What Is Minarchism?

Minarchism is one of two main strands of right wing libertarianism, the other one being anarcho capitalism. In a Minarchy, also known as a night watchman state, the state is as small as possible, to minimise interference in people's property rights and to keep the market open. However, in order to ensure strong property rights and that the rules of capitalism are being followed, Minarchists favour a strong system of law and order, which is where this night watchman moniker comes from. So for example, in a Minarchy, if somebody stole another person’s car, the justice system would pursue and punish the criminal.

Where you can find me!

In minimising state interference in people’s lives to these levels, Minarchists argue that people are empowered to make choices on their own. Their consequences both financial and otherwise would be their own, which to Minarchists represents fairness and true freedom. However there are criticisms of Minarchism. Anarcho Capitalists who represent the other side of right wing libertarianism, oppose the Minarchist insistence on a minimal state, because they argue that the state, no matter what is size, is an obstacle to liberty. A state, they argue, could still forcibly tax people, or imprison them for long periods of time. As a result anarcho-capitalists tend to agree with Minarchism’s support of unregulated capitalism, but they don’t want any state at all, wanting the likes of police and courts to be run by private organisations instead, likely through a kind of insurance system.

Of course, left wing libertarians also oppose minarchism and anarcho capitalism wholesale, because to them capitalism is an oppressive, manipulative system that pits rich against poor, weak against strong. They argue that strengthening a system which relies on people manipulating and using other people for gain is an anathema to liberty, it doesn’t make people freer, if anything it fetters them even more. Others from across the political spectrum oppose Anarchism and libertarianism as a whole because in trying to maximise human liberty, Libertarians supposedly disregard the moral or environmental costs of human wants and needs. For example, conservatives might oppose the lax views of libertarians when it comes to human sexuality, or the consequences of mass immigration, whilst environmentalists might argue that unregulated capitalism, supported by right wing libertarians, is one of the main catalysts of increased fossil fuel use and resultantly, a major cause of global warming

To conclude, minarchism is a form of right wing libertarianism that aims to minimise the state to simply law and order. Minarchism, as a form of right wing libertarianism, favours strong property rights and unregulated capitalism, to allow people to have as much autonomy as possible over their own money. Minarchism receives a varied amount of criticism from inside and outside the libertarian movement, for example from anarcho capitalists who feel it gives too much power to the state, as well as from left wing libertarians who disagree fundamentally with its promotion of capitalism.

[RED-jgmt]

Good job man. Its almost uncanny how unbiased this script is. I know thats a goal for a lot of people, well done.

[ClipCoyote]

Found this after researching my political compass results. I like this concept a lot. I would expant the state to protect privacy and consumer protection, basicslly policing corporations

[TheRealKaveman]

Minarchism isn't necessarily right-wing, depending how you are defining right-wing. I see myself as left-wing, but I identify most closely with minarchism; I might see a market system as being the most superior, but that market socialism (worker-owned firms) being the most free system to prevail. I agree that the police and military aren't institutions that can be privately owned or maintained. However I look at education and healthcare as equally necessary to the safety and liberty of our society, and thus must be maintained by the state, albeit in a way congruous to the way and means we maintain other government-necessary systems, so long that they don't excessively violate the NAP. I don't know, let your hate flow and criticize my position. I welcome the opportunity to be proven wrong!

[ImVexuli]

I absolutely love this.. you still have checks and balances, but it's not an overarching federal agency or army.. it's based upon the surrounding community. This makes alot of sense for a regional, state, county and city level.

[NormalPerson]

Minarchism and libertarianism are most practical and can achieve support slowly. But anarcho capitalism can never be achieved because 99% of human population will always be statists. Libertarianism and minarchism don't like state and not statists but are in support of state because there is no option how to let people hear them its a compromise.

[Srindal]

Right wing? You can have the right to create a union. Is that right wing?

[creetan]

You made the first mistake in defining libertarianism based off of the right-left spectrum. Ideas have never simply just been "either this or that".

Real libertarians view the right-left graph as only describing which way authoritarian governments will go. The moderate, or the center, are authoritarians as well.

[lesefer]

This is the worst video about minarchism I've seen so far.

[NCRveteran]

My idea of "social-minarchism":

The state controlls police, army, and the legal system (with some laws and regulation to protect the environment), like the og minarchist thought PLUS healthcare and education

All of this paid with a single tax, a LVT inspired by the georgist system