Catalonia

  • Unrecognized states
  • Independence proclaimed 27 October 2017
  • Capital Barcelona
  • Population 8,012,231 (census 2024)
  • Area 32,113 km²

Catalonia is an autonomous community in Spain, situated in the northeastern corner of the country. It is designated as a nationality by its Statute of Autonomy and consists of four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. On 27 October 2017, the Catalan Parliament declared independence from Spain following a referendum that was immediately disputed. The Spanish government imposed direct rule on Catalonia and dismissed the Catalan government. Carles Puigdemont, then president, fled to Belgium along with other members of his government. Charged with rebellion, European arrest warrants were issued against them.

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Taiwan

Taiwan, officially the Republic of China, is a de facto island state in the East Chinese Sea. The People’s Republic of China has consistently claimed sovereignty over Taiwan and refuses diplomatic relations with any country that recognizes this republic. Taiwan is the 22nd-largest economy in the world, and its high-tech industry plays a key role in the global economy, it is unrecognized by most member states of the United Nations. Still, many countries maintain unofficial ties with Taiwan through representative offices and institutions that function as de facto embassies and consulates.

Glorioso Islands

The Glorieuses lie north of Madagaskar and is made up of Grande Glorieuse, Île du Lys and eight rock islets—together they form a coral reef and a lagoon. In 1880 Frenchman Hippolyte Caltaux settled and started a coconut plantation on the largest island, Grande Glorieuse. In the late 19th century the islands were officially claimed by the French and became part of the colony of Mayotte, an insular department of France in the Indian Ocean. The Comores and Madagaskar both claim the islands but the French reinstated their claim when the France–Seychelles Maritime Boundary Agreement was drawn in 2001. Fifteen soldiers are stationed on the islands to ensure the sovereignty of France.

Sabotage

State of Sabotage (SoS) was founded as a sovereign state in 2003 on the unpopulated island Harakka in Finland. It was initiated by the Austrian artist Robert Jelinek during the Amorph Summit of Micronations in Helsinki, Finland. The patron saint of Sabotage is H.R. Giger, the Swiss artist famous for his sombre and grotesque imagery. According to their own statement ‘Sabotage knows neither officials nor functionaries—it knows only self-determined artists and active associates.’ The State has its own art collection with contributions by Roman Signer, Joseph Beuys, Arman Linke, among others. Sabotage has a non defined territory and may emerge anywhere geographically.