the.com/confederation

A marriage of states where everyone keeps a prenup and a loaded gun.

means A union of states or groups that join together for common purposes while each retains significant independence and authority.

from From Latin confoederare, 'to join by a league' — com- ('together') plus foederare, from foedus meaning 'covenant, treaty, or league.' That root foedus is the same one behind 'federal' and 'federation,' so confederation is literally a doubling-down: a league built on top of a league, binding allies who swear loyalty to a cause while never quite surrendering their own sovereignty.

power flow
bottom-up, states keep the leash
classic failure
US tried it first, broke by 1787
still alive
Switzerland literally calls itself one
weak center
no army or tax power of its own
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