by Ian Tartt
When it comes to libertarianism, there is no one-size-fits-all definition. There are as many different types of libertarianism as there are pauses in Obama’s speeches. This article will look at the five most common types of libertarianism and show why they’re necessary to the liberty movement.
- Moderates
Moderate libertarians, while recognizing that the government spends far too much of our money and controls far too many areas of our lives, take a less radical stance on government than other types of libertarians. For instance, they might favor ending the prohibition of marijuana and taxing it, while others might object to taxing it. And, instead of calling for the elimination of many federal departments, they could instead advocate reducing them in size or trying to make them run more efficiently. Because of this, moderate libertarians are likely the most appealing type of libertarian to non-libertarians. As such, they can draw people in in ways that more radical libertarians might be unable to do. Rand Paul and Milton Friedman are examples of moderate libertarians who can catch and keep the attention of non-libertarians while also explaining libertarian ideas in a way that they can easily understand.
- Constitutionalists
The Constitution is the document upon which the U.S. government is built. It is a result of the combined efforts of statesmen, thinkers, writers, and military leaders who were influenced by the Age of Enlightenment as well as the struggles the early U.S. faced under British rule. Of further significance is the fact that the Constitution forms the basis for laws which restrict politicians in their ability to rule over people, rather than restricting what the people may do; it exists to limit the freedom of politicians, and not the people. Many libertarians are drawn to the Constitution for these reasons. While many more radical libertarians have criticized it, anyone who tried to argue that we would not have a freer and more prosperous society under a strict Constitutional government than we do now under the current government would have a very difficult time doing so. Ron Paul is perhaps the most well-known Constitutionalist libertarian for his advocacy of reducing the federal government to its Constitutional limits in his three presidential campaigns as well as his books “The Revolution” and “Liberty Defined”. Constitutionalist libertarians tap into both the history of the U.S. and the foundation for the U.S. government, which appeal to patriotic Americans and those who realize that politicians should follow the laws laid out for them. They also offer a clearly-defined goal to shoot for, and one which most libertarians can agree is either a good final destination or a good start for those who wish to go further.
- Classical Liberals
The foundation of classical liberalism is respect for individual rights, limited government, and free markets. And, as the name suggests, this was what liberalism used to be before progressives coopted the term. That’s why a lot of older writings on liberty will use the word “liberal” the way more modern works would use the word “libertarian”, which can be confusing for some when they first begin researching this. The U.S. has a rich classical liberal history. Many of the Founding Fathers are considered to have been classical liberals, the Constitution was certainly influenced by it, and a few presidents, including Thomas Jefferson and Grover Cleveland, demonstrated a respect for classical liberalism while in office. Classical liberalism has also had major influence on the modern libertarian movement. Frederic Bastiat, John Locke, Ludwig Von Mises, and F.A. Hayek are examples of classical liberal economists, writers, and thinkers who have each contributed many great works about liberty. Classical liberalism isn’t as narrowly defined as several other types of libertarianism. Some classical liberals might favor private roads and schools, while others can see a place for government (likely local government) involvement. Much like moderate libertarianism, this allows for a bit broader range of thought, which also makes it a good option for those who either haven’t thought through their stance on every issue, or who don’t feel the need to do so. And, like Constitutional libertarianism, it draws from American history, in addition to pointing out the way power tends to corrupt people due to its understanding of human nature. This makes classical liberals an invaluable resource in the liberty movement, both for the benefits of libertarians and in drawing in new people.
- Minarchists
If, as many libertarians say, the sole purpose of government is to protect life, limb, and property, then minarchism is the form of government most in harmony with this view. Minarchists advocate a government which provides a court system, a police force, and a military, and nothing more. Thus, minarchists believe in the smallest government possible. Ayn Rand defended minarchism in her many television appearances as well as in her books, including perhaps her best work on the subject in “Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal”. Minarchists can act as a bridge between the radical and moderate factions of the liberty movement and the Libertarian Party, making them a wonderful part of the movement. And, like classical liberals, they can find common ground with those who would rather have government control out of as many areas as possible, instead of designating certain issues up to state governments.
- Anarchists
By far the most radical libertarians, anarchists believe that the state is unnecessary or immoral, or both. And while anarchy is farther away than any of the other types of libertarianism on this list, anarchists can still serve a useful function in the here and now. Anarchists are usually the most vocal about government abuses, including abuses that often go unnoticed by others, such as the insane amount of red tape imposed on new drugs by the FDA. Since many of them typically have either theorized about how a stateless society might work or looked into the works of those who have, they tend to come up with many creative solutions to questions that other types of libertarians get asked. Walter Block has given several speeches and even written a book about how private roads could work. Those are valuable resources for many libertarians, since most libertarians advocate a government limited to protecting life, limb, and property, and thus would prefer the government (or at least the federal government) stay out of the matter. Additionally, anarchists help keep the discussion of principles alive in the liberty movement by comparing proposed reforms to basic libertarian principles to see if they would result in a freer society both in the short run and the long run.