Nationalism in microcosm
In an essay elsewhere on this site, I have discussed the difference between nations and states. Let us now turn, then, to nationalism in its smallest incarnation - let us explore the phenomenon of micronationalism.
In recent years, micronationalism has ( for reasons which shall be discussed below ) achieved a certain notoriety, chiefly because of the surface bizarrerie of the phenomenon. Media reports on micronationalism seldom do more than scratch the surface of what is really going on, because the reporters so often become fascinated by the fact that adults are "playing at kings".
Indeed, the surface impression of micronationalism is that of a number of groups of adults, playacting imaginary nations. This impression is so eye-catching that it quite often completely obscures the fact that there is a deeper current of activity in the micronational community. For some, it is indeed a game - but others are serious, to some extent, about their endeavours to create a nation.
Though micronationalism, at first sight, can seem risible, the question is: why is there ( or should there be ) any fundamental difference between a recently-imagined community ( to use Benedict Anderson's term ) or a "traditional" community? Is there any fundamental difference, other than a durable tradition - and if a micronation should last long enough, would it not then be no different from any other nation?
Micronationalism is a fairly recent thing. Although the phenomenological roots are probably as old as humanity, that complex of activities which we presently call micronationalism has only been around for approximately six decades. The word 'micronationalism' has only been in use for 10-15 years (in all probability, the word has been sporadically used as a spontaneously formed neologism before that, but the current usage was introduced in the late 1980s or early 1990s).
Defining micronationalism is an extremely difficult task - particularly since micronationalism as a phenomenon spans a wide spectrum of subphenomena. Furthermore, micronationalism is invested with widely varying meanings by its participants. There is in the micronational community no single version of the semantic content of the word "micronation".
For some, micronationalism is a mere hobby - an extended game of role-playing. Others take it somewhat more seriously, viewing micronationalism as a political simulation - their primary motivation for taking part in the micronational community is thus to gain insight into the political process, with a view to making use of this experience in a 'real-world' context. Yet another group takes the micronational project much more seriously - it is their ambition to achieve statehood, if possible.
Seen from the perspective of the established states (usually termed "macronations" in the micronational jargon), the micronations are an irrelevance, hardly to be taken seriously. Nevertheless, it is my contention that they do represent a significant phenomenon, symptomatic of the fundamental motivations involved in nationalism.
Fortunately, we are not hopelessly at a loss for a common definition. All of these instances of micronationalism do share some common traits. They all behave in a fashion deliberately imitative of a 'true' state - they have governments, citizens, laws, territorial 'claims', etc. This gives us a basis on which to establish a (very superficial) definition of a micronation:
A micronation is an entity created and maintained as if it were a nation and/or a state, and generally carrying with it some, most or all of the attributes of nationhood, and likewise generally carrying with it some of the attributes of statehood. Though a micronation may well have begun as a mere drollery, it has the potential ( given the evolution of a sufficiently vital national culture ) to develop into a true nation, and possibly to achieve statehood.
The concept of a "micronation" thus extends across the spectrum from a few people "playing at countries" to (relatively) large and successful ventures with all the attributes of a major nation, except for size.
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