enclave
Enclaves have gained prominence in recent years as governments have become increasingly interested in providing citizens or residents with higher levels of security, privacy, and autonomy. An enclave is defined as an area within a country, typically separated from the surrounding population, that is either wholly self-governing or under the complete autonomy of a different government.
One of the most notable examples of an enclave is the autonomous region of Hong Kong, which is governed by a “one country, two systems” arrangement between mainland China and the Special Administrative Region. Although Hong Kong is part of China, the enclave has its own legal system, currency, and culture. It is also home to a variety of industries, including banking, shipping, and tourism.
Another well-known enclave is the Vatican City, located within the country of Italy. The area is home to the headquarters of the Catholic Church and is governed separately from the Italian Republic. It is also considered to be a sovereign state, with its own laws, postal service, currency, and judicial system.
Enclaves can also be found in other parts of Europe. In Spain, for instance, there are two autonomous communities, the Canary Islands and the Basque Country, both of which are governed separately from Madrid. Similarly, the United Kingdom has two partially self-governing regions, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Enclaves play an important role in maintaining a sense of community and national identity. By allowing different cultures and governments to exist within the same overall country, enclaves help to foster a greater understanding between populations and facilitate economic cooperation. Furthermore, they provide their citizens or residents with greater levels of privacy and autonomy.