#8. Frederic Bastiat
Another great hero of minarchist libertarians, Frederic Bastiat promoted a view of free market economics that many say helped form the basis of the modern Austrian economic school. The French philosopher and politician argued against economic protectionism and for free trade. However, he was no anarchist, since he did argue that government had a purpose, and that purpose was to protect life, liberty, and property.
Also, despite his arguments against redistribution, Bastiat slightly contradicted himself when he wrote in the Journal des Economistes that “under extraordinary circumstances, for urgent cases, the State should set aside some resources to assist certain unfortunate people, to help them adjust to changing conditions.”
Not quite libertarian, definitely not anarchist, but safely a minarchist. Bastiat is still influencing libertarian thought today.
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