The Disunited States

The Disunited States by Lap Geong Long

           By the time you read this, Boris Johnson will be either be facing an emboldened Scottish National Party with a majority in its proportional representation parliament (a feat not wholly impossible because of the voting system) or given a reprieve. Despite the punditry and daily dose of manic speculation, few believe he will give way to a referendum anytime soon. Especially when Scotland itself is evenly divided on the national question. Johnson, who is not stupid, is the most recalcitrant cabinet minister against a rematch and is desperate to try any alternative. This should inform Americans as it ponders its destiny as the United States.

                       Secession is technically, and especially legally, prohibited in the American constitutional tradition.

From the Articles of Confederation proclaiming a perpetual union to the illegitimate Confederate States, Americans are taught (rightly or wrongly) that their federation is indissoluble and indivisible. We often assume this as we smirk with unrepressed schadenfreude when we see other nations (especially England and Canada) struggle with secession in our supposedly modern and internationalist era.

There is nothing more predictable than on an American St Patrick’s Day festival than the “England Out of Ireland” placard wielding itself with pride in our fine cities.

           What if their troubles and follies were to transport themselves to our country someway, somehow in the future? What if the 50-state rivalry that has dominated and defined American federalism evolves into something much more damaging for the territorial integrity of the United States?

This wouldn’t need to come through powerful state parties adopting the principle of considering secession or unaffiliating from the Democratic and Republican parties. It could very easily happen through current geographical divisions that ensnare current state politics.

If New York State’s North Country were to decide to secede from New York proper and declare independence (unlikely) or petition to join the Province of Quebec or Ontario, what could the United States realistically do to dissuade an angry population? The United States can and should expend all resources to make clear that seceding is a mistake, but the use of force is likely to create blowback. While many cite Spain’s righteous fortitude in jailing Catalan leaders, organizing plebiscite boycotts and destroying bad votes, it only when a new and more conciliatory Prime Minister was elected when the situation truly calmed itself in favor of Spanish unity. This doesn’t mean we need to fight British or Canadian style referendums that take up time, energy, and money. The only people who really benefit are the political, academic, and social actors who thrive on analyzing and contributing to a carnival-like situation. Simply appealing to people’s pragmatic natures or fears has limited mileage. Stephen Harper declared Quebec to be a distinct nation and had a more anodyne stance to jurisdiction. That didn’t stop him from being personally unpopular in la belle province and contributing to the Bloc Quebecois’ strong performance during much of his reign. Justin Trudeau may be from Quebec and brought back unprecedented French-Canadian influence in government, but that didn’t stop a nationalist revival in 2019. In Britain, Scottish Labor’s Anas Sarwar has run a confident and assured campaign based on transcending old divisions. His fine rhetoric did not create see a polling surge.

           America is a great deal more United around certain core ideals of anti-secession, but we should never take this for granted. We should do more to study the alienated nationalism that’s led to some deeply flawed men and women to rise to power, as they could hold the answer to making ourselves a more perfect union. If not, we’ll need to consult our British and Canadian cousins on a lot more than Magna Carta and breeding good actors. 

[Each week, I join Lap Gong Leong, a colleague in weekly conversation; Lap is an emerging writer and commentator on a wide range of topics including politics, education, film, science fiction, and building a prosperous and free society for all. His analysis and critique aims to break through the logjam of conventional ideas and wisdom, especially as it relates to the careers and lives of individuals with Autism. We are pleased to share the 6th piece of writing from our recent exchanges.

About Lap Gong Leong, a graduate of Borough of Manhattan Community College in Liberal Arts, "I am in the process of transferring to a four-year university. However, the lack of Autistic aids for many individuals, including myself has incentivized me to work for myself."]