195 is my magic number. The number of countries in the World.
So what makes a country a country?
Is the UK one?
Yes, but perhaps for not much longer if the SNP have their way.
Is Texas one?
No, but some hysterical secessionists who want the right to deny healthcare to large sections of their neighbours think it should be.
Is Bermuda? The Cook Islands, American Samoa?
No. They all have a unique sense of sovereignty, but are all forms of Dependencies of one sort or another, whether that be dependent on the UK, New Zealand or the USA.
Is the Turks and Caicos Islands even a dependency?
No. They had their layer of self government abolished recently because of corruption. They are being governed directly from London for now pending a decision about who to farm them off to... The Bahamas are favourite in line to absorb these Caribbean islands into their state, though Canada may be interested too!
How about Greenland and the Faroe Islands?
Not yet... Both of these places are autonomous regions of Denmark. All three parts in this arrangement accept that independence is the ultimate aim and right for Greenland and Faroe, yet all also accept that this is some way off. Greenland did recently take over responsibility for all mineral rights in it's territory, a major step to securing long term financial and sovereign independence. Denmark therefore joins the UK in fielding multiple sides representing internal regions in different international sporting competitions such as the World Cup.
What about the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands?
Again no, but the precise form of words needed to describe these quasi independent tax havens escapes me for now!
So what about Reunion, French Guyana and French Polynesia?
These countries all count as part of France. The Euro is the currency, they send members to the French Parliament and vote for the President. A purist would say that when you have visited Calais for the day, all these overseas territories should be coloured in on your travel map too as they are as French as Paris.
So cut to the chase what makes a country a country?
The United Nations has 192 member states, with 2 more states enjoying Observer Status (Vatican City and Palestine). These 192 members are independent countries, recognised by other states and some have dependendent or overseas territories such as France, New Zealand, the UK and USA. The other 2 have their own unique sense of soverignty and place in the World, and one day in the future, Palestine will move to full UN membership.
Country 195 comes in the form of Kosovo, a country whose independence the UK, EU, US and many other recognise as independent, but whose UN membership is blocked by Russia.
So what about South Ossetia and Abkhazia? Only Russia and Nicaragua recognise their independence following last years war with Georgia, so they don't make it to my list, though they would if I were Russian at the expense of Kosovo.
What about Transdniestria? Absolutely nobody on the entire planet recognises poor TDN, so even though I have been there, it does not count!
So what makes a country a country?
Is the UK one?
Yes, but perhaps for not much longer if the SNP have their way.
Is Texas one?
No, but some hysterical secessionists who want the right to deny healthcare to large sections of their neighbours think it should be.
Is Bermuda? The Cook Islands, American Samoa?
No. They all have a unique sense of sovereignty, but are all forms of Dependencies of one sort or another, whether that be dependent on the UK, New Zealand or the USA.
Is the Turks and Caicos Islands even a dependency?
No. They had their layer of self government abolished recently because of corruption. They are being governed directly from London for now pending a decision about who to farm them off to... The Bahamas are favourite in line to absorb these Caribbean islands into their state, though Canada may be interested too!
How about Greenland and the Faroe Islands?
Not yet... Both of these places are autonomous regions of Denmark. All three parts in this arrangement accept that independence is the ultimate aim and right for Greenland and Faroe, yet all also accept that this is some way off. Greenland did recently take over responsibility for all mineral rights in it's territory, a major step to securing long term financial and sovereign independence. Denmark therefore joins the UK in fielding multiple sides representing internal regions in different international sporting competitions such as the World Cup.
What about the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands?
Again no, but the precise form of words needed to describe these quasi independent tax havens escapes me for now!
So what about Reunion, French Guyana and French Polynesia?
These countries all count as part of France. The Euro is the currency, they send members to the French Parliament and vote for the President. A purist would say that when you have visited Calais for the day, all these overseas territories should be coloured in on your travel map too as they are as French as Paris.
So cut to the chase what makes a country a country?
The United Nations has 192 member states, with 2 more states enjoying Observer Status (Vatican City and Palestine). These 192 members are independent countries, recognised by other states and some have dependendent or overseas territories such as France, New Zealand, the UK and USA. The other 2 have their own unique sense of soverignty and place in the World, and one day in the future, Palestine will move to full UN membership.
Country 195 comes in the form of Kosovo, a country whose independence the UK, EU, US and many other recognise as independent, but whose UN membership is blocked by Russia.
So what about South Ossetia and Abkhazia? Only Russia and Nicaragua recognise their independence following last years war with Georgia, so they don't make it to my list, though they would if I were Russian at the expense of Kosovo.
What about Transdniestria? Absolutely nobody on the entire planet recognises poor TDN, so even though I have been there, it does not count!
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