Asia's dwarf countries. Mystical secrets of old Europe: what are the dwarf states hiding? Name of course topics

If your place of residence is Russia, great and immense, then you are unlikely to be able to visit all corners of this vast country. But if you live in a dwarf country, then just one day will be enough for you to visit all the sights of the state, as well as other hidden corners.

So, we present to your attention the top 10 dwarf states or the smallest countries on our the globe.

1. Vatican

Tops this list Vatican. As you know, this is a closed city and state rolled into one. It is located in Italy, in the city of Rome. The area of this city is only 44 hectares. The Vatican was founded just over 80 years ago, in 1929, and is headed by the Pope. Of the sights of this state, very beautiful buildings are distinguished. The most famous are the Apostolic Palace - the residence of the Pope, as well as the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Cathedral and many others. They are considered the most beautiful in the world.

It is noteworthy that half of the area of this small town occupy the Vatican Gardens. The official population is only 800 people. Also every day, several thousand Italians come here to work.

2. Monaco

Followed by the Vatican Monaco. This country is the second in the list of the smallest countries in the world. The area of this state has grown significantly over the past 20 years due to the drying of the sea. Now Monaco covers an area of 2.02 square kilometers. Monaco is also the second small state with a monarchical system of government.
An interesting fact is that this country is considered one of the most abundantly populated countries in the world and the number of inhabitants is around 30 thousand. Tourism is the main income of this country.

3. Nauru

In third place is a country with an unfamiliar name - Nauru. It is located in Micronesia in the South Pacific. The occupied territory is 21.3 square kilometers. The Republic of Nauru is the smallest island nation in the world. This country gained independence in 1968, but for three thousand years, natives lived there. Today there are 9 thousand people in Nauru. This state has no armed forces.

4. Tuvalu

The fourth place was given to a no less unfamiliar country - Tuvalu. She, like Nauru, is located in the South Pacific Ocean. Its area is 26 square kilometers. Also, this country includes a small number of coral islands. In the past, these islands were called the Ellis Islands and belonged to Britain. In 1978, Tuvalu became independent from the British. The population of the country is 10.5 thousand people. Tuvalu cannot live on its own and has to accept help from other countries because it lacks natural resources.

5. San Marino

The territory of the fifth dwarf state in the list San Marino – 61 square kilometer. Here is the smallest number of inhabitants of the countries European Council. San Marino is the oldest independent country in the world. The date of its foundation is September 3, 301. San Marino, oddly enough, is one of the most money-rich countries on our planet because its income is much higher than its expenses.

6. Liechtenstein

In sixth place is Liechtenstein- a state that borders on Austria and Switzerland. The area is 160.4 square kilometers. Liechtenstein is landlocked, but is one of the richest states, because the number of registered companies exceeds the number of inhabitants.

7. Marshall Islands

Seventh - Marshall Islands. They are located in the very center of the Pacific Ocean and consist mainly of coral islands. The territory is impressive - 181 square kilometers, and the population is in the region of 62 thousand inhabitants. These Islands gained independence from the United States in 1986, but without the help of America, they simply could not stay afloat. The United States regularly provides support to the Marshall Islands. As it is already clear, in this state there are no natural resources. Imports of goods are much larger than exports.

8. Seychelles

Under the number eight are located Seychelles. They are located a little north of Madagascar. They include 115 islands of the Indian Ocean. The total area is 455 square kilometers. The inhabitants are 84 thousand people. This state can exist due to the export of cinnamon, vanilla and coconut. But the main source of income is tourism. This happened after the country sawed off independence in 1976.

9. Maldives

The ninth place belongs to the famous Maldives. This island republic is located in the Indian Ocean. Due to the size of the territory it occupies, it is the smallest country in Asia. Its area is 298 square kilometers, and the population is 396 thousand people. The capital of the country is Male, where 2/3 of all the inhabitants of the country live. Previously, the development of the country was supported by the export of dried tuna, coconut cables and kauri shellfish, now tourism is the main income of the Maldives.

10. Saint Kitts and Nevis

And finally, in last place - the Federation Saint Kitts and Nevis. This dwarf state is located in Western India - on the islands Atlantic Ocean between South and North America. This country occupies 2 islands with a total area of 261 square kilometers. In history, it is noted that these are the first islands that were settled by Europeans. The main source of income is tourism, but offshore banking and agriculture are also developed here.

dwarf states.

San Marino

Small states are states that occupy smallest area and recognized by other states.

The Republic of San Marino is surrounded on all sides by Italy. If we take into account the current borders of San Marino, then it is the oldest state in Europe. Its name comes from the Christian saint - the stonemason Marino, who, according to legend, founded the state. The total area of the state is only 60.57 km². Population - 32 thousand people (2011).

Associated states also belong to the dwarf states. They are a form of confederation of unequal states united on a bilateral basis, in which a smaller state, formally retaining sovereignty and independence, entrusts a significant part of its power to a larger state.

Republic of Malta.

The Republic of Malta, whose name comes from the ancient Phoenician malat ("harbour, refuge"), is located in the Mediterranean Sea. This 316 km² island, located in the center sea routes from Europe to Asia and Africa, attracted conquerors for a long time. In the VIII century BC. it began to be colonized by the Phoenicians and Greeks. Then Malta was alternately captured by the Carthaginians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Spaniards. Malta is a parliamentary republic, its population is 425.5 thousand people (2011).

Republic of Maldives.

The popular tourist "health resort" is none other than the Republic of Maldives, located on a group of 20 atolls in the Indian Ocean. Its territory is 298 km², while the population is about 400 thousand people (as of 2013). The capital of the republic is the city of Male. Most of the residents are from South Asia and the Middle East. By religion, the population of the Maldives belongs to the Sunnis. Any of the islands of the state can be crossed in 1.5-2 hours.

Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The country is located in the eastern part of the Caribbean Sea, its area is 261 km², the state is inhabited by only 50 thousand people (2010). The capital of the country - the city of Basseterre - is located on the island of St. Kitts. The indigenous people are the Caribs. The islands themselves were discovered by Columbus in 1493, but the Spaniards did not colonize them. However, then the British took them seriously. Today the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis is an independent member of the British Commonwealth.

Marshall Islands.

The republic is located in Micronesia and is associated with the United States. The total land area is 181.3 km², and the population is about 53 thousand people (2011). The capital is the city of Majuro. The islands are named after the English captain John Marshall, who, together with another captain, Thomas Gilbert (the neighboring islands are named after the latter), explored this territory in 1778.

Principality of Liechtenstein.

According to the form of government, Liechtenstein belongs to a constitutional monarchy. The state is located in Western Europe, in the most beautiful spurs of the Alps. One of the largest European rivers, the Rhine, flows through the western part of the country. Associated with Switzerland. The name of the country comes from ruling dynasty Liechtenstein. The area of this dwarf state is 160 km². The capital is the city of Vaduz. The population at the end of 2012 was almost 37 thousand people. Despite its tiny size, the country is home to several important cultural sites, including the Liechtenstein Kunstmuseum, the largest international museum of contemporary art.

Tuvalu.

The total land area of Tuvalu, a Pacific state in Polynesia, occupies only 26 km², and a little more than 11 thousand people inhabit the country (2011). The capital of the state is a city with the name Funafuti, which is undignified for the Russian ear. The islands of Tuvalu were discovered by the navigator Alvaro Mendaña de Neira in 1568; for most of the 20th century, Tuvalu was considered a British colony and gained independence in 1978. Modern name(in the Tuvaluan language it means "eight standing together") the archipelago received only in 1975. The first name - the Lagoon Islands - was given to it by the discoverer, and in 1819 the archipelago was called the Ellis Islands.

Republic of Nauru.

The Republic of Nauru is also located on an island (of the same name) located in the western Pacific Ocean, 42 km south of the equator. The area of the country is 21.3 km², the population is a little over 10 thousand people (2011). The state gained independence in 1968. Nauru breaks records in multiple positions: the smallest independent republic on the planet, the smallest island state, the smallest state outside Europe and the only republic in the world without an official capital.

Principality of Monaco.

The Principality of Monaco is associated with France, located in southern Europe on the coast of the Ligurian Sea, and borders France on land. Monaco is one of the smallest and most densely populated countries in the world. So, with an area of only 2.02 km², the population is almost 36 thousand people, that is, about 17,814 people per km²! In addition to its tiny size, Monaco is known for its casino in Monte Carlo and the Monaco Grand Prix, the Formula 1 championship stage held here.

Vatican.

The State of Vatican City, as you know, is located inside the territory of Rome and is the smallest officially recognized state in the world. Associated with Italy. The status of the Vatican in international law is: "an auxiliary sovereign territory of the Holy See, the seat of the highest spiritual leadership of the Roman Catholic Church." The form of government is an absolute theocratic monarchy, the head of state for life is the Pope. The area is 0.44 km² and the population is 842 (2014). The Vatican has a non-profit planned economy and exists on the donations of Catholics around the world. Most of the population has the status of the clergy and are members of the papal governments, and the workers (gardeners, janitors, etc.) are, as a rule, Italian citizens.

And the Vatican: the dwarf states of Europe. Graphics: JLogan, CC BY-SA 3.0

Dwarf States of Europe are a group of very small sovereign states in Europe. These include Andorra, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican. Some scientists also refer Luxembourg to the European dwarf states and exclude Malta from their number.

The peculiarity of the dwarf states of Europe is manifested in a small territory, limited resources (primarily human) and, as a result, their dependence on large neighbors. Therefore, all miniature states are included in customs and / or monetary unions with one or several “protector countries” at once (more on this in relation to each of the miniature countries below).

By the way: sometimes encountered "another feature of dwarf states", which allegedly consists in the fact that they are monarchies, does not correspond to reality. For example, the republics are San Marino and Malta.

List of dwarf states

Vatican

In our time, the Vatican is the smallest of the European dwarf states. However, this was not always the case: until 1870, significant areas of central Italy were directly subordinate to the Pope. In 1929, an agreement was concluded between Italy and the Vatican, according to which the Pope recognized the sovereignty of Italy over its former possessions (as well as, in fact, the very existence of the Italian Republic); in exchange, Rome recognized Vatican sovereignty over a small area (St. Peter's Square with Vatican Hill) within the city of Rome.

The Vatican is in a customs union with Italy.

Andorra

Located in the Pyrenees between France (in the north) and Spain (in the south), the Principality of Andorra gained its independence in 1278.

Liechtenstein

The beginning of the independent history of Liechtenstein takes from 1806. Until 1919, Vaduz (the capital of the Principality) in its economic and foreign policy activities focused on Austria (later - Austria-Hungary), after that - on Switzerland, with which Liechtenstein still has a monetary and customs union.

There is a theory that the Principality of Liechtenstein remained sovereign after the unification of the territories within the Holy Roman Empire precisely because of its geographical position between Switzerland and Austria.

San Marino

The Republic of San Marino is the only territory that retained its sovereignty after the unification of Italian lands into one state in the 19th century. This is partly due to the remote position of the dwarf state at the height of the Apennine mountains.

San Marino is part of a customs union with Italy.

Monaco

The Principality of Monaco has been ruled by the House of Grimaldi since the 13th century. However, this dwarf state of Europe received official independence only in 1860, when the territory of Piedmont was transferred to France.

The Vatican enters into a customs union with France.

Malta

The Republic of Malta is an island state in the Mediterranean Sea. Malta became independent (from the British Crown) on September 21, 1964.

By the way, having joined on May 1, 2004, Malta became the smallest state of the European Union (both in terms of territory and population).

"The Dwarf Semi-States of Europe"

The following territories do not have full sovereignty and therefore belong to the group of "dwarf semi-states of Europe":

Jersey Island;
Guernsey Island;
Isle Of Man;
Gibraltar;
Faroe islands.

Ecology

Can you boast that you have been to all corners of your country? Most of us, of course, will answer in the negative. The average person is more likely to not be able to visit every locality and area of their country, especially if it occupies a fairly large territory. However, if you live in some kind of dwarf state, you will not have such a problem. In fact, in order to go around your entire country, you will need no more than one day, and maybe just a couple of hours. For example, between breakfast and lunch, you can take a walk and visit every corner of your state.

1) Vatican

The Vatican is a dwarf state located in one of the districts of Rome. It is a closed city-state with an area of only approximately 44 hectares. The Vatican is not a very old country. The state was founded in just 1929 and is governed by the Bishop of Rome, known as the Pope. The most beautiful buildings in the world are located on the territory of the Vatican: St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Apostolic Palace (the residence of the Pope), several museums and many other beautiful buildings. In addition, this tiny area also houses the Vatican Gardens, which cover about half of the country. About 800 people are official citizens of the Vatican, but several thousand more Italians come here every day to work.

2) Monaco

Monaco is the second smallest country in the world and covers an area of 2.02 square kilometers. Thanks to the drying of the sea, the area of the country has increased slightly over the past 20 years. The country is also the second smallest monarchical state in terms of size. Monaco is located in Southwestern Europe on the coast mediterranean sea, on land borders with France. Monaco is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with a population of around 30,000. Mostly residents are engaged in tourism, as many guests come here who gamble and enjoy their holidays by the sea.

3) Nauru

Located in Micronesia, in the South Pacific Ocean, Nauru is a dwarf island nation with an area of only 21.3 square kilometers. The Republic of Nauru is the smallest island nation in the world. The state gained independence in 1968, but the island has been home to Aboriginals for at least 3,000 years. The first Westerner to visit the island was John Fearn. He gave the island the name "Pleasant". Today the population of the country is 9 thousand people, the state has no armed forces.

4) Tuvalu

Also located on islands in the South Pacific Ocean, the dwarf state of Tuvalu covers an area of 26 square kilometers. The country includes several coral islands. Previously, these islands were called the Ellis Islands and belonged to the British Crown. The islands were discovered in 1568 and were under British control until the end of the 19th century. Tuvalu gained full independence from the British only in 1978. At present, the population of the country is about 10.5 thousand people. Since there are practically no natural resources, Tuvalu lives off the help from other countries.

5) San Marino

Covering an area of 61 square kilometers, San Marino is the 5th smallest country in the world. San Marino also has the smallest population of the member countries of the European Council. San Marino is one of the oldest independent countries in the world. The founding date of this country is September 3, 301. The country's constitution was adopted as early as 1600, making San Marino the second oldest constitutional republic in the world. San Marino is also one of the richest countries on the planet, it has no debts, and incomes exceed expenditures in the budget.

6) Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is a state surrounded on all sides by land, located in Europe. The area of the country is 160.4 square kilometers, it borders on Switzerland and Austria. Liechtenstein may be one of the smallest states on the planet, but it is also on the list of the richest. Winter tourism is developed here, but tourism is not the main source of income. Liechtenstein is a popular business center with more companies registered than residents.

7) Marshall Islands

Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the dwarf state of the Marshall Islands mainly consists of coral islands. The total area of the country is 181 square kilometers, the population is 62 thousand people. This state gained independence from the United States only in 1986, but so far, US assistance has helped the economy of the Marshall Islands to "keep afloat". The country has virtually no natural resources and imports more goods than it exports. In recent years, the Marshall Islands has suffered from high cost energy resources.

8) Seychelles

Seychelles covers an area of 455 square kilometers. It is the 8th largest dwarf country with a population of about 84 thousand people. The archipelago consists of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, and is located north of Madagascar. The Seychelles has been constantly developing thanks to the export of cinnamon, coconut and vanilla. Since the country gained independence in 1976, tourism has become the main source of income. The tourism industry currently employs about a third of the country's working population.

9) Maldives

Another island country, the Republic of Maldives, or simply the Maldives, is located in Indian Ocean. In terms of area and population, the Maldives is the smallest Asian country. The total area is 298 square kilometers, and according to the 2010 census, 396,334 people live here. The state owns 1192 islands, but only about 200 are inhabited. About a third of all Maldivians live in the capital of the country - the city of Male. Today, the main source of income for the inhabitants of the Maldives is tourism, in the old days the country developed thanks to the export of kauri clams, dried tuna and coconut cables.

10) Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis

This dwarf island nation is located in the West Indies - on the islands of the Atlantic Ocean between North and South America. The state is located on 2 islands with a total area of 261 square kilometers. These islands were the first of the Caribbean islands to be settled by Europeans. The state gained independence from Great Britain in 1983. This country is not only the smallest in area in the region of the 2 Americas, but also has the smallest population among all countries in this part of the world - about 50 thousand people. Tourism is the main source of income for the country today. Agriculture and offshore banking are also developed here.

INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1. The Vatican State and Its Role in World Politics

1 History of the Vatican State

Chapter 2. Principality of Liechtenstein

CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION

The state is the central element of the political system, since the political system of society appears only together with the state, without the state there can be no political system. The place and role of the state in the political system is determined by a number of its features and characteristics that put the state in a special position compared to other subjects of the political system.

The features of the state that determine its position in the political system are as follows:

Versatility state power. The state is an organization that unites the whole society as a whole, a universal organization. No other organization can compete with the state in terms of reaching out to the masses.

The state has a monopoly on state coercion. Only it has the army, police, etc. Although other organizations also have certain means of influence, these means are not so effective.

The state creates legal basis organization and activities for other elements of the political system, for their formation. The state should not interfere in the internal affairs of other organizations, but outwardly it is it that formalizes their activities.

The state has a monopoly on taxes and the budget is concentrated in the hands of state power.

The state has sovereignty, is its main subject, the main source of the exercise of political power. All other components are united around it. If parties and other institutions represent the interests and positions of certain categories and groups of citizens in the political system, then the state expresses the general interest.

The prerogative of state power as a component of its sovereignty. It means that the state can allow, prohibit, suspend on its territory the activities of any other authority, any other subjects of the political system.

The state has the unity of legislative, administrative and control functions, is the only sovereign organization on a national scale.

Non-governmental organizations do not have such properties and functions. They solve tasks that are local in content and scope in a strictly defined sphere of social and political life.

Some authors emphasize - and rightly - that the state is better characterized not so much as the main thing, but as a special link in the political system. The role of the main link, covering the activity of all structural elements with its organizing and directing activity, is performed by the individual, while the state is a special link.

Along with giant states, there are also dwarf states in the world. Their territories are so small that they can be easily navigated on foot. Nevertheless, these states are by no means decorative, almost all of them are full members of the UN and other organizations, they have the right to exhibit their own team at the Olympiads, although usually consisting of only two or three people.

A dwarf state is a state that differs significantly downward from other states according to some criteria (for example, in area, population, etc.).

Based on the size of the area, as a rule, states that are inferior in area to Luxembourg are called dwarf. Luxembourg itself is sometimes also classified as a dwarf state.

Often, population size is also used as a criterion. At the same time, in the terminology of the UN and the World Bank, states whose population does not exceed 1 million people are considered dwarf. Commonwealth reports use the term small countries and a population threshold of 1.5 million people. Finally, sometimes states with a population of less than 500 thousand people are called dwarf.

Many dwarf states are relatively young entities (Singapore, Bahrain and others). At the same time, most of the dwarf states of Europe have a long history. For example, San Marino is considered the oldest state in Europe.

Sometimes the concept of a dwarf country is also used, which include not only small independent states, but also other small geographically and historically isolated (most often island) territories - dependent territories, administrative autonomies, etc. Examples are the Isle of Man, Guernsey, Bornholm , Gibraltar, Mayotte, Guam, Niue, Helgoland, Athos, etc.

Often, population size is also used as a criterion. At the same time, in the terminology of the UN and the World Bank, states whose population does not exceed 1 million people are considered dwarf. Commonwealth reports use the term small countries and a population threshold of 1.5 million. Finally, sometimes states with a population of less than 500 thousand people are called dwarf.

Dwarf countries is a rather loose concept, for example, such a territory as Greenland can be classified as a “dwarf” country ... Yes, in terms of territory, this is the largest island in the world, but in terms of population it is truly a dwarf country ... Or, for example, Hong Kong, only a couple of thousand square kilometers, even smaller than Luxembourg, but more than ten times larger than Luxembourg in terms of population.

The role of midget states in world politics sometimes does not correlate with their size. How can one, observing with what pomp and pomp the Pope of Rome is received on each of his many trips, say that this is the visit of the head of the smallest state in the world? Does Monaco have an inferiority complex, where huge fortunes are squandered daily in the most famous casinos? And Grenada, which, despite its microscopic size, forced even the United States to respect itself, which in 1983 decided on a real intervention against a small island with the use of aviation and large naval forces. The foregoing determined the relevance of the chosen topic for the course work.

The purpose of the course work is to study the role of the modern dwarf states of Europe in world politics, using the example of the Vatican and the Principality of Liechtenstein.

The object of the course work is the dwarf states of Europe.

The subject of the course work is the political regimes of the Vatican and the Principality of Liechtenstein.

To achieve this goal, it is necessary to solve the following tasks:

study the history of the origin of the state of the Vatican;

identify the features of the political regime of the Vatican and its role in world politics;

study the history of the Principality of Liechtenstein;

describe the political regime of the Principality of Liechtenstein.

The purpose and objectives determined the structure of the course work: the work consists of an introduction, two sections, a conclusion and a list of sources used.

AT term paper the following research methods were used: analysis of philosophical, political science, sociological, methodological literature, generalization, comparison, modeling.

Chapter 1 THE STATE OF THE VATICAN AND ITS ROLE IN WORLD POLITICS

1.1 History of the Vatican City State

The name of the state of Vatican City comes from the name of the Vatican Hill, which became the permanent residence of the popes from 1377, when their seventy-year stay in Avignon ended; before that, the papal court had been in the Lateran.

According to the history of the Vatican, it became a sovereign state, called the Vatican, on February 11, 1929, after the adoption of the Lateran Pact. It was sealed with the signatures of Benito Mussolini, representing the King of Italy, Victor Emmanuel II, and Cardinal Pietro Gasparria, Secretary of State of Pope Pius XI. The ceremony took place at the Lateran Apostolic Palace.

This act in the history of the Vatican meant the legal settlement of the mutual claims of Italy and the Holy See and the solution of the “Roman Question”, which, since the formation of Italy, was a bone of contention between the state and the Catholic Church. The agreements recognized the sole state religion of Italy, confirmed the sovereignty of the Holy See in international affairs and provided for the formation of the state of the Vatican.

Although officially the state of Vatican City has existed since 1929, its history goes back 2000 years. According to legend, the Apostle Peter, who lived and preached in Rome, was buried on the Vatican Hill. In 324, during the reign of the first Christian emperor Constantine, the first basilica was built here, into which the relics of St. Peter were transferred.

The bishops of Rome, feeling their special significance, sought to have a title that distinguished them from all others. And if in the first centuries of Christianity the title "Pope" was applied to all bishops, then from the 7th century. exclusively to the Roman and Alexandrian. The power of the Roman popes gradually expanded and intensified, they appropriated more and more lands and secular functions.

In 756, the Frankish king Pepin the Short from the Carolingian dynasty, in gratitude for the chrismation and consecration of the dynasty, presented to Pope Stephen III Roman region, part of Ravenna and Catania - lands conquered from the Lombards. Part of this deal was a forged document - the so-called Constantine donation of Constantine the Great to Pope Sylvester, justifying the Pope's supreme power over the Church and possession of many lands. So the Papal States was formed - a theocratic state, which in the XII-XIII centuries. already stretched across all of Italy, from the Adriatic to the Tyrrhenian Sea, and numbered more than 3 million inhabitants.

In 1860, the troops of Giuseppe Garibaldi, during the unification of Italy, occupied most of the Papal States, and in 1870 the army of the Kingdom of Italy moved to Rome. Pope Pius IX moved to Vatican Hill and declared himself a "prisoner of the Vatican", not wanting to recognize the new state.

Only in 1929, the Lateran Agreements were signed between Italy and the Holy See, which settled the conflict and confirmed the fact that the parties recognized each other's sovereignty. Thus, the boundaries and structure of the Vatican were determined as the sovereign territory of the Holy See of an independent entity with the right to establish diplomatic relations.

Catholicism was recognized as the state religion of Italy.

In 1984, the Lateran Accords were replaced by a new piece of legislation that, like the previous one, established the sovereignty of the Holy See within the Vatican, but gave Italians freedom of choice of religion, which had not been the case before. Absolute legislative, executive and judicial branch in the Vatican is concentrated in the hands of the Pope, who is elected by the cardinals for life.

2 The political regime of the Vatican and its role in world politics

The Vatican is a state of prelates - those who serve in the church. Its citizens are about 1 thousand people. The head of state of the Vatican is the pope - the head of all Catholics in the world. The pope is elected for life by a conclave of cardinals who act as his closest advisers.

The State of the Vatican is absolutely independent from Italy, although it maintains close friendly ties with it. The Vatican issues its own postage stamps, has its own railway network, publishes its own newspaper "Osservatore Romano", its own security service and gendarmerie of the famous "Swiss Guards", who are the Pope's personal bodyguards. They still wear the old uniform, made according to the drawings of Michelangelo. The State of the Vatican has diplomatic relations with more than 40 countries of the world.

The highest body of legislative and executive power is the Commission, headed and appointed by the pope. The pontiff is the head of state, personifying its sovereignty, and has full power. He is elected for life by a collegium (conclave) of cardinals under the age of 80 by a 2/3 majority vote. The head of government is the secretary of state, appointed by the pope. Under the pontiff there are advisory bodies: the Sacred College of Cardinals, appointed by the pope, and the Synod of Bishops. The latter includes patriarchs and some heads of Eastern Rite Catholic Churches, elected representatives of national episcopal conferences and religious orders, cardinal leaders of Roman congregations (standing committees), and other persons appointed by the pope. The order of the sessions of the Synod is determined by the pontiff. current affairs 9 congregations are engaged in church administration, each of which includes cardinals and bishops appointed for 5 years, consultants and civil servants. There are no political parties, associations, associations of business circles in the country.

The Vatican has diplomatic relations with 173 countries of the world. Unofficial diplomacy is carried out through the Pontifical Council "Justice and Peace", which has branches in many countries, as well as through Catholic non-governmental organizations. The traditionally conservative policy of the pre-war and early post-war years changed at the turn of the 1950s and 1960s. the policy of renewal (“agiornamento”), which found expression in the documents of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65). Pope John XXIII's encyclical "Pacem in terris" (1963) called for the participation of Catholics in dialogue with the outside world. The modern social doctrine of the Catholic Church proceeds from the ideas of strengthening peace as a global value, dialogue of civilizations and cultures, condemnation of all types of violence and religious fanaticism, calls for the creation of a worldwide "cooperative government" and for the expansion of the activities of international governmental and public organizations. In the encyclical "Laborem exercens" (1981) of Pope John Paul II (K. Wojtyla, former Archbishop of Krakow and the first non-Italian pope since 1522), the idea of the value of labor as a way of developing the personality ("theology of labor") was doctrinalized.

During the period of the present pontificate, the international activity of the Vatican was particularly intensified, the Pope made more than 100 trips abroad, contributed to the establishment or renewal of diplomatic relations with the countries of Eastern Europe (in 1989, the head of the Soviet state M. Gorbachev visited the Vatican for the first time), strengthening ties with the Arab world, attempts to resolve the Middle East crisis. The reform of the Catholic Church also continues: for the first time since 1561, the edition of the catechism was updated, and the size of the conclave of bishops was increased from 120 to 135 people. (moreover, most of them were non-Europeans), the process of “cleansing memory” has begun - repentance for the sins of two thousand years of history (the Inquisition, the Crusades, etc.).

The armed forces of the Vatican consist of a corps of Swiss guards (70 people) who are on guard duty. The military defense of the country's territory is the responsibility of Italy.

The role of the Vatican in world politics and economics is determined by its influence on the Catholic population of the planet (about 1 billion people).

The main function of the Vatican is its activity as an officially recognized diplomatic and political center of the Catholic Church. As a sovereign state, it sends its representatives to the various governments of the world, and nations large and small send their ambassadors to the Vatican. Vatican representatives accredited to governments with which the pope maintains diplomatic relations are commonly referred to as papal nuncios. They have full rank ambassadors with all the ensuing privileges and occupy an equal position with the ambassadors of any secular power. The main goal to which the papal nuncios strive is the conclusion of an agreement between the Vatican and a given government, and in the negotiations of such agreements, the role of papal diplomatic representatives is extremely large.

Such contracts are called concordats. A concordat is an agreement by which the state grants special privileges to the Catholic Church and recognizes its position and rights within the state, while the church usually undertakes to support the government and not interfere in political affairs. But, as Pope Leo XIII stated, the papacy is always ready to "provide the church as a necessary protection to the rulers of Europe."

When a concordat cannot be concluded, then the nuncio must strive to reach a compromise which, not being a formal treaty, becomes a modus vivendi. And if this is not possible, then the Vatican may from time to time send a special papal representative to the given government to settle certain issues. Usually the Vatican authorizes the local archbishop to represent the interests of the Catholic Church in that country.

Although outwardly the apparatus of Vatican diplomacy differs little from the apparatus of any secular power, there are fundamental differences between them on two main points - the goals and means at the disposal of the papal representatives.

The papal representative is obliged to promote not only the diplomatic and political interests of the Vatican as such, but also the spiritual interests of the Catholic Church as a whole as a religious institution, and therefore his mission becomes twofold. In this way, the papal representative has at his disposal not only the ordinary diplomatic apparatus that any diplomatic representative of a secular state has at his disposal, but also the vast religious apparatus of the Catholic Church, both within the country to which he is accredited and abroad.

In other words, the papal diplomatic representative will have at his full disposal all the clergy of a given country, from cardinals, archbishops and bishops to the humblest village priest. In addition, Catholic organizations of a social, cultural or political nature, led by Catholic parties, will also be subject to his instructions. As a result of this, the nuncio can exert such a strong influence on the government religious and political of a character that some secular diplomat would sometimes be unable to provide.

Each priest is in fact an agent of the Vatican and can collect reliable information about the living conditions in his parish. Day and night, news from the most remote corners of the world flock to the Holy See - 39 papal nuncios (ambassadors) and 25 apostolic delegates (representatives of the pope who formally do not have a diplomatic statute), relying on 1,300 bishops and hundreds of thousands of priests and monks, collect information about everything that happens in the world. The Vatican, to which all this information is sent, is one of the world's most knowledgeable centers of economic, social and political information.

If we add to this the influence that the Vatican can exert on various Catholic parties, Catholic governments and national international organizations, it becomes obvious that the power of this peculiar diplomatic and political center is felt throughout the world.

The importance of the Vatican as a diplomatic center increases during the war, for during the period of hostilities, when diplomatic relations between the warring countries are interrupted, some nations participating in the war may establish countries with each other through the Vatican. The services rendered in this way and the information received from both sides give the Vatican a special significance in the eyes of the secular powers. For these and other reasons, during the First World War, the belligerents hastened to send their representatives to the Vatican. By the end of the war, 34 countries already had permanent diplomatic representatives accredited to the pope.

During the Second World War, this figure almost doubled, and countries such as non-Christian Japan and the Protestant United States sought means by which they could be represented in the Vatican. The United States resorted to a diplomatic move by sending a "Personal Ambassador to the President", while Japan accredited its representative with the full rank of Ambassador to the Papacy. From the very beginning of the Second World War until its end in 1945, the Vatican, which numbered 52 ambassadors, envoys and personal representatives sent by almost all countries of the world, was a diplomatic - political center, almost equal in importance to large capitals. At the beginning of the pontificate of the current Pope in 1978, the Holy See had diplomatic relations with 84 countries, today - with 170.

In this regard, it should be noted that the Vatican has become much more active in using the methods of secular diplomacy, which the papacy had not previously attached importance to. The methodology of conducting the visits of John Paul II is carefully developed and provides the necessary political and ideological effect. There are few in Western world such political and public figures, which during the visits abroad would have such a dense program and so often appear before a mass audience.

By the end of the 20th century The Vatican has already maintained diplomatic relations with 168 countries of the world, in which it is represented by papal ambassadors (nuncios). Unofficial diplomacy is carried out through the Pontifical Council "Justice and Peace", which has branches in many countries, as well as through Catholic non-governmental organizations. The traditionally conservative policy of the pre-war and early post-war years changed at the turn of the 1950s and 1960s. the policy of renewal (“agiornamento”), which found expression in the documents of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). Pope John XXIII's encyclical Rashes in terris (1963) called for the participation of Catholics in dialogue with the outside world. The modern social doctrine of the Catholic Church proceeds from the ideas of strengthening peace as a global value, dialogue of civilizations and cultures, condemnation of all types of violence and religious fanaticism, calls for the creation of a worldwide "cooperative government" and for the expansion of the activities of international governmental and public organizations.

Also in the early 1990s, the Vatican established diplomatic relations with the countries of Eastern and Central Europe that previously had a communist system, as well as with a number of states of the former Soviet Union.

The Vatican actively advocates for the preservation of peace and the settlement of international conflicts. In 1991, he warned against a Gulf War. The Catholic Church played a prominent role in ending the civil wars in Central America. During his trips to the region, the Pope called for an end to the civil war in Guatemala, reconciliation in Nicaragua, and the establishment of a "new culture of solidarity and love."

In addition, the Vatican is interested in reaching a settlement of conflicts in the Middle East. Previously papal state did not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, not recognizing the borders of the Israeli state, and Jerusalem - its capital. Only in 1993-1994. both states agreed on mutual recognition and pledged to combat all forms of anti-Semitism, racism and religious intolerance. Israel promised to protect Christian shrines, respect human rights, freedom of conscience and religion. In 1994, the Vatican established official relations with the Palestine Liberation Organization.

In 2003, the Vatican condemned the US-British military intervention in Iraq, calling for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

The Vatican focuses on improving relations with other faiths. The Apostolic Epistle of Pope Orientale Lumen (Light from the East, 1995) called for dialogue with the Eastern Christian Churches, including the Orthodox. At the same time, the Catholic Church recognized its share of responsibility for the schism in 1054 between Catholics and Orthodox. In the encyclical published in the same year Ut unum sint (May they become one) The Pope advocated the unity of Christians, but still insisted that it was the Catholic Church that served as the embodiment of the Church of Christ.In June 1995, the Pope and the Patriarch of Constantinople discussed the problems of interchurch dialogue and held a joint service in Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.In 1999, representatives of the Catholic Church and the Lutheran World Union, after thirty years of dialogue, signed a Joint Statement on the Doctrine of Justification, thus settling a dispute that caused a schism in Western Europe more than 450 years ago.

The Holy See maintains diplomatic relations with 174 countries of the world, including the EU and the Palestine Liberation Organization, and is a member of 15 organizations, including WHO, WTO, UNESCO, OSCE and FAO. In 1971, the Holy See declared its decision to adhere to the Non-Proliferation Treaty. nuclear weapons to "provide moral support for the principles that underpin the Treaty itself". The Holy See is the oldest (since 1942) diplomatic ally of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and is now the only sovereign entity of international law in Europe that formally recognizes the Republic of China (Taiwan).

In March 1990, the USSR and the Vatican established formal diplomatic relations at the level of permanent missions. This agreement was reached by Pope John Paul II and Mikhail Gorbachev during his official visit to the Vatican on December 1, 1989. In January 1992, the Vatican recognized Russia as the legal successor of the USSR and established relations with it also at the level of permanent missions. dwarf state vatican liechtenstein

The development of relations is hampered by disagreements between the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches. The Russian Orthodox Church accuses the Catholic Church of attracting believers in the region, which the Moscow Patriarchate considers its "canonical territory." Scheduled for 1997, the first since the schism in 1054, the meeting of the Pope with the Patriarch of Russia Orthodox Church Alexy II did not take place. In 1998, the Patriarch officially announced that the meeting with the Pope would take place only if "the Vatican demonstrates a firm will to put an end to the aggression of the Uniates" (churches advocating unification under the leadership of the Vatican). In turn, the Vatican does not recognize the claims of the ROC to exclusivity in the territory of the former Soviet Union. Also, the Vatican was dissatisfied with the law on religion, adopted in Russia in 1997. According to its provisions, the Catholic Church enjoys a recognized legal status on the territory of the Russian Federation, but does not have the benefits and privileges that are granted to the Russian Orthodox Church.

Thus, the role of the Vatican in international politics, its influence in the world are based on large numbers Catholic believers - 1 billion 86 million. Of total number Almost half of Catholics - 49.8% - live in America, 25.8 - in Europe, 13.2 - in Africa, 10.4 - in Asia and 0.8% in Australia and Oceania. The conductor of his policy is the Catholic clergy (1.9 million clergy), about 2 thousand monastic orders, the largest of which are the orders of the Jesuits (26 thousand), Franciscans (45 thousand), Salesians, Capuchins, Benedictines, Dominicans.

The Vatican also exercises its power through the so-called secular Catholic organizations: trade union, cultural, youth, women's, etc. Many of these organizations are members of the conference of international Catholic organizations, whose work is coordinated by the Vatican Secretariat of State. Under a certain influence of the Vatican are many political parties in different Catholic countries of the world.

Chapter 2 PRINCIPALITY OF LIECHTENSTEIN

1 History of the Principality of Liechtenstein

In 15 BC. e. the lands on which the principality of Liechtenstein subsequently appeared became part of the Roman colony of Rezia, which became the westernmost of the Danubian provinces of the Roman Empire. Already after the fall of Rome, when the power over the former imperial possessions began to pass to the Germans, in 536 the former territories of the colony were captured by the Franks. When the German Empire disintegrated into separate possessions, the Frankish Duchy of Swabia was created in the vicinity of the future Liechtenstein. The current Liechtenstein territories were then located fiefs Vaduz and Schellenberg In 962, a new state was founded - the Holy Roman Empire, which included these two German counties.

The history of Liechtenstein as a separate possession began in 1699-1712, when Vaduz and Schellenberg were acquired by a prince from the Austrian family of Liechtenstein. But this did not yet mean the emergence of an independent state. In 1719, the Principality of Liechtenstein was proclaimed, and this date is considered a starting point in the history of the state. However, it still retained political and economic dependence on the Holy Roman Empire. But already during the reign of Johann II of Liechtenstein (1840-1929), who remained in history as a successful reformer, the principality officially became a completely independent state.

At first, independent Liechtenstein adhered to a policy of supporting Austria: the country acted as an Austrian ally in Austro-Prussian War in 1866, she did not deviate from her principles during the First World War, together with Austria-Hungary, forming an opposition to the Entente countries. True, for the second time, Liechtenstein's optimistic expectations did not come true: as a result of the war, the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed, allied relations came to naught, and Liechtenstein switched to Switzerland. To this day, it remains the main political and economic partner of the country: already in 1919, an agreement was signed according to which Switzerland assumed obligations for the diplomatic and consular representation of Liechtenstein abroad (it still performs these functions to this day). second world war the Principality of Liechtenstein managed to pass while maintaining neutrality. Moreover, war time even brought economic dividends to the country, namely in the period 1939-1945. in the principality on military orders begins rapidly develop industry.

E gg. have become for the country a strip of events that determine today its course in the future. In 1990, the Principality was admitted to the UN, and a year later it already had membership in the European Free Trade Association. However, a serious political crisis soon arose in Liechtenstein: in 1992, attempts began to be made in the parliament to limit the powers of the prince, in fact leaving him only the right to “everyday government”. Hans-Adam II Liechtenstein, who occupied the throne at that time, was categorically against it, but in 2000 the ruler of the Principality of Liechtenstein nevertheless decided to become a de facto regent, and the current prince, his son Alois, has no more rights.

Liechtenstein's possessions on the right bank of the Rhine are only one and a half times the size of the territory of Paris. At the same time, only about a quarter of its lands are represented by plains, the rest are Alpine mountains that protect the country from cold winds and therefore soften the local climate. Surprisingly, even in such a small area there are places for nature protection zones.

In the history of the cultural development of Liechtenstein, the appearance of its cities mixed, crossed, intertwined trends that came from neighboring countries otherwise, it could not be. But to become only a "pilot fish" in the shark of the European economy and politics, pride does not allow National Liechtenstein pride. The experience gained over the years of maintaining neutrality taught that it is very beneficial for a small state to be “above the fight”, including the economic one. And Liechtenstein has become a special economic zone, opening up new great opportunities in the form of various benefits and full services for financial transactions. Due to the soft taxation policy, more than seventy-three thousand international companies are registered in Liechtenstein. But such popularity also has a downside: tax breaks led to the fact that the principality eventually acquired a not very respectable reputation as a “laundromat” for “laundering” not too legally acquired capital. Such assessments were taken extremely seriously by the Liechtenstein government, and soon the conditions for opening accounts in local banks tightened (for example, the practice of opening anonymous accounts was stopped).

Of course, the state lives not only at the expense of developed banking system. A highly developed industry also brings its rich fruits. The largest profits are received by enterprises specializing in the processing of raw materials and high technologies. Optical and electronic devices are produced here, and precision instrumentation is well developed. Over the past ten years, Liechtenstein has managed to increase its GDP per capita by almost six times, this was mainly due to the work of banks, thanks to the high reliability of their assets and impeccable customer service from all over the world. At the same time, it must be taken into account that a tiny state does not experience social problems, it also does not need to maintain an army.

Metropolitan quiet, cozy Vaduz may seem provincial to a resident of a European metropolis. Only 5342 people live here. But on the other hand, low-rise Vaduz has a special charm: the traveler is literally alone with the city, enjoying the silence of its short, but numerous old streets. All roads, or rather, streets, in the capital of Liechtenstein in the very literally the words lead to Vaduz Castle, perched on a hill above the city. However, it is not possible to see its interiors (the castle still serves as the residence of the princely family), only once a year, on August 15, on the national holiday of Liechtenstein, its owner opens the gates of his family property and welcomes the people. And the main value of this castle for a tourist lies in the fact that its walls offer beautiful views of the city and its environs, the Alps and the upper Rhine.

Liechtenstein, despite its small size and limited natural resources, is a prosperous industrialized market economy country with a viable financial system. His economy is quite diversified, there are many small companies operating in it. Furthermore, low level taxation (does not exceed 20%) and a simplified form of corporate registration contributed to the influx of numerous foreign holdings (and even “nominal mailboxes”) into the country, which annually provides up to 30% of all state budget revenues.

The size of the country's GDP is small, they were estimated at 730 million dollars, GDP per capita - 23 thousand dollars (1998). Number of employed 28.8 thousand people. (2001), incl. 13.8 thousand foreigners (another 8.2 thousand people come to work daily from two neighboring countries). Unemployment 1.3% (1999), inflation 1% (2001).

AT branch structure economy, about 40% of GDP falls on industry, the rest is in the service sector, agriculture, etc. 48% of the economically active population is employed in industry (including trade and construction), in the service sector - 51%, in agriculture(including gardening and fishing) - 1%.

In industry, the most developed are: electronics, metalworking, production of precision tools, pharmaceuticals. Agriculture is dominated by animal husbandry, grain production, viticulture.

Transport system focused on transit traffic. The country is crossed by the international railway line Zurich - Innsbruck (18.5 km passes through the territory of the Principality). Motorways total 250 km. There are no river shipping companies, ports and national airports. There is an automatic telephone communication system within the country (20.1 thousand users), international communication is carried out through Switzerland.

Modern economic policy is aimed at stimulating the development of microelectronics, pharmaceuticals, and the production of precision instruments, which is most consistent with the corporate structure of the economy (small and medium-sized companies). Special conditions are being created to create a favorable investment climate for national and foreign entrepreneurs. Recently, the tightening of international rules aimed at preventing "money laundering" through the country's banking structures has intensified.

Monetary policy is aimed primarily at maintaining a balanced state budget. In recent years, its surplus has been constantly recorded: revenues - 424.2 million dollars, expenses - 414.1 million dollars (1998). The country has no external debt (2001).

The standard of living of the population is comparable with similar indicators for urban residents of the two neighboring countries; the tax burden in L. is almost twice as low, so there are no citizens in the country who have an income below the subsistence level.

In foreign trade, the export of goods is more than three times the volume of GDP - 2.47 billion dollars, imports amount to 917.3 million dollars (about 90% of all energy consumed is imported). This excess of export values compared to the level of national GDP is explained by the large-scale intermediary operations of this small country.

2 Political regime of the Principality of Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is a unitary state. Administratively, it consists of two historically developed parts: Oberland (Upper Liechtenstein) and Unterland (Lower Liechtenstein). Liechtenstein is administratively divided into 11 communities: Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz. The Constitution of 1921 is in force. According to the form of government, Liechtenstein is a hereditary parliamentary monarchy. The political regime is democratic. Liechtenstein is the latest European countries granted voting rights to women (in 1986).

The Liechtenstein Constitution establishes an independent judiciary. The system of courts of general jurisdiction has three levels. The District Court (Landgericht) in Vaduz is the court of first instance, the High Court (Obergericht) is the court of appeal, and the Supreme Court (Oberste Gerichtshof) is the court of last instance. Professional judges are appointed by the Prince on the proposal of the Landtag.

Administrative justice is exercised by the Administrative Court, which hears complaints against decisions of the Government.

The functions of constitutional control are carried out by the Supreme State Tribunal, which protects the rights granted by the Constitution, resolves disputes over jurisdiction between courts and administrative authorities, and also acts as a disciplinary court against members of the Government. In addition, the Supreme Tribunal is competent to consider questions of the constitutionality of laws and the legality of decrees issued by the Government. The members of the Higher Tribunal are chosen by the Landtag; the election of the chairman is subject to the approval of the Prince.

Legislative power belongs to the Landtag (unicameral parliament), which consists of 25 deputies elected by direct secret ballot according to the system of proportional representation (15 deputies from the Oberland and 10 from the Unterland) for a term of 4 years.

The head of state is the Prince, who represents Liechtenstein in relations with other states. He opens and closes the Landtag and has the right to dissolve it according to own initiative. None of the decisions of Parliament can take the force of law without the consent of the Head of State, while at the same time the Prince himself, in extraordinary circumstances, may issue decrees with the force of law without the consent of Parliament and the Prime Minister. In addition, the Prince has unlimited rights in matters of pardon, has the right to suspend criminal prosecution, assigns titles, ranks, raises to the rank of nobility and presents state awards of Liechtenstein.

The head of state is Prince (Prince) Hans Adam II (accessed the throne on August 26, 1984), Crown Prince Alois (born June 11, 1968). Elections of 25 deputies to the unicameral parliament (Landtag) take place by direct popular vote on a proportional basis (for 4 years, the last took place on February 11, 2001). The Cabinet of Ministers is chosen by Parliament but approved by the Monarch. The prime minister is the representative of the party with the most votes. Since April 5, 2001, O. Hasler has been at the head of the government. Three parties are represented in Parliament: Progressive Citizens (FBP) - 49.9%, " Patriotic Union"(VU) - 41.35% and "Independent List" (FL) - 8.71%.

Executive power is vested in coalition government of 5 people: the Prime Minister, who also owns the functions of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Justice and Finance, his deputy and three so-called government advisers. Three members of the Government, including its head, represent the parliamentary majority, two - the opposition. Members of the Government are appointed by the Prince on the proposal of the Landtag for a 4-year term. In case of loss of confidence, the Landtag asks the Prince to recall one or another member of the Government. The domestic and foreign policies of the country are aimed at harmonizing society in accordance with the principles of an integrating Europe. Liechtenstein is a member of the European Economic Area (since May 1995), but is not (like Switzerland) a member of the EU. There are no armed forces in the country, defense problems are delegated to Switzerland.

Legal system Liechtenstein belongs to the Romano-Germanic family and was formed under the influence of Austrian and Swiss law. The Civil, Criminal and Criminal Procedure Codes follow Austrian models, while commercial law is based on Swiss law (Liechtenstein is an internal economic zone of Switzerland).

The most important acts of commercial legislation include: the Law on sole proprietorships and companies of 1926; Trust Companies Act 1928; Law on trademarks 1929; Swiss Patent Law introduced federal act 1954; Banking Law 1960; Commercial Law 1969; Private International Law Act 1996

One of the tasks that confronted the government of the principality after the First World War was to prevent the influx of refugees from the collapsed Austria-Hungary, which was in a crisis state of Germany and engulfed civil war Russia. However, some refugees still managed to settle in Liechtenstein, and they gratefully repaid him for this. These refugees included the family of the Falzfein barons, former owners of the huge exemplary estate and reserve Askania Nova in Ukraine. The descendants of this resettled family made a significant contribution to the development of culture and international humanitarian relations of the principality, including with our country. They returned a number of works of art to Russia. A photograph of the current head of the family is presented in the Peter and Paul Cathedral in St. Petersburg.

During World War II, Liechtenstein, like Switzerland, remained neutral. During the years of the post-war reconstruction of Europe and the emergence of opposing military-political systems in it, the country's foreign policy continued to be isolationist. Liechtenstein has sometimes been called "the museum of feudal Europe".

The state budget was characterized by a constant deficit. In terms of its size, the budget was inferior to that of a small German city. Liechtenstein budget revenues in 1960 amounted to 6.1 million Swiss francs. francs, and expenses - 9.7 million. The principality's debts grew. Liechtenstein is one of the "tax havens". Due to the low tax on invested capital and the absence of income tax, it has been chosen as the place of registration for over 40,000 foreign companies. The country does not have specific legislation regulating foreign investment. Labor legislation enshrines the right to unionize, bargain collectively and strike.

Until the end of the 1980s. in Liechtenstein, the Austrian Criminal Code of 1852 was applied. The current Criminal Code was adopted by the Liechtenstein Parliament on June 24, 1987, and entered into force on January 1, 1989. It abolished the death penalty for all crimes. Last the death penalty took place in 1785.

Thus, we can conclude that due to the high political and economic stability of the country, as well as its liberal economic policy, the Principality of Liechtenstein has become one of the most attractive economic centers in Europe. Liechtenstein, despite the modest size of its territory and population, is not only a completely viable state, which has been convincingly proven by life, it is increasingly making itself felt with its economic and social movements, striving to keep pace with world progress, and sometimes looking ahead, is actively foreign policy, without stepping aside from participating in the settlement of complex and acute problems that concern the world community.

CONCLUSION

The State of Vatican City is the smallest state in the world, formed in 1929 in accordance with the Lateran Accords. The Vatican City State lies on the right bank of the Tiber between Mount Mario to the north and Janiculum Hill to the south. The area of the state of the Vatican is 44 hectares, but even that is occupied by two-thirds of the most valuable treasures of world art and architecture. In ancient times, on its territory, which was called "Ager Vaticanus", there were a circus and gardens of Emperor Nero.

The role of the Vatican in international politics, its influence in the world is based on a large number of Catholic believers - 1 billion 86 million. Of the total number of Catholics, almost half - 49.8% live in America, 25.8 - in Europe, 13.2 - in Africa, 10.4 in Asia and 0.8% in Australia and Oceania. The conductor of his policy is the Catholic clergy (1.9 million clergy), about 2 thousand monastic orders, the largest of which are the orders of the Jesuits (26 thousand), Franciscans (45 thousand), Salesians, Capuchins, Benedictines, Dominicans.

The main function of the Vatican is its activity as an officially recognized political and diplomatic center of the Catholic Church. As a sovereign state, it sends its representatives to the various governments of the world, and nations large and small send their ambassadors to the Vatican. Vatican representatives accredited to governments with which the pope maintains diplomatic relations are commonly referred to as papal nuncios. They have the full rank of ambassadors, with all the privileges that follow, and are on an equal footing with the ambassadors of any secular power. The main goal which the papal nuncios strive to achieve is the conclusion of an agreement between the Vatican and the given government, and in the negotiations on such agreements the role of the papal diplomatic representatives is extremely great.

The Principality of Liechtenstein is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the prince. Legislative power is vested in the prince and the Landtag (Parliament), which consists of 25 deputies elected for four years by direct elections under the proportional representation system. The right to vote is granted to all citizens who have reached the age of 20 (women received it only in 1984). The leader of the party that received the majority of votes in the Landtag becomes chairman, and the leader of the party that receives the fewest votes becomes his deputy. Executive power is vested in the government, which is elected by the Landtag for its term of office and approved by the prince. It consists of the head of government (a member of the party that won the elections to the Landtag), his deputy and three government advisers. All of them serve as ministers.

Thanks to the high political and economic stability of the country, as well as its liberal economic policy, the Principality of Liechtenstein has become one of the most attractive economic centers in Europe. Liechtenstein, despite the modest size of its territory and population, is not only a completely viable state, which has been convincingly proven by life, it is increasingly making itself felt with its economic and social movements, striving to keep pace with world progress, and sometimes looking ahead, is actively foreign policy, without stepping aside from participation in the settlement of complex and acute problems of concern to the world community.

The policy of neutrality is pursued by Liechtenstein in close cooperation with Switzerland, which carries out diplomatic representation of the Principality abroad. However, people in Vaduz like to say that Liechtenstein did not at all give up its sovereignty in favor of its western neighbor. If we compare the relationship between Bern and Vaduz with those between other "dwarf" states and their neighbors, then we can state that Liechtenstein is more independent from Switzerland than Monaco from France or San Marino from Italy.

Liechtenstein took part in multilateral consultations on the preparation of the pan-European Conference on Security and Cooperation, the signature of the head of the government of the principality is under the Final Act of the Conference, signed in Helsinki. Liechtenstein is also a member of several international organizations within the UN.

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