Respected Russian policial analyst Igor Panarin is predicting not only that America’s economy will completely collapse but that the USA will split up into separate countries:
Asked why he expected the U.S. to break up into separate parts, he said: “A whole range of reasons. Firstly, the financial problems in the U.S. will get worse. Millions of citizens there have lost their savings. Prices and unemployment are on the rise. General Motors and Ford are on the verge of collapse, and this means that whole cities will be left without work. Governors are already insistently demanding money from the federal center. Dissatisfaction is growing, and at the moment it is only being held back by the elections and the hope that Obama can work miracles. But by spring, it will be clear that there are no miracles.”
He also cited the “vulnerable political setup”, “lack of unified national laws”, and “divisions among the elite, which have become clear in these crisis conditions.”
He predicted that the U.S. will break up into six parts – the Pacific coast, with its growing Chinese population; the South, with its Hispanics; Texas, where independence movements are on the rise; the Atlantic coast, with its distinct and separate mentality; five of the poorer central states with their large Native American populations; and the northern states, where the influence from Canada is strong.
He even suggested that “we could claim Alaska – it was only granted on lease, after all.”
I find this somewhat comical. The northern states are under the sway of Canada? As a recent resident of Wisconsin, I admit that we were always watching Canadian movies, reading Canadian books & magazines, watching Canadian television, and following Canadian sports. I worried that our Wisconsin culture was being overshadowed by our powerful neighbor to the North. But I don’t recall any Wisconsinites wanting to become Canadian, though if that warlike nation ever acquired territorial ambitions, I suppose we would be easy pickings and greet the invaders as liberators.
I find this also somewhat alarming. Russia thinks it can reclaim Alaska? I didn’t realize we just leased it and are behind on our payments.
Professor Panarin shows an astonishing lack of understanding of America’s national unity. We were willing to kill each other to preserve the union back in the 1860′s. I have heard of absolutely no desire on the part of the West Coast or the East coast to secede from the rest of America. Have you? I didn’t think the coasts were even aware the rest of America exists. And he thinks the central states will be taken over by the Indians? He has been watching too many movies and listening to Ward Churchill.
I believe the professor is projecting here; that is, assuming that what happened in the U.S.S.R.–economic dysfunction followed by national breakup–will also happen to the U.S.A. Still, lesser misunderstandings of other nations have led to horrible consequences, as we well know.
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m not certain the idea of national unity (or any traditional American political principle) remains solid nowadays, when generations are growing up who’ve been taught nothing about America other than how evil it is. And the whole idea of being “American” rather than part of a Balkanized ethnic or interest group seems to have gone into the waste basket.
But at least in the north, I think the divisions would be complicated. I can’t see red Minnesota and the blue Dakotas joining in any kind of union. I’d probably have to move, as would the church body I work for.
“But I don’t recall any Wisconsinites wanting to become Canadian, though if that warlike nation ever acquired territorial ambitions, I suppose we would be easy pickings and greet the invaders as liberators. ”
Ever seen “Candian Bacon”?
Growing up in Northern Wisconsin I don’t remember reading canadian books and reading canadian TV. Those liberal southerners around Milwaukee and Madison may have Canadian sympathies but the North will always be free and strong as the Loon.
Seriously, if anything talk had occasionally gone back and forth for years of Northern Michigan joining with Wisconsin into one state.
The USA may decline in someways on the world scene, but I seriously doubt a breakup, it is laughable… but it does promote an agenda for Russia, a strong centralized Government is preferable to States’ rights.
In the end the only crack up I can conceive of is California slipping into the ocean.
I mean “watching” Canadian TV
Good thing Sarah can protect Alaska. Ha ha.
I think that guy demonstrates a whole lot more about Russian thought & assumptions than about America, especially about racial lines, immigration, and, of course, the free market & capitalism.
Hey, it would be worth joining Canada just to have a Tim Horton’s on every street corner!
Seriously, if anything talk had occasionally gone back and forth for years of Northern Michigan joining with Wisconsin into one state.
I’m not sure that would go over too well. After all, Michigan received the UP in exchange for giving up their claim on Toledo.
Interestingly enough, *if* America is ever polarized to the point of fighting, it doesn’t seem like there will be clear territorial boundries. Unless my history books are misleading, the Southerners tended to agree with each other enough to secede from the Northerners in the Civil War. But now liberals and conservatives seem to be too well intermixed except in very small towns here and there. I suppose I could allow for entire states to secede (Alaska, California, and Texas have all had parties that seriously pushed for independence after all, but these never seemed to garner a large enough support base to be a threat).
Those who envy, fear, and loathe America have predicted its downfall for hundreds of years. For all our faults, in recent years we were fundamental in saving Europe and much of Asia from tyranny in World Wars I and II, and the Cold War. Very recently we did the same for Bosnia, Kosovo, and Iraq. Underneath it all we are still a vital and decent people despite the whining and wailing of the tenured leftist radicals in our schools and colleges.
Actually, he’s on to something. But I think we ought to go back to being fifty separate…political thingies. It used to be referred to as “state’s rights”.
His article does show a particular wishful thinking that is also found all over the globe. I would guess that in large part it is motivated by envy of the economic and political strength of the United States.
The real story is how unified we remain in the midst of enormous global political change. I think relative to the global picture that will remain a constant for the foreseeable future.
Rumors of our demise are exxagerated, eh?
As much as I favor secessionist and federalist movements, sectionalism is dead in America.
“I believe the professor is projecting here; that is, assuming that what happened in the U.S.S.R.–economic dysfunction followed by national breakup–will also happen to the U.S.A.”
That´s it. I see brasilians doing this all the time with the USA. they really don´t know WHAT to think about Obama being elected. They have all been taught that the USA is ground zero for racism… comical…. chances of brasil every electing a black or mixed-race president where 85% of the population is black or mixed is oh, about zero…. but … now … because of events in the usa… we might end up now exporting certain values and ideals to the brasilians…..
Ryan @ 3&4:
HEY!!! I DO live in Milwaukee, and I don’t even eat Canadian bacon. Well, I have listened to the Bare Naked Ladies (good version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen for the Christmas Season), and I have read a Canadian Bloggers blog, but most of what I learned there was that a lot of Canadians (at least east of Lake Superior) don’t like Americans, and that they think Canada won the War of 1812.
“and that they think Canada won the War of 1812.” You mean, we know that…..
Do be perfectly honest, having lived on 2 continents, most people are ignorant about countries outside their own – including the intelligentsia. Perspectives change, histories are interpreted differently etc etc. I’ve heard the most appaling, and sometimes the most funny things said by Americans about the outside world – and Canadians, and Germans, and South Africans and and and.
At best, we should be aware of these facts, and not automatically assume that out own positions (I’m talking history and politics here, NOT faith) are the de facto true versions.
Nemo @ 7:
Wow….a choice between the U.P. and Toledo….tough choice…did they consider taking neither?
Scylding @ 14:
The closest I have come to your native country is to have a t-shirt from the University of Cape Town, but I’ll get there someday. Meanwihle, don’t give me any trouble about the war of 1812. I don’t have to take that from a place where they put gravy on french fries.
Sounds like a great idea to me.
See Here
The west coast will be taken over by the Chinese?
Texas does have an independent streak, but yeah, you’re right. We tried that back in the 1860′s, and it didn’t work out so well. So now we Texans do our own thing within the Union and try to get the federal government to leave us alone as much as possible. We give a lot (taxes) and don’t expect much in return. And when we have a natural disaster (Ike), we just clean up and know that FEMA isn’t really going to do much here.
The Russians could use a little Texas-mind-your-own-business attitude and leave the countries around them alone.
Perhaps the lessons of the Civil War are more significant here than might be at first glance. (I’ll be careful here, because there are conspiracy theorists-a-plenty who like to take this idea and run with it.) But if the federal government was willing to use force to ensure unity in the 19th century, one could induce that they would do so again in the 21st, especially when you consider the enormous military and financial repercussions of these kinds of national fractures. Certainly we know that the government wields overwhelming firepower and can, in fact, ensure its will by force if needs be. And, the law (mostly held over from all the 1960′s continuity of government thinking, supplemented by the more recent Patriot Act, et al) places the survival of the government at premium importance. I suspect that we will see the government play the martial law card long before we see national disintegration.
“I have heard of absolutely no desire on the part of the West Coast or the East coast to secede from the rest of America.”
Well, it’s not terribly serious, or at least effective, but there is the notion of Cascadia. It’s mainly at the bumper sticker level out here in the PacNW, but it is a notion some people aren’t unfriendly to. I think this comes from having a distinct culture shaped by the ecology, and set apart from the rest of the country by natural barriers.
Peter (@9), “Underneath it all we are still a vital and decent people despite the whining and wailing of the tenured leftist radicals in our schools and colleges.” Isn’t this more a symptom of what the Russian fellow was talking about than proof of our unity? Yes, we’re all good Americans, except for those people. They don’t count. Unity for some!
Sherry, regarding Texas, you said (@18), “We give a lot (taxes) and don’t expect much in return.” Well, that’s not really true. As of 2006, Texas got $0.94 back from the feds for every $1 it paid. Fairly equal there. Compare that to New Jersey, which got back only $0.55 for every $1 of federal taxes paid. In fact, most of the states giving more than they get are quite blue: California, Massachusetts, Illinois, Connecticut.
I don't think there are enough native americans in the entire country to take over even one state, think about it, when was the last time you saw a family of native americans at the movie theater, don't worry I'll wait.
Two terrorists countries in the world are Israel and USA acually Israel colony.