https://liberland.org/en/news/531-parastate
Office of the President 30 November 2023
Croatia insists on calling Liberland in its official documents a “Parastate”.
The concept of Liberland being termed a "Parastate" is intriguing, especially since the term incorporates the term "state," leading to the question of whether Croatia is indirectly recognising Liberland as a type of state.
Let’s cite some examples:
Document UP/I-216-04-23-01/1873 (expulsion of an EU national): “[Vít Jedlička] as the creator of the idea and the project of the parastatal entity [of Liberland]… . ”
(this formulation appears on three similar documents)
Document: NK UP/I-216-04-23-04/192 (expulsion of a non-EU national): “The given area is claimed by a Czech citizen Vít Jedlička as the state of Liberland and the proponents of the parastatal entity…”
(this formulation repeats on many similar documents)
However, this notion requires further scrutiny.
The Oxford Dictionary defines "Parastate" as a region aiming to be or claiming to be an independent state but lacking official recognition. Thus, Croatia's reference to Liberland as a parastate suggests recognition of its existence as a separate entity, albeit not as an officially recognised independent state.
Academic studies have identified various regions as parastates. Irene Fernandez-Molina, in her work "Western Sahara as a Hybrid of a Parastate and a State-in-Exile: (Extra)territoriality and the Small Print of Sovereignty in a Context of Frozen Conflict," referred to Western Sahara as a parastate. Western Sahara has limited control over its territory and it is mostly directed from refugee camps in Algeria. It however had an International Court of Justice opinion stating, although not directly, the right of its tribes to national self-determination.
Kosovo is a region identified as a parastate in Mladen Mrdalj’s study “From Pararepublic to Parastate: International Leverage in Shaping Kosovo’s Secession.” The International Court of Justice's opinion significantly influenced Kosovo's parastate status, receiving notable international support, particularly from the United States.
Eduardo Baldaro and Luca Rainieri, in their article "Azawad: a Parastate Between Nomads and Mujahidins?" discusses the distinctions between “secessionist” and “territorial” parastates and the connection between Azawad and Mali. Azawad is classified as a parastate due to its effective functioning as a real state.
As we can see, the parastates in question are rather well-established entities. Several have received an opinion from the International Court of Justice confirming their existence. They also have their own legal system and exert a degree of control over a territory and the people who recognise them as their countries.
Liberland is different from other places called parastates, like Western Sahara or Kosovo, because it's not in a conflict or claiming old land. This is good because because people aren’t getting hurt, which is the greatest boon of all. It brings, however, a challenge because it might be harder to get attention. But it is mostly good and compatible with Liberland’s mission: to be the first state founded without a single shot being fired and a single person egregiously harmed.
What does this all mean? In short, Croatia calling Liberland a parastate is a big deal.
Why? The term "Parastate" represents a notable acknowledgement by Croatia of Liberland's seriousness and legitimacy, far removed from being merely a "wannabe country" or "micronation." Liberland is a state in reality, but from Croatia’s point of view, they refuse to treat Liberland as a fully equal sovereign entity due to its present lack of international recognition.
Still, this is important because it helps Liberland be taken more seriously in Croatia and elsewhere. Croatia, in a way, recognises Liberland’s (proto-) statehood.
Looking ahead, Liberland has some work to do. It needs to show the world it can act like a proper country, following international rules and making friends with other countries, securing their recognition.
Also, Liberland being a parastate is interesting for experts who study countries and how they start. It's not every day a new place tries to become a country, so people are watching to see what happens with Liberland. It might even change how we think about new countries in the future. Liberland should make further forays into academia to benefit from this situation.
In conclusion, Croatia's recognition of Liberland as a parastate is a helpful step, whether it was intended to be that or not. It opens doors for Liberland to keep trying to become a recognised country and could change the way new countries come about in the world.