As we enter 2017 and America recovers from the recent 2016 Presidential Election a certain word is on the lips of many Americans: Secession.
With California, Texas and Florida having legitimate political thoughts on leaving the United States of America a question is popping up on everyone's mind. Could these States function as Sovereign Nations? Could my State? How would they do so?
In this 50 part series we explore each State in terms of it that State could survive as a Nation by looking at how that State currently fairs and could hypothetically fair in the terms of three categories:
Economics-This looks at how much money that State is making compared to how much it spends, what it exports and imports and how it would impact the world on an Economic scale.
Political-The Political standpoint of the State is taken into account to try to grasp an understanding on how that State would be governed as an independent Nation. The method of Government can have massive impact on the Economy and foreign affairs so it is essential to consider.
Sociocultural-What would the society and culture of this Nation look like based off of the State it is formed from? The Social and Cultural ideologies of a Nation ultimately can decide not only the role it will play to the World, but also how long it will last.
Many Americans may be unaware, but from a technical perspective the First State was Delaware. Today the proud little wedge on the Atlantic is easily overlooked, but it will always be known for its revolutionary style. Could it survive a new declaration of independence?
Delaware as a State
Delaware is a Mid-Atlantic State that takes up the majority of a peninsula stretching into Chesapeake Bay. Despite it being the second smallest State, it actually has the sixth highest population density. Most of the State is covered in cities, especially the heavily urbanized northern half. Delaware is often considered the first State due to its quick participation in the American Revolution. With so much of Delaware being population centers, it should be no wonder that the State has relatively little agriculture and instead focuses on the service industry.
Economy
Delaware has an economy that is almost entirely dependent on service type industries. Agriculturally, it's largest asset is poultry farming with a minor crop yield of soybeans and peas. Delaware has some manufacturing, with its main products being chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Delaware actually has the least mineral resources in the entire United States, with magnesium, sand and gravel being its commodities. While Delaware does shine in the Financial, Real Estate and Insurance sectors, it would have huge difficulty surviving on its own with just these to support it.
Political
Delaware would have a government revolving around big business, similar to how Arkansas would in the article previously describing it as a country. Due to Delaware's small size, it could easily remain as a republic or other form of democracy. It could continue to exist with its three-county system to divide it or it could switch to a New England Township style where cities act as political spheres. Unlike Arkansas, Delaware could likely survive with its business dependency without there being large social class division and revolt. Business plays such a large role that, if anything, it would only be in the best interest of Delaware's people to promote it. The Service sector serves as the backbone of Delaware and, with it, growing the Nation would only become stronger from an economic perspective.
Sociocultural
The people of Delaware would find themselves living in a close knit micro-nation. Their day-to-day lives would be fairly similar to before their independence aside from their newfound dependency on their countries large corporations. People would likely begin to form parties based not on income but on where their loyalties lied in the various service sectors. If a major real estate firm was located in a certain part of Wilmington, that part of the city would be dominated by those working for the firm, and they would identify themselves as people from THAT firms side of town. This could lead to the common upper-middle-lower class caste system that naturally exist in most Western nations being replaced with an employment based caste system. Aside from this though, Delawareans would live similarly to before with their biggest social problems being talks of taxes, and the corporations that make up their home.
Could Delaware be a Country?
The chances of Delaware surviving on its own are next to none. At first glance it would seem that with its tight knit communities, manageable size, numerous population centers and major corporations would make it be able to easily survive. Within these strengths, though, there are weaknesses. The biggest of Delaware's weaknesses is the fact that it simply is not self-sufficient. It is agriculturally weak, has extremely limited raw resources and huge population centers that will not stand relying purely on what Delaware can provide. The only thing Delaware has going for it is its Service sector, and for it to depend on that alone, Delaware would need to have be able to extend influence beyond its borders. It would also need a trade partner close enough to provide it the raw resources and agricultural goods it needs to survive. So no, on its own Delaware will probably not survive as a country. With some help from a neighbor though, it could stand a chance....
