Subversive Sovereignty: Parodic Representations of Micropatrias Enclaved by the United Kingdom Submitted by terri ann moreau Department of Geography College of Science Royal Holloway, University of London In fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of DPhil., Royal Holloway, University of London, 2014 1 Dedication Page There are three dedications that must take place. First, to my family, friends, and husband who were always there to help me in any and every way possible; especially to my muse and playmate, Princessa Madelin (aka Bodhi Anjali Moreau). Second, to S. Garrett Nelson who opened my eyes to the wonderful world I never knew existed, that of micropatrias. Third, to the micropatrial practitioners, I dedicate this work based on their realities. 2 Acknowledgements Page I would like to acknowledge some persons, institutions, and practitioners which made the thesis possible. I must thank the two beacons of knowledge and encouragement that guided me through the thesis, namely Dr. Tim Cresswell (my supervisor) and Dr. Klaus Dodds (my advisor). Both have challenged me to be a better academic, a better writer, and a better and more critical geographer. In addition, I cannot continue without thanking mentors and peers who were a rock from which I could always lean on, particularly but in no way limited to, Dr. Derek Alderman, E. Arnold Modlin, Jr., Dr. Kim Peters, Bradley L. Garrett, Michael Anton, Alison Hess, and Ellie Miles. I would also like to thank various academics with whom I have crossed paths with during my doctoral journey both students and professors alike, but especially Dr. Tim Edensor for always encouraging me, Dr. Jason Dittmer and Dr. Fiona McConnell for their insightful collaborations, and Dr. Pauliina Raento, Dr. Lawrence Berg, and Dr. Maoz Azaryahu for their wonderful reminders of reality and warming smiles, hugs, and conversations. In terms of funding, the thesis research and experience drew from many outlets, including the Overseas Research Student Awards Scheme (ORSAS), the Thomas Holloway Studentship, the Cultural Geographies Bursary, the Royal Holloway Department of Geography Travel Bursary, the Lionel Butler Travel Bursary, the Participatory Geography Working Group Travel Bursary, and the Political Geography Research Group Travel Bursary. As well, other sources of funding drew from my parent’s bank account and my spouse’s wallet, so a great big thank you for that. Last, but not least, I must thank all the practitioners who lent their time, guidance, and stories for which without the thesis would not exist. They welcomed me into their community and this deserves acknowledgement and a tremendous thank you for everything. 3 Declaration of Authorship I, terri ann moreau, hereby declare that this thesis and the work presented in it is entirely my own. Where I have consulted the work of others, this is always clearly stated. Signed: _terri ann moreau____ Date: _21 September 2014______________________ 4 Abstract The thesis is an exploration in breadth of the micropatrial phenomenon; the practice of creating self-declared nations outside of hegemonic convention. Positioning micropatrias as geopolitical anomalies, the thesis aims to critically examine micropatrias and their practitioners existing within territory claimed by the United Kingdom. The thesis investigates the approaches of micropatrial practitioners and highlights how their practices make visible for intervention the exclusionary strategies of sovereign hegemony. There is an explicit interest in contributing to debates within political and cultural geography pertaining to sovereignty, diplomacy, and the politics of transgression/subversion. More specifically, the aims are to interrogate micropatrial practices and representations in terms of subversion and liminality, symbols, and diplomacy. In particular, the focus is on how micropatrias parodically represent, to insiders and outsiders alike, a cultural and national presence. In doing so, the thesis, through a consideration of the apparent, absurd, or exceptional, offers critical insights into geopolitical norms, which might be described as hegemonic, especially those related to sovereignty and sovereign power. 5 Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction to the Thesis ................................................................... 13 Research Questions ........................................................................................... 19 Progression of Thesis......................................................................................... 22 Chapter 2: Sovereignty, Statehood, and Nationalism ........................................... 30 Sovereignty ....................................................................................................... 30 Theories of Statehood ....................................................................................... 33 The Declarative Theory of Statehood ............................................................ 34 The Constitutive Theory of Statehood ........................................................... 35 Nationalism ....................................................................................................... 39 Political Norms, Legitimation, and Micropatrias ............................................... 43 Chapter 3: Micropatrology .................................................................................... 51 Fantastic Geographies ....................................................................................... 55 Subversion, Symbols, and Diplomacy ................................................................ 59 Enclaves............................................................................................................. 61 Micropatrial Types ............................................................................................ 64 Representation, Culture and Identity ................................................................ 76 Chapter 4 Methods ............................................................................................... 82 Data Collection .................................................................................................. 83 The ‘Field’ .......................................................................................................... 95 Contact ........................................................................................................ 100 Unstructured Interviews .............................................................................. 103 Virtual Relationships ................................................................................... 107 Failed Diplomacy ......................................................................................... 110 The Value of the Insider ............................................................................... 112 The Nation of Heliotrope ............................................................................. 115 6 Chapter 5: Subversion and Micropatrial Liminality ............................................. 127 Representing Subversion: The Micropatrial Niche .......................................... 130 Power of Resistance and Transgression ...................................................... 132 National Enclaves, Sovereign Hosts, and International Liminality .............. 138 Creating a ‘dangerous’ nation? ....................................................................... 142 Micropatrial liminality ..................................................................................... 149 Remarks .......................................................................................................... 158 Chapter 6: Subversive Symbols of Nationalism ................................................... 160 3 Kings: The Presence of a Leader ................................................................... 162 Fashion and Serious Fun .............................................................................. 163 Opportunities for National Narratives ............................................................ 169 Postage........................................................................................................ 170 Currency ...................................................................................................... 172 The Triad ......................................................................................................... 178 Emblems ...................................................................................................... 178 Anthems ...................................................................................................... 181 National Flags ............................................................................................. 190 Practicing the Nation ....................................................................................... 200 ‘Paraphernalia of Ideology’ ............................................................................. 202 Heterotopic Subversion ................................................................................... 204 Heterodox Subversion ..................................................................................... 206 Waving Subversion .......................................................................................... 209 Micropatrial Digital Embassies ........................................................................ 211 Micropatrial Territory and Mimesis ...............................................................