2008-12-11 150 years of Libertarian

2008-12-11 Anarchist Writers/afaq Anarchist Writers \anarchism\libertarianism http://anarchism.pageabode.com/afaq/150-years-of-libertarian 150 years of Libertarian 150 years of Libertarian  This year, 2008, marks the 150th anniversary of the use of the word "libertarian" by anarchists.

As is well known, anarchists use the terms "libertarian", "libertarian socialist" and "libertarian communist" as equivalent to "anarchist" and, similarly, "libertarian socialism" or "libertarian communism" as an alternative for "anarchism." This is perfectly understandable, as the anarchist goal is freedom, liberty, and the ending of all hierarchical and authoritarian institutions and social relations.

Unfortunately, in the United States the term "libertarian" has become, since the 1970s, associated with the right-wing, i.e., supporters of "free-market" capitalism. That defenders of the hierarchy associated with private property seek to associate the term "libertarian" for their authoritarian system is both unfortunate and somewhat unbelievable to any genuine libertarian. Equally unfortunately, thanks to the power of money and the relative small size of the anarchist movement in America, this appropriation of the term has become, to a large extent, the default meaning there. Somewhat ironically, this results in some right-wing "libertarians" complaining that we genuine libertarians have "stolen" their name in order to associate our socialist ideas with it!

&ldquo;This year, 2008, marks the 150th anniversary of the use of the word "libertarian" by anarchists.&rdquo;   