I’d add an important addendum: countries only recognize states because it benefits them. Why do we recognize the PRC in America? Because they’re too powerful not to deal with. Same with everyone from Austria to Zimbabwe that we acknowledge. Maybe it’s because of force, maybe trade, maybe it’s because who else controls the island of Britain but the UK, and sometimes it’s to piss off someone claiming that land.

But there’s a reason we treat Kenya and Brazil differently from the Navajo Nation and there’s a reason we treat the Navajo Nation differently from Bob who thinks he’s his own country.