About
Free Communities Directory
The Free Communities Directory seeks to provide up-to-date information about projects around the world that strive to provide their residents with greater individual freedom and to highlight those that do so by employing innovative and alternative governance models
These projects contribute to the diversification of the “market of living together”, the largest and most important market in the world, in which entrepreneurship and innovation is much needed and in short supply.
The Directory is created and maintained by the Free Cities Foundation. However, inclusion in the Directory does not constitute an endorsement of any specific project by the Foundation.
If any information included in the Directory is outdated or inaccurate, we will be grateful if you let us know using the form below.
Criteria for Inclusion
Entries included in the Free Communities Directory are divided into two main types listed below according to their level of formal self-governance. While Autonomous Zones do enjoy some level of legal autonomy, intentional communities offer to increase de facto liberty of their members in the absence of formal concessions.
Projects must meet the criteria listed below to be included in the Directory.
Intentional Communities
- Must have at least 5 permanent residents for at least one year
- Must have a stated goal, purpose, or idea that binds the community together and gives it its identity
In addition, while there are thousands of intentional communities worldwide exemplifying a wide array of values, the Free Communities Directory focuses on a subset of these – the projects that explicitly highlight the value of liberty in their design and conduct.
Read more about intentional communities here.
Autonomous Zones
- Must have a legal basis that is deemed constitutional in the Host State
- Must have at least some de jure and de facto concessions from the local or national government (some laws must not fully apply within the Zone)
- Must have at least 5 permanent residents
In addition, while there are thousands of Autonomous Zones worldwide exemplifying a wide array of values, the Free Communities Directory focuses on a subset of these – the projects that explicitly highlight the value of liberty in their design and conduct.
Autonomous Zones are an umbrella term covering a variety of different models. These can range from Prosperity Zones and Free Private Cities to microstates, semi-autonomous regions of sovereign states, seasteads, and others. What they have in common is a formal, legal arrangement that gives them an autonomous status under which they are free to govern themselves to some extent.
To learn more about different types of freedom-oriented communities, visit free-cities.org
In addition, the Directory features the Projects in Preparation category, where communities have yet to meet the necessary criteria above but remain on our watchlist pending further development.
If you know about a missing project that you think meets our criteria and should be included in the Directory or that we should keep on our watchlist, please reach out to us via e-mail.