An Analysis of Dual Citzenships

An Analysis of Dual Citzenships

By Gryphon Avocatio

Initially upon entering micronations, I was quite the fan of dual citizenships. Micronations were a great idea to me, and as far as I was concerned, it would be fun to participate in a few different forms of government.

But now, after more than a year, after Alexandros, and after Tymaria, after many Yardistani Rebellions, after watching Bill do too many stupid (but kinda amusing) things, and after even running for prime executive in Tymaria, I have seen a disturbing trend in so-called dual citzenships. "Dual" comes from an old word in a nolonger-spoken language that means "two", but the quantitive nature of the word "dual" has most certainly been forgotten. It is common for people to have four or more citizenships.

Now, because I'm not as much of a cynic as you think I am, I'll start with the good parts of multiple dual citzenships. If those with the large amount of citizenships have citizenships in nations that are small and little heard of, it promotes those micronations. It also helps develop external relationships between micronations that otherwise would not have known of each other through their own Ministry of the Exterior, or whatever variation they have of such a thing. States that want citizens win in this situation too. They get cits, others get cits: everybody wins...right?

That is the good of Dual Citizenships. Fine reasons to have them, but shall we look at the bad?

First, dual citizenships (excessive of them) divide peoples attention amongst Micronations. This is a problem, because this creates an issue with loyalty. Citizens will definitely be more aroused by the interests of one nation than another: the nations they are a part of will be prioritized. This can only be bad for the nations that find themselves on the bottom of the such priority lists. If a nation cannot count on its citizens, the nation is ultimately doomed.

Second, large amounts of dual citizenships limit the diversity of population bases. It seems that no matter what nation's board you visit, you see the same people. In my case, it's because I'm bored and I decided to pay a visit to my friends, but most often when you see these familiar faces, you find that they are citizens of the board you are on as well as the one you just came from. This trend is disturbing. It is getting to the point that the only difference between some popular nations is that each has a different set of leaders governing the same citizens. If everyone is the citzen of a group of nations, why, then, do we have multiple nations?

Well, this is easily answered as the ridiculously long signatures attached to just about everybody's posts are hard to miss. People participate in several micronations and then sign up for jobs. They then put the resulting titles in their signatures. People want to look important, and this is the popoular way of doing so. Some nations have dealt with these epic sigs by passing legislation limiting the length of them, and others have just plain turned them off. However, out of sight does not always mean out of mind. People sign up for more jobs than they can do, and the ministries for which the over-worked micronationalists are responsible suffer because of the limited attention that is given to each. This again weakens each respective nation. Some people just sign up for jobs and then don't do them. This is a problem, but some more worrisome incidents have come to pass in light of this trend. The Kaiser of Shireroth has told me that a certain well-known leader (with a long signature) of a certain Micronation requested to be in control of the Shirerothian military. He turned this person down, for obvious reasons.

I'm gonna stop here. I believe I have proved my point: excessive dual-citizenships are bad. Period. They do more harm then good when people have very many of them. Now, being a cit in only two nations is fine; I advocate that, if you want to do it. Three pushes it, though, and four is just too many. People need to get their priorities straightened out in Micronations. What are you doing here: are you going be a productive person, or a person who wreaks havoc? Don't be somebody adding to worthless bureaucracy by making your signature a virtual piece of Spam. Don't create a nation so you can invite all your friends from the nation you are already in. Excessive dual-citzenships are weakening nations, and if the trend keeps up, there will be no use in having seperate micronations, or any micronations at all. I hope you concider my point, especially if you have half a dozen positions in different micronations or if you are thinking of joining another. Stop this problem before it becomes worse.

See also

• Gryphon Avocatio