Countries – Stanley M. Max

On this page I indicate every country that I have ever visited, along with that country’s flag.

I have stated the short name of the countries — for example, Mexico is listed as such, and not as the United Mexican States, nor is France noted as the French Republic. Furthermore, I have written all the country names in the English language and alphabetized them accordingly.

I have listed only those geographical entities that are internationally recognized as sovereign states. In particular, neither Scotland nor Wales is listed, only the United Kingdom. On the other hand, I have chosen to write down Kosovo and post its flag, even though only a few more than half the total number of the world’s countries have formally recognized it as a sovereign country up until this point.

A special note about Gibraltar and Ceuta. Neither of these territories are countries, but rather are territorial outposts under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom and of Spain, respectively.

Gibraltar has been under British control since 1704, and Spain asserts its right to the territory. I for one agree with the Spanish claim. Continued U.K. possession of the peninsula is a colonialist legacy. Meanwhile, Morocco asserts its right to Ceuta (as well as Melilla, the other Spanish-held territory contiguous to or very close to Morocco). Here, however, I cannot support the Moroccan claim. Morocco is an anti-democratic monarchy that also denies its female citizens equal rights. Until Morocco has been substantially modernized, the residents of Ceuta fare better under Spanish jurisdiction than they would under Moroccan.