“How to Start Your Own Country in Four Easy Steps”

Joshua Keating of Foreign Policy has a new essay, How to Start Your Own Country in Four Easy Steps. He begins:

With Kosovo unilaterally declaring independence and a host of wannabe states looking to follow its lead, you might be thinking it’s about time to set up your own country. You’ve picked out a flag, written a national anthem, even printed up money with your face on it. But what’s the next step? Creating a new country isn’t as easy as you think.

I have some quibbles with the essay (for example, Keating’s contention that “capability to enter into foreign relations” is not part of international law) but it is a quick and humorous intro to an important topic.