Left-libertarianism

From Free Talk Live

Left-Libertarianism is a radical branch of libertarianism. It differs from more mainstream libertarianism in being anti-corporate, revolutionary, and anarchistic.

Historically the first libertarians were European socialists who opposed the authoritarianism that had often come about, and "libertarian" was a euphamism for "anarchist". As only leftist anarchists were prominent at the time, and individualist anarchism is mostly relegated to America, the term "libertarian" still implies a leftist flavor in Europe.

Agorism

One form of left-libertarianism propounded by the late Samuel Edward Konkin III is Agorism (which Konkin called "New Libertarianism"). Agorism is considered left-libertarian because it places secondary values in some traditionally left-wing concerns, for instance, worker control of the means of production, revolutionary rather than political strategy for attainment of goals, a general aversion to hierarchy in any form, and a disdain for obedience as well as dependance.

Agorists such as Brad Spangler attempt to reach out and reconcile differences with the radical left, such as anarcho-communism and libertarian socialism.

Mutualism

Mutualism began with Pierre-Joseph Proudhon and has traditionally been considered socialist, although some mutualists prefer not to call it socialism.

Mutualism tends to be left of Agorism, although the two are compatible. The biggest distinguishing factor is Mutualism's use of the Labor Theory of Value and resultantly, moral objections to profit, rent, interest, and other economic phenomena.