Microstate
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A microstate or ministate is a sovereign state having a very small population or land area, usually both. However, the meanings of "state" and "very small" are not well-defined in international law.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref> Some recent attempts to define microstates have focused on identifying qualitative features that are linked to their size and population, such as partial delegation of their sovereignty to larger states, such as for international defense.
Commonly accepted examples of microstates include five historic European microstates: Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City. Malta, Iceland, and Luxembourg are sometimes included in that list but are generally considered too populous to be genuine microstates. Other examples are small, isolated island states in the Pacific Ocean that gained independence from the European or Australasian powers: Nauru, Palau, and Tuvalu. The smallest political entity recognized as a sovereign state is Vatican City, with fewer than 1,000 residents and an area of only Template:Convert. Some microstates – such as Monaco and Vatican City – are city-states consisting of a single municipality.
DefinitionsEdit
QuantitativeEdit
Most scholars identify microstates by using a quantitative threshold and applying it to either one variable (such as the size of its territory<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> or population<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>) or a composite of different variables.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> While it is agreed that microstates are the smallest of all states, there is no consensus on what variable (or variables) or cut-off point should be used to determine which political units should be labelled as "microstates" (as opposed to small "normal" states).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">Template:Cite report</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite thesis</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> According to some scholars the quantitative approach to defining microstates suffers from such problems as "inconsistency, arbitrariness, vagueness and inability to meaningfully isolate qualitatively distinct political units".<ref name=":1" />
QualitativeEdit
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Some academics have suggested defining microstates according to the unique features that are linked to their geographic or demographic smallness.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=":4">Template:Cite book</ref> Newer approaches have proposed looking at the behaviour or capacity to operate in the international arena in order to determine which states should deserve the microstate label.<ref name=":4" /><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Yet, it has been arguedTemplate:By whom that such approaches could lead to either confusing microstates with weak states<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> (or failed states) or relying too much on subjective perceptions.<ref name=":1" />
An alternative approach is to define microstates as "modern protected states".<ref name=":1" /> According to the definition proposed by Dumienski (2014): "microstates are modern protected states, i.e. sovereign states that have been able to unilaterally depute certain attributes of sovereignty to larger powers in exchange for benign protection of their political and economic viability against their geographic or demographic constraints."<ref name=":1" /> Adopting this approach permits limiting the number of microstates and separating them from both small states and autonomies or dependencies.<ref name=":1" />
The smallest political unit recognized as a sovereign state is the Vatican City, though its precise status is sometimes disputed, e.g., Maurice Mendelson argued in 1972 that "[i]n two respects it may be doubted whether the territorial entity, the Vatican City, meets the traditional criteria of statehood".<ref>Template:Cite journalTemplate:Better source needed</ref>
PoliticsEdit
Statistical research has shown that microstates are more likely to be democracies than larger states. In 2012, Freedom House classified 86% of the countries with fewer than 500,000 inhabitants as "free".<ref name=":6">Template:Cite journal</ref> This shows that countries with small populations often had a high degree of political freedom and civil liberties, which is one of the hallmarks of democracies. Some scholars have taken the statistical correlation between small size and democracy as a sign that smallness is beneficial to the development of a democratic political system,<ref name=":7">Template:Cite journal</ref> mentioning social cohesiveness, opportunities for direct communication and homogeneity of interests as possible explanations for why this is the case.<ref name=":6" /><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Case study research, however, has led some researchers to believe that the statistical evidence belies the anti-democratic elements of microstate politics.<ref name=":6" /><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Due to small populations, family and personal relations are often decisive in microstate politics. In some cases, this impedes neutral and formal decision-making and instead leads to undemocratic political activity, such as clientelism, corruption, particularism and executive dominance.<ref name=":6" />
The high number of democracies amongst microstates could be explained by their colonial history.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7" /> Most microstates adopted the same political system as their colonial ruler.<ref name=":8">Template:Cite journal</ref> Because of the high number of microstates that were British colonies in the past, microstates often have a majoritarian and parliamentary political system similar to the Westminster system.<ref name=":7" /> Some microstates with a history as British colony have implemented some aspects of a consensus political system, to adapt to their geographic features or societal make-up.<ref name=":8" /> While the colonial history often determines what political systems microstates have, they do implement changes to better accommodate their specific characteristics.
Microstates and international relationsEdit
Microstates often rely on other countries in order to survive, as they have a small military capacity and a lack of resources. This had led some to believe that microstates are forced to subordinate themselves to larger states which reduces their sovereignty.<ref name=":9">Template:Cite journal</ref> However, research has shown that microstates strategically engage in patron-client relationships with other countries.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> This allows them to trade some privileges to countries that can advance their interests the most. Examples of this are microstates that establish a tax haven or sell their support in international committees in exchange for military and economic support.<ref name=":9" />
Historical anomalies and aspirant statesEdit
A small number of tiny sovereign political units have been founded on historic anomalies or eccentric interpretations of law. Those types of states, often labelled as "microstates," are usually located on small (usually disputed) territorial enclaves, generate limited economic activity founded on tourism and philatelic and numismatic sales, and are tolerated or ignored by the nations from which they claim to have seceded.
The Republic of Indian Stream, now the town of Pittsburg, New Hampshire, was a geographic anomaly that had been left unresolved by the Treaty of Paris, which ended the American Revolutionary War, and was claimed by both the United States and Canada. Between 1832 and 1835, the area's residents refused to acknowledge either claimant.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The Cospaia Republic became independent by a treaty error and survived from 1440 to 1826.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Its independence made it important in the introduction of tobacco cultivation to Italy.
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Couto Misto was disputed by Spain and Portugal and operated as a sovereign state until the 1864 Treaty of Lisbon partitioned the territory, with the larger part becoming part of Spain.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Jaxa was a small state that existed during the 17th century at the border between Tsardom of Russia and Qing China. Despite its location in East Asia, the state's primary language was Polish.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
See alsoEdit
- City-state
- European microstates
- Free State of Fiume
- Free Territory of Trieste
- Island country
- List of countries and dependencies by population density
- List of countries and outlying territories by total area
- List of countries by population
- Microstates and the United Nations
- Neutral Moresnet