Decentralization and Secession

Ryan McMaken and Tho Bishop look at the topic of nationalism and the role it can play in political decentralization.

Jeff and Bob break down the good, bad, and ugly behind Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter.

In the current world, secession—when successful—is an event that reduces the size and scope of states. It reduces the territory and the populations over which a single central institution exercises monopoly power.

All too often, people equate their nationality with a particular state. Yet, as Mises noted, nationality does not depend at all upon a formal entity tied to a government.

All too often, people equate their nationality with a particular state. Yet, as Mises noted, nationality does not depend at all upon a formal entity tied to a government.

Recorded at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona on October 7th, 2022.

Radical Charles Dunoyer wanted "the municipalization of the world" by which states would be broken up and forced to compete both with the private sector and with countless other states.

So, if we're going to talk about secession, then, it's also important to explicitly address the issue of "what is the correct size of states." Is smaller better? 

In this politicized age, being an American means little more than being subject to the federal government. Yet, as Rothbard noted, we are not "the government," but rather people who are part of like communities, which we should celebrate.