European Microstates

Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and San Marino qualify as microstates, and each is nestled in a different part of Europe. The total population of the four slightly exceeds 150,000, and Andorra accounts for almost 69,000. Their geographic sizes are also small: Andorra occupies 464 square kilometers (179 square miles); Liechtenstein, 160 square kilometers (62 square miles); San Marino, 61 square kilometers (24 square miles); and Monaco, only 1.95 square kilometers (0.75 square miles). What is remarkable about the four is that each has managed to retain its sovereignty and its national character, despite being squeezed by larger neighbors. Andorra is a wedge of land between Spain and France, San Marino is surrounded by Italy, Monaco is located near the southeastern part of France, and Liechtenstein sits between Switzerland and Austria.

Monaco is the smallest of the four, but is larger than the Vatican. Now a constitutional monarchy, it has been in the control of the Grimaldi family since the thirteenth century. Up until 2002, the throne was inherited through the male line; since Prince Rainer III's (1923–2005) son, Albert, had no male heir, he adjusted the constitution to allow his daughters to inherit the throne. San Marino claims to be the world's oldest republic, tracing its founding to the third century and its republican form of government to the thirteenth century. Liechtenstein was recognized as a principality in 1719 but was absorbed and later separated from other entities until 1866, when it achieved its full national sovereignty. It is a constitutional hereditary monarchy and has been, since 1921, a parliamentary democracy. Andorra has existed continually since 1288 and was governed by the founding feudal judgments until 1993, when a democratic constitution was written.

All four microstates are strongly influenced by the nations that surround them. For example, Italian is spoken in San Marino, French in Monaco, German in Liechtenstein, and Catalan—the language of a neighboring region of Spain—in Andorra. In all three nations, however, a multiplicity of languages are commonly spoken, which demonstrates the porous nature of their boundaries and cultures.

Both Liechtenstein and Andorra have carved out an economic niche in the fields of banking and finance. San Marino relies more heavily on tourism and the sale of commemorative stamps and coins of interest to collectors. Monaco depends entirely upon income from tourism, real estate, financial services, and small, non-polluting industry. All four have entered into a number of international treaty obligations, and although all have some associated relationship with the European Union, none is a full member. All four are sovereign nations, although San Marino has relinquished some rights to Italy, for which the Italian government pays an annual subsidy.

All four of these mini-states have undergone some significant political or constitutional changes in the last decades of the twentieth century. For example, Andorra adopted a new constitution in 1993 that for the first time legalized political parties and trade unions and harmonized legislation with international treaties. It retained a head of state arrangement that includes co-princes, the president of the Republic of France, and the Catalan bishop of the Roman Catholic Church, but real power is exercised by the head of government who is elected by the Andorran parliament. The new constitution also provided for a constitutional court that can review legislation for constitutionality.

human rights

San Marino, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and Andorra are all signatories to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and members of the Council of Europe. They have all, with some reservations, accepted the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights. Andorra is continuing, as part of its democratization process, to move closer to complying with international norms on human rights. Freedom House, an independent advocacy foundation, gives Andorra, Liechenstein, and San Marino its highest ratings as completely free nations; Monaco is also rated as free, with perfect civil liberties and nearly perfect political rights.

See also: European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; Malta; Vatican.

bibliography

Duursma, Jorri. Fragmentation and the International Relations of Micro-States: Self-Determination and Statehood. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996.

Hemmerle, Norbert. Liechtenstein—Principality in the Heart of Europe. Vaduz, Liechtenstein: Press and Information Office, 2000.

Freedom House. "Table of Independent Countries." Freedom in the World 2005. New York: Freedom House, 2005. <http://www.freedomhouse.org/research/freeworld/2005/countryratings/table2005.pdf>.

Kritzer, Herbert M. "San Marino." Legal Systems of the World, ed. Herbert M. Kritzer. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2002.

"Monaco." Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations, 11th edition. Detroit, MI: Gale, 2004. Student Resource Center. <http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/SRC>.

Poblet, Marta. "Andorra." Legal Systems of the World, ed. Herbert M. Kritzer. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2002.

"Prince Rainier III, Chief of State of Monaco." Worldmark Encyclopedia of the Nations: World Leaders. Detroit, MI: Gale, 2003. Student Resource Center. <http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/SRC>.

Walch, Ernst J. "Liechtenstein." Legal Systems of the World, ed. Herbert M. Kritzer. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2002.

Mary L. Volcansek