Micronational Diplomacy

"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggy', until you can find a rock."
(Provenance uncertain, attributed to Will Rogers, among others)

We have previously opined on Micronational war.  But, if (as was said by Carl von Clausewitz), "War is the continuation of politics by other means," and micronational war is effectively a non-entity, does this then mean that we don't need to worry about the niceties and social graces, that politics and diplomacy aren't required?

In the strictest sense, it can be argued that this is the case.  After all, a micronation exists by the will of its creator(s), and doesn't require the assent or confirmation of other micronations in order to do so (although some seem to think that this is required for legitimacy, and continually seek to sign "treaties of mutual recognition" with as many other micronations as they can).

However...  there is an argument to be made that micronations are (or at least should be) social endeavours.  And, if that is the case, then it would follow that diplomacy would be an essential component of any micronation that hopes to achieve longevity.

First, within itself, a micronation can be described as the most intentional of communities, in that everyone who is part of your micronation is (hopefully) there because they want to be, unlike macronational citizenship - which is often more an "accident of birth" than any intentional choice.  One definition of diplomacy is, "The art of dealing with people in a sensitive and effective way."  Clearly, dealing with people sensitively and effectively will make them much more amenable to joining your micronation.

Secondly, We have made no secret on this blog (or elsewhere) of the fact that We are fans of MicroCon.  The reason for this is because of the free exchange of ideas that occurs at this event - We always come away energized with new ideas and possibilities.  However, a central aspect of this event is diplomacy, in the context of "The art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of states."  The more effectively you can practice diplomacy (whether at MicroCon or elsewhere), the more your micronation stands to benefit from the free interchange of ideas, information, and (in some cases) even goods and services with other micronations.

Thus, We would suggest that any serious micronationalist would continually strive to further their knowledge and experience in the art and science of diplomacy.

An Imperial Wedding

We got back home late last night from a weekend in Montreal, where it was Our privilege and honor to attend the marriage of Emperor Eric Lis of the Aerican Empire to his lovely bride, Jenny.  We wish them nothing but happiness and health together for many years to come!