I have been very interested, over the years, in MicroNations. Lonely Planet have an excellent book called that, and there is also Off The Map by Alastair Bonnett.
The problem with MicroNations is that they never succeed, except for few extremely minor territories like Sealand, where a family does not a nation make. Some billionaires are trying to make “free states” of libertarianism in 3rd world countries but none have happened yet.
Some Australians have tried it, with large farms, but ultimately it was just a mad attempt to not pay taxes and they ended up in prison.
So here’s the idea… Find a decent parcel of land somewhere that is sufficiently fertile and has nice enough weather to scratch out an independent existence. But not somewhere of any great value to anyone. For example a small valley in South America.
Requirements:
- Large enough to sustain a population of a few hundred people
- Defensible – usually via hillsides or cliffs
- Water supply cannot be tampered with from beyond
- The government is the least aggressive, least caring you can find
- Nearby police can be bought or bribed – you want to be able to access the rest of the world sometimes
- Internet that cannot be cut off (difficult!)
Then you get a billionaire libertarian involved. You get all the supplies you ever need, and the founding population, and weaponry, and mercenaries.
Then you move in, shock and awe. Any people you displace = hopefully not many, and preferably none – you offer them co-existence, or you pay them triple what their land is worth for them to leave.
Because it is such a unique situation, and not really a threat to anyone, the authorities will likely take their time considering any retaliation. And quite likely they’ll just let you be. With time, and tourism, a new country – officially recognised – could occur.
Christiania is an example of how basic squatting led to a micronation that the government let be. It is the 4th biggest tourist attraction in Denmark,