Micronations: DIY Statehood
Always a sub-culture, micronations have blossomed in the internet era
I first learned about micronations back in the late 1990s, while reading Neal Stephenson's runaway science fiction bestseller Cryptonomicon. The novel introduces the concept of stateless data haven, one of which was coincidentally created on Sealand the year after Cryptonomicon was released. It seemed like the book was coming to life!
Sealand is one of many micronations, part of a long history of secession from the rest of the world. Sealand is based on an abandoned off-shore WWII anti-aircraft platform in international waters in the North Sea. For a nation of five people, Sealand has a surprisingly engrossing history which includes not only the aforementioned data haven but also currency scares, international weapons infractions, and an international scandal involving Sealand passports being involved in high-profile crimes.
