Our National Story
57°35′46.7″N 13°41′14.3″W / 57.596306°N 13.687306°W
Rockall is an uninhabited islet and disputed territory located in the North Atlantic Ocean. In 1955 it became the last place on earth to be conquered by the British Empire and in 1972 it was formally incorporated into Scotland. However the territory falls under competing international claims. Ireland for example does not recognise the UK’s claim over the islet or its associated territorial seas.
Hoping to expand their exclusive rights to oil fields, fisheries and other natural resources, in addition to the UK; Iceland, Ireland and Denmark (via the Faroe Islands) also consider themselves to be the rightful owner of the waters surrounding the small isolated rock.
In 1997 Greenpeace activists, concerned by companies surveying Rockall’s waters for oil, occupied the islet for a record breaking 42 days. During that time they established a micronation known as the Global State of Waveland in order to raise awareness (In 1999 the micronation became inactive after the company running its website went bust). That same year the UK ratified UNCLOS, relinquishing its previous the claim that Rockall expanded the UK’s EEZ.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) stipulates that “Rocks which cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of their own shall have no exclusive economic zone or continental shelf”.
So far only 148 individuals have ever set foot on Rockall, and nobody has visited Rockall since 2023.
Rockall is (depending on your view) terra nullius.
The Micronation Project
Rockall (the micronation) is a project that creatively explores the intersection of sovereignty and satire, as means to raise awareness for social, political and environment issues around the world.
What is a micronation?
A micronation is an entity that claims to be a sovereign state, but in reality has no international recognition (rather like all the other claims on Rockall). Through the performative and symbolic use of the trappings of statehood, a micronation can act as a form of political and artistic expression.
What is this micronation's mission?
Whilst this micronation is a playful exploration of what a nation state can be and how people can govern themselves, our aim has always been to make it a purpose driven project.
Given Rockall’s history as the final territory of British imperial expansion, our project is focused on raising awareness of the injustices that took place in Britain and around the world under colonialism. Issues like climate change, wealth inequality, armed conflict and biodiversity collapse have been amplified by the legacies of empire. Our response to this as a micronation is to take ownership of this history and promote ways in which we can correct the errors of the past. Our tongue in cheek mockery of the British Empire and its vestiges that today exist as tax heavens or strategic military outposts, serves as critique of the contemporary British state.
We will use our platform to promote; sustainable development, human rights, climate change solutions and conflict resolution. We passionately believe in standing up for international law and calling out the international community when it fails to deliver on the interests of humanity.
Rockall does not seek international recognition, however we do seek diplomatic ties from fellow micronaitons or aspirant states. Just like a regular nation, we have our own flag, anthem, laws, sports teams and cool merch.
At the end of the day, we are just trying to do a good thing whilst having fun at the same time.
Maybe you'd want to be president some day? :)
