their friendship circle - so it’s not exactly
big news that the world is constantly prone to change.
Maybe in the next 30 years or so, these little guys will get the recognition they’ve been
after.
Hey, 'Nubs, how'd I do?
Excuse me?
“Nubs”?
I will inform you that this channel has existed since 2009!
Actually, that nickname’s kind of funny, I’ll let it slide.
In all seriousness, though, a big thank you to Emma of DSM for taking on this question,
and executing it, despite it not being her main subject of focus.
So, if you’re wondering just what the hell is going on here, six channels from WeCreateEdu
are taking part in a huge back-to-school collaboration, the knowledge-swap edition!
If you want to see where I have been this week, head over to my friend Patrick Kelly’s
channel, Corporis, where you’ll see me talking about the effect that your position in history
has on your health.
It’s actually really interesting, seriously, I delve into topics about the history of medicine
and all that!
Oh, and subscribe to DSM for more language and etymology-related videos in that oh-so
iconic, British sarcasm.
See you on Sunday!