Governments are meant to act as a service similar to any other. We’ve grown so used to living in a world that taxes us heavily and constantly changes the rules while giving us no say what the taxes are used for. Where special interest groups get their way, often counter to the will of its citizens. In fact we accept that this is just the way things are.
Some people recognize that politics is divisive, and is a significant contributing factor to the dire state of the world. For these visionaries, an alternative already exists: free private cities and they are popping up all over the planet. Places where the relationship between authority and subject is replaced by the relationship between customer and service provider, a civil contract signed between parties, ensuring that both have the same formal rights and are therefore legally on an equal footing. If you can work from basically any place in the world, why shouldn’t you choose a place to live that best suits your personal preferences? These communities are all looking for like-minded people to help realise a better world.
Examples of Free Cities Around The World:
Liberstad – Agder, Norway
Liberstad describes itself as a private resort and membership community for voluntaryists, ancaps, libertarians and other freedom-loving people who adhere to the non-aggression principle. The long-term goal is to create an autonomous private city that is owned and operated exclusively by private individuals and organizations.
Próspera – Roatán, Honduras
Próspera is one of the most advanced ZEDE (Zone for Economic Development and Employment) projects in Honduras. It aims to create a haven of freedom, stability, and prosperity, and to become a hub for entrepreneurship and business, creating new opportunities and ideas that will have a positive impact not only on Honduras but also internationally. To achieve this, the project follows a common law legal framework that combines well-known principles and landmark innovations. The system has flexible regulation, low taxation, and assures environmental protection.
Sark – Bailiwick of Guernsey, English Channel
Sark is one of the Channel Islands in the English Channel, off the coast of Normandy. It is part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and is the smallest independent state in the British Commonwealth. It has its own set of laws and its own parliament. Sark has a population of about 600 individuals and can be considered an independent European island.
Sark has no income tax, no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax, and no VAT. The island can be attractive to entrepreneurs that want a less bureaucratic and expensive country from which to operate their businesses.
Small Farm Cities (SFC) – Mpingu, Malawi
Small Farm Cities (SFC) is a social impact startup in Malawi aiming to establish agricultural clusters throughout Africa. Through innovative technology and affordable housing, SFC fosters employment, homeownership, and agricultural education. Residents receive English lessons, tech training, and professional development. Legal structures like fractional ownership encourage local investment. SFC offers diverse housing options and self-sustaining infrastructure, including water, electricity, waste management, and recreational facilities.
Examples of Projects in Preparation:
The Atlas Island Project – Multiple initial locations considered
The Atlas Island project seeks to build a floating community, eventually becoming a fully-fledged seastead that will be settled in international waters and therefore avoid the direct control of any existing world government.
CryptoCity – Isla de Margarita, Venezuela
CryptoCity is an intentional community project located on a popular holiday island in Venezuela – Isla de Margarita. The aim is to build a community of around 100 freedom-oriented high-net-worth entrepreneurs who are looking to buy or build a holiday home in a tropical location. The project aims to become a hub of business activity thanks to high-value networking opportunities. The community has a full master plan that includes residential plots and properties, a beach with a beach club, an office complex, a small supermarket, and a restaurant. Adjacent to the site are an already existing hotel, golf course, and port. CryptoCity is named for its internal crypto-oriented economy.
Los Propietarios – Central Argentina
Los Propietarios is a startup community gathering a sufficient number of people to establish a libertarian-anarchist town in Argentina. The project was started by members of the Italian libertarian movement who decided, among the events surrounding the Covid pandemic, to shift their focus and start looking for a freer life abroad. They are now looking for people from all around the world who share the same ideals. Each member officially joining the fledgling town will receive an opportunity to homestead a 1000-sqm plot of land. An organization (a trust) at the center of the community will set out the initial internal rules of living together, but all services are to be provided by the community members and firms themselves. When the town is sizeable enough, the eventual goal is for the central organization to disappear completely.
Veritas Village – Panamá Oeste, Panama
Veritas Village is a community designed for people seeking both sustainability and personal freedom. It is located approximately 10 minutes from the costal town of Coronado, at 250–350 metres above sea level. The community aims to be self-reliant, with a large amount of food produced on-site through vertical hydroponic gardens, livestock stables, a tilapia pond and community orchards. Solar and wind power will be used to generate electricity, while an on-site well will provide potable water, reducing reliance on external supply. When developed, the amenities will feature a farmer’s market, a wellness centre and a clinic, and an expat international school.
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