Like most folks, The West Wing had a huge impact on me. I would say as a kid but I know very many loved ones who would feel aged by that.
The first time I saw the episode where President Bartlett was presented with a map of the Gall-Peters projection, I went to school early the next morning to print it out on a clear sheet so I could show it to my AP US History class on the overhead projector. No idea why I was bullied in high school. None at all.
(She’s not stretched out! She’s at the mercy of a sphere, OK??)
Seeing the earth presented in a different and more accurate way was a paradigm shift for me. I wasn’t old enough to understand that it was the beginning of my worldview turning loose of imperialism and Eurocentric frameworks. All I knew is that it was new, mysterious, and speaking my language.
Another moment that stuck with me from that show is when they discuss the Kaliningrad question.
The Kaliningrad question is a political question concerning the status of Kaliningrad Oblast as an exclave of Russia, and its isolation from the rest of the Baltic region following the 2004 enlargement of the European Union.
In easier-to-understand terms, the question is basically “Why is there a little baby country squarely in the middle of Europe that is technically a part of Russia”
Valid. Wedged between Lithuania and Poland, it certainly sticks out. Two NATO and EU countries… and then this tiny principality called Kaliningrad.
This episode aired 15 years ago but given Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine, the strangeness is amplified… making it perhaps even more topical now. For example, see below for some perspective on proximity.
So what’s gonna happen? Girl, who knows? I’m not the person to ask.
It’s 2023 and I am only here to make sadistic listicles pointing people in the direction of mayhem. Providing informed wisdom on a nuanced matter of international relations? Couldn’t be me.
Welcome to Don’t Go Outside! This week, we’re gonna look at the weirdest little dudes on the map: enclaves and exclaves!
If we’re really doing this, I guess it’s only fair that I go on ahead and declare my bias: I got faves. I have several, actually, and I have since I was old enough to read.
Andorra & San Marino? She’s a friend. Lesotho & Swaziland? They do things for me.
Memorizing which classrooms had “color” globes because mine at home was just 3 shades of taupe… that’s normal behavior. IYKYK.
Sherwin Williams had that wallpaper border — Safari Sand — that hit just right in your tiny childhood bedroom. Real ones know.
Now that I’ve given every one of my remaining friends the ick, let’s start ranking some enclaves!
Our criteria to be considered is as follows, and all contenders must be one of the following subcategories of clave:
Enclaves that are also exclaves
Enclaves that are not exclaves
Exclaves that are not enclaves
Semi-enclaves and semi-exclaves
Pene-enclaves/exclaves (inaccessible districts and all that)
Divided Islands
National
Subnational
(I am also willing to consider what I’ll call “girls having a moment”, i.e. potential exclaves pending international resolution.)
Took a look. If she has any of the qualities pictured above, I’ll allow.
Basically, if you’re a country inside of a country or you’ve got you’re own very exceptional deal going on (like Kaliningrad, just out there floating in someone else’s business) then it’s worth digging into.
I’M READY TO RANK.
SOUTH AFRICA AND HER (NOT REALLY) FRIENDS
These were my gateway drug into geographical “situations”. Borders completely within borders. Enough colonial history to fill a course at Oxbridge. We love to see it, but hate how it got there? Shoutout Lesotho and Swaziland.
SAN MARINO
Again, as a kid staring at maps, San Marino ticked a chemical box for me. Why is she locked inside Italy? Is it really just same ole Italy and we’re all winking at each other?
It also fits neatly into my “one of the smallest countries in the world” hyperfixation.
And because I’ll never let you leave without a CIA Factsheet or WorldAtlas primer: “A microstate surrounded and landlocked by Italy near the top of the boot-shaped Italian Peninsula, San Marino is one of the world’s smallest countries. In this affluent nation, vehicles outnumber people! Sometimes considered the world’s oldest republic, the country is a remnant of a bygone era when many city-states were scattered across Europe, especially Italy, before their widespread unification. With Italy as a decent defense and buffer, San Marino remained neutral during World War II, although it was ruled by a fascist government during that time. More recently, in 2009 San Marino removed itself from the Tax Haven “gray list” that has become a recent global scandal among other countries.”
That’s wack about the fascism. Not neutral at all IYAM. This close to being kicked off the list but her only rival is the Vatican (and maybe Campione d’Italia for all the real ones on the spectrum out there) so oof, here we are.
POINT ROBERTS, WASHINGTON
On to the exclaves! So, everything I’ve read about Point Roberts involves drug running and hassle. While it sounds neat to live close to an international border (Americans living inside of Canada in this case), it also seems to be a massive pain in the ass as far as basic things like grocery shopping, going to work/school and having to obey twice the laws basically. Oof. I still think it’s such a unique situation.
Fun fact: “When the Oregon Treaty in 1846 was being hammered out, establishing the border between the U.S. and North American parts of British Empire (later Canada) along the 49th parallel, nobody at the time was aware of what effect this would have on the local areas and, in Point Roberts's case, it was a total goof-up. There were proposals of Point Roberts joining Canada for the obvious reasons, but no action was ever taken.” (WorldAtlas)
Funner fact: Point Roberts is home to at least 50 folks who are part of the Witness Protection Program. THE INTRIGUE.
A similar mapping error happened with Angle Inlet / Northwest Angle in Minnesota. That’s a fun rabbit hole too!
BAARLE-HERTOG BORDERING UP ON BAARLE-NASSAU
Please just Google this. You’ll love it if you’re a history buff. This is a royal Dutch and Flemish mess. An ancient one. You’re a world traveler if you walk outside your door for any reason in this region. It’s a lot.
Actually Tom Scott made a great video about this a while back. Watch that! Also, S/O to friend of the pod Daniel D. for suggesting this one!
THE DIOMEDES
Once upon a time there were two islands, high above the Arctic Circle and centered right in the middle of the Bering Strait. It’s a tale of geopolitical intrigue and war games! Of two countries torn apart by time but brought together by two tiny rocks in the ocean… it’s the Diomede Islands.
Called Big and Little Diomede, one is Russian and the other belongs to the U.S. respectively.
Though not technically inside or outside of anything (but love), I’m including them and that’s that.
I’m 55% sure World War 3 will start here. They’re worth a Google images deep dive at least. I check in on them periodically, and last time it was a headline reading “Inside America’s most remote town just 2.4 miles from Russia where only 77 people live & a bottle of detergent costs $40”. That’s wild.
I promise?? this is possibly?? the last?? time?? I write about remote inhabited islands?? I’m lying, but look at me making good faith gestures lol
Hope y’all have a good one.
Until next time!
On an extremely loosely related note. Have I told you about Whitney, Washington? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitney,_Washington
I don't remember how I got here, but thank you for this article!
It's not exactly related, but have you ever read The City and The City by China Meiville?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_City_%26_the_City
From the wikipedia page:
These two cities actually occupy much of the same geographical space, but via the volition of their citizens (and the threat of the secret power known as Breach), they are perceived as two different cities. A denizen of one city must dutifully "unsee" (that is, consciously erase from their mind or fade into the background) the denizens, buildings, and events taking place in the other city – even if they are an inch away. This separation is emphasised by the style of clothing, architecture, gait, and the way denizens of each city generally carry themselves. Residents of the cities are taught from childhood to recognise things belonging to the other city without actually seeing them. Ignoring the separation, even by accident, is called "breaching" – a terrible crime for the citizens of the two cities, even worse than murder.