Micronations aren't real countries by definition, yet sometimes these eccentric mini-states - which have no legitimate basis for statehood - come surprisingly close.
Ranging from personal hobbies to serious political stances, there are as many as 140 micronations around the world, including a couple in New Zealand and plenty in Australia, with more than 400 recorded in recent history.
University of Technology Sydney lecturer Harry Hobbs has co-written Micronations and the Search for Sovereignty, examining the phenomenon of people trying to secede and create their own countries.
Harry Hobbs Photo: public domain
Unlike an unrecognised state, micronations have no legitimate basis, Hobbs explains.
“Micronations are really just the creation, generally speaking, of eccentric individuals who want to a play as a state or want to engage in some sort of political or legal protest really.
“There isn't actually a legal definition of what a state is. A state really is a political construct. If other countries think you're a state, you’re a state whether you actually are or not.”
These nations create communities where they practise statehood rituals, sign pacts, engage in diplomatic relations and even design flags, he says.
“There are a number of nations in the sky or micronations, longing to be free,” Hobbs tells Jim Mora.
“There's actually is a satellite above us right now. It's only about the size of a biscuit tin, but the people behind Asgardia hope that eventually it will form the nucleus or the basis for permanent occupation in space and the new celestial nation of Asgardia.”
New Zealand is no stranger to the phenomenon either, with The Republic of Whangamōmona emerging in 1989 when regional council boundaries were changed.
Whangamomona Photo: RNZ / Janice Swanwick
Its presidents have included Billy Gumboot (a goat) and a poodle called Tai who controversially resigned after an assassination attempt.
“[The council border changes] meant that this small town would have had to start playing rugby union for their rivals ... they would be amalgamated in the same area and the rugby union team would have to be merged,” Hobbs says.
“Now as an Australian, I think I don't understand this, rugby union so what? ... but this obviously was a big deal for the townsfolk there and they decided that they were going to secede and create their own republic day and they celebrate every two years.
“There's thousands of tourists from across the North Island [who] turn up, celebrate, get their passport stamped and this sort of thing, so it's a great way to draw tourism to a small sleepy town.”
Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Often people think micro nations are bizarre, but Hobbs believes some have legitimate reasons, like the Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands which was set up after the Australian government in 2004 banned same sex marriage.
"A number of LGBTQI activists up in Brisbane were thinking how can we respond to this, what can we do to try and draw some political attention to this issue and hope to change the law for the better.
“So what they did, they decided to create their own country … They sailed out to Cato Island, which is in the Coral Sea, about 200 kilometres off the coast of Queensland, and they planted a flag and set up an embassy, essentially sort of a post box as well, and said we'll we're a new kingdom.”
One of the reasons was to put political and legal pressure on Australia, he says.
"They said look as LGBTQI people, we can't go to an international court and say this law discriminates against us and the government need to change this law.
“They said maybe as a country we could go to the International Court of Justice and say that Australia is discriminating against us. Now, of course, legally they can't do that 'cause they weren't a country, but it shows the creative means that some people take in order to draw attention to particular issues.”
Micronations and the Search for Sovereignty. Photo: Cambridge University Press
Legitimate states often can run into more trouble while dealing with micronations that claim sovereignty, as was the case with a man who took over an abandoned anti-aircraft platform off the coast of England, he says.
“The Principality of Sealand was set up by Roy Bates or Prince Roy as he became known.
“He stands up there and he starts blasting radio broadcasting into the country. Now in 1967, the UK finally said we're going to stop this. They passed a law saying look, you can't do this anymore.
“But Prince Roy didn't. He decided to create his own country, the Principality of Sealand, and he's been there ever since, and his family has been there ever since as well.
“He's passed away now, but his son is still out there on this old anti-aircraft platform, the size of two tennis courts, sticking out in the North Sea, about 12 kilometers off the coast of the UK.”
It's a hulking metal-and-concrete platform in the North Sea that has been run as an independent micro nation in defiance of the UK government for the past 55 years. Photo: BEN STANSALL / AFP
All the tactics the government tried to dissuade him from setting up shop there – a fine for not taking his son to school, legal action over an alleged firearms law breach, claiming his boat wasn’t seaworthy, and offers to buy the fort – failed, he says.
“He was so persistent and so determined in making his claim that a lot of journalists started to think that he was right.
“They [the UK government] ultimately decided look maybe it's best if we just ignore him from now, because any attempt to get him off the fort will really add to his reputation as a colourful adventurer.”
Then, Germany got tangled up when a group of Germans who tried to buy the platform ended up being taken hostage, Hobbs says.
"The German government approached the UK government said what on Earth is going on here? Can you please sort this out? This is ridiculous. And the UK basically said look, we just try to ignore him, you better sort it out yourself.
“So the Germans sent a representative from their embassy to negotiate the release of some of their citizens
“So again, he laughed all the way to the bank, saying I am sovereign, Germany have recognised me. Of course, that isn't what happened, but practically, in order to get their citizens off the fort, they needed to negotiate with Prince Roy.”
Chief Engineer and Head of Homeland Security Michael Barington is winched onto the Principality of Sealand, some 11 kilometres off the coast of southeast England, on September 16, 2021. Photo: BEN STANSALL / AFP
The era of decolonisation in particular gave rise to micronations, he says, but we’re starting to see a different register of sovereignty amid rising global problems.
“Now it seems to be the idea that the law doesn't apply to me, 'cause I haven't consented to it and therefore I don't need to follow this particular law or regulation because I am my own sovereign citizen. So the approach right now is a little bit different I think.”
So who is then to say what ends up being a legitimate state? The Montevideo Convention of 1933 sets out the four categories; a government, relations with other states, a population, and a territory.
“But many people have said look that doesn't tell us everything about what a state does,” Hobbs says.
“For example, Poland was invaded during World War II, and it no longer possessed any territory, but it didn't lose its status as a state it was still a state.
“Other countries, you might say the Vatican City has about 800 people, that's not a large number of people, but it's still recognised as a state, so micronations often say look, we've got more people than 800, our territories are larger than Monaco, why is Monaco a state and we're not a state?”
Some micronations argue their population - one of the criteria to be a legitmate state - is bigger than that of the Vatican City State, says Harry Hobbs. Photo: Vincenzo Pinto / AFP
Even the right to self-determination, as set out in the UN charter, doesn’t actually guarantee that for indigenous populations who are now a minority, he says.
“There's some 500 treaties signed between European powers and indigenous nations in the United States. There's 100 or so treaties signed in Canada. There's obviously Treaty of Waitangi in Aotearoa New Zealand.
“And you ask indigenous peoples have these treaties been respected and protected, or have they been broken and they will tell you that they've been broken and even when treaties have constitutional protection, like they do in Canada, they don't always need to be honoured.”
Micronations aren't revolutionaries or rebel movements, and some even wish to maintain their ties to the monarchy, Hobbs notes.
“They say look I'm not gonna be my own country, I'm gonna be a country within the British Commonwealth, so I want to maintain that connection to the Queen, but Australia has violated my rights and therefore I have a right to secede and become my own country underneath the Commonwealth.”
