Talk:Liechtenstein

More explanation is needed as to why it exists at all

Despite reading the article, I am still unclear as to why such a small area of land got a special dispensation to remain a nation state when all the other dukedoms and principalities of central Europe got amalgamated into Switzerland, Austria-Hungary or Germany.

What made Liechtenstein so lucky/special/exempt? This map of 13th century Europe hopefully justifies my point

This really should be a subject of an entire section because it's the point as to why the country exists, and why the other European powers let 160 km2 stay independent? 81.141.34.52 (talk) 11:15, 30 December 2019 (UTC)

Wikipedia isn't a place for general discussion of a topic, or for speculation on its reasons for existence. The simple fact is, Liechtenstein is recognized almost universally as a sovereign country, and that's all that matters.Mirza Ahmed (talk) 19:18, 7 February 2020 (UTC)

of course not speculation, that would be original research. If there is anything written on the subject, it would be very interesting in the article.142.163.194.73 (talk) 01:39, 21 March 2021 (UTC)

This seems like an obvious topic for the Wikipedia entry on Liechtenstein. Nobody is suggesting "general discussion" and certainly not speculation(!) or original research. This is a very pertinent question about this country that readers would naturally look to Wikipedia to learn about.

I see that it's explained in a footnote in the "History of Liechtenstein" Wikipedia article, in the "Nineteenth Century" section, first paragraph. However, that seems to contradict information in the Principality section of this article. And when I tried to learn about the subject from google, it seemed every hit had a different explanation. Maybe the true, detailed explanation is complicated. Maybe if there is an in-depth treatment by a historian out there, a footnote pointing to it here would be helpful. Greg Lovern (talk) 21:59, 27 May 2022 (UTC)

Federal Republic

"..., Liechtenstein regards the Federal Republic as an important partner, ...". The link is badly chosen. It points to an article about the general concept of a federal republic (of which there are many), but implicitly means the Federal Republic of Germany. "The federal republic" is colloquial shorthand jargon for Germany in the German-speaking world and cannot simply be translated to English without context in this fashion. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Fantômas19 (talk • contribs) 13:18, 16 July 2022 (UTC)

Wording

This paragraph in the "Principality" subsection of the "History" section is a bit confusing:

"Modern publications generally attribute Liechtenstein's sovereignty to these events. Its prince ceased to owe an obligation to any suzerain. From 25 July 1806, when the Confederation of the Rhine was founded, the Prince of Liechtenstein was a member, in fact, a vassal, of its hegemon, styled protector, the French Emperor Napoleon I, until the dissolution of the confederation on 19 October 1813."

With the abdication of the HRE in August of 1806, it would mean that there was no gap, at all, between the obligation to one suzerain (the HRE) to the other (Napolean). In fact, between 26 July and 6 August, it would appear that the prince was technically under suzerainty to BOTH powers. The Confederation of the Rhine was little more than a puppet state in which Napolean was the head of state and appointer of its head of government. Would someone who is more familiar with the country's history edit this paragraphy for clarity? Criticalthinker (talk) 10:13, 24 November 2022 (UTC)

Should "doubly landlocked country and microstate" be more simply phrased "doubly landlocked microstate" ?

Apokrif (talk) 09:38, 7 November 2023 (UTC)

I don't think being doubly landlocked belongs in the lead at all. "Ooh, you have to go through at least two other countries to get to the sea" isn't a defining characteristic. The same might go for being a microstate. They're right up there with being transcontinental in practical relevance. I think the allure of all of these is that they appeal to the trivia-loving parts of ourselves, but that isn't what the lead should be about.

Mary Tyler Moore's efforts to raise diabetes awareness were a significant activity in her life, so it's appropriate that the final sentence of her lead paragraph mentions them. But it would be wrong for the first sentence to be "Mary Tyler Moore was a diabetic American actress, producer, and social advocate", just as we wouldn't slip "diabetic" into the opening sentence for any notable person who happened/happens to be diabetic. Being doubly landlocked, being a microstate, being transcontinental—they're kind of like that. I think of it as category cruft. Largoplazo (talk) 10:48, 7 November 2023 (UTC)