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What Does A World Look Like Where Citizenship Is Chosen, Not Assigned?
“The great migrations of history were not just about survival, but about seeking new forms of freedom.” — Adapted from Yuval Noah Harari
Imagine a future where your nationality isn’t determined by your birthplace but by your values, aspirations, and digital affiliations. Instead of being bound to one government, you could choose among global “network states” — digital-first nations with real-world influence.
This concept, famously explored in Balaji Srinivasan’s The Network State, suggests that physical borders and centralized governance structures are outdated. The internet, blockchain, and decentralized communities are converging to create new sovereign entities that are entirely virtual in origin but capable of negotiating with traditional states.
But how does this work in practice? How would a virtual citizen interact with the world, earn trust from host nations, and live in a truly borderless society?
How Digital Nations Are Formed and How People Onboard
A successful digital nation requires three fundamental building blocks: a shared vision, a robust governance system, and a real-world diplomatic strategy. Here’s how it might play out:
