Paul Vahur: What is the paleolibertarian theory of imperialism? Answer: Here too there are two answers: The libertarian and the paleo. A. Libertarian theory of imperialism. Libertarian theory of imperialism is based on a combination of neorealism and liberal school. After all, libertarian theory is based on a categorical difference between propertarian cooperation (voluntary) and statist aggression. Thus libertarianism adheres both to the Hobbesian Realist school of international relations and State Cartel theory. It opposes the Neoliberal school and especially the prevalent Democratic Peace theory. 1.1 Realist school. Realists see each state as a kind of empire that practices Realpolitik and even Machtpolitik when ever possible. This is why libertarians often support the studies of John Mearsheimer and Kenneth Waltz. This is also why libertarians like their taboo book The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy. 1.2. Public choice theory of the state. Libertarians also utilize the public choice theory by pointing out that there is a tendency to regulatory and even state capture. This also explains the imperial military-industrial complex, oil and other business cartels that want wars to destroy competition. At the apex is of course the banking cartel led by Fed and a few leading banks that have managed to capture the state. Rothbard wrote about this in his Wall Street and American Foreign Policy. He also recommended the New Left studies of Gabriel Kolko. 1.3. Marxist-Leninist theory of exploitation and imperialism. Libertarians often utilize the Marxian theory that sees imperialist monopolization as inevitable. Just ignore the labor value theory and add state to the word capitalism and the Marxist-Leninist analysis becomes very libertarian. Also the concepts of ruling class/elite and false consciousness are similar to libertarian theory. This is why Rothbard recommended the Marxist studies of Eugene Genovese. 2.1. Liberal theory Libertarianism supports Hobbesian realist analysis in regard to statism but on the other hand libertarianism does not see statism as inevitable. Thus it sees a way out from the aggressive state of nature of statist international relations. The way out is of course peaceful relations coupled with downsizing and the eventual eradication of states. This is also why libertarians often support the Liberal (English) school of international relations though radicalize it further. 2.2. Decentralism. Libertarians see that states are inherently exploitative and expansionary. The only way to reign them in is through decentralism. This is why libertarians oppose USA, EU, UN and rather support confederations and especially ministates. 2.3. Neutrality. Libertarians see that foreign policy interventionism is even worse than economic interventionism because it is even more difficult and easily leads to conflicts and war. These in turn create the Ratchet Effect described by Robert Higgs in his book Crisis and Leviathan. This is why libertarians favor the Swiss model of neutrality. 2.3. Secessionism Libertarians believe that there is a tendency of states to expand. Decentralism and neutrality are only temporary measures. Thus decentralism has to be taken to its logical conclusion: secessionism which in turn will make propertarian anarchy possible. This is also why libertarians defend even the the secession of the Southern Confederacy and believe it would soon have ended slavery bloodlessly. Thomas DiLorenzo has written many book on the War Of Northern Aggression. B. Paleolibertarian theory of imperialism. Paleolibertarianism is naturally based on libertarianism and adheres to all of its theories. However, the paleo part in paleolibertarianism adds and integrates many other theories on top of the libertarian theoretical infrastructure. 1. Sociobiology. Paleos point out that genes try to expand their copies and thus there is above average instinctual solidarity between families, tribes, nations and races. Thus not only businesses but also kinship groups attempt regulatory and state capture. 1.1. Ethnic studies. Paleolibertarians believe that statism increases ethnic conflict. They also note that some ethnic groups have higher average intelligence. Thus they study especially the power of Wasp and Jewish organisations and are especially critical of Zionists with double standards. 1.2. Dynastic studies. Paleolibertarians also point out that such family dynasties as the Rockefellers and Rothschilds seem to still control the FED. After all, Rothbard showed how they founded the FED so why would they have relinquished their control? Nobody denies that dynastic studies are important in understanding history. However, it is the paleolibertarians who point out that dynasties still dominate not only Russia, China, Japan and India but also Western banking and business empires and thus the West. Rothbard used to refer to the RWE, i.e. Rockefeller World Empire. 1.3. Cultural studies. Paleolibertarians note that multiculturalism increases conflict and that secessionism is easier with homogeneous groups. Free immigration and multiculturalism are seen as imperialistic devices to break down natural order and expand the power of the state. 1.4. Conspiracies. From all the libertarian and paleo theories it naturally follows that both the dynasties and bureaucrats have an intensive to also advance their interest through conspiracies. Sometimes these are internal power struggles withing the ruling elite like with the assassination of JFK and sometimes the conspiracies are used to expand the power of the state. Especially false flags are crucial for the expansion of the state. They give the moral and practical excuse for wars and the police state. Conspiracies should be a very uncontroversial topic since so many important conspiracies have been revealed by historians. However, only paleolibertarians seem to dare study them properly. Rothbard used to joke that there is no conspiracy theory he is not interested in. 1.5. Revisionist history. Only paleolibertarians have the courage to study taboos and put it all together. This is why they study revisionist history. They see that history is written by the statist winners that now form the ruling elite. 1.6. Micro and macro. Paleolibertarianism also tries to connect micro with macro. Just like there is a warlike state of nature between states there is a permanent conflict between individuals. This conflict is ethically solved only with propertarianism that by privatising all resources makes it possible to end physical conflict. However, this still leaves economic and psychological conflicts which are waged with alliances, boycotts and other competitive and exclusionary measures. Paleolibertarians are mugged by reality. They see all individuals in the spirit of the Dark Enlightenment as imperialistic gene machines advancing their own selfish interests either through fraud and aggression or voluntary exchange and exclusion. This selfishness may be tempered by altruistic ideas and religion but every individual is still alone out there in a state of nature weather it is propertarian or statist. Thus paleolibertarians are skeptical of human nature just like all conservatives. Not all believe in orginal sin but they all do believe in original selfishness. This is why paleolibertarianism wants us all to behave like wise statesmen who take care of their own country/property both internally (health, education, income, saving) and externally (contractual interactions, alliances and exclusionary covenants). This can only be done with a low time preference, self-discipline and diplomacy. Each individual should be a gentleman aristocrat managing his own mansion. The way we act and communicate reveals what sort of constitutions and norms we want our community to adopt. Conservatives and feminists are both aware that the only way to avoid continuous psychological conflicts (microaggressions) is to choose and uphold a specific covenant. Otherwise every single interaction makes us imperialists in a continuous state of war. Only the paleolibertarians understand all this and offer the final solution: A world of propertarian covenants that allows the existence of anti-paleo groups but is still dominated by a global network of paleocovenants. Only then there can be permanent peace both between individuals and nations. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Realism_(international_relations)
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 13:56:31 +0000