Contested Boundaries of an "Imagined State" in Amazonia: The Free State of Counani in a Global Perspective (C. 1830–C. 1914)

Abstract: This paper examines the emergence of a failed republic known as the Free State of Counani in the northern part of South America. By analyzing this "adventure," we suggest that the republic should be viewed as an unsuccessful scheme for the permanent occupation and exploitation of the area rather than merely an imaginary state of "filibusters." These alternative projects were driven by economic booms and the attractiveness of immigration, as well as the presence of charismatic leaders and internal conflicts between local and settler groups. Furthermore, the attempt to establish a new state in the then commodities-rich Amazonia was promoted by global interests, including those of the British Empire, Germany, and the United States. We advocate for moving beyond national historiographies on this theme and suggest understanding the Republic of Counani as a product of a transitional period during which global hegemonic forces in the Atlantic were directly involved in conflicts with newly formed nation-states.