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If you want to declare something to be independent from a nation-state and its laws, you need one of the following conditions to be true: 1) you are small enou
by atemerev 9y ago
If you want to declare something to be independent from a nation-state and its laws, you need one of the following conditions to be true:
1) you are small enough or insignificant enough that nation states are not interesting in showing you your place,
2) you are powerful enough so nation states will not mess with you, as the cost will be too much for them.
Point 1 is always temporary. Point 2 is more interesting — for now, there are no private powers that could stand the military assault of nation states, especially larger ones. But such power does exist, and we are periodically reminded about it in recent news reports.
- stevedonovan 9y agoClassical Greek civilization was the high point of the 'city-state', but the poleis could only survive if there was no strong nation-state messing around with them. They rallied together to prevent Persia moving Westwards, but simply could not get their act together to stop an old-fashioned imperial kingdom, Macedonia. And once the Romans expanded, they had no hope of regaining autonomy.