In libertarian circles, I sense the
discussion over the Alt. Right has reached a high point. Instigating this
conversation perhaps was National Policy Institute Head Richard Spencer’s
appearance near or at the International Students for Liberty Conference a week
or so ago.
Frankly, I’m concerned by the growing
anti-intellectualism and lack of research by a lot of libertarians regarding
the beliefs of the Alt. Right. Many of them, I sense, have not taken so much as
an hour reading a single Alt. Right essay or listening to an Alt. Right speech.
I hear all sorts of insults thrown toward men such as Spencer and others, but I
have been thoroughly unimpressed by the critiques, if any, made of what they
say or believe.
The movement has been around long enough
and is diverse enough to warrant better descriptions than “white supremacists”
and “Neo-Nazis.”
To that end, I wanted to explore the 16 Points Of The Alt. Right as written by Vox
Day. My hope is that even if libertarians do not agree with them, at the very
least they understand what their core beliefs are. I appreciate the fact that
the Alt. Right has a somewhat vague definition, but it would be hard to deny
the influence Vox Day has in defining and shaping it.
My analysis is in bold italics.
A Libertarian Analysis Of The 16 Points of
The Alt. Right
1.
The Alt Right is of the political right in
both the American and the European sense of the term. Socialists are not Alt
Right. Progressives are not Alt Right. Liberals are not Alt Right. Communists,
Marxists, Marxians, cultural Marxists, and neocons are not Alt Right.
So far, so good. Nothing
wrong with this.
2.
The Alt Right is an ALTERNATIVE to the
mainstream conservative movement in the USA that is nominally encapsulated by
Russel Kirk’s 10 Conservative Principles, but in reality has devolved towards
progressivism. It is also an alternative to libertarianism.
The question is, in what
ways is it an alternative to libertarianism? Unlike the Alternative Right,
libertarianism pertains to a narrowly defined scope of politics; the use of
force. Outside of that, it has no prescribed moral, ethical, spiritual, religious,
or cultural beliefs. Libertarianism by itself is not a complete moral theory,
yet it also does not claim to be one.
3.
The Alt Right is not a defensive attitude
and rejects the concept of noble and principled defeat. It is a
forward-thinking philosophy of offense, in every sense of that term. The Alt
Right believes in victory through persistence and remaining in harmony with
science, reality, cultural tradition, and the lessons of history.
The first part is fine.
The second part is a bit subjective, but the concept itself is a sound one. As
long as your interpretation of reality, cultural tradition, and lessons of
history are accurate.
4.
The Alt Right believes Western civilization
is the pinnacle of human achievement and supports its three foundational
pillars: Christianity, the European nations, and the Graeco-Roman legacy.
Libertarians can disagree
or agree with this, but this has nothing to do with libertarianism, per se. It
is a description, not prescription.
5.
The Alt Right is openly and avowedly
nationalist. It supports all nationalisms and the right of all nations to
exist, homogeneous and unadulterated by foreign invasion and immigration.
The fundamental question
to be asked is what does nationalism look like when implemented? Is it carried
out peacefully or, if done violently, in the face of unjust coercion and
aggression by enemies?
The answer matters,
because if nationalism is in accordance with the natural order, then it will
not require the state to enforce it; it would only require the state get out of
the way and let people voluntarily form a homogeneous nation. There is nothing
wrong with violently resisting state efforts to undermine voluntary nationalism
or the formation of a nation. Likewise, there is nothing wrong with violently
opposing unjust efforts by people attempting to carry out a nationalist policy
against peaceful people or create an artificial nation.
As long as nationalism is
descriptive (this is how it is), and not prescriptive (this is how it must be
no matter what), then it does not violate libertarianism.
I also insist that
whoever condemns the Alt. Right for nationalism remain consistent by condemning
all forms of nationalism. This means any person of any ethnic group in any part
of the world wishing to preserve their nation or national identity is inherently
unlibertarian – of course, I would demand to know why that is the case.
Additionally, this would
logically dictate that multiculturalism is the natural state of human relations
and the de facto libertarian stance. Any homgenuous nation would be considered
an unfree society. If it is unlibertarian to promote a national identity
and form a nation, the two pillars of nationalism, then people must exist
within a multi-ethnic, multi-national environment. There is simply no escaping
this conclusion.
6.
The Alt Right is anti-globalist. It opposes
all groups who work for globalist ideals or globalist objectives.
Agreed, assuming this
refers to globalism as a political concept, i.e. world government and
centralization of political authority. Other forms of globalism that are the
natural result of modern technology and voluntary human action are another
matter. One could split hairs over Vox Day’s definition, but I feel no need to
do so. The globalists he refers to are obviously not libertarians or
pro-freedom.
7.
The Alt Right is anti-equalitarian. It
rejects the idea of equality for the same reason it rejects the ideas of
unicorns and leprechauns, noting that human equality does not exist in any
observable scientific, legal, material, intellectual, sexual, or spiritual
form.
One hundred percent
agree. Egalitarianism is a revolt against nature.
8.
The Alt Right is scientodific. It
presumptively accepts the current conclusions of the scientific method
(scientody), while understanding a) these conclusions are liable to future
revision, b) that scientistry is susceptible to corruption, and c) that the so-called
scientific consensus is not based on scientody, but democracy, and is therefore
intrinsically unscientific.
This point is outside the
purview of libertarian philosophy. Because of that, I feel no need to comment
on it.
9.
The Alt Right believes identity >
culture > politics.
This is merely pointing
out reality: race and culture matter. People associate with
others based on preferences. Politics are one of them, but it is at the bottom
tier compared to language, ethnicity, culture, and religion. It is why the
libertarian movement could never be a real movement. It lacks these
primary values.
10. The Alt Right is opposed to the rule or domination of any native ethnic
group by another, particularly in the sovereign homelands of the dominated
peoples. The Alt Right is opposed to any non-native ethnic group obtaining
excessive influence in any society through nepotism, tribalism, or any other
means.
Non-interventionism,
anti-imperialism, anti-war. Nothing to complain about here, unless you’re
Jeffrey Tucker and think the Deep State hellbent on a war with Russia is
preferable to “Neo-Nazis” who want to avoid further empire-building exercises.
11.
The Alt Right understands that diversity +
proximity = war.
It also equals censorship.
12. The Alt Right doesn’t care what you think of it.
No point in commenting on
this one.
13. The Alt Right rejects international free trade and the free movement of
peoples that free trade requires. The benefits of intranational free trade is
not evidence for the benefits of international free trade.
Here is perhaps the
greatest area of contention between libertarians and Alt. Right leaders such as
Vox Day. He recently had a debate with Bob Murphy, hosted on Tom Woods’ show.
To be entirely frank, I am not totally convinced either way. I obviously
support the concept of free trade, but I do not believe libertarians or
Austrian economists have sufficiently addressed some of the problems Vox Day
has observed – if so, I haven’t come across them, yet.
I would add that nations
can and have survived harmful protectionist trade policies. Other political
stances such as open borders are far more destructive (see Germanic Migration).
I’ll take a country with a protectionist trade policy but with secure borders
over a country that has open trade and open borders – which also happens to be
the policy of Hillary Clinton.
14. The Alt Right believes we must secure the existence of white people and a
future for white children.
Anyone who thinks this is
racist, is racist. If you oppose this, then you must logically oppose white men
proactively promoting the continuation of their own race through procreation
and their opposition to state-imposed policies openly intended to achieve their
race’s demographic decline and dispossession. Libertarians do not need to
champion this cause, but it is absurd to think they are forbidden from doing so
because of the Non-Aggression Principle.
15.
The Alt Right does not believe in the general
supremacy of any race, nation, people, or sub-species. Every race, nation,
people, and human sub-species has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, and
possesses the sovereign right to dwell unmolested in the native culture it
prefers.
Please read the first
sentence. Done? Do it again. And again, this time slowly. Now tell me how the
Alt. Right is founded on the idea of white supremacy.
16. The Alt Right is a philosophy that values peace among the various nations
of the world and opposes wars to impose the values of one nation upon another
as well as efforts to exterminate individual nations through war, genocide,
immigration, or genetic assimilation.
Once more, please explain
how any of this is white supremacy or hateful. It’s only hateful if you believe
that whites should be held to separate moral and ethical standards than every
other race or ethnic group. Of course, if you believe that, wouldn’t that imply
white supremacy?
So, aside from free trade and perhaps some
elements of nationalism, much of what comprises the Alt. Right ideology is
outside of libertarianism; it neither contradicts it nor agrees with it. The
goals of the Alt. Right are not mutually exclusive of those in libertarianism.
Whatever the case, I see many similar
values between the two movements. The areas of disagreement, in my opinion, are
secondary and not fundamental components. There is room for friendly dispute.
It is my sincere hope that both sides can
engage in thoughtful conversations and work together when mutually beneficial
against common enemies. Whether anyone cares to admit it or not, it has become
self-evident that the Alt. Right, whatever its flaws, is trying to preserve the
only kind of civilization in which libertarianism can exist at all.
