Although the article is interesting, I don't see anything like that happening. Can I see the union breaking up? Sure, especially with a major economic downturn or major devalue of the USD. I could also see Texas becoming a power house in that situation, not so much California, but I'm biased.
I don't see states fighting each other for power and or resources. I can see the town vs town scenario, but not so much state Vs state. In that kind of a government/leadership vacuum it would be very difficult for a state to assert athourity over another state population. Arkansas just ain't gonna do what Texas says, which means force. Which requires troops. Which requires ability to logistically support an occupation of a state, by another states government. If states are having to develop currency, Maintain value, establish trade, commerce, etc. Doing so from some sort of collapse, while funding a major military campaign, seems a bit far fetched.
We would likely see more alliances and diplomatic relations between states vs war. Does that mean we wouldn't see some states fighting? No, I think states that have no ability to be economically viable will attack states that are. But that is a fools game, as you are starting at a disadvantage taking on a economically sustained state. It's all about the logistics...
If the states broke apart, agriculture becomes the key resource. Food and water, become more important than anything else. With the rising world population, and individual states would focus on trade in agriculture over oil & gas or raw materials.
Cities will implode in this environment, the welfare state crashes, and cities will burn for it. It's a dooms day scenario far worse than who is in charge of what type power grabs. Starvation, famine, desease, etc. States won't have ability to fuck around with major military operations IMHO.
My $.02
