Libertarianism

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This article deals with Libertarianism as it relates to NationStates. For more general information, see the Wikipedia article on this subject.

General Description

Libertarianism is, in general, a political philosophy that emphasizes individual rights and the exercise of free will.

Libertarianism in NationStates

Within the context of NationStates, freedoms are presented along three axes: personal freedoms, economic freedoms, and political freedoms (see also: UN Categories). The level of freedoms presented along each axis can be "authoritarian," "centrist," or "libertarian" in nature. Allowing the maximum level of freedom along an axis is characterized as being "libertarian."

NationStates UN Category Classifications

The following UN Category classifications present libertarian levels of freedoms along at least one of the personal, economic, or political freedoms axes. For the purposes of this article, these classifications are defined as being "libertarian" in nature (Entries listed from most to least libertarian, according to the methodology described in Analysis):

UN Category: Personal Freedom: Economic Freedom: Political Freedom:
Anarchy Libertarian Libertarian Libertarian
Capitalizt Libertarian Libertarian Centrist
Civil Rights Lovefest Libertarian Centrist Libertarian
Corporate Bordello Centrist Libertarian Libertarian
Benevolent Dictatorship Libertarian Libertarian Authoritarian
Captialist Paradise Centrist Libertarian Centrist
Free Market Paradise Authoritarian Libertarian Libertarian
Left Leaning College State Libertarian Centrist Centrist
Left-Wing Utopia Libertarian Authoritarian Libertarian
New York Times Democracy Centrist Centrist Libertarian
Compulsory Consumerist State Centrist Libertarian Authoritarian
Conservative Democracy Authoritarian Centrist Libertarian
Liberal Democratic Socialists Centrist Authoritarian Libertarian
Libertarian Police State Libertarian Centrist Authoritarian
Right-Wing Utopia Authoritarian Libertarian Centrist
Scandinavian Liberal Paradise Libertarian Authoritarian Centrist
Corporate Police State Authoritarian Libertarian Authoritarian
Iron Fist Socialists Libertarian Authoritarian Authoritarian
Tyranny By Majority Authoritarian Authoritarian Libertarian

See also the article on UN Categories for an image of each category placed within a 3D map.

Analysis

UN Category classifications can be quantified by assigning numeric values to represent the three levels of freedoms described above, where the highest level of freedoms is represented by the highest value:

Libertarian: 2 Centrist: 1 Authoritarian: 0

Thus, by adding together the appropriate numeric values characterized by each UN Category classification, a freedoms index is derived (note that order is alphabetical where freedoms indices are similar):

UN Category: Freedoms Index: UN Category: Freedoms Index:
Anarchy 6 Compulsory Consumerist State 3
Capitalizt 5 Conservative Democracy 3
Civil Rights Lovefest 5 Liberal Democratic Socialists 3
Corporate Bordello 5 Libertarian Police State 3
Benevolent Dictatorship 4 Right-Wing Utopia 3
Captialist Paradise 4 Scandinavian Liberal Paradise 3
Free Market Paradise 4 Corporate Police State 2
Left Leaning College State 4 Iron Fist Socialists 2
Left-Wing Utopia 4 Tyranny By Majority 2
New York Times Democracy 4 Average Freedoms Index: 3.63

The Average Freedoms Index derived in the table above indicates a level of moderate libertarianism among the overall group of libertarian UN Category classifications, as defined for this article.

UN Categories Survey of April 2006

Using the data presented in the UN Category article, it is possible to calculate the average freedoms index for surveyed nations characterized by a "libertarian" UN Category classification:

UN Category: Freedoms Index: Number of Nations: Index Sum:
Anarchy 6 38.64 231.82
Capitalizt 5 26.75 133.74
Civil Rights Lovefest 5 38.64 193.18
Corporate Bordello 5 22.29 111.45
Benevolent Dictatorship 4 4.46 17.83
Captialist Paradise 4 99.56 398.25
Free Market Paradise 4 7.43 29.27
Left Leaning College State 4 65.38 261.54
Left-Wing Utopia 4 16.35 65.38
New York Times Democracy 4 65.38 261.54
Compulsory Consumerist State 3 105.51 316.52
Conservative Democracy 3 2.97 8.92
Liberal Democratic Socialists 3 25.26 75.79
Libertarian Police State 3 8.92 26.75
Right-Wing Utopia 3 14.86 44.58
Scandinavian Liberal Paradise 3 23.78 71.33
Corporate Police State 2 68.36 136.71
Iron Fist Socialists 2 4.46 8.92
Tyranny By Majority 2 0 0
Average Freedoms Index: 3.75
Number of Nations = total nations surveyed * percentage

Index Sum = freedoms index * number of nations

Average Freedoms Index = Σ(index sum)/Σ(number of nations)

Conclusion

The data indicate a somewhat higher than expected average freedoms index for the surveyed nations when compared to a similar analysis of "libertarian" UN Category classifications built into NationStates alone. As a whole, those surveyed nations of a "libertarian" nature demonstrate a slight tendency toward a more complete libertarianism.

Regional Case Study: Libertarian

Latest Update: October 29, 2006

The NationStates region Libertarian serves as an example of a population with a high concentration of "libertarian" oriented UN Category classifications. Note that only those nations exibiting a "libertarian" UN Category classification, as defined for the purposes of this article, are examined.

UN Category: Freedoms Index: Number of Nations (Change): Index Sum:
Anarchy 6 25 (+10) 150
Capitalizt 5 17 (+0) 85
Civil Rights Lovefest 5 10 (-4) 50
Corporate Bordello 5 7 (+6) 35
Benevolent Dictatorship 4 2 (+0) 8
Captialist Paradise 4 14 (+4) 56
Free Market Paradise 4 0 (+0) 0
Left Leaning College State 4 8 (+2) 32
Left-Wing Utopia 4 2 (+2) 8
New York Times Democracy 4 6 (+3) 24
Compulsory Consumerist State 3 0 (+0) 0
Conservative Democracy 3 0 (+0) 0
Liberal Democratic Socialists 3 1 (+0) 3
Libertarian Police State 3 1 (+1) 3
Right-Wing Utopia 3 0 (+0) 0
Scandinavian Liberal Paradise 3 1 (+0) 3
Corporate Police State 2 1 (+1) 2
Iron Fist Socialists 2 0 (+0) 0
Tyranny By Majority 2 0 (+0) 0
Totals: 95 (90.47%) (+4.05%) 459
Average Freedoms Index: 4.83 (-0.03)
Index Sum = freedoms index * number of nations

Average Freedoms Index = Σ(index sum)/Σ(number of nations)

Conclusion

The data indicate an average freedoms index decidedly higher than that observed during similar analysis of the "libertarian" UN Category classifications alone, or even the general survey described in the previous section. As a whole, the nations examined in this case, those of a "libertarian" nature, demonstrate a strong tendency toward libertarian political culture and values.

Regional Case Study: Anticapitalist Alliance

Latest Update: October 29, 2006

The NationStates region Anticapitalist Alliance also serves as an example of a population with a high concentration of "libertarian" oriented UN Category classifications. This is important to consider as it is often asserted, especially by NationStates players residing in the United States, that capitalist economics are a vital and necessary part of any "libertarian" ideology. The purpose of this case study is to determine whether or not this association exists or is necessary for "libertarian" UN Category classifications, within the context of NationStates. Note that only those nations exibiting a "libertarian" UN Category classification, as defined for the purposes of this article, are examined.

UN Category: Freedoms Index: Number of Nations: (Change) Index Sum:
Anarchy 6 1 (-2) 6
Capitalizt 5 0 (-3) 0
Civil Rights Lovefest 5 21 (-2) 105
Corporate Bordello 5 0 (+0) 0
Benevolent Dictatorship 4 0 (+0) 0
Captialist Paradise 4 1 (-2) 4
Free Market Paradise 4 0 (+0) 0
Left Leaning College State 4 9 (-13) 36
Left-Wing Utopia 4 13 (+2) 52
New York Times Democracy 4 4 (+1) 16
Compulsory Consumerist State 3 0 (+0) 0
Conservative Democracy 3 0 (+0) 0
Liberal Democratic Socialists 3 5 (+0) 15
Libertarian Police State 3 0 (-1) 0
Right-Wing Utopia 3 0 (+0) 0
Scandinavian Liberal Paradise 3 5 (+0) 15
Corporate Police State 2 0 (-1) 0
Iron Fist Socialists 2 3 (+2) 6
Tyranny By Majority 2 0 (+0) 0
Totals: 62 (72.94%) (-4.2%) 255
Average Freedoms Index: 4.11 (-0.10)
Index Sum = freedoms index * number of nations

Average Freedoms Index = Σ(index sum)/Σ(number of nations)

Conclusion

The data indicate an average freedoms index higher than that observed during similar analysis of the "libertarian" UN Category classifications alone, and higher than that of the general survey. Thus, Anticapitalist Alliance is home to a well established libertarian population. And as such, the assertion that a "libertarian" nation must accept capitalist economics, within the context of NationStates, is shown to be false.

Even so, the average freedoms index for the libertarian population of Anticapitalist Alliance is lower than that observed in Libertarian, also home to a well established libertarian population, as calculated above. This seems to suggest two possibilities:

  1. Explicit association with stated anti-capitalist economic ideology results in a reduction of the overall "libertarian" nature of a given population.
  1. Not associating with anti-capitalist economic ideology results in an enhancement of the overall "libertarian" nature of a given population.

Both possibilities are problematic. As stated in the introduction to this section, the assumption that "libertarianism" necessitates allegiance to capitalist economics is common. As such, some nations of a "libertarian" nature may be less willing to associate with other nations of a "libertarian" nature due to the percieved truth of said assumption. Note that while the average freedoms index observed in the case of Anticapitalist Alliance is lower than that observed in the case of Libertarian, it is still higher than that derived from the general survey previously examined.

In short, the data do not support the claim that acceptance of "libertarian" political philosophy necessitates the acceptance of capitalist economic ideology, within the context of NationStates. A question remains however: does acceptance or rejection of capitalist economics enhance or reduce a nation's overall "libertarian" nature, or is the difference simply the result of widely held but otherwise unjustified ideology?

Examples

NationStates Nations

NationStates Regions

These regions are home to sizable populations of nations that characterize "libertarian" UN Category classifications:

See Also