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Invisible Countries: Journeys to the Edge of Nationhood
A journalist explores how our world’s borders came to be and how self-proclaimed countries across the globe could change the map. What is a country? While certain basic criteria—borders, a government, and recognition from other countries—seem obvious, journalist Joshua Keating investigates what happens in areas of the world that exist as exceptions to these rules. Invisible Countries looks at semiautonomous countries such as Abkhazia, Kurdistan, and Somaliland, as well as a Mohawk reservation straddling the U.S.-Canada border, and an island nation whose very existence is threatened by climate change. Through stories about these would-be countries’ efforts at self-determination, Keating shows that there is no universal legal authority determining what a country is. He also argues that economic, cultural, and environmental forces could soon bring an end to our long period of cartographical stasis. Keating combines history with incisive observations drawn from his travels and interviews with residents, political leaders, and scholars in each of these “invisible countries.”
295 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 26, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 7, 2018
I like maps and the history of how maps have evolved. In this highly readable book, Joshua Keating explains how the boundaries of countries that fill in all of the space in maps were formed and gives some fascinating examples challenging the definitions of what is a country or nation. The topic could be quite dry, the cover gives all the indication of a text book, but Keating uses interviews, history, his own views and some facts to challenge the reader to consider something most people take for granted, their nationality.
He discusses Abkhazia a Russian backed enclave in Georgia, Akwesasne an Indian nation that straddles the USA and Canada, Somaliland has broken away from a broken Somalia, Iraqi Kurdistan and Kiribati to argue what might happen when the land of a country disappears. In between these case studies he also covers individuals challenging the definition of a nation such as stateless people and the internet.
There is some history, some unique individuals and a constant theme of challenging the status quo of the boundaries of what we currently call nations. A surprising book.
Thanks to Net Galley and Yale University Press.
He discusses Abkhazia a Russian backed enclave in Georgia, Akwesasne an Indian nation that straddles the USA and Canada, Somaliland has broken away from a broken Somalia, Iraqi Kurdistan and Kiribati to argue what might happen when the land of a country disappears. In between these case studies he also covers individuals challenging the definition of a nation such as stateless people and the internet.
There is some history, some unique individuals and a constant theme of challenging the status quo of the boundaries of what we currently call nations. A surprising book.
Thanks to Net Galley and Yale University Press.
June 7, 2018
I’ve recently discovered a new sort of travelogues, ones featuring destinations that either didn’t quite make it to the traditional map of the world or feature barely as specks in the wide span of Mercator projection. My latest find is Invisible Countries. A book that concentrates on places that are not (as of yet anyway) recognized by the world at large such as Abkhazia, Kurdistan and Somaliland and places that are, but may be on their way out due to (yes, it’s freaking real) global warming like Kiribati and ostensibly other tiny island nations. The author has actually traveled to all these locations, some merely remote, some also quite dangerous, to present a comprehensive report on not just the logistics but also the mentality behind these self proclaimed nations and their respective challenges. The world is currently in a stasis when it comes to country creation, but between the end of WWII and about a decade or two ago, something like 90 new places were added due to decolonization and balkanization of Eastern Europe from civilized Velvet Divorce of Czechoslovakia to brutal separation of Yugoslavia. This isn’t merely about maps becoming inaccurate, this is about reshaping of the world as it was known. The author is a foreign policy analyst and the book accordingly is very much a political work first and foremost. It contemplates the historical aspects of country creation processes, particularly the artificiality of it all either via colonization or through post war pacts between empowered allies. Obviously these artificial boundaries have served their purpose at the time and then dramatically did not and the countries within them torn by internecine wars and tribal rivalry have thus far (for the most past) failed to shed the developing status and emerge as powerhouses in their own right. Some of the main arguments in the books have to do with the effect of worldwide recognition on the countries…in other words sticking your flag on a plot of land doesn’t make it your own, the world has to agree it is and all the political considerations that come into it. And then there’s also a lot of debate about what makes a country, a nationhood differs from a stateshood, a shared language or ancestry may not be enough, there are religious differences, self determination alone is far from sufficient, even ability to self govern may not be enough. Seems like without something to offer to the world at large (natural resources, political powers, territorial advantages) much of the places are more or less doomed to never quite develop enough to play in the arena with the rest. Although they play in small arenas with their own kind…the framework of this book is a football (soccer to Americans) tournament specifically between the nonrecognized states. Fascinating reading, somewhat more textbookish (one might expect this from Yale University Press) than popsciency, but once you get into it, it’s great, very smart and goes a long way to not merely educate, but also challenge your worldviews and thinking processes, which is about all you can ask from a nonfiction read. Barely any maps and no photos, so have your mental world map or an actual one for that matter (I enjoy both) ready. Thanks Netgalley.
January 4, 2019
Keating visited a few disputed areas in an effort to discuss what it means to be a state. It's a really deep subject that Keating more or less dipped his toes into by making some interesting points and observations; a thorough treatment this is not, as the history of the ebbs and flows of statehood is vast. It's not particularly interesting as a travelogue as he didn't spend much time talking about his experiences in most places (he didn't spend much time in any one place). He gave cursory overviews of the history of each place. It probably overall reads better as a magazine piece than a book-long work.
He visited Abkhazia, which is the northwest rebel portion of Georgia that is backed by Russia, which is why it is able to operate with some level of independence. Akwesasne is Mohawk territory that straddles the US and Canada in northern New York. Because part of it is in both countries, it causes many issues for the Mohawks. He visits and gives some history of Somaliland and Kurdistan, Kurdistan being particularly interesting. He finishes with Kiribati, which is a Pacific Island nation at risk of losing their land if the ocean level rises much. What will happen if these people lose their land? How will they keep their national identity if they set up on new territory. This is an interesting issue to think about, as we may be confronted with it relatively soon.
What about people with no citizenry, like those with Soviet Union citizenship who lived in other places when the Soviet Union fell, and never went back to get new papers. There are people like this who are citizens of no country.
He visited Abkhazia, which is the northwest rebel portion of Georgia that is backed by Russia, which is why it is able to operate with some level of independence. Akwesasne is Mohawk territory that straddles the US and Canada in northern New York. Because part of it is in both countries, it causes many issues for the Mohawks. He visits and gives some history of Somaliland and Kurdistan, Kurdistan being particularly interesting. He finishes with Kiribati, which is a Pacific Island nation at risk of losing their land if the ocean level rises much. What will happen if these people lose their land? How will they keep their national identity if they set up on new territory. This is an interesting issue to think about, as we may be confronted with it relatively soon.
What about people with no citizenry, like those with Soviet Union citizenship who lived in other places when the Soviet Union fell, and never went back to get new papers. There are people like this who are citizens of no country.
February 22, 2024
Fantastic book; the ending was like a time capsule though and would love to see a follow up book talking about Palestine, Ukraine, and the other secession issues that have came up in the last five years.
September 3, 2018
Now I know The Knights of Malta have a seat in the U.N. for some reason that honestly makes less sense than the fact they knighted Miles Davis, an act I completely approve of.
August 3, 2018
Really interesting look at the consequences of the rigidity of the state-based international system, with a surprisingly diverse range of examples.
August 16, 2023
4.5/5*
I learned a lot in this fascinating book. It also brought up many questions about nationhood I hadn’t thought of before.
Highly recommend.
I learned a lot in this fascinating book. It also brought up many questions about nationhood I hadn’t thought of before.
Highly recommend.
October 21, 2018
A brilliant and very readable book by an author who appears to understand the history of every country on the planet. In this book he first explores the traditional definitions of statehood, and then discusses Woodrow Wilson's affirmation of self-determination, and the critical influence Wilson's fourteen points had in encouraging ethnic cleansing. As he says, "There's not a huge ideological leap from 'Our people deserve a state' to 'Our state is only for our people.' " Keating then goes on to discuss some states, or at any rate places or peoples, that are unorthodox in their forms, such as the Kurds, who have an ethnic identity but no land; Kiribati, in the Pacific, a nation consisting of islands spread out over thousands of miles, which may eventually succumb to flooding and disappear entirely but which possesses some very valuable fishing rights; or Estonia, a "real" country with real borders that has recently offered "e-residency" to foreign nationals who never need set foot in the country, but may want to do business there. The book is in part a quirky travelogue, and it is both delightful and thought-provoking.
January 21, 2019
I read Joshua Keating's extract of this book on The Guardian, and immediatly wanted to read this. The concept is a comelling one, and I love learning more about the quirkier side of politics.
Invisible Countries is by no means thorough, nor is it particularly coherent. At some points it feels like a glorified list, but the contents of the list is compelling.
I've done enough geography classes to have talked a fair bit about what a nation is, what a state is, and what a nation-state is--enough that I usually go for the safer, more neutral option of 'country'. But there are levels of complecity even to this. #victorytosomaliland.
I thought that Abkazia (apologies for any mispellings; I read the audiobook) and Somaliland were the most interesting main countries, and the Knights of the Malta were a fascinating interlude. It's all well presented though.
At one point while reading this book, I posted on Twitter "Political geography books are the sexiest kind of books'. I think that's because reading ones like this and Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics help me to understand the news better, and journalism is sexy (saith I); more than that they remind me of all that does not exist between borders and the UN agenda (recommendations of books about how much the UN sucks will be gladly accepted by me)
Invisible countries is not much use as a travelogue; however, the multiple people in power that Keating speaks too have lots to say. Maybe I've been underestimating Slate. He gets places, and does his best not to be too interpretive. I think this worked well for the various interlueds (ugh Liberland sounds like HELL) and for Akwasafne, but for Kiribati, Abkazia, and Somaliland, the effort to be neutral is sort of lost. Keating gets tangled in the details of a Kiribatian relocation, lost in the international recognition of Somaliland--and after everything, I didn't quite *get* why Abkazia was different. Contributing more of his personal perspective--or, heck, just getting some more quotes from on the ground people not just officials and football players, would have been good.
When you think about it, the lessons of Invisible Countries are incredibly relevant. A few weeks ago, my sister and I were in Hong Kong. "Does this count as another country?" she asked after, to her surprise, we had gone through immigration from China. That's a big question to answer and depends on a lot of things. As I read this book, I was in the borderland of india. At one point, I was listening to this audiobook in the car as we edged through the no-man's-land between India and Bangladesh--a place where you're not anywhere, really. Place matters profoundly in this world of ours, and for all of the E-Stonia plans, it will continue to. Keating is ultimately good at elucidating that.
(I also know this is very shallow but reading this made me feel smart because it was published by a university press)
Invisible Countries is by no means thorough, nor is it particularly coherent. At some points it feels like a glorified list, but the contents of the list is compelling.
I've done enough geography classes to have talked a fair bit about what a nation is, what a state is, and what a nation-state is--enough that I usually go for the safer, more neutral option of 'country'. But there are levels of complecity even to this. #victorytosomaliland.
I thought that Abkazia (apologies for any mispellings; I read the audiobook) and Somaliland were the most interesting main countries, and the Knights of the Malta were a fascinating interlude. It's all well presented though.
At one point while reading this book, I posted on Twitter "Political geography books are the sexiest kind of books'. I think that's because reading ones like this and Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics help me to understand the news better, and journalism is sexy (saith I); more than that they remind me of all that does not exist between borders and the UN agenda (recommendations of books about how much the UN sucks will be gladly accepted by me)
Invisible countries is not much use as a travelogue; however, the multiple people in power that Keating speaks too have lots to say. Maybe I've been underestimating Slate. He gets places, and does his best not to be too interpretive. I think this worked well for the various interlueds (ugh Liberland sounds like HELL) and for Akwasafne, but for Kiribati, Abkazia, and Somaliland, the effort to be neutral is sort of lost. Keating gets tangled in the details of a Kiribatian relocation, lost in the international recognition of Somaliland--and after everything, I didn't quite *get* why Abkazia was different. Contributing more of his personal perspective--or, heck, just getting some more quotes from on the ground people not just officials and football players, would have been good.
When you think about it, the lessons of Invisible Countries are incredibly relevant. A few weeks ago, my sister and I were in Hong Kong. "Does this count as another country?" she asked after, to her surprise, we had gone through immigration from China. That's a big question to answer and depends on a lot of things. As I read this book, I was in the borderland of india. At one point, I was listening to this audiobook in the car as we edged through the no-man's-land between India and Bangladesh--a place where you're not anywhere, really. Place matters profoundly in this world of ours, and for all of the E-Stonia plans, it will continue to. Keating is ultimately good at elucidating that.
(I also know this is very shallow but reading this made me feel smart because it was published by a university press)
May 28, 2022
Keating uses the specifics of each of these non-recognized “countries” to examine the downsides of the international community’s obsession with preserving current national boundaries regardless of the disservice done to the people living within them. He focuses on the emblematic places for this discussion, e.g., Abkhazia, Kurdistan, Somaliland, but he also examines other places that pose questions regarding the future of our understanding of country/sovereignty, like Akwesasne, the Mohawk Nation territory straddling the US-Canada border, and the island nation of Kiribati as it prepares to be wiped out by rising ocean levels. He gives a concise history of the “Westphalian” system, including how it differed from the expectations of the people who actually wrote the Peace of Westphalia, and chronicles the times when national boundaries seemed up for grabs. While he generally questions the benefits of maintaining the status quo, he is consequent enough to point out the negative outcomes in the few places that have recently been granted statehood, mainly South Sudan, and acknowledge the challenges that can be foreseen if the regions he described were granted statehood. All in all, the book was a readable and interesting look of how our notions of sovereignty may need to evolve if the goal is to actually improve the lives of people living in the artificial constructs we call countries.
February 3, 2019
Interesting exploration of several would-be countries that functionally exist yet are not officially recognized. Embedded in a historical and political discussion on the principles of nationhood, along with the author's personal visits and discussion with the local politicians. Also included are digressions about the Knights of Malta and e-residency in Estonia.
The author discusses both the pros and cons of the nation-state. While ethnic homogeneity may be believed to lead to greater social cohesion, inevitably some people end up on the wrong side of the border, leading to marginalization, forced migration, or ethnic cleansing. We have seen it all in the 20th century. But the current international wisdom is that borders are inviolable, (Hello, Crimea!) and extreme efforts are made to hold together countries that don't actually make sense. (e.g. Bosnia, Iraq.)
Yet South Sudan is presented as a recent example of how badly separatism can go.
Highly recommended to anyone interested in international politics and nationalism.
The author discusses both the pros and cons of the nation-state. While ethnic homogeneity may be believed to lead to greater social cohesion, inevitably some people end up on the wrong side of the border, leading to marginalization, forced migration, or ethnic cleansing. We have seen it all in the 20th century. But the current international wisdom is that borders are inviolable, (Hello, Crimea!) and extreme efforts are made to hold together countries that don't actually make sense. (e.g. Bosnia, Iraq.)
Yet South Sudan is presented as a recent example of how badly separatism can go.
Highly recommended to anyone interested in international politics and nationalism.
April 9, 2019
The author sets out to understand why there are countries and how borders were created. I’m interested in this idea because of the very likely potential of vast swaths of our earth becoming uninhabitable and what that reality does to the idea of borders. You can stop a few million people from leaving to save their lives, but you can’t stop hundreds of millions. We’re a swarming species.
During colonialism and post world wars, we drew borders trying to sort people. The problem with drawing lines is that some people will inevitable end up on the “wrong” side of the line. All borders are arbitrary. No matter how you try to self select for one nationality or another, there will always be some of the “wrong” people on each side. We’re also a migratory species.
I don’t know that I would recommend it though. Kind of interesting, but kind of not
During colonialism and post world wars, we drew borders trying to sort people. The problem with drawing lines is that some people will inevitable end up on the “wrong” side of the line. All borders are arbitrary. No matter how you try to self select for one nationality or another, there will always be some of the “wrong” people on each side. We’re also a migratory species.
I don’t know that I would recommend it though. Kind of interesting, but kind of not
September 3, 2019
What exactly defines a country?
Keating looks at outliers in the current system of nation states such as the Knights of Malta (recognized as a national government even though they don't have a nation), Somaliland (a Somali enclave that functions as an independent state but isn't recognized) and various patches of "terra nullius," areas that aren't actually part of any sovereign state.
Keating points out that since the breakup of the USSR the map has been surprisingly stable: while the USA is perfectly happy to provoke regime change, it flinches from the idea of redrawing boundaries, no matter how arbitrarily they were set up. Would redrawing the map just create a new era of secessionist wars around the world or is stasis trapping groups such as the Kurds inside unfriendly borders? Very interesting.
Keating looks at outliers in the current system of nation states such as the Knights of Malta (recognized as a national government even though they don't have a nation), Somaliland (a Somali enclave that functions as an independent state but isn't recognized) and various patches of "terra nullius," areas that aren't actually part of any sovereign state.
Keating points out that since the breakup of the USSR the map has been surprisingly stable: while the USA is perfectly happy to provoke regime change, it flinches from the idea of redrawing boundaries, no matter how arbitrarily they were set up. Would redrawing the map just create a new era of secessionist wars around the world or is stasis trapping groups such as the Kurds inside unfriendly borders? Very interesting.
October 28, 2023
This is an interesting book that explores "countries" like Somaliland and Kurdistan that function as countries but have not been accepted by the international community as nations. Keating explores why they have not been accepted. He also looks at an Indian nation caught between the borders of the US and Canada with three levels of nationhood among its people. Finally, he explores the fate of small island nations that may lose their nationhood due to the loss of land through rising ocean levels and climate change. The book includes many good maps and brings out many of the issues surrounding "nationhood" very well. The book was written before the Covid Pandemic and because of the changes that came from it, at times, it feels a little dated, but I found it to be a fascinating read.
January 5, 2020
Excellent book about the changing situation of the definition of nation-states.
I was thinking about 5 stars by the end of the book but the conclusion changed my mind. There you can find an uninformed, short and misleading description of the catalonian independence movement. For example, there is no comment on the illegality of the 2017 referendum and the real support for independence, never greater than 50% since 2014 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalan... ; Source: Centre d'Estudis d'Opinió (Catalan Official Centre for Opinion Studies)). Moreover, the comparison to the Scottish independence movement lacks any solid grounds.
I was thinking about 5 stars by the end of the book but the conclusion changed my mind. There you can find an uninformed, short and misleading description of the catalonian independence movement. For example, there is no comment on the illegality of the 2017 referendum and the real support for independence, never greater than 50% since 2014 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catalan... ; Source: Centre d'Estudis d'Opinió (Catalan Official Centre for Opinion Studies)). Moreover, the comparison to the Scottish independence movement lacks any solid grounds.
June 5, 2019
Concise, interesting discussion of what makes something a country. Keating travels to some of those places on the globe that seem to be straddling that line and also muses about the virtual countries in the future. He had the good idea to not turn this into a bloated 400 page book and didn't overshoot his material. Certainly something to think about in this moment of time of surprisingly consistent national borders for three decades, which may or may not be a sign of a future stability.
June 25, 2020
What an interesting book. I have to admit that I found it hard to keep reading for long as there was just so much to absorb. Maps would have been helpful but then I don't know if they will be included in a printed addition. If so I would definitely buy a copy rather than the kindle version. My Dad will really enjoy this book.
February 16, 2019
Fascinating blend of travelogues, historical overviews, cultural analyses, and discussions of foreign policy theory. This book would not be for everyone, but for a map geek and history nerd like me, it was excellent and very enjoyable!
April 19, 2020
A really interesting, well written read. Explores some very interesting concepts about what it means to be a country, nation or even a citizen. Enjoyable and informative, it serves as a really good primer for some decidedly thorny geopolitical issues.
February 22, 2022
I'm so glad I found this gem - thoroughly thought-provoking! Although difficult for most to acknowledge, "nations" operating outside of the Westphalian system do exist. I've been talking about this book to anyone who will listen.
December 31, 2023
An alright book that is pretty fun and raises decent points. I found the writing and editing to be less than great at times, and the glibness with which he speaks about Russia's role in creating and propagating some of these quasi-states has not aged well.
June 8, 2025
A little fun, a little obscure. That it took me more than six months to get the gumption to finish it is a bit of an indictment, so only 2 stars. (I grade on a curve).
It's tales of countries not recognized by the UN, how we got there, and does it matter?
It's tales of countries not recognized by the UN, how we got there, and does it matter?
November 7, 2018
Interesting account of a world previously (almost) invisible to me. Good info. Good read
April 8, 2023
An extremely interesting topic, an eye opener that makes you see things in a different light.
Read
July 1, 2018I have always wonder how maps were created and the author of this book gave me this information and then some! It was interesting to read about his opinion about what is to be considered a country or a nation. The author utilized interviews, history and other sources in this book. I will definitely never look at a map the same way after reading this! Really interesting!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews