New Libertarian Manifesto
Encyclopedia
The New Libertarian Manifesto is a work of agorist philosophy written by Samuel Edward Konkin III
. In it, Konkin proffers various arguments of how a free society
would function as well as examples of existing gray
and black markets. It contains criticisms of utilizing political (i.e. activist or legislative) or violent means, and advocates non-politics
with non-voting
as a strategy. Finally, Konkin describes the steps of utilizing the black market to dismantle the state
, a strategy known as counter-economics
.
Konkin estimated that he would publish the New Libertarian Manifesto in 1975, but he considered it long-delayed. He published it on the black market, without submitting it to the United States
Library of Congress
. The work was first printed by Anarchosamisdat Press in October 1980, and subsequently by Koman Publishing Co. in February 1983 and by KoPubCo
in 2006. After he first sold 1,000 copies and then 1,500 gold-covered copies, Konkin saw the book as a black market best-seller.
economist and philosopher of anarcho-capitalism
Murray Rothbard
who was one of Konkin's major influences. He found the manifesto's assertion that wage labor was undesirable or that it would disappear to be absurd, noting specifically the manufacturing
industry as one that could not be handled economically by self-employed, independent contractor
s due to transaction cost
s. Rothbard also pointed out that wage labor made it unnecessary for poor workers to purchase their own capital equipment; this could be left to the capitalists. Rothbard also viewed it as implausible that the black market could out-compete the white market
at providing goods such as automobiles, steel, and cement that are less valuable and harder to conceal than jewels, gold, drugs, etc. Rothbard viewed the black market as being, in any case, ineffective at bringing down tyrannical regimes and perhaps even helpful in propping up otherwise economically unviable systems such as the Soviet Union
's. However, Rothbard did offer some praise, stating, "Konkin's writings are to be welcomed. Because we need a lot more polycentrism in the movement. Because he shakes up Partyarchs who tend to fall into unthinking complacency. And especially because he cares deeply about liberty and can read-and-write, qualities which seem to be going out of style in the libertarian movement." Konkin wrote a reply to Rothbard's critique.
hailed the work "for its position respecting consistency, objective and method" and claimed that "it will have and deserves to have a compelling influences upon members of the 'old' left."
Samuel Edward Konkin III
Samuel Edward Konkin III was the author of the New Libertarian Manifesto and a proponent of the political philosophy which he called agorism. Agorism is a leftward evolution of anarcho-capitalism, and subset of market anarchism...
. In it, Konkin proffers various arguments of how a free society
Free society
In a theoretical free society, all individuals act voluntarily. Individuals in a free society find it safe to be unpopular. This can be elaborated in terms of freedom of speech - if people have a right to express their views without fear of arrest, imprisonment, or physical harm.In a free society,...
would function as well as examples of existing gray
Grey market
A grey market or gray market also known as parallel market is the trade of a commodity through distribution channels which, while legal, are unofficial, unauthorized, or unintended by the original manufacturer...
and black markets. It contains criticisms of utilizing political (i.e. activist or legislative) or violent means, and advocates non-politics
Non-politics
Various libertarians use non-politics , an idea of aversion in political reform. As suggested by voluntaryists and agorists, they maintain the counter-productivity of political methods to achieve a free society. Samuel Edward Konkin III opposed all political strategies, which he saw as gradualist...
with non-voting
Non-voting
Non-voting is a strategy employed by various radical libertarians and anarchists who wish to promote a free society yet who view voting to be either unethical or impractical...
as a strategy. Finally, Konkin describes the steps of utilizing the black market to dismantle the state
State (polity)
A state is an organized political community, living under a government. States may be sovereign and may enjoy a monopoly on the legal initiation of force and are not dependent on, or subject to any other power or state. Many states are federated states which participate in a federal union...
, a strategy known as counter-economics
Counter-economics
Counter-economics is a term originally used by Samuel Edward Konkin III and J. Neil Schulman, libertarian activists and theorists. Konkin defined it as "the study and/or practice of all peaceful human action which is forbidden by the State." The term is short for "counter-establishment economics"...
.
Konkin estimated that he would publish the New Libertarian Manifesto in 1975, but he considered it long-delayed. He published it on the black market, without submitting it to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Library of Congress
Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
. The work was first printed by Anarchosamisdat Press in October 1980, and subsequently by Koman Publishing Co. in February 1983 and by KoPubCo
Victor Koman
Victor Koman is an American science fiction and fantasy writer and agorist. A three time winner of the Prometheus Award, Koman is mainly popular in the libertarian community. He is the owner of the publishing house ....
in 2006. After he first sold 1,000 copies and then 1,500 gold-covered copies, Konkin saw the book as a black market best-seller.
Rothbard
The manifesto was systematically criticized, in a four-part series, by influential Austrian SchoolAustrian School
The Austrian School of economics is a heterodox school of economic thought. It advocates methodological individualism in interpreting economic developments , the theory that money is non-neutral, the theory that the capital structure of economies consists of heterogeneous goods that have...
economist and philosopher of anarcho-capitalism
Anarcho-capitalism
Anarcho-capitalism is a libertarian and individualist anarchist political philosophy that advocates the elimination of the state in favour of individual sovereignty in a free market...
Murray Rothbard
Murray Rothbard
Murray Newton Rothbard was an American author and economist of the Austrian School who helped define capitalist libertarianism and popularized a form of free-market anarchism he termed "anarcho-capitalism." Rothbard wrote over twenty books and is considered a centrally important figure in the...
who was one of Konkin's major influences. He found the manifesto's assertion that wage labor was undesirable or that it would disappear to be absurd, noting specifically the manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
industry as one that could not be handled economically by self-employed, independent contractor
Independent contractor
An independent contractor is a natural person, business, or corporation that provides goods or services to another entity under terms specified in a contract or within a verbal agreement. Unlike an employee, an independent contractor does not work regularly for an employer but works as and when...
s due to transaction cost
Transaction cost
In economics and related disciplines, a transaction cost is a cost incurred in making an economic exchange . For example, most people, when buying or selling a stock, must pay a commission to their broker; that commission is a transaction cost of doing the stock deal...
s. Rothbard also pointed out that wage labor made it unnecessary for poor workers to purchase their own capital equipment; this could be left to the capitalists. Rothbard also viewed it as implausible that the black market could out-compete the white market
White market
The white market, in libertarian economic theory, is the legal market for goods and services. It is distinct from the black market of illegally trafficked goods and the gray market, in which commodities are distributed through channels which, while legal, are unofficial, unauthorized, or unintended...
at providing goods such as automobiles, steel, and cement that are less valuable and harder to conceal than jewels, gold, drugs, etc. Rothbard viewed the black market as being, in any case, ineffective at bringing down tyrannical regimes and perhaps even helpful in propping up otherwise economically unviable systems such as the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
's. However, Rothbard did offer some praise, stating, "Konkin's writings are to be welcomed. Because we need a lot more polycentrism in the movement. Because he shakes up Partyarchs who tend to fall into unthinking complacency. And especially because he cares deeply about liberty and can read-and-write, qualities which seem to be going out of style in the libertarian movement." Konkin wrote a reply to Rothbard's critique.
Others
Libertarian Robert LeFevreRobert LeFevre
Robert LeFevre was an American libertarian businessman, radio personality, and primary theorist of autarchism.-Early life:...
hailed the work "for its position respecting consistency, objective and method" and claimed that "it will have and deserves to have a compelling influences upon members of the 'old' left."
Further reading
- Rothbard, Murray. Strategy of the New Libertarian Alliance, Number One, May Day 1981, 3-11; reprinted as “The Anti-Party Mentality” in Libertarian Vanguard, Aug.-Sep. 1981.
External links
- New Libertarian Manifesto in PDF form from Invisible Molotov