Have you heard of the Free Republic of Liberland? Probably not. But it is actually a nation that turned five this spring. There is a catch: It still doesn’t have any inhabitants on the physical area it has marked out for itself on a disputed piece of land between Serbia and Croatia, and it is still only recognized officially by Somaliland (which itself isn’t really recognized internationally).

But Liberland itself has representatives in dozens of countries, it already has 1,000 citizens scattered globally, and half a million people have applied for citizenship.

”People are looking for alternatives when things are going down the drain”, says Vit Jedlička, Liberland’s first president, to Mind the Shift.

He wants to create a nation with less rules, no corruption and truly free markets. To the extent that Liberland is to be ruled, it will be based on meritocracy. The country's motto is: To live and let live.

”The fewer rules, the more prosperity”, says Jedlička.

”I’ve been thinking a lot about how to bring more freedom to the people of this world. You can’t force people to change their ways. You just have to be a good example.”

But doesn’t economic freedom for some mean hardship for others? No, that’s a widespread falsehood, says Liberland’s head of state..

”This is one of the paradigms that are pushed through our educational system. It’s a big mental block. The truth is that when trade is truly free, both sides always win.”

Why use money at all?

”Well, you can barter, but money has shown to be the most effective means for voluntary exchange”, says Vit Jedlička, a former libertarian politician who left politics some years ago, when he came to the conclusion that parliamentarians can’t really change anything even if they have the majority. Other forces pull the strings.

On Liberland’s website one can get more information and apply for citizenship.