Minimal unit of sovereignty
Minimal unit of sovereignty
From Andean cosmology to digital decentralization
While reading The Network State, I was searching for a solution to Peru's political crisis. In the last six years, my country has had seven changes of presidents, and there have been constant clashes between the state powers alongside with constant social repression.
The recent self-coup of the former left-wing president Pedro Castillo further weakened an already fragile democracy. Causing the Intelligence Unit of The Economist to place Peru in the 75th position of the 2022 Democracy Index - a ranking that evaluates the democratic levels of 167 countries. This means Peru has dropped from a flawed democracy to a "Hybrid regime", and is only a few crises away from becoming an authoritarian government. (If it is not already an authoritarian government)
In such a dire situation, I was desperately looking for the fastest way to get a result. A minimal viable product. Something that I can share with my people NOW.
That’s what got me thinking…
What’s the minimal unit of sovereignty a network state needs?
How could I accomplish this in 10 months instead of 10 years?
This question opened up a new way for me to conceptualize a sovereign state that might lead to a different way to create a new country. Although this method might depend entirely on the nation, culture, context, and laws that govern the places where this network state will be born.
Land Last but Not Land Never
Balaji’s one liner is genius. A Network State will, eventually, crowdfund territory around the world.
That’s key in order to get diplomatic recognition because the United Nations only recognizes sovereign states as politically independent territories with a permanent population, defined territory, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.
So now, just to recall all the concepts. We have 4 well define stages in TNS.
Startup Society: A highly aligned community
Network Union: A Startup Society capable of collective action.
Network Archipelago: A Network Union that crowdfunds territory
Network State: A Network Archipelago that is recognized by the United Nations as a sovereign country
The second step is where I plan to fork Balaji’s concept and build upon it. I believe that the concept of a Network Union is enough to reinvent democracy, at least in Peru. Not only is there a precedent, but the heart of Andean cosmology is rooted on a really similar concept.
From Sovereign States to Sovereign Individuals.
Reading "The Sovereign Individual" was an enlightening experience. The topics Balaji often discussed were already outlined in 1997 - wow!
It's crazy that the authors described this trend towards decentralization and the emergence of new digital technology that will enable individuals achieve unprecedented levels of autonomy, while simultaneously eroding the power of governments and traditional institutions to control their activities. They described technologies like the internet, encryption, AI, and blockchain that now enable individuals to communicate, transact, and store value in ways that were previously impossible.
Now, a community of sovereign individuals can turn into a sovereign community? It’s a matter of numbers? It’s a matter of legitimacy?
Sovereign communities
Although the United Nations does not recognize communities as sovereign entities (because they do not have a defined territory), there is a close precedent. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted in 2007, is an international instrument that sets out the collective and individual rights of indigenous peoples and provides a framework for the promotion and protection of these rights. The Declaration recognizes the rights of indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures, and traditions, and to pursue their development in accordance with their own aspirations and needs.
Sure, close but not quite there yet, right? Land is still the problem here
Why would Peru be different? — “Ayllu”
The concept of "Ayllu" is not exclusive to Peru, but is deeply rooted in Andean culture. Deriving from the Quechua language, it refers to a communal system of land ownership, labor, and social relations that has been a fundamental part of Andean life for thousands of years.
The Ayllu was a Network Union without technologies of communication. A highly aligned community capable of collective action.
The key of our future might lay on our past
One of the key aspects of the Ayllu is its communal system of land ownership and labor. Land is owned and worked collectively by members of the community, and decisions about land use and allocation are made through community-based decision-making processes. This fosters a sense of shared purpose and collective responsibility, which is essential for collective physical action.
The Ayllu's emphasis on social solidarity and collective well-being also encourages members of the community to work together to address common challenges and threats. This can involve collective physical action to defend the community against external threats, such as natural disasters, or to promote common goals, such as social justice or environmental sustainability.
This community-based approach to collective physical action can provide valuable insights for contemporary efforts to build more aligned and cohesive communities. By emphasizing principles of solidarity, reciprocity, and mutual aid, it is possible to promote a sense of shared purpose and collective responsibility, which can help to foster collective physical action in pursuit of common goals.
Furthermore, the Ayllu's focus on social solidarity and collective well-being can also promote social cohesion and trust, which are essential for building resilient communities capable of tackling common challenges and threats. By working together to meet their collective needs, members of the community can develop strong bonds of trust and mutual support, which can help to promote collective physical action in pursuit of common goals.
Conclusion
I think the reason why the concept of the Network Union resonated with me was that it holds more power than we think. It’s the concept of Ayllu but powered by technology. This might be the minimal unit of sovereignty necessary to create a new country. Or at least, a new form of government.
— Side note: This is a sporadic Network Union effect. Collective digital action at its finest.
Chads in the YouTube comment section. Song “Can You Feel My Heart” by Bring Me The Horizon
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