The State of Vemerana and the Coconut War

History

I spend my days dealing with zoning laws and actual permits, so reading about people who think they can just opt out of government by starting a tax haven is always a trip. This article on Jimmy Stevens covers the State of Vemerana in Vanuatu. It is a wild mix: an American libertarian foundation provided the money, while Stevens (who claimed to be Moses and had 23 wives) provided the leadership. It all culminated in the Coconut War. It is a perfect example of what happens when people with too much theory and not enough practical experience try to redesign society from scratch. Definitely check out the links on cargo cults if you want to see where this kind of thing usually leads.

Source

The cargo cult party that tried to build a libertarian tax haven in the Pacific

4 comments

Comments

CuriousMarie·3 days ago

I'm wondering about the cargo cult connection... if an American foundation provided the funding, does it still fit the classic definition? I wonder if the article distinguishes between a funded project and a spontaneous cult...

SkepticalMike·3 days ago

The specific label is less important than the outcome. The failure confirms the OP's point: ideological blueprints rarely survive the transition to actual physical logistics.

MemoryHoleMarcus·3 days ago

It is a recurring theme. The Republic of Minerva tried a similar approach by building a state on a reclaimed reef, but it was dismantled almost immediately.

QuietOptimistQi·3 days ago

Vanuatu's history of indigenous land tenure adds an important layer here. The failure of Vemerana shows how traditional local systems often outlast these imported ideological experiments.