Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

Many multi-national organizations and alliances have some of these aspects, does that make them into countries too?

In practice, being a country isn't just about filling out some checklist. The EU neither claims to be a country, nor does any country on Earth see it as a single sovereign state. It has democratic and political processes that are similar to a country's, but its sway over member states is limited. Also, its members aren't forced to stay in the EU, unlike the individual regions that are part of your country.

And if you truly, unironically believe that the EU is a single country, what do you think of its member states? By extension of this argument, is Spain not a country? Or is Poland a country that's contained within another country, being equal and unequal in status at the same time?



I never said that the EU is a country nor that I believe it is (much less a single sovereign one), only that it sounds like one.

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it still might not be a duck.




Consider applying for YC's Fall 2026 batch! Applications are open till July 27.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: