Phase 1: Listening (2018 – 2021) | Emancipatory Phase: Scientific Recognition
Starting from the research question ‘What does the North Sea do?’ the Embassy will listen carefully to the sea and talk to a range of specialists. The Embassy will first explore the main ocean currents (from the Delta Stream to the Gulf Stream). Based on those currents, new political North Sea collectives of people and other entities will be assembled. Moreover, the Embassy will adopt an open attitude towards the conflicts and relations among those involved with the North Sea. The research phase ends with the presentation of the assembled collectives.
Phase 2: Speaking (2021 – 2026) | Emancipatory Phase: Social Acceptance
Once the collectives have been assembled, the polyphonic North Sea can be seen, heard, felt, smelt and tasted in a new form of political activism. The focus in this phase lies on representing the North Sea collectives and increasing visibility.
Phase 3: Negotiating (2026 – 2030) | Emancipatory Phase: Legal Equality
After the assembled North Sea collectives have voiced their opinions, the Embassy will embark on a series of negotiations with other authorities. In a diplomatically risky manner, it will advocate an inclusive North Sea Op democracy. An important aspect of this phase is ‘embedding’ the assembled North Sea collectives in the current web of human laws, interests and regulations, taking into account the resultant questions, frictions and opportunities. In association with other authorities, the Embassy will formalize its relations with other nation states bordering the North Sea, and legally assess the desirability of declaring the North Sea to be an independent legal entity. If so, this entire phase will be devoted to building the case for the North Sea.
