Is it possible for multiple governing bodies to coexist in one country at one time,each with its own citizens?

Question

Could multiple governments, each with its own citizens coexist in the same place at the same time? For instance, one communist society with their communist government in the same place as a democratic society with their democratic government? In the same place. Living and working side by side for their respective system.

Could multiple governments, each with its own citizens coexist in the same place at the same time? For instance, one communist society with their communist government in the same place as a democratic society with their democratic government? In the same place. Living and working side by side for their respective system.

1- more than one governing system in one location. i'll use a continent such as North America as an example.
-no geographic divisions (no separation of governments by invisible lines forming something like states)
-say one government taxes its citizens while the other has work projects for those who choose not to pay taxes. instead of taxes they directly work on roads, or paperwork, or whatever
-1 system has a death pentalty, another doesn't.
-imagine any options that your own government has. laws that exist or could exist or have at one time, etc.

Answer 1

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Answer 2

Robert Nozick, in ANARCHY, STATE, AND UTOPIA, considers an idea very similar to what you have described. He talks about having several competing private "protection agencies", and how they would ultimately lead to the establishment of one state.

Based on his arguments, I find it highly unlikely that 2 governments could coexist in the same geographical area. Before I explain why, let me define government as some body that claims ultimate authority over its citizens and a monopoly on the use of force.

Applying Nozick's reasoning, this is what would happen if 2 states coexisted as you describe-

Quite frequently, there would be a conflict between a citizen of one government and the citizen of another. At some point, the conflict would be unresolvable through cooperation or compromise. Each government would believe THEIR citizen was right, and would be committed to defending that citizen against the other government. Or, the two governments would come to some unresolvable difference of opinion. For example, government A might want to allow a "friendly" foreign army to train with them, an army that government B despises and believes is a direct threat to their own existence.

When these kinds of major disagreements come up (which would seem to be quite often, if the governments were as different as the ones you gave as examples), the 2 government would have to fight. There are 3 potential outcomes to these battles.

The first possible outcome is that one government totally defeats the other, and becomes the sole government in that area.

The second possible outcome can occur if the two goverments are about equally matched. Each side will gain the upper hand in certain areas, and their forces or citizens in weak areas will be overwhelmed and absorbed. A border will develop along the line where the two forces are evenly matched, and now there will be 2 separate states with their own territory.

The third possible outcome is that the two countries, wanting to end or avoid deadly conflict, will submit to some third party (like the UN) to resolve their disputes. They will have to abide by that third party's decision and the third party will have to be strong enough to enforce whatever decisions it makes. This third party now becomes the de facto government of the whole area.

I guess there could be a fourth possible outcome, rather unlikely, in which both governments find a way to solve every dispute through cooperation. If that happened, though, you would also cease to have 2 separate governments, and would now have one government with different "branches".

Of course, if the governments you are talking about are NOT as I described, then it is possible for several to exist in the same area. For example, the federalist system of the United States has a central, state, local, neighborhood and private governments, each of which have some powers over their residents but must also obey the governments above them.

Answer 3

Yes, it is possible and it happens in Hong Kong, which is part of the People's Republic of China.

Until 1997, Hong Kong was a British colony. In that year, it was returned to China and became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Hong Kong residents have their own passports, their own government agencies, and generally greater freedoms than their mainland Chinese counterparts. It also has its own law and customs. Their rights are protected by the Basic Law, which is Hong Kong's mini-constitution.

Answer 4

No because the people under the communist rule would see how much better it is to live in a Democratic society and would change their citizenship (if allowed to)

Answer 5

No. They can barely exist on the same planet. See in the past people have hated governments and fled to others that were better in their minds. The governments have went to war over these differences they have.

Answer 6

Not the best example maybe but The Vatican is a separate country within a country yet they work together. But for the most part the answer is no, we are territorial if you have noticed.
Best I can do , take care ~A~

Answer 7

Who says a communism and democracy can't co-exist? It hasn't historically, but they are not opposites, the opposite of communism is capitalism. I'm no commie, but I still feel compelled to point out the difference. ANyhow, no because once you have your own citizens, its automatically a new country.

Answer 8

It can, but history shows us it doesn't last.
Look what's going on in the Middle East. The extremists have their own leaders, as does the all the other ethnic groups in the region.

Answer 9

Yes. In the US we call them states. Think Left Coast and East Coast.

Answer 10

I don't think that is possible. For one communism and democracy are opposed to each other. Another, you would see how the one side lives everyday and probably grow to hate them and think they are ignorant.

Answer 11

No! Deport the Illegal Alien Scum NOW!!