The instability that arises only when there is a dissipation, but disappears in the absence of dissipation is referred to as the secular instability. Both the Roberts–Stewartson instability and CFS instability are secular instability, although they do not both correspond to same modes in the following sense: In the absence of radiation reaction and viscosity, the Maclaurin spheroid (a model for rotating, self-gravitating body) becomes marginally or neutrally stable when its eccentricity reaches a critical value with two possible neutral modes, but it does not become unstable after this bifurcation. It is only in the presence of dissipation, Maclaurin spheroid becomes unstable when eccentricity exceeds its bifurcation value. The Roberts–Stewartson instability stems from one of the neutral mode, whereas the CFS instability stems from the other neutral mode.