[arcticbull]

I think that's fair, but there's a lot we're willing to ignore because it 'won't happen here.' Can you imagine the uproar if a Chinese state-run mining company wanted to start a charter city in the Nevada desert with its own immigration policy, own laws, and own system of government? oof. How about a Russian charter city in the middle of England? You know, to dry-run totalitarianist pseudo-communism?

Even Shenzhen doesn't match the Romer definition which involves a foreign benefactor. Shenzhen is in China, administered by the Chinese. That may be why it works.

[theskypirate]

A Russian or Chinese charter city would be viewed negatively because these are hostile states. A charter city in the US composed of people from Canada would not be viewed in this way. Charter cities will not work in hostile cultural environments. I understand that from your perspective, Americans are hostile foreigners rather than friendly foreigners, and many people obviously share that view. Charter cities are an interesting concept, but the cultural environment is a critical factor in the viability of real-world cases.