Thomas P.M. Barnett :: Weblog

I dunno about Cuba becoming a state, long history of struggling for independence and not a lot of love for the US. Jose Marti is still in the memory (and hearts) of a lot of Cubans. I could see some of the Canadian provinces becoming states after Quebec leaves the Confederation. I don't see any of the Mexican states joining the US, I'd purpose that action might cause some of the "red states" to secede (a new Dixie?). My best guess for the 51st state, a break up of one of current ones. I'm more inclined to be in agreement with John Robb, there might be less stars in Old Glory in the future. BTW - Why didn't you purpose a new state being one of our future Moon or Mars colonies? Now that's definitely a territory I'd allow into our Union!

I could see D.C. becoming the (blue) State of New Columbia as Puerto Rico gets admitted as a (red) state. Anything beyond that strikes me as farfetched.

If Mexico's North and South really became so economically separate that it caused a breakup, then I think it would be more likely that Northern Mexico would become an independent Aztlan than join the United States.

The Quebecois had their best chance to break up Canada in the '90s and failed. Close, but no cigar (or thin black cigarette). I don't see that being revisited by them, at least with success.

Americans living in Central America lobbying for their new homes to join the U.S.? I don't think so, when so many went there to get away from the U.S. in the first place.

No, I think the trend is more EU-like -- don't absorb neighbors politically, but grow ever closer economically and with a superstate level of government over the national one. I don't like the thought of a North American Union, especially one that swallows up my beloved Caribbean, but I think it's more likely than other scenarios.

D.C./P.R. addition seems likelier than California or Texas breaking up. American thinking has grown hidebound. Americans don't feel like they live in a country that's still a work in progress. Splitting up a state would give the jitters to many, maybe too many, people.

Yet Americans still cherish personal stories of progress, so "promoting" territories to statehood remains politically tolerable.

Tom,
What do you mean when you say
"...United States (incidentally, the only country in the world without a place name)"?
Are you being facetious?
If not, I am prepared to rebut! ;-)
--
jdp