ANARCHOCAPITALISM: HISTORY, PRINCIPLES AND AUTHORS - ECONOMY - 2025

The anarcho - capitalism or the free market anarchism is an individualistic political philosophy that perceives the State as an entity unnecessary and should be abolished in order to enact freedom of individuals. This would be done through an economic system that promotes private property and the free market as morally admissible elements.

This term was born as a political philosophy that is adding more and more followers due to the leaps and bounds it presents in its development.

Taking into account that the new masses are eager for innovation in all aspects of their lives, this movement is emerging as a potential solution to the economic, social and political problems that humanity lives.

To understand the term a little more, it is necessary to delve into the meaning of the word; Anarcho-capitalism was born as a product of two apparently contradictory doctrines, but in reality they have aspects in common.

The first is economic liberalism, whose principle is the protection of private property. The second is anarchism, a position that seeks to provide an alternative to the organizational parameters of the State, promoting a freer social organization.

History of anarcho-capitalism

Before the term “anarcho-capitalism” was coined for the first time, many societies had already demonstrated, little or much, the efficiency of an organizational model without the State and practicing free trade.

Taking into account that the roots of anarcho-capitalism are merely theories of the social sciences (anarchism, capitalism, liberalism), it is not wise to declare that the historical examples of anarcho-capitalism that will be explained below are 100% anarcho-capitalist.

Despite this, it should be noted that its foundations are intrinsically related to the concept of anarcho-capitalism, and therefore are part of its history.

Celtic ireland

This society that took place between the years 650 and 1650, is the first precedent of anarcho-capitalism of which there is awareness.

In it, there was no state of its own that created the laws or a court that imposed them; This characteristic makes them compatible with the current anarcho-capitalism model that seeks to use the law in a more libertarian and equitable way.

This current anarcho-capitalist law model would be encouraged by the privatization of public services such as the courts, the police, among others. As individuals pay for this service, it is considered that the processes will be more transparent and effective.

Murray Rothbard (who will be discussed later) delves into this topic and Celtic Ireland in his book "For a new liberty."

Rhode Island

Between 1636 and 1648 this area of ​​the United States was the cradle of societies, which at the time, were classified as anarchists. Among the latent similarities that exist with current anarcho-capitalism is the lack of a state to regulate citizens.

Also the creation of a model of free social organization where the representatives of each family met every 15 days to discuss, and decide through mutual consensus, the issues of peace, abundance and vigilance.

All of that as described by Roger Williams, founder of Providence in Rhode Island.

The North American West

While there are other older examples that prove the effectiveness of a potentially anarcho-capitalist society; It is presented to the North American West, between 1830 and 1900, as the last historical precedent for this term within the article. This due to the successful social model they used, far from being wild as many believe.

Civil settlements existed in the American West long before the US government arrived. They also defined the right to property according to local customs, and the mining and cattle companies in the area established their own concessions.

The direct precedent of anarcho-capitalism is undoubtedly classical liberalism, from which it subtracts the basic principles of free trade and the defense of private property; this on the part of the capitalist economic model.

But referring to the anarchist posture of social organization, the principles of anarcho-capitalism are prefigured since the North American nineteenth century where political philosophers such as Lysander Spooner and Benjamin Tucker appear who promulgated anarchist individualism.

Gustave de Molinari with his various essays contributed to reinforcing the idea of ​​a society where the State had limited actions, undoubtedly a prelude to the abolition of the State proposed by the anarcho-capitalists.

From the Austrian School of Economics is also obtained the methodology by which anarcho-capitalism arises as a political philosophy.

Murray Rothbard Works

The term "anarcho-capitalism" was not coined until the appearance of the works of Murray Rothbard (1926-1995), an American economist who, combining the influences of classical liberalism, individualist anarchists, and the Austrian school, knew how to define the principles of this philosophy politics.

So many - and so important - were his contributions that he is considered today as the father of modern anarcho-capitalism.

Principles of anarcho-capitalism

Among the fundamental principles of anarcho-capitalism as a political philosophy is the idea of ​​providing protection services to citizens in a more libertarian way.

This would, in theory, allow people to choose companies that offer private defense or police services, which would compete within the market to provide better service and attract more customers.

Contractual partnership

This principle reveals that within a society that adopts anarcho-capitalism as a political model, relationships that are not based on voluntary actions will not exist.

Voluntary contracts will serve as a legal framework for operations and these will prevent conflicts or acts of violence.

Non-aggression policy

For anarcho-capitalists, non-aggression is a principle that is applied on two sides; the first is personal, where the use of violence to harm another is not allowed, and the second is material, where actions against material goods are prohibited.

Property rights

In anarcho-capitalism there is the right to private property that is understood not only as the property of oneself, that is, freedom, but also of all resources or goods without a previous owner that an individual has worked for.

There is also common property, typical of the anarchist feeling, but this is practiced only under the principle of contractual society.

Authors of anarcho-capitalism and their views

Murray rothbard

Without doubt the most prominent author with works such as The Ethics of Liberty or For a New Liberty. His point of view is based on a more peaceful and voluntary exchange anarcho-capitalism, far from state capitalism that distorts the free market.

David firedman

For his part, this author disagrees with Rothbard's point of view and does not conceive of a morally ethical anarcho-capitalism, but rather a pragmatic one.

Thus most people would benefit without paying attention to moral issues because there will be no legal code as proposed by Rothbard, but the market itself will raise the laws.

Hans-Hermann Hoppe

This other famous author of anarcho-capitalism shares similarities in his point of view with Rothbard's. For him it is necessary to use a series of ethical arguments that give way to the creation of anarchist private property.

Morris and Linda Tannehill

In The Market for Liberty these pair of authors reveal their support for the anarcho-capitalist idea of ​​a private judicial system. Revealing in his work a series of feasible examples that reinforce his thesis.

References

1. Classical Liberalism versus Anarchocapitalism by Jesús Huerta de Soto (02/03/2014). Recovered from jesushuertadesoto.com
2. Anarcho-Capitalism by Adrew Morriss (August 15, 2008). Recovered from Libertarianism.org
3. Really Free Culture. Anarchist Communities, Radical Movements and Public Practices. Publisher: Lee Tusman (2008). Recovered from Google.books.co.ve
4. Anarcho-Capitalism FAQ. (April 13, 2015). Recovered from ozarkia.net
5. Common Property in Anarcho-Capitalism by Randall G. Holcombe. THE JOURNAL OF LIBERTARIAN STUDIES (07/30/2014). Mises Institute. Recovered from mises.org