The difficult birth of a nation

Serbia and Croatia are arguing about who owns a very small stretch of land on the west bank of the Danube river between the two countries. A Czech named Vit Jedlicka has also laid claim to the land and has declared it to be a nation, Free Republic of Liberland, with himself as president. However, another entrepreneur had previously claimed the land and called it Paraduin.

Jedlicka is more sophisticated than the Paraduin founder. He has a flag, a coat of arms, a motto and a constitution. Jedlicka claims to have a "Constitutional republic with elements of direct democracy" form of government. "The motto of Liberland is “To live and let live” because Liberland prides itself on personal and economic freedom of its people, which is guaranteed by the Constitution, which significantly limits the power of politicians so they could not interfere too much in the freedoms of the Liberland nation." 

You can apply to become a citizen, but you have to compete with 160,000 other people with the same desire. He is looking for people who:

• have respect for other people and respect the opinions of others, regardless of their race, ethnicity, orientation, or religion
• have respect for private ownership which is untouchable
• do not have communist, nazi or other extremist past
• were not punished for past criminal offences

You can sign up here.

Thanks to our Brooklyn correspondent.