Enklaven

An enclave is a portion of territory that belongs to a country but is completely surrounded by the territory of another country. The concept is geographic and political rather than cultural; it describes the relationship between a state and its neighbor. If an enclave is also geographically separated from the main part of its country, it is often described as an exclave, though the terms can overlap in practice.

Notable enclaves include Vatican City and San Marino, both sovereign states entirely surrounded by Italy. Lesotho is a full sovereign nation entirely enclosed within South Africa. The Baarle-Hertog/Baarle-Nassau complex in the Netherlands and Belgium features multiple pockets of Belgian territory within the Dutch town and vice versa, creating one of the most intricate enclave patterns in the world.

Enclave status frequently necessitates bilateral agreements on borders, movement, taxation, and public administration, since residents may regularly cross into foreign territory for work, education, or services. Legal jurisdiction can be complex, with overlapping citizenship, taxation, and law enforcement arrangements managed through treaties and local governance practices. In Europe, supranational frameworks have eased some of these frictions, but the basic geographic separation remains.

Enclaves illustrate how historical borders continue to shape modern geography and governance, influencing identity and cross-border cooperation.