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Invisible Countries: Journeys to the Edge of Nationhood Hardcover – June 26, 2018

by Joshua Keating (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 58 ratings
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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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  1. Print length
    296 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Yale University Press
  4. Publication date
    June 26, 2018
  5. Dimensions
    8.4 x 5.7 x 1.2 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0300221622
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0300221626
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Mr. Keating offers few answers, but he raises good questions. As secessionist movements flourish in Europe, and climate change threatens to obliterate littoral states, the issue of what it means to be a nation is acquiring new salience.”—The Economist

"As informative as it is readable. . . . A timely book."—Foreign Policy

"At its core, Invisible Countries is a book about how the drama of nation-building transforms and is transformed by the politics of the world stage."—Daniel Solomon, New Republic

“Keating offers a clear-eyed look into what it means to be a country today—in an age when it's become more difficult to forge new states—and how, increasingly, the notion of statehood is being challenged in unexpected ways. He mixes his historical and political investigation with intrepid reporting that centers those people who are navigating the apparent cracks along world borders.”—Pacific Standard

"Invisible Countries is a serious, indefatigable attempt to explore the vexing issue of national identity."--Robert D. Kaplan, author of The Revenge of Geography

"Invisible Countries takes its readers on an incredible journey to some of the world's most unlikely, fragile but determined would-be nations. It's also a wonderfully humane and urgent intellectual quest to find out why countries and borders still matter so much in our supposedly globalizing era."--Alastair Bonnett, author of Unruly Places: Lost Spaces, Secret Cities, and Other Inscrutable Geographies



"Through fascinating journeys to quasi-states and nations lacking UN membership, Keating deftly illustrates his case: we must remember our current set of countries are means to the good life, not ends in themselves."--Charles Kenny [either Senior Fellow, the Center for Global Development and/or author Getting Better: How Global Development is Succeeding].



"With sharp reporting and a far-flung sense of adventure, Joshua Keating provides an unprecedented examination of what it means to be a nation in the twenty-first century. You’ll never look at the world map the same way after reading this thought-provoking book.—Doug Mack, author of The Not-Quite States of America

About the Author

Joshua Keating is a foreign policy analyst, staff writer, and editor at Slate. Previously he was an editor at Foreign Policy.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Yale University Press (June 26, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 296 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0300221622
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0300221626
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.08 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.4 x 5.7 x 1.2 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 58 ratings

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Joshua Keating

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
58 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book thought-provoking, fascinating, and well-researched. They describe it as entertaining, lively, and stimulating. Readers also appreciate the author's good tone and intonation. They praise the writing style as engaging and intimate.

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Thought provokingEnjoymentWriting style
6 customers mention "Thought provoking"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fascinating, well-researched, and stimulating. They say it asks compelling questions and offers a visionary take on the future of nations. Readers also mention the historical insights are relevant to today's world.

"...In a well-researched book, full of specific examples and cogent historical background, Keating makes a strong case for a looming, disruptive change..." Read more

"...: Journeys to the Edge of Nationhood by Joshua Keating is a fascinating exploration of the places around the globe which could be nations, and under..." Read more

"...Fun to hear, full of thought provoking ideas about nation states." Read more

"...The pacing and insights kept me engaged throughout. It asked compelling questions but due to the complexities of our world, sometimes did not answer..." Read more

5 customers mention "Enjoyment"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining, lively, and stimulating. They appreciate the sense of adventure and engaging writing.

"...This is a stimulating and thoughtful book, punctuated with interviews and memorable characters...." Read more

"...The author explores the reasons for this, in this well researched, entertaining and fascinating book." Read more

"...I enjoyed Keating's sense of adventure, his approach and his engaging writing." Read more

"This is a great listen! The author reads with good tone and intonation...." Read more

3 customers mention "Writing style"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the writing style engaging and intimate. They also say the author reads with good tone and intonation.

"...Keating writes with immediacy and intimacy about these relatively unknown countries and their people...." Read more

"This is a great listen! The author reads with good tone and intonation...." Read more

"...A wonderful writer!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Cathy A.
5.0 out of 5 stars A thoughtful and lively book
Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2018
Verified Purchase
This book offers a visionary take on the future of nations and their boundaries. Mr. Keating asks what it means today—and what it will mean in the future—to be a people and a country. In a well-researched book, full of specific examples and cogent historical background, Keating makes a strong case for a looming, disruptive change in our basic understanding of the current world of nations.

Mr. Keating’s tales of almost-nations such as Somaliland and Abkhazia are fascinating and informative. He writes about the implications of Internet culture and climate change for the definition of citizenship. He asks us to consider if it is necessary to occupy a physical piece of land in order to be a country. Will the demand for ethnic self-determination, an oft-thwarted desire that dates to World War I, provoke multiple liberation struggles and civil wars? And therefore, should the nations of the world strive to maintain existing boundaries that force diverse—and sometimes mutually hostile—populations to live together?

This is a stimulating and thoughtful book, punctuated with interviews and memorable characters. Mr. Keating makes a topic that might have been very dry and arcane spring to life.
3 people found this helpful
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Eric Maroney
4.0 out of 5 stars Well Researched, Entertaining
Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2021
Verified Purchase
Invisible Countries: Journeys to the Edge of Nationhood by Joshua Keating is a fascinating exploration of the places around the globe which could be nations, and under some definitions are, but still are located at the margins of the nation-states. Keating’s point is that we are currently in a period of time where the international community seeks to maintain the status quo, even if the boundaries of many countries fail to make ethnic or religious sense. The author explores the reasons for this, in this well researched, entertaining and fascinating book.
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Judy Mandel
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating read for our times
Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2019
Verified Purchase
You might think you are not interested in countries that are invisible, but believe me, you ARE! Keating writes with immediacy and intimacy about these relatively unknown countries and their people. As we theorize the impact of climate change and global economies, Invisible Countries is a must read. I enjoyed Keating's sense of adventure, his approach and his engaging writing.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Audiobook is a treat
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2018
Verified Purchase
This is a great listen! The author reads with good tone and intonation. His clear prose on the political considerations that have created (and maintained) current national boundaries is enlivened by wry examples of what this means for the not-quite or not-yet nations he visited. Fun to hear, full of thought provoking ideas about nation states.
2 people found this helpful
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Gregory L. Renz
5.0 out of 5 stars Historical insights so relevant to today's world.
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2018
Verified Purchase
I'm in awe of the incredible research that had to have gone into this superbly written book. The pacing and insights kept me engaged throughout. It asked compelling questions but due to the complexities of our world, sometimes did not answer them. Very thought-provoking. Nicely done. Highly recommend.
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Viktor Mints
5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone should read this!
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2018
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This is an amazing book! He provides so much insight into areas of the world that many of us didn’t know existed. A wonderful writer!
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Gderf
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting insights into history and politics of nations and boundaries
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2018
The book provides Interesting insights into the history and politics of nations and boundaries, starting with Sumer, Egypt and Rome. It features deviations from the modern model of statehood based on the 1648 Treaty of Westphalia that established the modern protocol for recognition of statehood and boundaries.

There is an interesting chapter on status of the American Indian nations, featuring the Akwesasne Mohawk community that straddles the USA and Canada. There is the well known example of the Kurds hoping for a Kurdistan. Somaliland wants independence from Somalia. South Sea islands are disappearing and reallocating their populations. The book cites small entities like Abkhasia and the Knights of St John, now in Rome related to the Vatican. Burgundy is an interesting example of a state that no longer exists. More modern examples are the breakups of Yugoslavia and Gran Columbia. ISIS attempts to build a new Caliphate. There seems to be no end of states deviating from the norms of statehood.

There is history of the breakup of colonialism followed by independence movements. The breakup of colonial empires was not a peaceful process, e.g. the Sykes-Picot Accord as well as Indonesia, Viet Nam. Algeria and South Sudan.
Wilson’s concept of ethnic self determination has not resulted in a peaceful process.
We have seen extensive American interference starting with Mexico in the 1920s and later in Europe and Asia culminating in the extensive damage done by Obama’s regime change policies.
The history of UN mandates is another interesting and important consideration as recognition by the UN now dictates national status in the eyes of the world.

There are many more examples that don’t fit the norms of either modern or historical statehood. Maybe Keating’s next book will consider the Free City of Danzig and the Polish Corridor, the imperial cities and the Hansa League or maybe the unique history of the formation of Germany.
3 people found this helpful
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Daniel Z Schloss
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this book - super thought provoking and a very ...
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2018
Verified Purchase
Loved this book - super thought provoking and a very fun read - following Joshua travels around the world made me consider what it means to be a country and understand how the current map came to be.
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Top reviews from other countries

Mohamed Osman
2.0 out of 5 stars disaapointed
Reviewed in Canada on August 22, 2018
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not worth the money.
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Relevant Global Issues
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 1, 2018
Verified Purchase
An interesting and well written book. My one criticism is that the chapter on Kurdistan was overlong.
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