In a recent interview, Professor Ilya Somin of George Mason University and the Cato Institute weighed in on the growing discourse surrounding the potential breakup of the United States as proposed in Christopher F. Zurn’s book, “Splitsville: Democratic Arguments for Breaking Up the United States.” While acknowledging the seriousness of America’s polarization problem and the increasing attention it attracts from scholars, Somin remains skeptical of Zurn’s proposed solution. He argues that less drastic remedies, such as decentralizing power to state and local governments, restructuring the electoral system, and reforming campaign finance rules, could effectively address political polarization without requiring constitutional amendments or the extreme measure of breaking up the nation. Somin’s insights shed light on alternative paths forward in navigating America’s complex political landscape.
