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.