<p>ABSTRACT</p><p>Bachelor essay in political science by Hanna Richter, spring 2006</p><p>Supervisor: Mats Lindberg</p><p>Title: A study of the phenomenon of micronations</p><p>The purpose of this essay is to study the phenomenon of “micronations”, to describe it to the reader and to discuss why this phenomenon is interesting to study in the field of political science. The questions this essay seeks to answer are:</p><p>- What are micronations, and which variations are to be found within the phenomenon?</p><p>- Why are micronations interesting to study in the field of political science?</p><p>Bary Buzans theory of the nature of the state works as a frame of reference to this investigation of micro “state-like” units. The phenomenon of micronations has not been investigated by the social sciences in any extent worth mentioning yet. This makes the research process some what complicated. Despite the fact that micronations is a phenomenon encompassing hundreds of individual units, this essay have studied the phenomenon merely in a qualitative way, due to problems related to the lack of earlier research and time. This study shows that micronations is a complex phenomenon with only a few things working as common traits. The first trait is the fact that all of these units called mikronations in one way or another seeks some kind of sovereignty and self determination. The second is that micronations seem to be a western phenomenon. This study also shows that micronations in various ways question the concept of the “state”. This makes it a political phenomenon worth investigating. The essay suggests different fields of interests that might benefit from the study of micronations. Some of these are: the study of international relations, international law, theory of democracy and the study of constitutions.</p>

ABSTRACT Bachelor essay in political science by Hanna Richter, spring 2006 Supervisor: Mats Lindberg Title: A study of the phenomenon of micronations The purpose of this essay is to study the phenomenon of “micronations”, to describe it to the reader and to discuss why this phenomenon is interesting to study in the field of political science. The questions this essay seeks to answer are: - What are micronations, and which variations are to be found within the phenomenon? - Why are micronations interesting to study in the field of political science? Bary Buzans theory of the nature of the state works as a frame of reference to this investigation of micro “state-like” units. The phenomenon of micronations has not been investigated by the social sciences in any extent worth mentioning yet. This makes the research process some what complicated. Despite the fact that micronations is a phenomenon encompassing hundreds of individual units, this essay have studied the phenomenon merely in a qualitative way, due to problems related to the lack of earlier research and time. This study shows that micronations is a complex phenomenon with only a few things working as common traits. The first trait is the fact that all of these units called mikronations in one way or another seeks some kind of sovereignty and self determination. The second is that micronations seem to be a western phenomenon. This study also shows that micronations in various ways question the concept of the “state”. This makes it a political phenomenon worth investigating. The essay suggests different fields of interests that might benefit from the study of micronations. Some of these are: the study of international relations, international law, theory of democracy and the study of constitutions.