The State of Hokoria actively engages with other foreign territories that are considered to be ‘micronations’. In order for the Department of Exterior Affairs and the wider Royal Government of Hokoria to have a consistent and clear approach to relations with foreign micronational territories, this Exterior policy should be followed.
This policy is published in accordance with Section 4 of the Act of Government (2023) and may be amended or withdrawn by the Department of Exterior Affairs at any time.
Contents
Recognition of foreign micronational territories
Recognition of foreign micronational territories is often a great way to establish relations. After all, why entertain something that you don’t recognise?
De jure recognition
Any official collaboration with a foreign micronational territory, where it is referred to as such, or official correspondence with the Government of a foreign micronational territory, where it is referred to as such, is considered to be de jure recognition from the Department of Exterior Affairs. Additionally, de jure recognition only applies where the official collaboration or communication is with the central governing body (Government), or similar entity, of a foreign territory that officially considers itself to be a sovereign territory and where the Department of Exterior Affairs has not otherwise specified that a nation is not de jure recognised.
De facto recognition
Where the Department of Exterior Affairs lists the nation under the Recognised foreign territories list (XTR/RS), the foreign micronational territory is considered to have de facto recognition from the Department of Exterior Affairs. Additionally, de facto recognition applies to any foreign micronational territories that are member states (or similar status) of an intergovernmental organisation that the Department of Exterior Affairs maintains a presence within as a member (or similar status) itself and where the Department of Exterior Affairs has not otherwise specified that a nation is not de facto recognised.
De facto recognition should only be considered where the foreign micronational territory is likely to participate in meaningful relations with the Department of Exterior Affairs in addition to the set requirements of having been established as a foreign territory (‘state’ or ‘nation’) at least 6 calendar months ago, having already maintained communication with the Department of Exterior Affairs for at least 1 calendar month (with communication being initiated by the foreign micronational territory on more than 3 occasions), where de facto recognition of the foreign micronational territory is not harmful to the Government or existing relations and where relations can be sustained by the Department of Exterior Affairs.
Relations with foreign micronational territories
The Department of Exterior Affairs may establish relations with foreign micronational territories as part of its commitment to fostering a positive relationship between the State of Hokoria and the wider intermicronational community. As a Government, we recognise the importance of staying in touch with the community and the need for collaboration with foreign territories. Relations with foreign micronational territories is considered to be the maintained communication and collaboration between public officials and public bodies of the State of Hokoria and foreign micronational territories.
Relations should work all ways, rather than one party putting in most or all effort in. There should be a respectful interest between representatives in each other’s cultures and current affairs, as well as a passion to maintain relations. The Department of Exterior Affairs may have relations with de jure and de facto recognised foreign micronational territories.
Where relations and de facto recognition may be harmful
In some cases, de facto recognition of a foreign micronational territory has the potential to cause harm to the Department of Exterior Affairs’ (and wider Government’s) reputation. In order to prevent this, the Department of Exterior Affairs should ensure that foreign micronational territories do not exhibit signs that relations and de facto recognition could be harmful.
Signs that relations or de facto recognition could be harmful include:
- Frequent or active participation in ‘micronational war or conflict’ (especially in the digital sense) from the foreign micronational territory.
- A far-right, far-left or fascist community within the foreign micronational territory.
- The open expression of dangerous or controversial opinion or rhetoric from public officials of the foreign micronational territory.
- Allegations of harmful conduct and interactions against public officials of the foreign micronational territory.
Where relations may be unsustainable
Relations with foreign micronational territories may not always be sustainable. It’s important that the Department of Exterior Affairs works to identify where there is a strong likelihood of unsustainable relations so that it can make a decision on whether or not to establish relations.
Signs that relations could be unsustainable include:
- A lack of, or limited, visible activity from the government of the foreign micronational territory.
- A lack of respect for the foreign micronational territory from its own public officials.
- A lack of respect for the State of Hokoria from the foreign micronational territory’s public officials.
- A lack of care or dedication towards fostering positive and meaningful relations with the Department of Exterior Affairs from the foreign micronational territory.
Formal relations
The Department of Exterior Affairs may work with foreign micronational territories to establish ‘formal relations’ that may involve the signing of a treaty of mutuality, or similar agreement between the Department of Exterior Affairs and the foreign micronational territory.
Disregarding requirements
Where authorised, or rather requested to, from the Monarch or the Chancellor, the Department of Exterior Affairs may disregard the requirement of having already maintained communication with the Department of Exterior Affairs for at least 1 calendar month.
Membership within micronational intergovernmental organisations
The Department of Exterior Affairs may participate within micronational intergovernmental organisations in order to seek out any benefits of participation and for providing a new platform for relations with foreign micronational territories to be established. When acting within a micronational intergovernmental organisation, the Department of Exterior Affairs is expected to cooperate with the micronational intergovernmental organisation’s regulations and inform the wider Government of any regulations that they may be subject to as a part of the nation’s membership.
Membership should only be acquired where the State will benefit in some significant way and where the organisation is considered to be credible enough for participation to be meaningful. The Department of Exterior Affairs’ membership within micronational intergovernmental organisations should be reviewed and only maintained where the State continues to benefit and where the Department of Exterior Affairs’ participation continues to be meaningful.
The Department of Exterior Affairs should appoint a foreign Representative of the State of Hokoria to each micronational intergovernmental organisation. Representatives should be citizens and should have a position within the micronational intergovernmental organisation. Representatives may represent the Department of Exterior Affairs to the micronational intergovernmental organisation itself, as well as any member foreign micronational territories.
The Department of Exterior Affairs may withdraw its participation from a micronational intergovernmental organisation at any time, within the micronational intergovernmental organisation’s regulations.
Declarations of micronational conflict against the State
The Department of Exterior Affairs should not entertain or recognise any declaration of micronational conflict against the State of Hokoria. Where the entity declaring a micronational conflict against the State of Hokoria has de jure or de facto recognition from the Department of Exterior Affairs, the Department of Exterior Affairs should withdraw this.
Whilst declarations of micronational conflict against the State of Hokoria may not be recognised, the Department of Exterior Affairs should work with the wider government where it believes that the entity may attempt to disrupt operations or services.
Withdrawing recognition of a foreign micronational territory
Where the Department of Exterior Affairs withdraws its de facto recognition of a foreign micronational territory, a public statement should be released detailing any reasoning for the withdrawal. The Department of Exterior Affairs is free to withdraw de facto or de jure recognition of a foreign micronational territory at any time. Where a foreign micronational territory is de facto recognised and has formal relations with the Department of Exterior Affairs, an attempt should be made to inform its government of the withdrawal of recognition.
Additional policies
The Department of Exterior Affairs may outline additional policies in regards to micronational relations.