The Disunited States? Ryan Griffiths on Secession, Polarization, and Federalism

Political scientist Ryan D. Griffiths, author of The Disunited States, joins WDF to explain why America’s trendy calls for “national divorce” are, in his words, practically unworkable and likely dangerous. We dig into his global research on secession, the “sovereignty game,” Texas v. White, and why peaceful breakups are rare. Rick pushes him on radical decentralization, soft secession, and what happens if polarization keeps rising under Trump and future presidents. Does secession fix anything—or just light the fuse?Ryan Griffiths, The Disunited States, secession, national divorce, soft secession, sovereignty game, Texas v. White, radical decentralization, federalism, uncooperative federalism, nullification, polarization, civil conflict, CalExit, Texit, Puerto Rico independence, velvet divorce, Czechoslovakia breakup, US politics, WDF podcast, Rick Becker00:00 Introduction to Secession and National Divorce05:30 The Practical Challenges of Peaceful Secession10:19 The Sovereignty Game: International Recognition and Secession14:59 The Red and Blue America Divide19:27 Polarization and the Role of Federalism24:16 Addressing Polarization: Solutions and Challenges28:56 The Pendulum of Political Intensity34:21 The Dynamics of Secession Movements37:47 Predictors of Violence in Secessionist Movements43:03 Decolonization and the Quest for Freedom46:39 Moral Justifications for Secession50:01 Thresholds for Accepting Secession53:33 The Future of Secession in America56:46 Soft Secession and Uncooperative Federalism58:35 Rapid Fire Questions on Secession