This book is perfect for anyone intrigued by the idea of what defines a country. Through captivating stories and insightful interviews, the author challenges conventional notions of nationhood and takes you on a journey to the less-known corners of the world. Explore the struggles and aspirations of self-proclaimed countries and indigenous communities, and gain a deeper understanding of the complex forces shaping our global landscape. With thought-provoking analysis, this book will undoubtedly broaden your perspective on geopolitics and the concept of identity.

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A thoughtful analysis of how our world’s borders came to be and why we may be emerging from a lengthy period of “cartographical stasis”What is a country? While certain basic criteria—borders, a government, and recognition from other countries—seem obvious, journalist Joshua Keating’s book explores exceptions to these rules, including self-proclaimed countries such as Abkhazia, Kurdistan, and Somaliland, 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, as well as their respective challenges, Keating shows that there is no universal legal authority determining what a country is. He argues that although our current world map appears fairly static, economic, cultural, and environmental forces in the places he describes may spark change. Keating ably ties history to incisive and sympathetic observations drawn from his travels and personal interviews with residents, political leaders, and scholars in each of these “invisible countries.”

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