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Political Scientist Warns: Civil War Talk Signals Instability

2/4/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Political scientist Julia Azari warns that discussions of a civil war signal instability in the United States.
She attributes a lack of national leadership and politicization of violence.
In The New York Times, Azari outlines three futures for the United States, including continued Trumpist racial politics or prolonged partisan conflict.
Decades of 'law and order' rhetoric have fueled racially charged politics, complicating the path toward addressing civil rights.

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Story summary

Political scientist Julia Azari warns that discussions of a civil war signal instability in the United States.
She attributes a lack of national leadership and politicization of violence.
In The New York Times, Azari outlines three futures for the United States, including continued Trumpist racial politics or prolonged partisan conflict.
Decades of 'law and order' rhetoric have fueled racially charged politics, complicating the path toward addressing civil rights.