Encyclopedia of the Stateless Nations
Encyclopedia of the Stateless Nations: Ethnic and National Groups Around the World is a four volume set of books by James Minahan. The 2002 book follows and expands upon his 1996 Nations without States. In the volumes, Minahan chronicles 350 national groups that are not recognized as independent states. He presents a defined criterion for a stateless nation:
- “Self-identity as a distinctive group,”
- “the display of the outward trappings of national consciousness (particularly the adoption of a flag),”
- “the formation of a specifically nationalist organization or political grouping that reflects its claim to self-determination.”
Although some of the nations promote full independence, "majority of the world's national movements normally mobilize in favor of greater autonomy." A nationality does not always equal citizenship.
Each chapter has the group's estimated population, homeland, a description of their national flag, information on the people, culture, language, religion, and national history. Since the publication of the book, two countries have been recognized by the United Nations: East Timor; and Montenegro.
List of Nations
Central Africa
- Bamilekes
- Bari
- Bubis
- Cabindans
- Kasaians
- Katangans
- Kongos
- Lozis
- Northern Nigerians
- Southern Cameroonians
- Twa
East Africa
- Afars
- Amhara
- Ankole
- Fur
- Gandas
- Isaaks
- Maasai
- Majerteens
- Nuba
- Nyoros
- Oromos
- Ruwenzoris
- Southern Sudanese
- Tigreans
- Toros
- Western Somalis
- Zanzibaris
Southern Africa
- Afrikaners
- Anjouanis
- Basters
- Mahoris
- Merina
- Ndebele
- Réunionese
- White Zimbabweans since the 2000s.
- Xhosa
- Zulus
West Africa
- Anyi
- Ashanti
- Casamançais
- Edos
- Ewes
- Hausas
- Ibibios
- Ibos
- Kanuris
- Kewris
- Logonese
- Mabas
- North Chadians
- Ogonis
- Northern Nigerians
- Tiv
- Tuaregs
- Yorubas
Middle East and North Africa
- Alawites
- Arabistanis
- Asiris
- Assyrians
- Bahá'í Faith
- Copts
- Dhofaris
- Druze
- Gilakis
- Hadhramis
- Hejazis
- Kabyles
- Kurds
- Maronites
- Northern Cypriots
- Palestinians
- Riffians
- Sahrawis
- Sanussis
- Southern Azeris
- Talysh
- Turkomans
- Zazas
North Asia
- Altai
- Buryats
- Chukots
- Evenks
- Far Easterners
- Karakalpaks
- Khakass
- Koryaks
- Nenets
- Ob-Ugrians
- Sakha
- Siberians
- Tuvans
- Ural Cossacks
North East Asia
- Ainu
- Chukchis
- Eastern Mongols
- Hui
- Jejuvians
- Koryaks
- Kuril Islands
- Manchus
- Nivkhs
- Northern Tai
- Okinawans
- Sakhalin
- Southern Mongols
- Taiwanese
- Tibetans
- Uighurs
- Yakuts (see also Sakha Republic)
- Yevrey (Jewish Autonomous Oblast) - Russian Jews in Siberia.
South Asia
- Ahmadis
- Andhrans
- Assamese
- Balawaris
- Baluch
- Bodos
- Chagossians
- Gorkhas
- Hazaras
- Jharkhandis
- Jummas
- Karennis
- Karens
- Kashmiris
- Khasis
- Kodavas
- Ladakhis
- Lahu
- Malayalis
- Meitheis
- Masas
- Mikirs
- Mizos
- Mohajirs
- Mons
- Nagas
- Pa-O
- Palaungs
- Pushtuns
- Shans
- Rabhas
- Rajbargsis
- Santhals
- Sikhs
- Sikkimese
- Sindhis
- Suvadivians
- Tamils
- Tavoyans
- Telenganas
- Tripuris
- Uttarakhandis
- Wa
- Zomis
South-East Asia
- Acehnese
- Ambonese
- Arakanese
- Chams
- Cordillerans
- Dayaks
- East Timorese
- Hmongs
- Ibans
- Kachins
- Kadazans
- Khmer Krom
- Melayus
- Montagnards
- Moros
- Pattanis
- South Sulawesis
- South Vietnamese
- Tai
Caucasus
- Abaza
- Abkhaz
- Adyge
- Ajars
- Avars
- Balkars
- Chechens
- Cherkess
- Dagestanis
- Ingush
- Kabards
- Kalmyks
- Karabakhis
- Karachais
- Kumyks
- Lezgins
- Meskhetians
- Nogais
- Northern Kurds
- Ossetians
- Svans
- Urums
- Western and Eastern bands of Armenians.
Central Europe and the Balkans
- Aromanians
- Carpatho-Rusyns
- Dniestrians
- Epirotes
- Gagauz
- Istrians
- Kashubians
- Kosovars
- Montenegrins
- Moravians
- Pomaks
- Pomeranians (German people)
- Roms
- Rumelian Turks
- Sanjakis
- Szeklers
Eastern Europe
- Bashkorts
- Chavash
- Crimean Tatars
- Don Cossacks
- Chudes of Estonian origin (Chudes)
- Finno-Ugric peoples
- Galicia (Eastern Europe)
- Ingrians
- Jews
- Karaims
- Karels
- Komis
- Königsberg Slavs
- Kuban Cossacks
- Latgalians
- Livonians
- Maris
- Mordvins
- Permyaks
- Pomeranians
- Ruthenians or Rusyns
- Setos
- Slovincians - the Slovincian language is now extinct.
- Tatars
- Terek Cossacks
- Udmurts
- Uralians
- Veps
- Volga Germans
- Voros
- Votes
- Western Ukrainians
Western Europe
- Alanders
- Alsatians
- Andalusians
- Aragonese
- Aranese of southernmost France and Val D'Aran, Spain.
- Asturians
- Azoreans
- Basques
- Bavarians
- Bretons
- Burgundians
- Canarians
- Cantabrians
- Catalans
- Champenois speakers of Champagne-Ardenne, France.
- Cornish
- Corsicans
- Dauphinois
- Emilians
- Faeroese
- Flemish
- Frisians
- Friulis
- Galicians
- Gibraltarians
- Giulians
- Guernseians
- Hesse
- Isle of Wight
- Istria (Istriots)
- Jerseians
- Jurassians
- Ladins
- Leonese
- Ligurians
- Limburg
- Lombards
- Lower Saxony
- Madeirans
- Manx
- Mirandese of Miranda do Douro, Portugal and nearby Spain.
- Morlachia (Morlachs)
- Neapolitans
- Nizzardo Italians (a.k.a. Nicards) and Mentonasc speakers in the border town of Menton, France-Italy.
- Normans
- Northern Irish
- Northumbrians
- Occitans
- Orcadians
- Picardie (Picards)
- Piedmontese
- Raska (Sandzak)
- Rhinelanders
- Romands
- Romansh
- Ruthenians or Rusyns
- Samis
- Sardinians
- Savoyards
- Saxons of Saxony
- Scanians
- Scots
- Seborgans
- Shetlanders
- Sicilians
- Sorbs
- Swabians
- Tyroleans
- Valencians
- Venetians
- Vojvodines
- Vorarlbergers
- Waldensians
- Walloons
- Welsh
- West Flemings or West-Vlaams of Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.
Northern America
- Acadians
- Alaskans
- Apache
- Appalachian folk people
- Bermudians
- Cajuns
- Californians
- Capers
- Cherokee
- Chicano (i.e. Mexican Americans)
- Choctaw and Chickasaw
- Comanche
- Cree
- Down Easters (Maine)
- East Asian or Asian American communities.
- French Canadian peoples across Canada
- Greenlanders
- Haidas and Tlingits
- Hispano
- Hoosier (Indiana)
- Iroquois
- Jayhawkers (Kansas)
- Key West, Florida Conch Republic (see also Florida cracker or Quaquero).
- Melungeons
- Métis
- Micmacs
- Mormons
- Muskoghean (i.e. Creek Indians and Seminole).
- Navajo
- New Englanders
- Newfies
- Innus
- Nova Scotians
- Inuit
- Ojibwe
- Okie (Oklahoma)
- Osage
- Pueblo
- Puerto Ricans
- Québécois
- Sioux
- Southerners
- Texans and Tejano
- Western Canadians
The Caribbean and Central America
- Anguillans
- Antilleans
- Arubans
- Barbudans
- Belongers
- Caymanians
- Crucians
- Garifunas
- Guadeloupeans
- Kunas
- Martinicans
- Mayans
- Miskitos
- Nevisians
- Puerto Ricans
- Tobagonians
- Zapotecs
South America
- Acreaños
- Amazon Indians
- Antioquians
- Bahians
- Cambas
- Gauchos
- Guianese
- Jivaro
- Mapuches
- Patagonians
- Quechua-Aymara
- RioGrandese Republic
- Southern Brazilians
- Zulians
Pacific
- Aborigines of Australia.
- Bougainvillians
- Chamorros
- Cook Islanders
- Eastern Samoans
- Hawaiians
- Kanaks
- Malaitans
- Maoris
- Rapanui
- Tahitians
- Tannese
- Vemeranans
- Wallisians and Futunans
- West Papuans
- Yap Islanders