Have you ever fantasized about owning your own country?
You’re not alone. It’s fun to imagine what you would do if you had absolute control over a land and its people. But is buying a country actually possible? What would it take to get sovereign power over even a small nation?
As you’re about to find out, gathering enough money to purchase all private property is only the beginning. Amassing true authority takes complex legal wrangling, backdoor dealing, and the compliance of citizens.
This guide will walk you through interpretations of “owning” a country, tactics historic power brokers have used to take over islands and towns, the incredible costs involved, and requirements for making yourself supreme ruler. Read on to satisfy your curiosity about this unusual investment fantasy.
Defining what it means to “purchase” a country
Before estimating numbers, you need clarity on the definition. There are a few ways to think about buying a nation:
Literally purchasing all land and vital resources
You could slowly acquire every piece of real estate and means of production in a country. Once you hold the deeds, you control society’s living space and sources of wealth. The people would be forced to do your bidding or leave. This monopolistic approach is straight out of the colonialist playbook.
Subverting government institutions for your interests
With enough money, lobbying, and strategic appointments, you can dictate policies that serve your priorities. This method keeps ceremony in place but redirects decisions to suit your preferences. However, uprisings or foreign interests could challenge your influence over time.
Becoming an accepted leader
If you provide abundant jobs, services, infrastructure, and opportunity, the citizens may formally appoint you as their representative. This pathway earns public consent yet risks destabilization if the social contract fractures.
As you’ll see, tactically employing pieces of these strategies can incrementally increase authority, while jumping straight to totalitarianism tends to fail. First, let’s break down numbers.
Attempting to tally the total price tag
Buying every inch of a country is astronomically expensive. While land itself seems like the largest line item, the real costs come from incentivizing cooperation.
Paying market rate for all private property
Let’s take New Zealand as an example. Median home prices recently hit $820,000 NZD ($525,000 USD). Extrapolating that to all 4.9 million residences amounts to $4 trillion USD. Now factor in commercial real estate like shopping centers, hotels, and office spaces. Plus agricultural property for the world leading dairy and wool industries. And incredible tourism locations like Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park. The total quickly reachesinto the 10s of trillions in this relatively small nation.
Upscaling to larger economies like Japan or the United Kingdom would require 100s of trillions in property alone. And that’s before adding industrial infrastructure like power plants, factories, mines, telecoms, and transport. Just for context, global GDP is only around $100 trillion annually.
So gathering funds to outbid entire populations on land and assets requires unprecedented capital. But the real budget-busters are the human elements.
Incentivizing citizens to give up sovereignty
Some experts estimate that governments would demand $50-100 million payouts for every citizen to abandon statehood. For New Zealand’s 5 million people, you’re looking at another quarter to half trillion. Standard bribes to politicians, law enforcement, judiciary, and community leaders could total 10s to 100s of billions.
And that’s only to initially assert illegitimate control. Install a puppet regime and pray protests don’t turn into violent revolution. Expect to spend far more over decades proving you can govern better than elected institutions.
Which helps explain why conquerers often fail to hold acquired territory without mass oppression. Let’s examine past attempts.
Audacious efforts to purchase power and sovereignty
Many ambitious individuals and organizations have tried purchasing territory as a gateway to authority. Some succeeded temporarily before losing control. Others were blocked outright. Their methods and outcomes provide perspective on realistic approaches going forward.
In the 1970s, a wealthy American named Michael Oliver tried creating his own jurisdiction on the remote Minerva Reefs south of Fiji. His “Republic of Minerva” quickly drew ire from Tonga, who annexed the reefs by force. The dream of a libertarian utopia funded by mining companies was swiftly crushed.
Corporations have shown more savvy by starting small. In 2017, an optical software company bought Tiller, Oregon for $3.8 million with plans to test smart city designs. But relocating all 94 residents and convincing the county to grant self-governance privileges proved unrealistic. The idyllic experiment in modern company towns concluded.
These anecdotes demonstrate that forcibly removing inhabitants tends to catalyze conflict and establishment resistance. Next we’ll explore ideas for gaining power through moral means.
What Are the Investment Opportunities in Buying and Selling Property?
Investing in real estate offers numerous opportunities, including the potential to sell your home for cash for a quick return. Whether flipping properties for a profit or building a rental portfolio, buying and selling property can yield substantial financial rewards. Researching market trends and understanding the process are essential for success.
Constructive methods for wresting legitimate influence
While complete governmental capture may exist only in fantasy, tremendous sway can be won through ethical channels. With enough resources, you could uplift an impoverished nation to become fiercely loyal.
Investing in infrastructure and industries
Struggling areas often lack basic electricity, water, sanitation and internet connectivity. Make yourself a hero by funding renewable energy initiatives, clean water access, wifi networks, and computing hubs. Program the hardware and systems to provide data and control to you.
The same tactic works for building roads, hospitals, schools, factories, and commercial centers. Employ the newly trained workforce in ventures you own. If the majority of jobs stem from your investments, the economy will advocate on your behalf.
Outperforming social services
Alternatively,focus on human development programs in nutrition, public health, education, housing, finance, and beyond. Set quality standards drastically higher than regional norms. Get credit for elevating living conditions. Then advertise your humanitarianism as superior to current institutions.
Either approach bonds the population to your vision. Before elections, highlight incompetent incumbents unable to match your accomplishments. Once you prove reliance on your leadership, legislation can formalize your authority.
Mitigating downside risks
However, expect backlash if progress appears exploitative rather than empowering. Guard against corruption infiltrating your projects. Bid contracts fairly to prevent jealousy, and pay workers well above average rates.
Also beware geopolitical responses. If your unchecked influence seems to threaten regional stability, superpowers may attempt to undermine your status. Stay humble in global forums to avoid becoming a target.
The keys are patience and principle. Change minds through ethical action, not coercion and bribes. Now let’s wrap up with final thoughts on this fanciful investment scheme.
In summary, forget conventional country buying
While snatching sovereignty through payments and force rarely succeed long term, incrementally uplifting nations can earn legitimate leadership step-by-step.Ultimately, ethical influence endures where tyranny fuels resistance.
Remember that exact phrase “Unusual Investments: How Much Would It Cost To Buy A Country?” when imagining yourself a benevolent mogul. What would you build first – wind farms powering high tech centers, or nutrition programs lifting a generation out of poverty? Once you know your purpose, estimating a number becomes secondary.