From Syria and Pakistan-Pashtun to Calexit and New California, It’s the Age of Devolution

It’s hard to deny that one of the most powerful political forces of late has been devolution. This process of decentralization, for instance, which distributes power to territories that want more control and greater sovereignty, played out after World War II with the wars of independence and secessionist movements across Asia and Africa. Its devolutionary impulse moreover fragmented Serbia into smaller territories, as it did to the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Ukraine, and even Britain when considering Brexit.

And yet, devolution has always been part of an endless cycle of peak empires or stronger nation-states gradually succumbing to the ultimate expressions of the tribal and local and parochial desires to control one’s geography and livelihood.(1) It’s also why Syria and California and Pakistan-Pashtun are in the midst of revolts and breakaway movements. Devolution‘s nature, to be sure, knows no pause in the in autonomous pursuit to pursue one’s interest. It likewise attaches her curse to all inaction or those who try and stop it.

Self-Determination Is Not Necessarily Backwardness
Since almost all border disputes are settled with either costly wars or in stalemate, tribal separation is a far more pragmatic approach to preventing additional loss of life or ruining an economy in the futile hope of maintaining multiethnic harmony. Consequently, one region where devolution is testing the waters is Pakistan-Pashtun. Driven by their leader Manzoor Pashteen, they’ve put together a rights movement that’s challenging both the Pakistani state and military over job discrimination and extrajudicial killings.

Since the start of the U.S.-Afghan War, hundreds of thousands of Pashtuns have left their homes near the border of Pakistan. As a result, the Pashtun Protection Movement alleges Pakistan continues to allow radical Taliban extremists safe haven from which to launch attacks in Afghanistan, and that it hires personnel on the basis of ethnicity. Calling it a dangerous policy, they also believe the strategy is to ultimately upend traditional Pashtun tribal society. Talks of a more autonomous Pashtun state has therefore been proposed.

“Political” Borders Never Set In Stone
California is in a devolution crisis too. Believing that devolution may be the only way to kill rabid nationalism, Calexit plans to divorce California from the rest of the Union. And yet there’s another proposal called “New California” which seeks to secede from California and carve out their own 51st state. But unlike Calexit, which is the state’s war against the Trump Administration’s policies, New California wants to separate over taxation, the economy and more control over local elections and resources.

What’s more, Calexit just proposed another secessionist measure to begin gathering needed signatures for the ballot. Started in the wake of the election of Donald Trump, many were offended by his remarks over minorities and immigrants and border initiatives. Others support Sanctuary Cities and fear of federal raids, and have considered a universal basic income. They ultimately want greater control over the sixth-largest economy in the world as well.

Imposed Maps Costly, Not So Tidy
Proponents of devolution point to the costly efforts of the United State at nation-building in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the fragmentation of Syria. To be sure, devolution is proving to be far more important for global stability and peace than in trying to impose some kind of Western democracy or neo-capitalistic system. It also seems to have a greater respect towards local ethnicities, cultures, customs, languages, and resources. It may even stop more bloodletting as was observed in the civil wars of Sudan and Nigeria.

As for Syria, the attempt to stop secessionist movements have led to a civil war that has killed 500,000 people. It has created an enormous refugee problem too. In the meantime, international powers have become involved to the extent of possibly declaring war on each other. Devolution and fragmentation is therefore not the antithesis of globalization but its handmaiden.(2) It may even be a new model of political and cultural maturation for this century, and the next great step in impartial globalization.

Borderless World
For now, more states and cities no longer need their national capitals-or imperial hubs-to filter their relations and trade with the world. Neither are aloof bureaucratic officials welcomed. Indeed, with the Internet and automation, and the potential of every place to compete as an investment destination, central governments no longer control knowledge and capitol or how money is spent-let alone the distribution or pwoer. Consequently, the prison of imposed imperialism, federalism, and nationhood may be coming to an end.

Kenneth Waltz wrote: “To build a theory of international relations on accidents of geography and history is dangerous.” Until now, hastily drawn borders based on imperialism or the political agendas between certain superpowers always overlooks the more important impulses: people and society. Because of this, is it time to actively encourage devolution to repair those geographical accidents and to defuse more violent conflicts? After all, just as evolution exists in every species so does devolution.

Dallas Darling is the author of Politics 501: An A-Z Reading on Conscientious Political Thought and Action, Some Nations Above God: 52 Weekly Reflections On Modern-Day Imperialism, Militarism, And Consumerism in the Context of John’s Apocalyptic Vision, and The Other Side Of Christianity: Reflections on Faith, Politics, Spirituality, History, and Peace. He is a correspondent for www.WN.com. You can read more of Dallas’ writings at www.beverlydarling.com and www.WN.com/dallasdarling.

(1) New York, New York: Random House, 2016., p. 63-64.