Goo points CG, although I think the Sci Fi guys dating back to Heinlein got it right, it will evolve into vast Corporate States, if only because they will call in the huge debt burden most sovereign states have, and fold them in.

I am torn between thinking these thought experiments are fun and thinking they belittle the very notion of a microstate and the notion of being outside all traditional nation states.

I don't need them to tear Dr. Ashurbeyli apart. Just don't start the article with "Coming soon: a nation in space for humans." It almost inviting us to laugh at the notion. It's almost saying, "of course there will always be nation states much like what we have today, but let's laugh at the kooks who dream of alternatives."

I actually think the nation state will go away and something like this will come true, but not any time soon. I imagine pioneers starting with free trade zones in developing countries, places where startups can get their international staff together without immigration issues and other governmental roadblocks. I imagine it happening next in inhospitable places on earth and then maybe seasteds. Space is really rough, trying to kill you in so many ways. I could imagine a nation starting under water (dreaming in the far future) before space.

The reason is the key to wealth is trade. Going to some distant place, like space, makes it hard to trade. You get rid of gov't impediments to trade, but you add the huge impediment of distance. The distance doesn't give you immunity from attack because you're much much more vulnerable in space.

The tenor of the article, though, invites me to laugh off the whole idea of a micronation. I laughing to myself that Asgardia could mean "you watch your ass" in Esperanto. I wish CNN took it more seriously.

Well, if you have not heard this one, supposedly they were warned not to return, and it is part of the great alien coverup.Given how little you can trust the government, I grant that theory as much credence as any other. The army had a design for the moonbase in 1964, and had intentions to do it.

I like the concept but i was hoping that when NASA sent astronauts to the moon that a Moon Colony would be established. My dream at that time was to live on the moon. Unfortunately, I'll never understand why that never happen. There was so many many excuses and propaganda in regards to why that didn't happen that it crushed my dream.

Hi, Nick
Probably. But at least they are casting their eyes outward, not inward. A good sign.

Exactly as Heinlein had it in "The Cat who walks through Walls".

The only thing I have seen pass for "enlightenment," in the eyes of utopians like this inventor, turns out to be communism. When I spell that with a lowercase "c," I mean a system that literally holds all things in common, and allows different people different amenities, by virtue of their social status, government office, etc. A private house, a private car, private anything peculiar to them, becomes a perquisite of office or station, not an achievement to which one has a right. And so it would likely be in this "Asgardia." It would of necessity be rigid, for one cannot easily change the configuration of a space station, no more than one can change the configuration of a ship while said ship is at sea. (Rearranging a few non-load-bearing bulkheads doesn't count.) That rigidity invites tyranny. Who controls the air and water, controls the people.

Herb, I think you and I will both be on the other side before they lift their first person....

I have yet to find a reference to any "constitution", it seems they think that "enlightened government" will work both ways. Not sure if Gulchers would fit in there..we have seen enough of that..

Even the "Golden Rule" was a snarky bit of sarcasm, notice the name vs how he was treated? But yes, Heinlein actually made the concepts work, warts and all.

Well these guys seem to be trying it for real, I am still mystified how you can have one with no "dirt" to claim. Space is vast, but you know ..."No one can hear you scream"...

I do need to look that one up. Dish just came in and relocated my Dish around trees and decided I needed to "upgrade" so they took all my old stuff which included my DVR, which had about 100 hours of stuff on it, you cannot find on DVD (UFO Hunters season 3 was never made into DVD for some reason, not can you find "Wings of the Luftwaffe"...). So, I have to figure out how to get the hard drive out of it and snag all that and store it somewhere.... But the Expanse did look good.

Any off-Earth colony needs to vigorously establish its own government and independence from Earth. The concept of off-Earth populations is explored consummately in the sci-fi TV series "The Expanse", a highly recommended watch.

Being a child of the 40's, my idea of space colonization doesn't even reach minor comprehension of this plan. But, at my age it cannot apply to me as the roulette wheel of life is far too against me to be any part of this rather claustrophobic idea. However, I wish participants good luck and hopefully bon voyage.

PS
If you run into Odin, Thor, or Loki, say hi for me.

You can run, but you can't hide.

YASFC - Yet Another Science Fiction Country.

The Dorsai Irregulars, the Society for Creative Anachronism, and various micronations all come to mind. Their common thread is their disconnection from reality.

The fleeting appearance of the country of Abkhazia, recognized by almost nobody, is more real. At least they had the insight to create this postage stamp: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...

To win you Must be "Competitive".
Compromise is just the moderation of two or more practical alternatives.
I.E. the lesser of two evils as seen by the people in charge.
Something that is "Politically Correct".

to sum up this nonsense in one word "lunacy"!!!!!!!!!

That article didn't even discuss the kind of constitution Asgardia will have. As far as I'm concerned, the government should need only departments (or ministries) of state, treasury, defense, and justice. They also are headed for disaster if they establish a "common" in the form of the habitat and its environment. Who controls that, controls the people.

I'd be up for it, if it were more like the "Golden Rule Habitat" from Heinlein's "The Cat That Walked Through Walls."

There seems to be some loose ends, I went to their web site and you need to be a member to get into anything explaining their plan to put this into use. It does seem to be that the "mega-corps" of sci fi will be what ends up there.

Looks like corporate "Rights" are going to be hammered out sooner than later. I'm curious to see what people will sign away for the "privilege" of living in space. I gather the "Rights" will lessen as the ability for corporations to profit expands.

Hhmmm..that explains it then...

They would not like the name Asgardia due to its connection to an ancient Nordic religion.
Perhaps the name would be changed to Mohammada should a worldwide caliphate be established.
Now me dangerous dino mind be thinking of a religion of peace chopping block on a space station with an orbit trailed by severed heads.
Yes, I have a warped mind.
By the way, a couple of my horror short stories were published in a creative writing publication at Troy State University way back during the 70s.

Their terms of service is really all you can see until you "join". They seemed a bit restrictive, for a freedom loving space nation...but these days..