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The Kennan Plan

Thanks again to Reihan for this very generous post.  A couple clarifications: my decentralist idea would entail at least having Kennan’s dozen independent countries, and preferably many, many more depending on their realistic viability, and they wouldn’t be doctrinaire “pacifist,” but might collaborate with their neighbours in a loose confederation much more like the original Confederation was before the usurpation constitutional convention in Philadelphia.  I wouldn’t insist that all these states all be agrarian, since half the genius of such decentralism is that they would not all pursue uniform economic and political goals, but I would see that as an optimal outcome.  Besides, identical regime types might not suit each state, so that would depend on the natural constitution of the inhabitants and their habits.

about the author

Daniel Larison is a senior editor at TAC, where he also keeps a solo blog. He has been published in the New York Times Book Review, Dallas Morning News, World Politics Review, Politico Magazine, Orthodox Life, Front Porch Republic, The American Scene, and Culture11, and was a columnist for The Week. He holds a PhD in history from the University of Chicago, and resides in Lancaster, PA. Follow him on Twitter.

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