It seems like everyone is talking about secession these days. Whether they call it that, or national divorce, or some other euphemism, they all have opinions about it and most of them are woefully misinformed. Setting aside the ideologues who only want to tighten their grip on their fellow man for their own benefit, there are plenty of people who argue against secession from a practical perspective, but even these people often argue from a position of ignorance, and in this case, their ignorance is definitely not our bliss.
Ryan McMaken’s new book, Breaking Away, a short read at just over 200 pages, is an extremely potent weapon against this ignorance. There are people who will tell you, wrongly, that no borders ever change without a war, or that things like national debt or nuclear arms are insurmountable obstacles to secession. Others claim that secession is a path to absolute poverty for one side or another, usually depending on where their sympathies lie.
However, Ryan’s scholarship in this book not only provides theoretical examples and explanations of how such things might work, it provides modern, real-world examples of secession both large and small. He details areas that gained independence, and places that moved from one state’s jurisdiction to another’s. In a conversation where one side of the argument seems to revel in its ignorance, Ryan’s hard data overshadow their trite slogans.
Ryan’s book is based on a series of articles, and has all the advantages and disadvantages associated with that format. On the plus side, he is thrifty with its words and packs a huge amount of information into a small package. Certain parts of the book are laser-focused on a specific topic, yet the range of topics covered is quite wide. On the minus side, there are a few places where transitions seem a bit stark and there are some places where similar examples or data are separated quite far in the text. However, on the whole, the book is an extremely valuable contribution to the pro-secession toolbox.
The book begins with a clear and persuasive theoretical case in favor of secession. Ryan makes the case that decentralization is a major factor for the propagation of liberty and explains its three chief benefits. He provides a variety of well-argued examples that help to solidify his case. He discusses the value of competition between states for citizens who can move to whatever jurisdiction is most advantageous to them. He provides a broad explanation for the different economic states of various regions based on their level of centralization, and he explains what conditions are most amenable to peaceful secessions.
He contrasts this with the tendency of states to self-aggrandize and grow larger. He includes points from other great thinkers on this topic, including Benjamin Constant, Gustave de Molinari, Ludwig von Mises, and Murray Rothbard, as well as a few valuable studies by eminent scholars.
The seventh chapter, focusing on plebiscites, is perhaps one of the most interesting to those of us arguing in favor of secession. It provides us with a good number of examples of peaceful separations and shows us how a simple electoral tool like a plebiscite can successfully crystallize a new nation. The references in that chapter look like a good source for even more examples.
One point driven home in a satisfying way concerns how the state-sycophant media is absolutely lacking in principle on this issue. He details the hilarious behavior of the New York Times, which was against the secession of Slovenia from Yugoslavia, praising the Serbs as Yugoslav champions of national integrity, only to revile them soon after as attackers against the integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina–a “country” that had only existed for a few years!
Ryan makes another valuable point about the state’s attitude toward secession when he shows how the U.S. government supports secession whenever it sees a potential gain, but treats the same idea as beyond the pale when it might reduce its power. Ryan discusses in particular U.S. meddling in Africa in favor of secession and the same government’s flat denial that secession of some of its components might have merit. He makes an extremely valuable point that, while colonization and subjugation are bad words when applied to areas outside a state’s legal borders, the very same kinds of behaviors are seen as the proper will of the people when done to those within its traditional borders. He points out that the idea that certain areas might see themselves as unwilling colonies of the bureaucratic apparatus in Washington D.C. is treated as radioactive when it really shouldn’t be.
Ryan also takes the time to address some of the arguments against secession. Some people argue that secession along any lines you might choose will result in some people being worse off. Ryan counters that this is not a problem with secession, but a problem with limiting secession. He rebuts an argument by Roger Bootle that some jurisdictions might be too small (Bootle is speaking of Scotland) with an irresistible wave of facts about smaller states. He notes that defensive confederations can indeed be a thing between states with different overall policies, cutting the legs out from under the argument that smaller states invite invasion. He even proceeds with a fascinating analysis of the relationships between gross domestic product, population, and the ability of a state to project military might. One important point he emphasizes is that a state without enough surplus military power to project its force upon its neighbors, or around the world as is the case with the U.S., is a feature, not a bug.
Another point he addresses with hard data is the oft-repeated line that, if the U.S. broke up into two nations along red state/blue state lines, that one side or another would fall into absolute poverty. This is a common refrain of both sides–the red state side observes that the blue states have very little manufacturing and agriculture, and the blue state side notes that the red states have lower GDP per capita and are often net consumers of federal funds. Ryan breaks down both of these arguments in his twelfth chapter and provides a nice counterfactual with some solid data.
In the latter half of the book, Ryan addresses a variety of other issues succinctly and clearly. He discusses denuclearization of Ukraine. He spends a chapter dispelling myths about immigration in America, and these aren’t the kinds of things you hear about from either of the mainstream parties these days. He details an extended thought experiment to illuminate the issue of permanent minorities. Finally, he provides a detailed analysis of the differences between the U.S. system and the E.U. system, and how certain parts of each are more amenable to the freedom of its people. The entire thing is clear-headed and devoid of the kind of proud posturing you hear so often from mainstream partisans.
Breaking Away is an extremely valuable addition to the conversation about secession. Whatever minor organizational issues it might have, they are completely overshadowed by the wealth of data and clear, concise arguments provided. Considering its length and the fact that the whole thing is available for free from the Mises Institute website, it should be read by every proponent of secession, and a copy kept near at hand to debunk the pervasive ignorance often displayed by those opposed.
Free electronic copies of the book are here.
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