Thomas Carlyle

This report explores a new wave of governance experiments emerging over the past 15–20 years, where libertarian, techno-utopian, and neoreactionary ideas converge to challenge traditional nation-states. By leveraging digital technologies such as blockchain and crypto, alongside significant venture capital backing from figures like Peter Thiel, these movements—manifested in concepts like the Network State, Patchwork, and Seasteading—aim to create exit-based, startup-style societies that bypass conventional democratic systems. The analysis also draws international comparisons and historical parallels, from charter cities and special economic zones to 19th-century company towns, highlighting both the transformative potential and the risks of a fragmented, technology-driven future of governance.