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Night-watchman state

November 24, 2023

"Minarchism" redirects here. Not to be confused with Monarchism.

A night-watchman state, or minarchy, whose proponents are known as minarchists, is a model of a state that is limited and minimal, whose functions depend on libertarian theory. Right-libertarians support it only as an enforcer of the non-aggression principle by providing citizens with the military, the police, and courts, thereby protecting them from aggression, theft, breach of contract, fraud, and enforcing property laws.[1][2][3]

The term was coined by Ferdinand Lassalle and derived from the watchman system used by various European cities starting in the medieval period. The voluntary militia functioned as a city guard for internal policing and against external aggression.

In the United States, this form of government is mainly associated with libertarian and Objectivist political philosophy. In other countries, minarchism is also advocated by some non-anarchist libertarian socialists and other left-libertarians.[4][5] A night-watchman state has also been popularized by Robert Nozick in Anarchy, State, and Utopia (1974).[6] The United Kingdom in the 19th century has been described by historian Charles Townshend as a standard-bearer for this form of government.[7]

Origin edit

As a term, night-watchman state (German: Nachtwächterstaat) was coined by German socialist Ferdinand Lassalle in an 1862 speech in Berlin wherein he criticized the bourgeois-liberal limited government state, comparing it to a night-watchman whose sole duty was preventing theft, playing on the double meaning of the German term Nachtwächter to mean someone who was incompetent or stupid. The phrase quickly caught on as a description of capitalist government, even as liberalism began to mean a more involved state, or a state with a larger sphere of responsibility.[8] Ludwig von Mises later opined that Lassalle tried to make limited government look ridiculous though it was no more ridiculous than governments that concerned themselves with "the preparation of sauerkraut, with the manufacture of trouser buttons, or with the publication of newspapers".[9]

Proponents of the night-watchman state are minarchists, a portmanteau of minimum and -archy. Arche (/ˈɑːrki/; Ancient Greek: ἀρχή) is a Greek word which came to mean "first place, power", "method of government", "empire, realm", "authorities" (in plural: ἀρχαί), or "command".[10] The term minarchist was coined by Samuel Edward Konkin III in 1980.[11]

Philosophy edit

Right-libertarian minarchists generally justify the state as a logical consequence of the non-aggression principle.[1][2][3] They argue that anarcho-capitalism is impractical because it is not sufficient to enforce the non-aggression principle, as the enforcement of laws under anarchy would be open to competition.[12] Another common objection to anarchism is that private defense and court firms would tend to represent the interests of those who pay them enough.[13]

Left-libertarian minarchists justify the state as a temporary measure on the grounds that social safety net benefits the working class. Some anarchists, such as Noam Chomsky, are in agreement with social democrats on the importance of welfare measures, but prefer using non-state methods.[14] Left-libertarians such as Peter Hain are decentralists who do not advocate abolishing the state,[4] but do wish to limit and devolve state power,[5] stipulating that any measures favoring the wealthy be prioritized for repeal before those which benefit the poor.[15]

Some minarchists argue that a state is inevitable because anarchy is futile.[16] Robert Nozick, who publicized the idea of a minimal state in Anarchy, State, and Utopia (1974), argued that a night-watchman state provides a framework that allows for any political system that respects fundamental individual rights and therefore morally justifies the existence of a state.[6][17]

See also edit

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Gregory, Anthony (May 10, 2004). "The Minarchist's Dilemma". Strike the Root: A Journal of Liberty. January 12, 2020, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Peikoff, Leonard (March 7, 2011). "What role should certain specific governments play in Objectivist government?". Peikoff.com. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Peikoff, Leonard (October 3, 2011). "Interview with Yaron Brook on economic issues in today's world (Part 1)". Peikoff.com. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Hain, Peter (July/August 2000). "Rediscovering our libertarian roots". Chartist. June 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Marshall, Peter (2009) [1991]. Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism (POLS ed.). Oakland, California: PM Press. p. 641[permanent dead link]. "Left libertarianism can therefore range from the decentralist who wishes to limit and devolve State power, to the syndicalist who wants to abolish it altogether. It can even encompass the Fabians and the social democrats who wish to socialize the economy but who still see a limited role for the State." ISBN 978-1604860641.
  6. ^ a b Nozick, Robert (1974). Anarchy, State, and Utopia. Basic Books. ISBN 978-0465097203.
  7. ^ Townshend, Charles (2000). The Oxford History of Modern War. Oxford University Press. pp. 14–15. ISBN 0192853732. Britain, however, with its strong tradition of minimal government – the 'night-watchman state' – vividly illustrated the speed of the shift [during World War I] from normalcy to drastic and all-embracing wartime powers like those contained in the Defence of the Realm Act.
  8. ^ Sawer, Marian (2003). The Ethical State?: Social Liberalism in Australia. Melbourne University Publishing. p. 87. ISBN 978-0522850826.
  9. ^ Von Mises, Ludwig (1927) [1922]. Liberalism. p. 37.
  10. ^ "Ἀρχή" Archy [Archy]. A Greek-English Lexicon. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  11. ^ Konkin III, Samuel Edward (1980). New Libertarian Manifesto. p. 9.
  12. ^ Long, Roderick T.; Machan, Tibor R., eds. (2008). (PDF). Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 978-0754660668. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 30, 2011.
  13. ^ Holcombe, Randall G. (2004). "Government: Unnecessary but Inevitable" (PDF). The Independent Review. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  14. ^ . Z Magazine. ZCommunications. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved August 19, 2011. Anarchists propose other measures to deal with these problems, without recourse to state authority. ... Social democrats and anarchists always agreed, fairly generally, on so-called 'welfare state measures'.
  15. ^ Richman, Sheldon (February 3, 2011). "Libertarian Left: Free-market anti-capitalism, the unknown ideal". The American Conservative. June 10, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 5, 2012. "[Left-libertarians] prefer that corporate privileges be repealed before the regulatory restrictions on how those privileges may be exercised."
  16. ^ Emmett, Ross B. (2011). Frank H. Knight in Iowa City, 1919–1928. Emerald Group Publishing. ISBN 978-1780520087.
  17. ^ Gordon, David (2008). "Minimal State". In Hamowy, Ronald (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage; Cato Institute. pp. 332–334. doi:10.4135/9781412965811.n204. ISBN 978-1412965804. LCCN 2008009151. OCLC 750831024.

Bibliography edit

  • Machan, Tibor R. (December 2002). "Anarchism and Minarchism. A Rapprochement". Journal des Economists et des Estudes Humaines. 14 (4): 569–588.
  • Nozick, Robert (1974). Anarchy, State, and Utopia. New York City: Basic Books.
  • Ostrowski, Marius S. (2014). "Towards libertarian welfarism: protecting agency in the night-watchman state". Journal of Political Ideologies. 13 (1): 107–128.
  • Wolff, Jonathan (1991). Robert Nozick: Property, Justice, and the Minimal State. Cambridge, England: Polity Press.

External links edit

  • "Market Anarchism as Constitutionalism" by Roderick T. Long
  • "Chaos Theory: Two Essays on Market Anarchy" by Robert P. Murphy
  • Robert Nozick and the Immaculate Conception of the State by Murray Rothbard

November 24, 2023
night, watchman, state, minarchism, redirects, here, confused, with, monarchism, night, watchman, state, minarchy, whose, proponents, known, minarchists, model, state, that, limited, minimal, whose, functions, depend, libertarian, theory, right, libertarians, . Minarchism redirects here Not to be confused with Monarchism A night watchman state or minarchy whose proponents are known as minarchists is a model of a state that is limited and minimal whose functions depend on libertarian theory Right libertarians support it only as an enforcer of the non aggression principle by providing citizens with the military the police and courts thereby protecting them from aggression theft breach of contract fraud and enforcing property laws 1 2 3 The term was coined by Ferdinand Lassalle and derived from the watchman system used by various European cities starting in the medieval period The voluntary militia functioned as a city guard for internal policing and against external aggression In the United States this form of government is mainly associated with libertarian and Objectivist political philosophy In other countries minarchism is also advocated by some non anarchist libertarian socialists and other left libertarians 4 5 A night watchman state has also been popularized by Robert Nozick in Anarchy State and Utopia 1974 6 The United Kingdom in the 19th century has been described by historian Charles Townshend as a standard bearer for this form of government 7 Contents 1 Origin 2 Philosophy 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 Bibliography 5 External linksOrigin editAs a term night watchman state German Nachtwachterstaat was coined by German socialist Ferdinand Lassalle in an 1862 speech in Berlin wherein he criticized the bourgeois liberal limited government state comparing it to a night watchman whose sole duty was preventing theft playing on the double meaning of the German term Nachtwachter to mean someone who was incompetent or stupid The phrase quickly caught on as a description of capitalist government even as liberalism began to mean a more involved state or a state with a larger sphere of responsibility 8 Ludwig von Mises later opined that Lassalle tried to make limited government look ridiculous though it was no more ridiculous than governments that concerned themselves with the preparation of sauerkraut with the manufacture of trouser buttons or with the publication of newspapers 9 Proponents of the night watchman state are minarchists a portmanteau of minimum and archy Arche ˈ ɑːr k i Ancient Greek ἀrxh is a Greek word which came to mean first place power method of government empire realm authorities in plural ἀrxai or command 10 The term minarchist was coined by Samuel Edward Konkin III in 1980 11 Philosophy editRight libertarian minarchists generally justify the state as a logical consequence of the non aggression principle 1 2 3 They argue that anarcho capitalism is impractical because it is not sufficient to enforce the non aggression principle as the enforcement of laws under anarchy would be open to competition 12 Another common objection to anarchism is that private defense and court firms would tend to represent the interests of those who pay them enough 13 Left libertarian minarchists justify the state as a temporary measure on the grounds that social safety net benefits the working class Some anarchists such as Noam Chomsky are in agreement with social democrats on the importance of welfare measures but prefer using non state methods 14 Left libertarians such as Peter Hain are decentralists who do not advocate abolishing the state 4 but do wish to limit and devolve state power 5 stipulating that any measures favoring the wealthy be prioritized for repeal before those which benefit the poor 15 Some minarchists argue that a state is inevitable because anarchy is futile 16 Robert Nozick who publicized the idea of a minimal state in Anarchy State and Utopia 1974 argued that a night watchman state provides a framework that allows for any political system that respects fundamental individual rights and therefore morally justifies the existence of a state 6 17 See also edit nbsp Libertarianism portalAnarchism and anarcho capitalism Anarcho capitalism and minarchism Big government Liberalism Classical liberalism Constitutional liberalism Debates within libertarianism Objectivist movement Objectivism and libertarianism Property is theft Small government Taxation as theft VoluntaryismReferences editNotes edit a b Gregory Anthony May 10 2004 The Minarchist s Dilemma Strike the Root A Journal of Liberty Archived January 12 2020 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved February 1 2020 a b Peikoff Leonard March 7 2011 What role should certain specific governments play in Objectivist government Peikoff com Retrieved January 2 2020 a b Peikoff Leonard October 3 2011 Interview with Yaron Brook on economic issues in today s world Part 1 Peikoff com Retrieved January 2 2020 a b Hain Peter July August 2000 Rediscovering our libertarian roots Chartist Archived June 21 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved February 1 2020 a b Marshall Peter 2009 1991 Demanding the Impossible A History of Anarchism POLS ed Oakland California PM Press p 641 permanent dead link Left libertarianism can therefore range from the decentralist who wishes to limit and devolve State power to the syndicalist who wants to abolish it altogether It can even encompass the Fabians and the social democrats who wish to socialize the economy but who still see a limited role for the State ISBN 978 1604860641 a b Nozick Robert 1974 Anarchy State and Utopia Basic Books ISBN 978 0465097203 Townshend Charles 2000 The Oxford History of Modern War Oxford University Press pp 14 15 ISBN 0192853732 Britain however with its strong tradition of minimal government the night watchman state vividly illustrated the speed of the shift during World War I from normalcy to drastic and all embracing wartime powers like those contained in the Defence of the Realm Act Sawer Marian 2003 The Ethical State Social Liberalism in Australia Melbourne University Publishing p 87 ISBN 978 0522850826 Von Mises Ludwig 1927 1922 Liberalism p 37 Ἀrxh Archy Archy A Greek English Lexicon Retrieved January 2 2020 Konkin III Samuel Edward 1980 New Libertarian Manifesto p 9 Long Roderick T Machan Tibor R eds 2008 Anarchism Minarchism Is a Government Part of a Free Country PDF Ashgate Publishing ISBN 978 0754660668 Archived from the original PDF on November 30 2011 Holcombe Randall G 2004 Government Unnecessary but Inevitable PDF The Independent Review Retrieved January 2 2020 Chomsky Replies to Multiple Questions About Anarchism Z Magazine ZCommunications Archived from the original on September 29 2007 Retrieved August 19 2011 Anarchists propose other measures to deal with these problems without recourse to state authority Social democrats and anarchists always agreed fairly generally on so called welfare state measures Richman Sheldon February 3 2011 Libertarian Left Free market anti capitalism the unknown ideal The American Conservative Archived June 10 2019 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved March 5 2012 Left libertarians prefer that corporate privileges be repealed before the regulatory restrictions on how those privileges may be exercised Emmett Ross B 2011 Frank H Knight in Iowa City 1919 1928 Emerald Group Publishing ISBN 978 1780520087 Gordon David 2008 Minimal State In Hamowy Ronald ed The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism Thousand Oaks CA Sage Cato Institute pp 332 334 doi 10 4135 9781412965811 n204 ISBN 978 1412965804 LCCN 2008009151 OCLC 750831024 Bibliography edit Machan Tibor R December 2002 Anarchism and Minarchism A Rapprochement Journal des Economists et des Estudes Humaines 14 4 569 588 Nozick Robert 1974 Anarchy State and Utopia New York City Basic Books Ostrowski Marius S 2014 Towards libertarian welfarism protecting agency in the night watchman state Journal of Political Ideologies 13 1 107 128 Wolff Jonathan 1991 Robert Nozick Property Justice and the Minimal State Cambridge England Polity Press External links edit Market Anarchism as Constitutionalism by Roderick T Long Chaos Theory Two Essays on Market Anarchy by Robert P Murphy Robert Nozick and the Immaculate Conception of the State by Murray Rothbard Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Night watchman state amp oldid 1186280444, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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