Lawfare Daily: A Trip Around the ‘Hidden Globe’ with Atossa Araxia Abrahamian
Oct 21, 2024
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Atossa Araxia Abrahamian, an independent journalist and author of "The Hidden Globe: How Wealth Hacks the World," explores unconventional jurisdictions that shape the global economy. She discusses the intriguing concept of "selling your sovereignty" and its ethical dilemmas. The conversation highlights Geneva as a unique hub of wealth, the creation of a startup court in Dubai, and the unique legal framework of Svalbard. Abrahamian also reflects on how wealth influences governance, leading to surprising ramifications for nations and economies alike.
Atossa Araxia Abrahamian discusses the complexities of global citizenship and how personal identity can transcend traditional national boundaries.
The podcast explores the role of special economic zones in global finance, highlighting both their potential for investment and the risks of socioeconomic exploitation.
Deep dives
The Complexity of Global Citizenship
Global citizenship is increasingly influenced by the interplay of national policies and the concept of belonging. The discussion highlights the author's formative experiences in Geneva, a city characterized by its international atmosphere, which shaped her understanding of identity beyond traditional national boundaries. Through her upbringing, she recognized the complexities of citizenship as something that can be bought and sold, as evidenced by the emerging passport industry. This nuance questions the rigid definitions of nationality, suggesting that people can identify with multiple cultures and nations simultaneously.
Geneva: The Capital of Special Economic Zones
Geneva's historical connection to special economic zones underscores its role in the evolution of global finance and commerce. The city's mercenary trade in the Middle Ages marked a precedent for selling sovereignty, evolving into modern financial practices such as the creation of the Geneva Freeport. This legacy showcases how Switzerland has positioned itself as a hub for wealth accumulation and banking secrecy, attracting individuals seeking favorable legal environments. The examination posits that this historical context provides a blueprint for contemporary states grappling with economic inequality and competitive positioning in a globalized world.
Extraterrestrial Legal Landscapes
The exploration of outer space as jurisdictionless reflects the absurdities within global legal structures. Luxembourg’s proactive approach to space resource legislation illustrates how states leverage ambiguity in international treaties to create economic opportunities, even in regions where traditional territorial claims do not exist. This model emerges as a fundamental aspect of ‘offshore thinking,’ suggesting that jurisdictions actively stretch beyond earthly borders to seize advantages in a boundless arena. Such innovations challenge our understanding of sovereignty and point to a future where legal frameworks may need to continuously adapt to new frontiers.
The Dual Nature of Special Economic Zones
Special economic zones present both opportunities and challenges, often reflecting underlying socioeconomic disparities. Case studies like Mauritius showcase successful engagement with foreign investment, yet a critical lens reveals the potential for exploitation and the creation of labor conditions akin to modern-day sweatshops. The transfer of risks and resources onto local populations can perpetuate inequality, as shown through the negative externalities often overlooked by proponents of these zones. The discussion highlights the urgent need for systemic reforms to ensure that such zones contribute positively to the broader economy rather than simply facilitating corporate interests.
The journalist Atossa Araxia Abrahamian begins her new book, “The Hidden Globe: How Wealth Hacks the World,” in her hometown: Geneva, Switzerland. She writes, “I began this book about the world on a lifelong hunch: there was something strange about the place where I grew up…I am, and will always be, a part of this world apart—a place defined by a certain placelessness.”
It turns out that Geneva is just one entrepôt of many on the hidden globe, which Abrahamian describes as a network of “spaces defined by surprising or unconventional jurisdiction—embassies, freeports, tax havens, container ships, Arctic archipelagoes, and tropical city-states,” which make up “the lifeblood of the global economy” and are “a defining part of our daily lives.” Lawfare Managing Editor Tyler McBrien explored these often far-flung places with Abrahamian, who described the origins of “extraterritorial domains” well beyond Geneva, in Mauritius, Dubai, Svalbard (Norway), Roatán (Honduras), Boten (Laos), and beyond—even in outer space.