Edited by author 09-22-2002 11:20 PM
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Hello James. Do you like nations?

Best,

Cpt. Moniker

I like them very much indeed. Thanks for asking!

I would also like to thank the person who contributed earlier today. I am deeply grateful.

HAY YOU! Looks like they found out how cool you are. Congratulations on being in the top 100 at PC mag. Much love, friend.

*high five* Thanks, mystery guest!

(are we talking very short or just a little shorter?)

  What did u make of the fictional datahaven in Neil Stephensons Cryptonomicon? Will a real-life Kinakuta someday exist and where are the likely candidates?

Edited by author 03-15-2003 11:38 AM
God, I loved Cryptonomicon.

My first impulse is to say that a Kinakuta could never exist, but I've learned my kneejerk responses are sometimes just that. If you asked me if a hypothetical former bishopric about the size of a county park could maintain its independence for centuries and become a major tax haven, I'd call that implausible on its face...

Basically, though, here's my thinking. If someone tried to set up a data haven (and here I'm specifically thinking of Sealand) it would threaten the existing tax havens, who have a vested interest in shutting it down and scads of money. I don't think they'll ever get off the ground. Whatever they set up, the existing havens will match. And if they can't match it, they'll flood the market with rumors of undependability and try to cripple it with lawsuits and other remedies available to established sovereign nations, which datahavens don't have. Tonga invaded Minerva and built over it, after all.

  Thanks for ur response James.I heard that UK gov are now disputing whether Sealand is in fact within UK territorial waters.The other example u mentioned begs the question of armament and if future-tech could provide means of defense which are presently unavailable in order to secure the soveriegnty of such a micronation.Any thoughts on this?

Well, Sealand is within UK territorial waters. The only question is 1) whether Sealand was recognized before the 12-km limit came into effect and 2) whether Sealand can make anyone care. Back in the 60s, someone tried a Sealand-type stunt off the coast of Italy. The Italian government sent frogmen to blow up the platform. End of that story.

As far as defense goes: under the current interpretation of international law, all land has been found and all land has been claimed. New nations can't be built or new land claimed. So any attempt at defending a data haven enclave would be officially piracy or insurrection or something of that sort.

Basically; the only real option open to an aspiring data haven is to co-opt an existing government. And then to make sure you don't run into a conflict with the existing haven countries. The Swiss have lawyers, the Bahamians have cartel connections... make no mistake, a real-life Kinakuta project would face massive difficulties, to put it lightly.