Not an oxymoron. In fact, the term "libertarian" was first used by a French anarcho-communist back in 1857 to describe himself (an anarchist). The modern term libertarianism (economic freedoms) was originally called liberalism. The term "libertarian" describes liberty (thus, the term is also used to describe metaphysical liberty within philosophy and metaphysics), and the term socialism describes a society in which wealth is fairly distributed. Thus, it is neither a literal nor a practical contradiction.
A libertarian socialist would argue that a society based on such huge disparities of wealth is unfree. If you wish to enter into employment, you choose first and take orders later (as with liberal democracy). Libertarian socialists believe in voluntary association and economic democracy. This will allow the individual to reach his/her full potential.
The most famous example of successful libertarian socialism is the anarcho-syndicalist experiment in Spain during to Spanish Civil War, which was eventually destroyed by Communists and Fascists (see Orwell' "Homage to Catalonia" for excellent first hand reportage of this). At its peak, the anarchist union (CNT) had one million members.
Although sharing much of (if not all of) the Marxist analysis of capitalism, lib socialists vehemently oppose state socialism, especially the authoritarian socialism of Lenin, Trotsky, Mao and, more recently, the socialism of Hugo Chavez. The modern dispute between the two schools of socialism began in the First International, in which Karl Marx and Mikhail Bakunin bitterly argued over the road socialists should take. This dispute has continued ever since, with many Marxist regimes imprisoning, murdering (Russia), and exiling (Cuba) anarchists.
A libertarian socialist would argue that a society based on such huge disparities of wealth is unfree. If you wish to enter into employment, you choose first and take orders later (as with liberal democracy). Libertarian socialists believe in voluntary association and economic democracy. This will allow the individual to reach his/her full potential.
The most famous example of successful libertarian socialism is the anarcho-syndicalist experiment in Spain during to Spanish Civil War, which was eventually destroyed by Communists and Fascists (see Orwell' "Homage to Catalonia" for excellent first hand reportage of this). At its peak, the anarchist union (CNT) had one million members.
Although sharing much of (if not all of) the Marxist analysis of capitalism, lib socialists vehemently oppose state socialism, especially the authoritarian socialism of Lenin, Trotsky, Mao and, more recently, the socialism of Hugo Chavez. The modern dispute between the two schools of socialism began in the First International, in which Karl Marx and Mikhail Bakunin bitterly argued over the road socialists should take. This dispute has continued ever since, with many Marxist regimes imprisoning, murdering (Russia), and exiling (Cuba) anarchists.
Modern advocates of libertarian socialism include linguist Noam Chomsky, historian and playwright Howard Zinn, and the Industrial Workers of the World ("One Big Union"), and the International Workers Association (of which the Spanish CNT is its largest affiliate).
by Anarcho-Atheist January 16, 2009
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by zw26 October 2, 2010
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When drivers ignore the rules of the road and cause accidents. delays, accidents that results in in a traffic jam. Sometimes happening in times of mass panic like a natural disaster.
A complete lack of order, regulations, or rules that results in a disaster.
A complete lack of order, regulations, or rules that results in a disaster.
by Libertatis July 12, 2015
Get the libertarian traffic jam mug.A libertarian who views the abolition of the state as necessary for a free society. Unlike anarcho-capitlaists, an anarcho-libertarian does not seek anarchy as the ultimate goal, but rather as just one facet of a free society.
Libertarians come in all sorts of varieties. Some see the state as necessary for liberty and others see it as a direct violation. Followers of anarcho-libertarianism think the state must be dissolved as part of the process towards freedom.
by Freedomdude August 10, 2009
Get the anarcho-libertarianism mug.A political philosophy based on the Non-Aggression Principle, which holds that people should be allowed to live as they choose and make their own choices without interference from government or others, so long as those choices do not involve the initiation of force or fraud against others.
Libertarianism is the opposite of authoritarianism or statism, which is the idea that governments should largely control people, allocate their resources, and make decisions for them, allegedly for their own good or the good of society (in practice usually for the good of those running the government).
by LinZhao January 23, 2013
Get the libertarianism mug.Social libertarianism is the belief in social liberty, i.e., individual independence and communal autonomy from overarching government or state control.
Social libertarianism reject the concentration of decision-making authority into distant, oligarchical, centralized bureaucracies - federal or monolithic - favoring instead the diffusion and localization of that decision-making authority.
Social libertarianism supports a political, social, and economic environment which allows voluntary accession to associations, but also permits a person to choose to remain free of restraint by society, except in cases in which an individual's claim of freedom interferes with another individual's right to be free from unwarranted, aggressive coercion or harm.
Social libertarianism regards free-market capitalism and democratic, communalistic socialism as equally conducive economic means towards the ends of generalistic liberation from tyranny.
Social libertarianism reject the concentration of decision-making authority into distant, oligarchical, centralized bureaucracies - federal or monolithic - favoring instead the diffusion and localization of that decision-making authority.
Social libertarianism supports a political, social, and economic environment which allows voluntary accession to associations, but also permits a person to choose to remain free of restraint by society, except in cases in which an individual's claim of freedom interferes with another individual's right to be free from unwarranted, aggressive coercion or harm.
Social libertarianism regards free-market capitalism and democratic, communalistic socialism as equally conducive economic means towards the ends of generalistic liberation from tyranny.
Murray Bookchin's support of decentralized, non-hierarchical communal autonomy, coupled with a belief in individual liberty, indicates that he and his adherents ascribe to social libertarianism.
by rogue-economist January 23, 2011
Get the Social Libertarianism mug.References the Seasteading Institute's idea in which people live in floating cities on international waters, allowing "the next generation of pioneers to peacefully test new ideas for government."
What are the markings on her back?
Some say it's the way to dry land.
Dry land is a myth.
Libertarian waterworld.
Some say it's the way to dry land.
Dry land is a myth.
Libertarian waterworld.
by Weekend At Bernankes August 22, 2011
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