New Libertarian Manifesto -- The 25th Anniversary Edition, by Samuel Edward Konkin III (1947-2004), brings the groundbreaking work back into print. First published in October, 1980, the Manifesto is the most concise treatise on Counter-Economics and Agorism available to the public. Five chapters encompass Konkin's unique view of libertarianism: I. Statism: Our Condition; II. Agorism: Our Goal; III. Counter-Economics: Our Means; IV. Revolution: Our Strategy; and V. Action: Our Tactics. The 25th Anniversary Edition is the fourth printing of the book, which has been an underground anarchist classic. Also included in this edition are critiques of New Libertarian Manifesto by Murray N. Rothbard, Ph.D., Robert LeFevre, and Erwin S. Strauss, and replies by Samuel Edward Konkin III, which were published in Strategy of the New Libertarian Alliance in 1981 and long out of print until now.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
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Samuel Edward Konkin III's New Libertarian Manifesto could be seen as the "Final Revelation" of libertarianism. While Murray Rothbard synthesized Austrian free-market economics and classical liberalism to create the philosophy of libertarianism (aka "market anarchism" or "anarcho-capitalism"), SEK3 takes things a step further, and offers a strategy for achieving "agorism" -- libertarianism in practice. That strategy is "counter economics."
"Counter economics" probably needs a new name. It is short for "counter-establishment" economics, and was widely understood as such in the aftermath of the "counter culture," but now the term "counter economics" sounds like "un-economic" or "anti-economic." Regardless, SEK3 was anything but "anti-economic" -- he was a student of the Austrian school, and dedicated the New Libertarian Manifesto to Ludwig von Mises and Murray Rothbard (and Robert LeFevre). What is meant by "counter-establishment" economics is eschewing the "white" market -- that is, the state controlled market -- for black (illegal, non-violent) and grey (of questionable legality) markets. The idea is that evasion, avoidance, and ignoring of the state will lead to its demise.
Konkin also discusses a "red" market -- that of violence. This is distinguished from the black market, even if both are deemed illegal by the state. Prostitution, where the prostitute is voluntarily engaging in the sale of sex for money, is a black market activity. But where the girl is forced to prostitute herself by an abusive pimp, it is red market, and not condoned.
Konkin makes the case that there are already millions of black- and grey-market operators throughout the U.S. Not only drug dealers and prostitutes, but unlicensed auto mechanics and plumbers, underground hair dressers and daycare providers, and countless independent contractors who underreport their taxable income. The "New Libertarian" strategy, says Konkin, should be for libertarians to mix with these people and convert them to libertarian philosophy. This will allow them to shed their guilt and give up their dreams of "going straight" once they have enough money. Konkin wants to libertarianize "counter economists" (black-market participants) and "counter-economize" libertarians.
The Manifesto also contains critiques by Murray Rothbard, Robert LeFevre, and "Dirty Pierre" (whoever that is). As an avowed Rothbardian, it was painful for me to read Rothbard's entirely off-base critique, in which he levels at least two absurd allegations against Konkin, champions the "Libertarian" Party and political action in general, and even defends the despicable Kochtopuss. One key issue is that Rothbard says SEK3 is against wage labor -- it's absurd, since that is clearly not the case. But SEK3 responds (the responses to the three critiques are also contained here) that while there's nothing morally wrong with wage labor, it is strategically inferior to independent contracting due to tax withholding and regulation.
Rothbard scores one solid point in his critique, though, which is that it's much harder for large-scale manufacturing businesses to be fully "black market." This is true, but if Rothbard were alive today, he'd see there was little manufacturing left in the U.S. anyway, and all those wage workers he said Konkin abandoned are in constant danger of losing their jobs -- many already have. It seems that independent contracting is thus not only preferable for agorist strategy but also for personal freedom and security.
LeFevre's criticisms rest upon his asinine pacifism, and Dirty Pierre's are swiftly rebutted by Konkin. Perhaps the Manifesto could have been better and longer, but as the dedication to Chris R. Tame says, it was better that SEK3 got it written than perfectly right. Unfortunately, "Agorism" -- which was to be what Das Capital was to NLM's Communist Manifesto -- was never completed before Konkin's death. I wish there were more old agorist literature, particularly because the people who've taken up "agorism" today have blended it with socialism, social anarchism, mutualism, etc., (none of which are mentioned in the NLM), but on its own, this Manifesto is definitely more than enough to make the case for agora, anarchy, action!
"Counter economics" probably needs a new name. It is short for "counter-establishment" economics, and was widely understood as such in the aftermath of the "counter culture," but now the term "counter economics" sounds like "un-economic" or "anti-economic." Regardless, SEK3 was anything but "anti-economic" -- he was a student of the Austrian school, and dedicated the New Libertarian Manifesto to Ludwig von Mises and Murray Rothbard (and Robert LeFevre). What is meant by "counter-establishment" economics is eschewing the "white" market -- that is, the state controlled market -- for black (illegal, non-violent) and grey (of questionable legality) markets. The idea is that evasion, avoidance, and ignoring of the state will lead to its demise.
Konkin also discusses a "red" market -- that of violence. This is distinguished from the black market, even if both are deemed illegal by the state. Prostitution, where the prostitute is voluntarily engaging in the sale of sex for money, is a black market activity. But where the girl is forced to prostitute herself by an abusive pimp, it is red market, and not condoned.
Konkin makes the case that there are already millions of black- and grey-market operators throughout the U.S. Not only drug dealers and prostitutes, but unlicensed auto mechanics and plumbers, underground hair dressers and daycare providers, and countless independent contractors who underreport their taxable income. The "New Libertarian" strategy, says Konkin, should be for libertarians to mix with these people and convert them to libertarian philosophy. This will allow them to shed their guilt and give up their dreams of "going straight" once they have enough money. Konkin wants to libertarianize "counter economists" (black-market participants) and "counter-economize" libertarians.
The Manifesto also contains critiques by Murray Rothbard, Robert LeFevre, and "Dirty Pierre" (whoever that is). As an avowed Rothbardian, it was painful for me to read Rothbard's entirely off-base critique, in which he levels at least two absurd allegations against Konkin, champions the "Libertarian" Party and political action in general, and even defends the despicable Kochtopuss. One key issue is that Rothbard says SEK3 is against wage labor -- it's absurd, since that is clearly not the case. But SEK3 responds (the responses to the three critiques are also contained here) that while there's nothing morally wrong with wage labor, it is strategically inferior to independent contracting due to tax withholding and regulation.
Rothbard scores one solid point in his critique, though, which is that it's much harder for large-scale manufacturing businesses to be fully "black market." This is true, but if Rothbard were alive today, he'd see there was little manufacturing left in the U.S. anyway, and all those wage workers he said Konkin abandoned are in constant danger of losing their jobs -- many already have. It seems that independent contracting is thus not only preferable for agorist strategy but also for personal freedom and security.
LeFevre's criticisms rest upon his asinine pacifism, and Dirty Pierre's are swiftly rebutted by Konkin. Perhaps the Manifesto could have been better and longer, but as the dedication to Chris R. Tame says, it was better that SEK3 got it written than perfectly right. Unfortunately, "Agorism" -- which was to be what Das Capital was to NLM's Communist Manifesto -- was never completed before Konkin's death. I wish there were more old agorist literature, particularly because the people who've taken up "agorism" today have blended it with socialism, social anarchism, mutualism, etc., (none of which are mentioned in the NLM), but on its own, this Manifesto is definitely more than enough to make the case for agora, anarchy, action!
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
If you are looking for an introduction to libertarianism, this is not the place to start. For that, pick up a copy of What It Means To Be A Libertarian by Charles Murray.
If you have any involvement with libertarianism, you are well aware of the "cat herding" problem within the movement. But what do you expect from a philosophy that is so deeply opposed to hierarchy and control? SEK3, in this book, lays out his own particular brand of libertarianism that he called Agorism.
What is agorism? Agorism, from the greek word for market, is a anarcho-capitalist philosophy that holds that all interactions between individuals should be voluntary. Pretty straight forward libertarianism, one would think, but with his roots in the Old Left, it does have a different flavor than libertarian systems that developed out of the Old Right. The major difference is the focus on counter-economics rather than Austrian economics. if you are coming to libertarianism from the left, this book will definitely help you explain yourself better to your former comrades.
On the minarchist-anarchist debate, this book is solidly anarchist. I tend to favor minarchism and communitarianism, but I do see the validity of SEK3's arguments, and he does a better job than most arguing against minarchism.
major weakness- I don't believe you can ignore the state to death. this approach led him to some arguments with the "partyarchs" and the "kochtopus." (his terms). but, this approach does have more compelling things to say about how to live your life that other wings of libertarianism don't. sure, you can read Reason and vote Libertarian as a main stream libertarian, but as an agorist you will actively work to live your life in ways that purposely exclude the government.
the recent surge in libertarianism would do well to be tempered by some of the ideas presented in this book, and to use it to look for new allies on the left, somewhere libertarianism doesn't usually look.
If you have any involvement with libertarianism, you are well aware of the "cat herding" problem within the movement. But what do you expect from a philosophy that is so deeply opposed to hierarchy and control? SEK3, in this book, lays out his own particular brand of libertarianism that he called Agorism.
What is agorism? Agorism, from the greek word for market, is a anarcho-capitalist philosophy that holds that all interactions between individuals should be voluntary. Pretty straight forward libertarianism, one would think, but with his roots in the Old Left, it does have a different flavor than libertarian systems that developed out of the Old Right. The major difference is the focus on counter-economics rather than Austrian economics. if you are coming to libertarianism from the left, this book will definitely help you explain yourself better to your former comrades.
On the minarchist-anarchist debate, this book is solidly anarchist. I tend to favor minarchism and communitarianism, but I do see the validity of SEK3's arguments, and he does a better job than most arguing against minarchism.
major weakness- I don't believe you can ignore the state to death. this approach led him to some arguments with the "partyarchs" and the "kochtopus." (his terms). but, this approach does have more compelling things to say about how to live your life that other wings of libertarianism don't. sure, you can read Reason and vote Libertarian as a main stream libertarian, but as an agorist you will actively work to live your life in ways that purposely exclude the government.
the recent surge in libertarianism would do well to be tempered by some of the ideas presented in this book, and to use it to look for new allies on the left, somewhere libertarianism doesn't usually look.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
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For years, this book has remained an entirely relevant guide to pushing the state into irrelevance. Though he is now deceased, Samuel Edward Konkin (SEK3) has forever made his mark within the minds of radicals who feel all functions of government should either be privately provided or done away with altogether.
The central idea this book illuminates that distinguishes it from typical anarcho-capitalist writings is what SEK3 has dubbed "Agorism." This is both an ideology as well as a tactical plan for how to do away with the state. There are two main pillars that the book highlights as being part of agoric thinking. First, it is an adaptation of Robert LeFevre's concept of agoric institutions. This is basically a preference over individual contractors as opposed to large corporations. The book rightfully describes big corporations not as flowing from a free market, but instead as creatures of the state.
This preference for individual contractors makes perfect sense; if a business performs a service poorly because of the mistakes of a single employee, should the business be held accountable or should the client have the choice of selecting a different employee for the task? Obviously the latter is ideal since large businesses are simply "voluntary" versions of collectivist enterprise.
Simply put: Corporations don't screw up, individuals do. The New Libertarian Manifesto also gives an brief but excellent account for how an agoric society would operate in practice. SEK3 describes how market-based actors could provide safety and security, and his account for how the role of insurance would play in the process was truly an eye-opener for me.
Pages 28 through 30 contain a swift account for how agorism would deal with crime, and I would highly recommend that readers lay out the process such a system would deal crime in a step by step fashion to really grasp the beauty and ingenuity of what Konkin is advocating. His description of restoration (in the form of restitution, time preference, and apprehension) is a must-know for all those who call themselves anarcho-capitalists, market anarchists, agorists, etc.
Secondly, agorism has a very potent way of eradicating the state far better than parliamentary political activity. Think about it, can you recall a single election when voting reduced the size of government? While I think this book overstates the case against voting by condemning it as "evil," it does demonstrate that agorism is far more powerful in downsizing government. In a nutshell, it consists of minimizing governmental contacts by keeping all economic activity in the black (or gray) markets. Here the government is hopeless in taxing what you produce, and eventually if the private sector becomes powerful enough, the state will no longer have any power over you. The full details of how this would play out are outlined both in this book and in another book that he died before completing called An Agorist Primer
Included in this edition are critiques of the manifesto by a few other Libertarians, but each coming from slightly different influences. The one I agreed with the most would be the one presented by Murray N. Rothbard. While I would side more with Konkin's response, Rothbard did bring up some pretty good points about how there are some limitations to what agorism can do, that "voting" in and of itself isn't "evil," and that there isn't anything wrong with Charles Koch deciding to donate large sums of money to Libertarian organizations. But Rothbard unfortunately seems to really miss the power of the arguments SEK3 presents for agorism.
In short, the New Libertarian Manifesto is undoubtedly an excellent take on how we go from statism to liberty. Those who like this book may also like James Ostrowski's recent book, Direct Citizen Action: How We Can Win the Second American Revolution Without Firing a Shot
The central idea this book illuminates that distinguishes it from typical anarcho-capitalist writings is what SEK3 has dubbed "Agorism." This is both an ideology as well as a tactical plan for how to do away with the state. There are two main pillars that the book highlights as being part of agoric thinking. First, it is an adaptation of Robert LeFevre's concept of agoric institutions. This is basically a preference over individual contractors as opposed to large corporations. The book rightfully describes big corporations not as flowing from a free market, but instead as creatures of the state.
This preference for individual contractors makes perfect sense; if a business performs a service poorly because of the mistakes of a single employee, should the business be held accountable or should the client have the choice of selecting a different employee for the task? Obviously the latter is ideal since large businesses are simply "voluntary" versions of collectivist enterprise.
Simply put: Corporations don't screw up, individuals do. The New Libertarian Manifesto also gives an brief but excellent account for how an agoric society would operate in practice. SEK3 describes how market-based actors could provide safety and security, and his account for how the role of insurance would play in the process was truly an eye-opener for me.
Pages 28 through 30 contain a swift account for how agorism would deal with crime, and I would highly recommend that readers lay out the process such a system would deal crime in a step by step fashion to really grasp the beauty and ingenuity of what Konkin is advocating. His description of restoration (in the form of restitution, time preference, and apprehension) is a must-know for all those who call themselves anarcho-capitalists, market anarchists, agorists, etc.
Secondly, agorism has a very potent way of eradicating the state far better than parliamentary political activity. Think about it, can you recall a single election when voting reduced the size of government? While I think this book overstates the case against voting by condemning it as "evil," it does demonstrate that agorism is far more powerful in downsizing government. In a nutshell, it consists of minimizing governmental contacts by keeping all economic activity in the black (or gray) markets. Here the government is hopeless in taxing what you produce, and eventually if the private sector becomes powerful enough, the state will no longer have any power over you. The full details of how this would play out are outlined both in this book and in another book that he died before completing called An Agorist Primer
Included in this edition are critiques of the manifesto by a few other Libertarians, but each coming from slightly different influences. The one I agreed with the most would be the one presented by Murray N. Rothbard. While I would side more with Konkin's response, Rothbard did bring up some pretty good points about how there are some limitations to what agorism can do, that "voting" in and of itself isn't "evil," and that there isn't anything wrong with Charles Koch deciding to donate large sums of money to Libertarian organizations. But Rothbard unfortunately seems to really miss the power of the arguments SEK3 presents for agorism.
In short, the New Libertarian Manifesto is undoubtedly an excellent take on how we go from statism to liberty. Those who like this book may also like James Ostrowski's recent book, Direct Citizen Action: How We Can Win the Second American Revolution Without Firing a Shot
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Not What I thought It Was!
This is probably more my fault than anything, but I was looking for books on the "mainstream" libertarian movement, whereas this seems to reflect a more fringe sub-group. Read more
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Hey Dude, I Have No Idea....
Hey dude, I have no idea what this book is presenting. I bought it for my father who is an Economics Professor and it was a 5 star gift.
Published on February 11, 2007 by L. Long
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