The fight against centralized power is not just about resisting today’s authoritarian overreach—we must build durable, decentralized governance to ensure that Washington can never consolidate power again.
There are so many great thoughts here but it's a lot to digest. Do you do any lectures or other interactive discussions? I have questions related to this and the weaponizing contradictions article, specifically in regards to 47's ignoring of judiciary decisions of late and would love to hear your thoughts on it.
That is a fantastic question, and, if I'm honest, spurs some obvious followup questions once asked, like "why aren't we suggesting a reading list, a discussion series, or hosting a forum to develop these topics"—questions which deserve some real thought. We've been keeping a record of posts here: https://old.reddit.com/r/RadicalFederalism/ —I say a record of posts because there isn't much in the way of discussion going on just yet. But perhaps you could change that.
Before diving into public lectures, structured notes, or course materials (which, so far as I know, are somewhat lacking in this space), let's start with the vernacular of our age: YouTube videos and podcasts. There are some truly excellent resources out there—though, admittedly, some age better than others. If you come across anything particularly compelling, I’d welcome the recommendation.
Warning: I do not agree with much of what is said in the sources below. A true synthesis that falls along the lines we care for is difficult to come by.
[Warning: Many of Davidson's comments here do not age well. He entirely misses 2024 and what we have seen of 2025. Of course, the entirety of the mainstream did. Beyond that, many readers are likely to find many of his takes...somewhat offensive to our sensibilities.]
Now, lets talk about a more academic grounding in the topics.
There are plenty of course syllabi online, though full lecture notes are harder to come by. The value in these settings is often in interactive discussions that don’t get recorded. But for those wanting structure:
Although most course material is not open to the public, the syllabus linked here can largely be followed by a motivated student of the topic, and is excellent :: https://www.polisci.washington.edu/courses/2022/summer/pol-s/273/a (Excellent self-study guide for motivated readers)
If you or any other readers find better resources, please share them here.
The best way forward? Start reading, start discussing.
For all of this, the best thing you or others can do might be to select one of these core texts and start an informal reading group—either in the real world or online. These ideas don’t take hold through passive consumption. They take hold when people discuss, argue, and apply them. And in their raw forms many of them, you will find, demand interrogation and integration.
Hopefully, this helps get you started. Let me know where it takes you.
Dang, as always I'm blown away by the level of specificity and articulation you offer lol thank you so much! This will take some time for me to dig into but I deeply appreciate you taking the time to share these resources!! And I certainly get what you mean with these writers; (Bismarck was a visionary who I find fascinating and brilliant but still kind of a fascist in his own right) its important to glean what we can without giving their more contemptable beliefs too much credence. All the more reason for thorough discussion.
Increasing discussion is paramount. People are getting so bogged down with top-down, thousand feet up sort of ideological incongruencies, that it leads to far too few of us spending the necessary time getting into this nitty gritty sort of strategizing and discourse that is at the center of any successful movement. I'm going to start recommending these sorts of conversations to everyone I can and hopefully get a reading group together!
I've already tried to increase discussion of the applicability of the "Rhizome" model you've referenced in the past (https://www.iseas.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/TRS6_23.pdf being the source I've been using - let me know if there's a better one!). I might have to start there only because it feels like adopting that structure could be extremely time-sensitive.
Hopefully today’s bonus piece helps a little. I’d be particularly interested in your feedback along those lines. Was it too long? Too much jumping from branch to branch, node to node? Did the graphics work as intended? Most importantly: did this expand your understanding of the framework, the applications, and how we might adapt them to new scenarios?
We might also consider a similar analysis performing a “What if” scenario where Chuck Schumer didn’t blink on 3/14.
First, however, we need a few more pieces expanding the Radical Federalis tactical repetoire—and, to know what worked and what didn’t with the approach we took in “The Apology That Will Never Come”.
There are so many great thoughts here but it's a lot to digest. Do you do any lectures or other interactive discussions? I have questions related to this and the weaponizing contradictions article, specifically in regards to 47's ignoring of judiciary decisions of late and would love to hear your thoughts on it.
Thanks for all you do!
Imakecandles,
That is a fantastic question, and, if I'm honest, spurs some obvious followup questions once asked, like "why aren't we suggesting a reading list, a discussion series, or hosting a forum to develop these topics"—questions which deserve some real thought. We've been keeping a record of posts here: https://old.reddit.com/r/RadicalFederalism/ —I say a record of posts because there isn't much in the way of discussion going on just yet. But perhaps you could change that.
Before diving into public lectures, structured notes, or course materials (which, so far as I know, are somewhat lacking in this space), let's start with the vernacular of our age: YouTube videos and podcasts. There are some truly excellent resources out there—though, admittedly, some age better than others. If you come across anything particularly compelling, I’d welcome the recommendation.
Warning: I do not agree with much of what is said in the sources below. A true synthesis that falls along the lines we care for is difficult to come by.
Machiavelli:
CGP : Rules for Rulers :: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rStL7niR7gs
Podcast - Machiavelli: Master of Power :: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/machiavelli-master-of-power/id284278990?i=1000523252257
podcast: Machiavelli Double Episode: Michael Sugrue & Quentin Skinner on Renaissance Politics, the Philosophy of Ruthlessness, Nihilsm, and Why It Is a Double Pleasure to Deceive the Deceiver :: https://podcasts.apple.com/qa/podcast/139-machiavelli-double-episode-michael-sugrue-quentin/id1745902981?i=1000677985701
Michael Sugrue - Machiavelli :: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU7hdGKOGyk
Quentin Skinner: How Machiavellian was Machiavelli? :: https://pulsemedia.org/tag/quentin-skinner/
"Talks at Google" Podast: Ep347 - Quentin Skinner | Machiavelli: A Very Short Introduction :: https://talksatgoogle.libsyn.com/ep347-quentin-skinner-machiavelli-a-very-short-introduction
de Jouvenel:
An Interview with Bertrand de Jouvenel :: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhSDVGdpoWU
Longform Book Review [article] :: Front Porch Liberty :: https://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2011/10/on-power/
James C. Scott :
Apple Podcast: James C. Scott on The Perils of State Power :: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/james-c-scott-on-the-perils-of-state-power/id1198765424?i=1000667712616
Panel discussion with James C. Scott :: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS5fcFwXiFs
Yasha Mounk - James C. Scott on The Perils of State Power :: https://www.persuasion.community/p/scott
Sovereign Individual:
Bitcoin and The Sovereign Individual with James Davidson :: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwu7HipPGmY
(or Apple Podcasts here :: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bitcoin-and-the-sovereign-individual-with/id1541404400?i=1000555481150)
[Warning: Many of Davidson's comments here do not age well. He entirely misses 2024 and what we have seen of 2025. Of course, the entirety of the mainstream did. Beyond that, many readers are likely to find many of his takes...somewhat offensive to our sensibilities.]
Longform Book Review [article] :: https://medium.com/@adammarioharnish/the-sovereign-individual-ultimate-book-review-80dd3be3241
Is Elon Musk a Sovereign Individual? - Book review and critique of The Sovereign Individual :: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00Q26QV8RAE
As a bonus:
Crises of Democracy: The Revolt of the Public :: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aukv7_xC6ls
Daniel Nexon - The Dynamics of Power Politics :: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppCrNh7zSbg
Decentralization and the Architecture of Power :: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlYgNH2t43U
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, lets talk about a more academic grounding in the topics.
There are plenty of course syllabi online, though full lecture notes are harder to come by. The value in these settings is often in interactive discussions that don’t get recorded. But for those wanting structure:
University of Maine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaF-S2NMM8o
Blooms Lectures on Machiavelli: https://www.openculture.com/allan-blooms-lectures-on-machiavelli-free-audio-from-1983
Open Yale Courses hosts: Introduction to Political Philosophy :: https://oyc.yale.edu/political-science/plsc-114/lecture-10
Although most course material is not open to the public, the syllabus linked here can largely be followed by a motivated student of the topic, and is excellent :: https://www.polisci.washington.edu/courses/2022/summer/pol-s/273/a (Excellent self-study guide for motivated readers)
If you or any other readers find better resources, please share them here.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The best way forward? Start reading, start discussing.
For all of this, the best thing you or others can do might be to select one of these core texts and start an informal reading group—either in the real world or online. These ideas don’t take hold through passive consumption. They take hold when people discuss, argue, and apply them. And in their raw forms many of them, you will find, demand interrogation and integration.
Hopefully, this helps get you started. Let me know where it takes you.
—VH
Dang, as always I'm blown away by the level of specificity and articulation you offer lol thank you so much! This will take some time for me to dig into but I deeply appreciate you taking the time to share these resources!! And I certainly get what you mean with these writers; (Bismarck was a visionary who I find fascinating and brilliant but still kind of a fascist in his own right) its important to glean what we can without giving their more contemptable beliefs too much credence. All the more reason for thorough discussion.
Increasing discussion is paramount. People are getting so bogged down with top-down, thousand feet up sort of ideological incongruencies, that it leads to far too few of us spending the necessary time getting into this nitty gritty sort of strategizing and discourse that is at the center of any successful movement. I'm going to start recommending these sorts of conversations to everyone I can and hopefully get a reading group together!
I've already tried to increase discussion of the applicability of the "Rhizome" model you've referenced in the past (https://www.iseas.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/TRS6_23.pdf being the source I've been using - let me know if there's a better one!). I might have to start there only because it feels like adopting that structure could be extremely time-sensitive.
Thank you again!
-Taylor
Taylor,
Hopefully today’s bonus piece helps a little. I’d be particularly interested in your feedback along those lines. Was it too long? Too much jumping from branch to branch, node to node? Did the graphics work as intended? Most importantly: did this expand your understanding of the framework, the applications, and how we might adapt them to new scenarios?
We might also consider a similar analysis performing a “What if” scenario where Chuck Schumer didn’t blink on 3/14.
First, however, we need a few more pieces expanding the Radical Federalis tactical repetoire—and, to know what worked and what didn’t with the approach we took in “The Apology That Will Never Come”.
—VH