In class on Wednesday, Oct. 31, we went a bit off track and, rather, discussed the tribalistic trend that has been emerging in American politics for, at least, the past decade and seems to have found an even more fertile ground under the Trump presidency. During our discussions, we also alluded vaguely to the conditions that can lead to civil wars in societies that have a “tribal” problem, such as America right now.
QUESTION: Let’s imagine for a minute that the United States was an African country. Linking your arguments to the issue of ethnic and/or racial nationalism in a multi-ethnic society, can you offer a plausible scenario in which, due to its “tribal problem” as is currently being witnessed, the United States could suddenly find itself plunging into an unexpected civil war or even a coup?
EXCERPT: Can you find ONE excerpt in what you have read from the Roessler book so far (in the readings for the previous weeks or for next week) that can help to explain or support the scenario that you have decided to offer in the first part of the assignment above? Be sure to explain why you think this excerpt helps to illuminate or support your scenario. If
NOTE: Keep in mind that the question we are actually trying to answer here is: What are the circumstances or conditions that can lead a country such as the United States to civil war if its “tribal problems” grow to become excessively dividing? In other words, your scenario should try to apply this question to the United States and describe a situation in which the United States, based on what you know of its ethnic/racial divides, could nevertheless suddenly and unexpectedly fall into the civil war conundrum due to its “tribal problem,” just like in Africa, despite which has long been seen as having a stable democracy,
