Comments on: Libertarian UK Launch Drinks

By: John Locke's ghost

John Locke's ghost — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 16:37:14 +0000

The term “libertarian” is used in some countries (Germany and Spain for instance) by anarcho-socialists.

But to make it more confusing, in the United States the term “Left libertarian” is sometimes used of the anarcho-capitalists, while “Right libertarian” is used of libertarians supporting a night-watchman state (also called “minarchists” by the anarcho-capitalists).

By: tristan

tristan — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 20:48:24 +0000

There’s a tendancy to view two different types of libertarian and call them left and right.

‘Right’ libertarians are capitalists - ie they are free market capitalists.

‘Left’ libertarians are in some way anti-capitalist. They sometimes call themselves mutualists or ‘free market anti-capitalists’.

I’m not too sure how that works, but they tend to like mutual associations, friendly societies etc. I think that’s part of libertarianism if people wish to so I don’t really make a distinction.

Listening to DK talk at the launch, he refered to people who are civil libertarians but not economic libertarians as left libertarians which is probably what is meant there. I wouldn’t call such people libertarians, but they’re allies on those issues.

By: Julian H

Julian H — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 19:29:17 +0000

Perhaps I’m being obtuse (it happens) but do you know why the Writers page uses the term:

“Right Libertarians”

By: Croydonian

Croydonian — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 09:51:28 +0000

Kind of you to say so. I think it is far more sensible to focus on what we agree on rather than engage in ideological witch hunts.