Neo-libertarianism
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Neo-libertarianism is a political and social philosophy that is a combination of Libertarian principles with present-day Neoconservative principles. This political philosophy prioritizes liberty as its main idea, promoting free expression, freedom of choice, other social freedoms, and laissez-faire capitalism, while also being critical of authority. However, neo-libertarians differ with libertarians on issues of government oversight, as many neo-libertarians tend to sympathize with neoconservative ideas on authority, especially when it comes to military action. Neo-libertarians believe in the idea of American Exceptionalism, and support interventionist policy as a way to maintain America's importance in foreign relations.
Contents
History
Neo-libertarianism is a fairly contemporary political ideology, coming into prominence with the rise of the South Park Republican trend among young Americans in 2001, explained by blogger Andrew Sullivan as "people who believe we need a hawkish foreign policy and are extremely critical of political correctness, but are classically liberal on domestic issues".[1] Next, in 2003, former police officer turned author Dale Franks defined neo-libertarian principles as:
- The policy that maximizes civil liberties is the best choice
- The policy that offers the least amount of government regulation is the best policy
- The policy that provides rational, free-market incentives is the best choice
- A policy of diplomacy that promotes liberal democracy and individual liberty and opposes dictatorship
- A policy of using US military force at the sole discretion of the US, but only when US national interests are directly endangered.
Then, in 2009, neo-libertarianism became very prominent among the libertarian half of the Tea Party movement in the United States.[2] On foreign policy, Tea Party libertarians are split into classical libertarians and neo-libertarians, with the former supporting ideas made famous by Ron Paul, and the latter supporting the ideas of Sarah Palin. Walter Russell Mead, in a 2011 essay published in Foreign Affairs, discusses the foreign policy beliefs of the Tea Party movement. He argues that supporters of Paul believe in the principle of non-intervention, preferring to stay out of foreign matters unless national security is at risk. Neo-libertarians, on the other hand, believe in policies aligned with the Big Stick ideology, favoring military action to promote America's superiority in the international community.[3]
Similar terms
Radio talk host Larry Elder, whose views fit the neo-libertarian definition, coined the term "Republitarian" to refer to American libertarians who vote Republican, although oftentimes this word is also used to describe libertarians who support gradualism domestically and a foreign policy similar to Objectivist policy as outlined by Ayn Rand Institute. Another neo-libertarian radio host, Neal Boortz, has been described by commentators on his work as "Liberventionist".
Philosophy
Neo-libertarians combine views of both libertarianism and conservatism, promoting personal freedom, free market capitalism, and foreign interventionism.
Economy
Neo-libertarianism's subscribe to the libertarian idea of laissez-faire capitalism, wanting little to no government interference with the market. Favoring Austrian Economics instead of Keynesian Economics, neo-libertarians are critical of Fiat money and support ideas like the Gold standard.[4] Neo-libertarians look for ways to privatize activities run by government, from airports to toll booths, and as an alternative to Taxation in the United States and the IRS, neo-libertarians typically support either a Negative Income Tax system, as proposed by Milton Friedman, or the Fair Tax. Neo-libertarians also endorse free trade as beneficial to the global economy.[5]
Civil Issues
Neo-libertarians support a core libertarian principle called the Non-aggression principle, which states that anything that infringes on another persons rights (libertarians define a person's rights as life, liberty and property as written in the United States Declaration of Independence), is considered to be morally wrong. Libertarians also staunchly support the ideas of liberty and privacy, with many neo-libertarians, including those in the Libertarian Party, calling for an end to the War on Drugs.[6] In addition to this, neo-libertarians are opposed to the Christian right with regard to women's rights, religion in politics, science promotion, and gay rights;[7] but are split over abortion. For example, while Neal Boortz views abortion as an individual woman's right,[8] Larry Elder views abortion as an act of violence against an individual.[9]
See also
Libertarianism in the United States
Conservatism in the United States
Libertarian perspectives on foreign intervention
Objectivist views on Islam and the War on Terror
References
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