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John Carter's avatar

Fascinating piece. It motivated me to look up the etymology of 'stasis', which seems to be related to both factions and lack of movement. I expect the connection is in the sense of a faction 'standing for' a given position.

It also seems to me that the condition of stasis in the Greek sense leads directly to political stasis in the English sense: a polity riven by viciously opposed internal factions is paralyzed, unable to address internal or external problems so long as the division persists.

Michael G Marriam's avatar

To see where this is heading read Kurt Schlichter's Kelly Turnbull series.

Dr. K's avatar

This is well thought through and well assembled. Thanks for writing it.