Nationroute

I am currently exploring the concept of micronations and would appreciate some insightful feedback from anyone that have though about starting their own sovereign state. First of all I need to find some unclaimed territory- except for Antarctica- maybe someone out there knows of volcanic islands or rock islands in the pacific that could be claimed as independent? I appreciate any ideas??

People use the word “nation” to mean many different things. Usually when we say “nation”, we’re talking about the country where we are a citizen. The land, the people, and the government. But the word’s deeper meaning is “A part, or division, of the people of the earth, distinguished from the rest by common descent, language, or institutions; a race; a stock.” (Webster’s Dictionary). For this reason, people from different countries can be considered a “nation”, if they see themselves as part of a group. In the US, the Native American tribes often call themselves “nations”. They are Americans, but they also belong to the Cherokee nation, etc. Religious groups could be considered a nation, such as Jews and Catholics. There are people from these groups living all over the world. They can see themselves as part of the country they live in, or they can see themselves as part of their religious community. Some people might consider themselves nations that no longer have a specific territory. Secessions and country breakups (for example the Czech and Slovak Republics, or the Northern and Southern US during the Civil War) happen because people see themselves as belonging more to their nation than their country. People see themselves as different because they have a different religion, ancestry, race, etc. They feel that they belong with each other instead of with “them”, their own country.

When we talk about micronations, there is a lot of discussion over what is a “real” or “legitimate” micronation. From the way we use the word “nation”, one would think to be a nation you need land, government, infrastructure, and international recognition. These things are more appropriately termed “country” which refers more to the territory of a nation. If you require micronations to be defined by their land, not many would stand up to the legitimacy test. Most micronations are inside another country, on a floating platform or small island, or even inside someone’s head. But it is possible for a nation to exist without a specific territory. Nomads in the Middle East and tribal people in South America could be considered separate nations, regardless of their territory. Traditional people like these may have their own local rules and customs, language, etc. There are still people all over the world who stick together in traditional clans and don’t bother to register their births, marriages, etc. with the government that rules the land they live on. They live off the land and aren’t part of the system that goes to work, drives a car and uses electricity. As long as they’re allowed to live in peace, they don’t bother people. We don’t think of them as micronations, but they really are. They’re nations inside their country.

So in order to be a nation, you must be part of a group that considers itself different for some reason, be it religious, ethnic, culturally, etc. That group may be one person, or 5 million. So what nation(s) are you part of?

Two great books for ideas and how to are listed in the Amazon links on the right.

What are the legalities involved i establishing your own micronation, provided you have acquired land via legal means?

No ‘Don’t Know But Good Luck’ Answers please.

Thank you.
I’m more angling to get how the guy that’s selling Sealand managed to make it into a country, as I remember there was a lighthearted programme on in the UK around 1/2 years ago about it.

A great place to start is How To Start Your Own Country by Erwin S. Strauss. For info and to buy, check the Amazon link on the right. For other answers, see below.

It´s in Australia. What do you know? (without looking it up!)
Thank you for your time.