French_Institute_of_Micropatrology
International Micropatrological Society
Defunct learned society and research institute
The International Micropatrological Society (IMS) was an American learned society and research institute dedicated to the study of micronations.[2] Founded in 1973 by Frederick W. Lehmann IV of St. Louis, Missouri, the IMS coined micropatrology as the study of micronations and micronationalism.[3][4] It had documented 128 micronations and similar political entities by 1976.[5]
The IMS assessed the legitimacy of micronational claims in five categories—B ("bogus"), E ("extinct"), F ("fiction"), T ("traditional") and O ("other"); according to the IMS, only micronations rated T or O had good chances of achieving independence.[5] Owned by Lehmann and Christopher Martin, the IMS had offices in St. Louis, Missouri and King's Lynn, Norfolk, England.[4] According to the Yearbook of International Organizations, the IMS was disestablished in 1988.[6]