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== History and evolution of micronationalism ==
== History and evolution of micronationalism ==
=== Origins ===
=== Origins ===
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[[File:Sealand_fortress.jpg|thumb|The [[Principality of Sealand]] is one of the more recognised micronations in the world.]]
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[[File:Sealand fortress.jpg|thumb|The [[Principality of Sealand]] is one of the more recognised micronations in the world.]]
The 17th century saw the rise to prominence of a world order dominated by the concept of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/nation-state nation-state], following the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Westphalia Treaty of Westphalia]. However, the earliest recognisable micronations can be dated to the 18th Century. Most were founded by eccentric adventurers or business speculators, and several were remarkably successful. These include the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocos_Keeling_Islands Cocos (Keeling) Islands], ruled by the Clunies-Ross family, and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarawak Sarawak], ruled by the "White Rajas" of the Brooke family. Both were independent personal [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiefdom fiefdoms] in all but name, and survived until well into the 20th Century.
The 17th century saw the rise to prominence of a world order dominated by the concept of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/nation-state nation-state], following the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Westphalia Treaty of Westphalia]. However, the earliest recognisable micronations can be dated to the 18th Century. Most were founded by eccentric adventurers or business speculators, and several were remarkably successful. These include the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocos_Keeling_Islands Cocos (Keeling) Islands], ruled by the Clunies-Ross family, and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarawak Sarawak], ruled by the "White Rajas" of the Brooke family. Both were independent personal [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiefdom fiefdoms] in all but name, and survived until well into the 20th Century.
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*The '''Dominion of Melchizedek''' - Created in 1986 by a father-and-son team of confidence tricksters named Evan David Pedley and Ben David Pedley (the latter also known as David Korem) to sell fraudulent banking licenses. Melchizedek, which is supposedly an "ecclesiastical constitutional sovereignty", claims a number of territories, and a large slab of Antarctica. According to John Shockey, former special assistant, U.S. Comptroller of the Currency, in an address to the 4th International Financial Fraud Convention in London on May 27, 1999: "The Dominion of Melchizedek is a fraud, a major fraud, and not a legitimate sovereign entity. Persons associated with the Dominion of Melchizedek have been indicted and convicted of a variety of crimes."
*The '''Dominion of Melchizedek''' - Created in 1986 by a father-and-son team of confidence tricksters named Evan David Pedley and Ben David Pedley (the latter also known as David Korem) to sell fraudulent banking licenses. Melchizedek, which is supposedly an "ecclesiastical constitutional sovereignty", claims a number of territories, and a large slab of Antarctica. According to John Shockey, former special assistant, U.S. Comptroller of the Currency, in an address to the 4th International Financial Fraud Convention in London on May 27, 1999: "The Dominion of Melchizedek is a fraud, a major fraud, and not a legitimate sovereign entity. Persons associated with the Dominion of Melchizedek have been indicted and convicted of a variety of crimes."
*The '''Kingdom of EnenKio''' - Claims Wake Atoll in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Islands Marshall Islands] belonging to the US Minor Outlying Islands, has been condemned for selling passports and diplomatic papers by the governments of the Marshall Islands and of the United States. On 23 April 1998, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Marshall Islands issued an official Circular Note, denouncing representatives of both "EnenKio" and "Melchizedek" for making fraudulent representations.
*The '''Kingdom of EnenKio''' - Claims Wake Atoll in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Islands Marshall Islands] belonging to the US Minor Outlying Islands, has been condemned for selling passports and diplomatic papers by the governments of the Marshall Islands and of the United States. On 23 April 1998, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Marshall Islands issued an official Circular Note, denouncing representatives of both "EnenKio" and "Melchizedek" for making fraudulent representations.
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*The '''UMMOA movement''' - Created in 2008 by 50-year-old Cesidio Tallini, it is used mainly as a platform for him to advertise his poor-selling pseudoscientific books on racialism and astrology. Claiming the United States Minor Outlying Islands (a largely unincorporated statistical grouping of nine small, mostly uninhabited islands located in various parts of the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea), Tallini has bought "doctorates" from various [[w:Diploma mill|diploma mills]] and often claims his membership in such dubious private organisations as the [[w:International Parliament for Safety and Peace|International Parliament for Safety and Peace]] to constitute legitimate international recognition of his micronational and academic pretensions. He has gained a certain level of infamy for his offensive manner of speaking to others, his claimed monopoly on defining what is a "legitimate micronation", and his created religion in which he claims to be a god.
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*The '''UMMOA movement''' - Created in 2008 by 50-year-old Cesidio Tallini, it is used mainly as a platform for him to advertise his poor-selling pseudoscientific books on racialism and astrology. Claiming the United States Minor Outlying Islands (a largely unincorporated statistical grouping of nine small, mostly uninhabited islands located in various parts of the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea), Tallini has bought "doctorates" from various [[Wikipedia:Diploma mill|diploma mills]] and often claims his membership in such dubious private organisations as the [[Wikipedia:International Parliament for Safety and Peace|International Parliament for Safety and Peace]] to constitute legitimate international recognition of his micronational and academic pretensions. He has gained a certain level of infamy for his offensive manner of speaking to others, his claimed monopoly on defining what is a "legitimate micronation", and his created religion in which he claims to be a god.
=== Historical anomalies and aspirant states ===
=== Historical anomalies and aspirant states ===
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Seasteading is a lifestyle of making the oceans, or at least water-borne craft, one's home. Most seasteads historically have been sailing craft, whether perhaps demonstrated by the the Chinese Junk, modified canoes of Oceania, or even the famous Pirates of Libertaria. In modern times in the west the cruising sailboat has begun to be used in the same manner. The term seasteading is of uncertain origin, used at least as early as the turn of the century by Uffa Fox, and others; many feel that catamaran designer and historian James Wharram and his designs represent ideal seasteads. More recently, American sailor and ecological philosopher [http://www.amazon.com/Sea-Steading-Life-Freedom-Viable-Frontier/dp/0595387586/ Jerome FitzGerald] has been a leading and effective proponent of seasteading, mostly teaching the concept through the environmental/sailing organization [http://www.oarclub.org "The Oar Club"]. The Seasteader's Institute in Hilo, Hawaii offers classes, boat-building opportunities, education in forage foods, diving, and other aspects of a Seasteading lifestyle.
Seasteading is a lifestyle of making the oceans, or at least water-borne craft, one's home. Most seasteads historically have been sailing craft, whether perhaps demonstrated by the the Chinese Junk, modified canoes of Oceania, or even the famous Pirates of Libertaria. In modern times in the west the cruising sailboat has begun to be used in the same manner. The term seasteading is of uncertain origin, used at least as early as the turn of the century by Uffa Fox, and others; many feel that catamaran designer and historian James Wharram and his designs represent ideal seasteads. More recently, American sailor and ecological philosopher [http://www.amazon.com/Sea-Steading-Life-Freedom-Viable-Frontier/dp/0595387586/ Jerome FitzGerald] has been a leading and effective proponent of seasteading, mostly teaching the concept through the environmental/sailing organization [http://www.oarclub.org "The Oar Club"]. The Seasteader's Institute in Hilo, Hawaii offers classes, boat-building opportunities, education in forage foods, diving, and other aspects of a Seasteading lifestyle.
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Some theoretical seasteads are floating platforms which could be used to create sovereign [[micronation]]s, or otherwise serve the ends of ocean colonization. The concept is introduced in a paper by Wayne Gramlich, and later in a book by Gramlich, Patri Friedman and Andy House, which is available for free online. Their research aims at a more practical approach to developing micronations, based on currently available technology and a pragmatic approach to financial aspects.
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Some theoretical seasteads are floating platforms which could be used to create sovereign micronations, or otherwise serve the ends of ocean colonization. The concept is introduced in a paper by Wayne Gramlich, and later in a book by Gramlich, Patri Friedman and Andy House, which is available for free online. Their research aims at a more practical approach to developing micronations, based on currently available technology and a pragmatic approach to financial aspects.
The authors argue that seasteading has the potential to drastically lower the barrier to entry to the governing industry. This allows for more experimentation and innovation with varying social, political, and economic systems. Potential business opportunities include data havens, offshore aquaculture, and casinos, as well as the gamut of typical business endeavors.
The authors argue that seasteading has the potential to drastically lower the barrier to entry to the governing industry. This allows for more experimentation and innovation with varying social, political, and economic systems. Potential business opportunities include data havens, offshore aquaculture, and casinos, as well as the gamut of typical business endeavors.
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* E. S. Strauss: How to start your own country ISBN 0915179016, ISBN 1893626156
* E. S. Strauss: How to start your own country ISBN 0915179016, ISBN 1893626156
* [http://dh.mpr.io MPR Department of History]
* [http://dh.mpr.io MPR Department of History]
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* [http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.03/kingdoms.html It's Good to Be King] ''Wired'' 8.03 March 2000
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* [http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.03/kingdoms.html It's Good to Be King] ''Wired'' 8.3 March 2000
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* [http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.07/haven.html Welcome to Sealand. Now Bugger Off.] ''Wired'' 8.07 July 2000
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* [http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.07/haven.html Welcome to Sealand. Now Bugger Off.] ''Wired'' 8.7 July 2000
* [http://www.wikihow.com/Start-Your-Own-Country How to Start Your Own Country]
* [http://www.wikihow.com/Start-Your-Own-Country How to Start Your Own Country]
* [http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4217 How to Start Your Own Country in Four Easy Steps]
* [http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4217 How to Start Your Own Country in Four Easy Steps]