Welcome to the world's newest country – the Kingdom of Enclava

[Suzanimal]

The concept of Balkanisation has been taken to a new level with the creation of a brand new, self-declared country on the border between Slovenia and Croatia – the second such micro-nation to be formed in a month.

The Kingdom of Enclava is unlikely to be given international recognition any time soon but its founders insist it has every right to exist because it has been established on land claimed by neither the Croats nor Slovenes.

The 1,000 square foot patch of land is near the Slovenian town of Metlika and around 30 miles west of Croatia's capital, Zagreb.

It has been designated as the Kingdom of Enclava by a group of Poles who discovered that the land was "terra nullius" – no-man's-land.

Micro-nations have been proclaimed in different parts of the world for decades, but the trend has been spurred on by the growth of the internet, which has enabled their founders to attract attention and recruit thousands of 'virtual' citizens.

They are often born out of discontent or frustration with the established order and represent a way of thumbing one's nose at national authorities.
Billed as "the smallest country in Europe", Enclava has no citizens as yet.

Despite being the size of a suburban garden, its founders claim to have plans to create a tax-free community of like-minded people, who will be able to choose from five official languages – English, Polish, Slovenian, Croatian and – bizarrely – Mandarin.

A constitution is being drawn up and so far more than 5,000 people have applied for honorary citizenship.

The idea is to "create a place, where everyone, regardless of skin colour, religion or nationality, will be able to express their opinions, study for free, and earn money without worrying about taxes", said Piotr Wawrzynkiewicz, one of the founders.

So far neither Slovenia nor Croatia has commented on the creation of Europe's newest, self-proclaimed country.

Enclava lies at the opposite end of Croatia from the similarly minuscule micro-nation of Liberland, a stretch of woodland on the banks of the Danube which was declared independent by its founders last month.

Its self-appointed ruler is Vit Jedlicka, a conservative, anti-EU Czech politician and admirer of Ukip.

Liberland has its own flag, which features an eagle and a sun, a constitution, and a motto – "To live and let live".

Like Enclava, Liberland has not been recognised by any other country but that has not stopped 300,000 people around the world from applying for citizenship.

"We are part of a great libertarian movement that is growing around the world. "Governments are becoming increasingly unpopular," Mr Jedlicka told The Telegraph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...f-Enclava.html

[Occam's Banana]

I am approve these shenanigans! I am very much approve!

[presence]

I am approve these shenanigans! I am very much approve!

Occupy an island on the Rio Grande and you're my hero

[GunnyFreedom]

Occupy an island on the Rio Grande and you're my hero

Such an island would need a competent security force.

And a good network technician.

[Suzanimal]

Such an island would need a competent security force.

And a good network technician.

It would also need a Suzanimal. I'm pretty useless but at least I'm entertaining.

[Occam's Banana]

Occupy an island on the Rio Grande and you're my hero

The Rio Grande? No way! All the shiftless, mooching immigrants would just ruin the place.

"We want a welfare-warfare state! And a central bank to pay for it all! Just like in the Old Country!"

The ones from Mexico might not be so bad, though ...

[r3volution 3.0]

The 1,000 square foot patch of land...

....more than 5,000 people have applied for honorary citizenship.

That works out to 28.8 square inches per person. Must be some skinny folks.

[Zippyjuan]

That works out to 28.8 square inches per person. Must be some skinny folks.

They could do like Hong Kong and build up. The site floods often anyways from what I have heard.

[Pauls' Revere]

I see thousands of tax free bank accounts opening up!

[Paul Or Nothing II]

I see thousands of tax free bank accounts opening up!

But how are they going to provide protection in that case? As I've said in the other thread about "Liberland", they are likely going to have to charge something, call it a tax or a fee or whatever, in order to provide robust security otherwise they are unlikely to attract "normal" people & businesses.

[Paul Or Nothing II]

I see thousands of tax free bank accounts opening up!

But how are they going to provide protection in that case? As I've said in the other thread about "Liberland", they are likely going to have to charge something, call it a tax or a fee or whatever, in order to provide robust security otherwise they are unlikely to attract "normal" people & businesses.

[Chester Copperpot]

virtual citizenship.. never thought about that. hmm

[Pauls' Revere]

But how are they going to provide protection in that case? As I've said in the other thread about "Liberland", they are likely going to have to charge something, call it a tax or a fee or whatever, in order to provide robust security otherwise they are unlikely to attract "normal" people & businesses.

digital currency on a protected server? how many of us actually carry cash anymore?

[Paul Or Nothing II]

digital currency on a protected server? how many of us actually carry cash anymore?

Do you think it's so easy to get on the international payments system? Do you think the major governments around the world won't have a say in it? Plenty of the major governments are already squirming about pre-existing tax havens under the guise of "money-laundering, terrorist-funding, etc" at a time when they are hungry for more taxes as the global recession deepens......

Edit - By the way, I like your signature

[Zippyjuan]

First they need roads into their island. Then physical infrastructure. Unless it is going to be a tent city of backpackers and boats. A long ways away from becoming the center of anything. Assuming Slovenia and Croatia allow them to.

[TheTexan]

First they need roads into their island. Then physical infrastructure. Unless it is going to be a tent city of backpackers and boats. A long ways away from becoming the center of anything. Assuming Slovenia and Croatia allow them to.

More like, they need a skyscraper, cus the country is only 1000 sq ft of land

[Zippyjuan]

Just noted they do have some dirt roads. https://www.google.com/maps/search/l...m1!1e3!6m1!1e1

Entry is from Slovenian side (unless you take the Danube).

[mad cow]

First they need roads into their island. Then physical infrastructure. Unless it is going to be a tent city of backpackers and boats. A long ways away from becoming the center of anything. Assuming Slovenia and Croatia allow them to.

I bet that most people here live in houses larger than 1,000 square feet,my house is 1,350,over one third bigger,and it is hardly large.

If you ran a road into my house,you might have room left over for a tent city of five tents,if they were really friendly.

[Zippyjuan]

Oops, I did not realize that this is a different "micro nation" from the one previously discussed- Liberland. It is larger and is the one with roads I mentioned. Yeah- my one bedroom condo is over 700 square feet. 1000 square feet would be about say 20 feet by 50 feet.

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...ntry-in-Europe