Fictional Sovereignties
The trend over the past century has been towards a continuous increase in the number of small states, mainly owing to nationalist revolts against multi-national empires. Provided we do not deceive ourselves about where power really lies in the international system, let presidents and parliaments be three a penny if it makes people feel good about themselves.
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LONDON – A year ago, tiny Georgia tried to regain control over its breakaway enclave of South Ossetia. The Russians quickly expelled the Georgian army, to almost universal opprobrium from the West. South Ossetia, together with Abkhazia (combined population 300,000), promptly declared their “independence,” creating two new fictional sovereignties, and acquiring in the process all the official trappings of statehood: national heroes, colorful uniforms, anthems, flags, frontier posts, military forces, presidents, parliaments, and, most important, new opportunities for smuggling and corruption.