Anarchy Unbound: Why Self-governance Works Better Than You Think

8/10/2019 Anarchy Unbound: Why Self-governance Works Better Than You Think

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ANARCHY UNBOUND, OR: WHY SELF-GOVERNANCE WORKS

BETTER THAN YOU THINK

by PETER T. LEESONLEAD ESSAYAugust 6th, 2007

No sane person be!e"es that anar#hy generates or$er. The !$ea that anar#hy #ou$ be

super!or to go"ern%ent !n so%e #ases see%s e"en %ore absur$.&'(

E"eryone )ro% Tho%as *obbes to A$a% S%!th repeats the #a!% that so#!et!es nee$

go"ern%ent to prote#t property an$ pro$u#e +!$esprea$ #ooperat!on. E"en the %ost

!bertar!an th!ners be!e"e th!s !s true. As -!ton r!e$%an put !t, /go"ern%ent !s essent!a

both as a )oru% )or $eter%!n!ng the rues o) the ga%e1 an$ as an u%p!re to !nterpret an$

en)or#e the rues $e#!$e$ upon.&2(

Se)3go"ernan#e, ho+e"er, %!ght +or better than you th!n. A s%a #a$re o) se)3$es#r!be$

/anar#ho3#ap!ta!sts re4e#t the anar#hy3as3#haos /+!s$o%. 5n the 20th #entury the %ost

notabe o) these th!ners ha"e been -urray Rothbar$, +ho groun$e$ h!s $e)ense o) anar#hy

!n natura r!ghts theory, an$ Da"!$ r!e$%an, +hose boo, The -a#h!nery o) ree$o%,

pro"!$e$ the u!ntessent!a #onseuent!a!st $e)ense o) a purey pr!"ate so#!ety.&(

Desp!te the !%portant theoret!#a argu%ents !n these an$ other anar#ho3#ap!ta!st +ors,

e"en a%ong those )a%!!ar +!th the%, %ost re%a!n un#on"!n#e$. On the one han$, natura

r!ghts $e)enses o) anar#hy $o not persua$e #onseuent!a!sts, su#h as e#ono%!sts, +ho see

s!gn!)!#ant probe%s +!th anar#hy1s ab!!ty to #ope +!th #heat!ng an$ "!oen#e.

On the other han$, %ost #onseuent!a!st $e)enses o) anar#hy are purey spe#uat!"e. 5n

)org!ng responses to ho+ a stateess so#!ety #ou$ #ope +!th e"ery #on#e!"abe #ont!ngen#y

!t %!ght #on)ront, anar#h!sts o)ten o))er !%ag!nat!"e #on4e#ture, !n so%e #ases bor$er!ng ons#!en#e )!#t!on.

5ron!#ay, the #ase )or anar#hy $er!"es !ts strength )ro% e%p!r!#a e"!$en#e, not theory.

-ost o) the +or$, )or %ost o) !ts h!story, has e8!ste$ +!thout e))e#t!"e go"ern%ents. As

note$ e#ono%!# h!stor!an 9oe -oyr po!nts out, /5n Engan$, )or e8a%pe, /there +as not

e"en a pro)ess!ona po!#e )or#e to prote#t pr!"ate property unt! the ':th #entury.&;(

Large arenas o) e#ono%!# a#t!"!ty !n the +or$ re%a!n anar#h!#, or neary so, to th!s $ay. or

e8a%pe, there !s no supranat!ona so"ere!gn +!th the author!ty to #reate )or%a

!nternat!ona a+s to reguate #ountr!es or to en)or#e su#h a+s !) they e8!ste$.&


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E"en !n the $e"eope$ +or$ po#ets o) anar#hy pers!st. The #ost!ness o) state en)or#e%ent,

#oupe$ +!th the )a#t that the state1s eye #annot be e"ery+here a the t!%e, %eans that

peope #annot !n %any #ases rey on go"ern%ent to prote#t the!r property or en)or#e the!r

#ontra#ts e"en though, o))!#!ay, a +e3)un#t!on!ng state e8!sts.

Desp!te these s!gn!)!#ant arenas o) anar#hy +e $o not obser"e perpetua +or$ +ar !n the

absen#e o) goba go"ern%ent, shr!"e!ng !nternat!ona #o%%er#e !n the absen#e o)supranat!ona #o%%er#!a a+, or e"en $eter!orat!ng stan$ar$s o) !"!ng !n So%a!a. On the

#ontrary, pea#e o"er+he%!ngy pre"a!s bet+een the +or$1s #ountr!es, !nternat!ona tra$e

!s )our!sh!ng, an$ So%a! $e"eop%ent has !%pro"e$ un$er stateessness.&>(

5) #on"ent!ona +!s$o% !s r!ght then rea!ty %ust be +rong. *o+ #an th!s be?

E%p!r!#a e"!$en#e, past an$ present, she$s !ght on ho+ !n$!"!$uas un$er anar#hy $e"eop

pr!"ate !nst!tut!ona sout!ons to a$$ress the probe%s that stateessness presents. The

gu!$!ng )or#e beh!n$ these sout!ons !s none other than A$a% S%!th1s /!n"!s!be han$.

5%portanty, S%!th1s pr!n#!pe app!es not ony to !n$!"!$uas1 a#t!"!t!es !n the #onte8t o)

+e3)un#t!on!ng !nst!tut!ons, but aso to the!r a#t!"!t!es !n the $e"eop%ent o) !nst!tut!ons

the%se"es.

T H E I N V I S I B L E H O O K

One o) the %ost str!!ng e8a%pes o) th!s #o%es )ro% '7th an$ '>th3#entury p!rates.&:( 5n

%any +ays p!rate sh!ps +ere !e )oat!ng so#!et!es.&'0( An$, !e other so#!et!es, p!rate sh!ps

#on)ronte$ probe%s o) the)t o) #heat!ng. S!n#e they +ere outa+s, p!rates $!$ not en4oy

state prote#t!on. @o"ern%ent $!$ not en)or#e e%poy%ent agree%ents bet+een p!rates or

other p!rat!#a /#ontra#ts, nor $!$ !t pre"ent or pun!sh the)t bet+een p!rates, et#.

Notaby, the anar#h!# en"!ron%ent that %ar!t!%e ban$!ts operate$ !n $!$ not ea$ the% to

s!%py thro+ up the!r han$s an$ aban$on the !$ea o) the!r #r!%!na enterpr!se. On the#ontrary, the prospe#t o) %utua ga!ns )ro% organ!=!ng th!s enterpr!se pro"!$e$ p!rates +!th

the !n#ent!"e to )!n$ pr!"ate +ays o) se#ur!ng #ooperat!on an$ or$er.

E"en by %o$ern stan$ar$s the !nst!tut!ons p!rates $e"!se$ )or th!s purpose +ere re%araby

soph!st!#ate$. P!rates #reate$ one o) the ear!est )or%s o) +r!tten #onst!tut!ons they #ae$

the!r /art!#es, +h!#h #o$!)!e$ %any o) the rues that go"erne$ the!r sh!ps, as +e as

pun!sh%ents )or rue breaers. These !n#u$e$ rues spe#!)y!ng the $!"!s!on o) booty, /a+s

aga!nst the)t, an$ e"en +or%an1s #o%pensat!on !nsuran#e to support #re+ %e%bers !n4ure$

!n batte.

To appy pun!sh%ents an$ reso"e $!sputes bet+een #re+ %e%bers, p!rates #reate$ an o))!#e#ae$ the /uarter%aster. re+ %e%bers #ontroe$ uarter%asters both through the!r

art!#es, +h!#h pres#r!be$ the /a+s uarter%asters #ou$ appy, an$ by $e%o#rat!#ay

ee#t!ng #re+ %e%bers to th!s o))!#e.

The o))!#e o) the uarter%aster ao+e$ p!rates to o"er#o%e another obsta#e anar#hy pose$

)or the!r organ!=at!onBrestra!n!ng potent!ay abus!"e p!rate #apta!ns. A #apta!n en$o+e$

+!th un!%!te$ author!ty +ou$ be abe to prey on h!s #re+, s!%%!ng booty, %!streat!ng

#re+ %e%bers, an$ so on. To #he# su#h abuse p!rates !n!t!ate$ one o) the ear!est syste%s


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o) $!"!$e$ po+er, +h!#h trans)erre$ author!t!es sus#ept!be to #apta!n abuse to the

uarter%aster !nstea$. 5n #on4un#t!on +!th aso $e%o#rat!#ay ee#t!ng the!r #apta!ns,

p!rate #he#s an$ baan#es o"er#a%e the threat o) #apta!n pre$at!on.

Th!s syste% o) go"ernan#e +as ent!rey "ountary. P!rates $re+ up the art!#es go"ern!ng

the!r sh!ps be)ore ta!ng "oyage an$ reu!re$ unan!%ous #onsent be)ore sa!!ng. Any

prospe#t!"e #re+ %e%ber +ho $!s!e$ the propose$ rues +as )ree to e8!t be)ore sa! +asun$er+ay.

The p!rates1 pr!"ate syste% o) go"ernan#e +ore$ e8tre%ey +e. 5nter3p!rate #on)!#t +as

rare, or$er +as +e %a!nta!ne$, an$ p!rates reguary su##ess)uy #ooperate$, %a!ng the%

a%ong the %ost e))e#t!"e organ!=e$ #r!%!na out)!ts !n h!story.

T R A D I N G W I T H B A N D I T S

A #o%%on ob4e#t!on to anar#hy !s that +!thout go"ern%ent the strong +! pun$er the +ea.

5n$ee$, perhaps the o$est, %ost +e3a##epte$ argu%ent )or the state !s +eaer !n$!"!$uas1

!nab!!ty to pre"ent stronger ones )ro% pun$er!ng the%. *o+ #an se)3go"ernan#e aone

pre"ent th!s?

-any %e#han!s%s o) se)3go"ernan#e rey on reputat!on to se#ure goo$ #on$u#t.&''( 5t1s not

$!))!#ut to see ho+ reputat!on #an !n %any #ases pre"ent #heat!ng e"en +here go"ern%ent

en)or#e%ent !s not an opt!on.

5%ag!ne you go to a restaurant an$ or$er a C0 )!et %!gnon. hen your )oo$ arr!"es you tae

a b!te an$ rea!=e the restaurant has ser"e$ you a C'0 )an stea !nstea$. The restaurant has

$e)rau$e$ you. You #ou$ tae the o+ner to #ourt but then you rea!=e that the s!%pe t!%e

#ost th!s +! enta! !s not +orth +hat you +! re#o"er e"en !) you +!n. Athough !n pr!n#!pe

go"ern%ent e8!sts to a$4u$!#ate th!s %atter, !n pra#t!#e !t $oes not.

Your $!n!ng e8per!en#e !s a !tte s!#e o) anar#hy. Fno+!ng th!s, restaurant o+ners shou$

perpetuay ser"e C'0 )an steas to #usto%ers +ho or$er )!et %!gnon. O) #ourse

restaurants $on1t $o th!s. An$ the reason they $on1t !s be#ause they rea!=e that !) they $o,

you1 stop eat!ng there an$ te e"eryone you no+ to boy#ott the restaurant as +e. E"en

+!thout go"ern%ent, S%!th1s /!n"!s!be han$ ea$s the restaurant to $o the r!ght th!ng.

Reputat!on3base$ %e#han!s%s o) se) go"ernan#e ha"e a %a4or h!t#h, ho+e"er.&'2( They

reu!re the restaurant o+ner to not ha"e the po+er to tae your %oney )ro% you aga!nst

your +!.&'( 5), )or !nstan#e, you announ#e your boy#ott o) the )rau$uent restaurant, but

the o+ner !s su))!#!enty stronger than you an$ #an use the threat o) "!oen#e to e8tra#t

/)uture bus!ness, your threat o) boy#ott !s useess. Reputat!on breas $o+n.5n !ght o) th!s probe% %any obser"ers ha"e #on#u$e$ that anar#hy !s !n#apabe o) $ea!ng

+!th the probe% o) )or#e. ortunatey, !n$!"!$uas un$er rea #on$!t!ons o) anar#hy +ho

ha"e a#tuay )a#e$ su#h probe%s are %ore !nno"at!"e than these obser"ers.

A s!%pe h!stor!#a #ase )ro% ate pre3#oon!a Angoa !ustrates th!s +e.&';( 5n the ate

':th #entury the #oast o) Angoa +as ho%e to a )our!sh!ng e8port %aret that sh!ppe$

A)r!#an goo$s to Europe. On the one s!$e o) th!s %aret +ere European setters +ho

operate$ the e8port !n$ustry, an$ on the other s!$e +ere A)r!#an pro$u#ers !n the re%ote


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!nter!or +ho har"este$ the goo$s reu!re$ )or e8port. onne#t!ng these t+o groups +ere

A)r!#an %!$$e%en +ho tra"ee$ to the !nter!or to #oe#t the goo$s an$ then #arr!e$ the%

to the #oast )or e8port.

5n the ':th #entury th!s reg!on +as )or a !ntents an$ purposes anar#h!#. Athough Europeans

ha$ sette%ents +!th European a+s an$ !nter!or A)r!#an #o%%un!t!es ha$ the!r o+n, argey

!n)or%a !nst!tut!ons o) !nterna go"ernan#e, there +as no go"ern%ent to o"ersee the!ntera#t!ons bet+een %e%bers o) these groups or the!r !ntera#t!ons +!th the %!$$e%en.

The probe% th!s #reate$ +as that %!$$e%en ten$e$ to be substant!ay stronger than

!nter!or pro$u#ers, pos!ng the threat o) )or#e $es#r!be$ abo"e. hy pay pro$u#ers )or goo$s

!) %!$$e%en #ou$ use the!r super!or strength to s!%py stea the% !nstea$?

L!e +!th the p!rates, !nstea$ o) thro+!ng !n the to+e an$ e!ther a##ept!ng that they +ou$

be rout!ney pun$ere$ or stopp!ng pro$u#t!"e a#t!"!t!es atogether, so that there +ou$ be

noth!ng )or %!$$e%en to stea, A)r!#an pro$u#ers $e"!se$ an !nst!tut!ona sout!on to the

probe% o) )or#e that ao+e$ the% to rea!=e the bene)!ts o) tra$e +!th these ban$!ts.

The !nst!tut!on they $e"!se$ )or th!s purpose +as #re$!t. The ey to un$erstan$!ng ho+ #re$!t

so"e$ the probe% o) )or#e an$ )a#!!tate$ pea#e)u e8#hange !s stra!ght)or+ar$G you #an1t

stea goo$s that aren1t yet pro$u#e$, but you #an tra$e +!th the%.

*ere1s ho+ the #re$!t !nst!tut!on +ore$G Pro$u#ers +ou$ not pro$u#e anyth!ng to$ay but

+ou$ !nstea$ +a!t )or %!$$e%en to arr!"e !n the!r "!ages oo!ng )or goo$s to pun$er.

!th noth!ng a"a!abe to stea the %!$$e%en ha$ t+o opt!onsG return to the #oast e%pty3

han$e$ a)ter ha"!ng %a$e a tr!p to the !nter!or, or %ae an agree%ent +!th pro$u#ers to

suppy the goo$s they reu!re$ on the bas!s o) #re$!t. 5n !ght o) the #ost!ness o) the!r tr!p to

the !nter!or, %!$$e%en )reuenty #hose the atter

A##or$!ng to the!r #re$!t arrange%ents, %!$$e%en a$"an#e$ pay%ent to pro$u#ers an$

agree$ to return ater to #oe#t the goo$s they +ere o+e$. hen they returne$ )or th!s

purpose a that +as a"a!abe )or ta!ng +as +hat they +ere o+e$, so stea!ng +as not an

opt!on. 5nstea$, %!$$e%en )reuenty rene+e$ the #re$!t agree%ent, +h!#h !n!t!ate$ a

subseuent roun$ o) #re$!t3base$ tra$e, an$ so on.

Th!s s!%pe arrange%ent per)or%e$ t+o #r!t!#a )un#t!ons !n ao+!ng pro$u#ers to o"er#o%e

the threat o) )or#e that %!$$e%en presente$. !rst, !t enabe$ the% to a"o!$ be!ng

pun$ere$, as though they ha$ not pro$u#e$ anyth!ng at a, but aso to rea!=e the ga!ns

)ro% tra$e, as though %!$$e%en $!$ not pose a threat o) "!oen#e. Se#on$, !t trans)or%e$

pro$u#ers !n the eyes o) %!$$e%en )ro% targets o) ban$!try !nto "auabe assets they ha$ an

!nterest !n prote#t!ng. 5) %!$$e%en +ante$ to be repa!$ they nee$e$ to ensure that the!r$ebtors re%a!ne$ a!"e an$ +e enough to pro$u#e. Th!s %eant absta!n!ng )ro% "!oen#e

aga!nst pro$u#ers an$ prote#t!ng pro$u#ers aga!nst the pre$at!on o) others.

B E T T E R O F F S T AT E L E S S

Oay, you %!ght th!n. /So, h!stor!#ay there are so%e #ases +here anar#hy see%e$ to

+or pretty +e. Hut th!s $oesn1t $e%onstrate that anar#hy !s e"er a#tuay super!or to

go"ern%ent. True, but re#ent e"!$en#e )ro% So%a!a $oes.


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ro% ':60, +hen So%a!a ga!ne$ !ts !n$epen$en#e, unt! '::', !t +as rue$ by a so#!a!st

Ithough, o))!#!ay, he ater aban$one$ so#!a!s%J $!#tator na%e$ -oha%e$ S!a$ Harre.

Harre1s po!#!es an$ beha"!or ooe$ a ot !e the +eath3$estroy!ng, +!$y #orrupt, an$

h!ghy pre$atory po!#!es an$ beha"!or +e obser"e !n %any other Sub3Saharan A)r!#an

#ountr!es to$ay.

5n '::' a #oup $1etat tu%be$ Harre1s reg!%e. Kn!e %ost #oups, +h!#h repa#e onepre$atory go"ern%ent +!th another, th!s one repa#e$ the o$ reg!%e +!th noth!ng. Athough

there ha"e been a )e+ )a!e$ atte%pts at resurre#t!ng go"ern%ent !n So%a!a, !n#u$!ng the

%ost re#ent one by the !nternat!ona #o%%un!ty3ba#e$ /Trans!t!ona e$era @o"ern%ent,

)or the ast )!)teen3 pus years So%a!a has been stateess.

Th!s s!tuat!on has #ause$ a great $ea o) han$ +r!ng!ng a%ong !nternat!ona obser"ers +ho

#ont!nuay po!nt to the se"ere po"erty an$ other probe%s !n the #ountry. So%a!a has thus

be#o%e the /poster #h!$ )or go"ern%ent1s !n$!spensab!!ty an$ e"!$en#e that anar#hy ea$s

to #haot!# $e#!ne.

The great !rony o) these #a!%s !s that the $ata +e ha"e on anar#h!# So%a!a po!nt !n e8a#ty

the oppos!te $!re#t!onG na%ey, anar#hy !n So%a!a has pro$u#e$ a h!gher e"e o) +e)are

than go"ern%ent $!$.

5n a re#ent stu$y 5 #o%pare$ So%a! +e)are un$er anar#hy to +e)are un$er go"ern%ent

us!ng a ey $e"eop%ent !n$!#ators )or +h!#h $ata ao+e$ #o%par!son.&'


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So%a!a !s e8tre%ey poor an$ re%a!ns a #ountry +!th !n#re$!be probe%s. Hut th!s $oes not

$e%onstrate the $es!rab!!ty o) go"ern%ent or the un$es!rab!!ty o) anar#hy, as %any o)

those +ho a$"o#ate re!ntro$u#!ng go"ern%ent !n So%a!a preten$.

hen th!n!ng about the $e"eop!ng +or$ +e %ust be #are)u to a"o!$ #o%%!tt!ng +hat

e#ono%!st *aro$ De%set= #ae$ the /n!r"ana )aa#y.&'7( The n!r"ana )aa#y !n"o"es

!gnor!ng rea3+or$ #onstra!nts that !%!t the %enu o) opt!ons Ian$ thus out#o%esJ +e ha"ea"a!abe to us. or !nstan#e, !n a +or$ !n +h!#h 5 a% as +eathy as H! @ates, 5 %!ght $r!"e

a errar!. onstra!ne$ by %y a#tua !n#o%e, ho+e"er, 5 #an ony a))or$ to $r!"e a Subaru.

Athough 5 +ou$ o) #ourse pre)er the errar!, !t +ou$ be s!y to #on#u$e that 5 shou$ $r!"e

a errar! be#ause th!s !s the better #ar. The )a#t that the errar! !s super!or !s !rree"ant

g!"en the #onstra!nts 5 a#tuay )a#e, the errar! !s not !n %y )eas!be #ho!#e set.

e #an e8ten$ th!s e8a%pe a step )urther. 5%ag!ne that 5 +rongy be!e"e 5 shou$ reay be

$r!"!ng a errar!, an$ so 5 $e#!$e to try an$ $o so. -y bu$get #onstra!nts pre"ent %e )ro%

buy!ng a )un#t!ona errar!. Hut 5 #an a))or$ a errar! +!th eng!ne probe%s so se"ere !t %ay

e8po$e +hen 5 $r!"e !t. So a Subaru an$ a /e%on errar! are !n %y )eas!be #ho!#e set. 5) 5

pur#hase the /e%on errar!, a% 5 better o)) than !) 5 ha$ gone +!th the Subaru? O) #oursenot. @!"en the #ho!#es a#tuay ao+e$ by %y #onstra!nts 5 +ou$ be better o)) +!th the

Subaru.

The sa%e !n$ o) reason!ng app!es to th!n!ng about anar#hy "ersus go"ern%ent !n So%a!a

an$ the arge part o) the $e"eop!ng +or$ that !s teeter!ng on state #oapse. Athough !t !s

#erta!ny reasonabe to be!e"e that a transparent, +e3#onstra!ne$, an$ h!ghy3)un#t!ona

go"ern%ent, !e the one +e ha"e !n the Kn!te$ States, +ou$ !%pro"e So%a! +e)are

beyon$ +hat !t has e8per!en#e$ un$er anar#hy, th!s $oes not %ean that re!ntro$u#!ng

go"ern%ent !n So%a!a +ou$ be better )or So%a!s.

L!e a other #ho!#es, the #ho!#es +e )a#e !n /see#t!ng go"ern%ents are #onstra!ne$.Kn)ortunatey )or %ost $e"eop!ng #ountr!es, the po!t!#a #ho!#e set they )a#e !s )ar s%aer

than the po!t!#a #ho!#e set %ore $e"eope$ #ountr!es )a#e. *!stor!#a )eatures, su#h as #an

tens!on, ra%pant #orrupt!on, terr!tor!a #on)!#ts, an$ %any others, +h!#h #annot be #hange$

!n the short run, se"erey restr!#t the !n$ o) go"ern%ent #ountr!es !e So%a!a #an

reasonaby e8pe#t to ha"e !) they ha"e a go"ern%ent.

Sa$y, +e3)un#t!on!ng, +e3#onstra!ne$ go"ern%ents !e the ones +e obser"e !n the K.S.

an$ +estern Europe are not part o) th!s #ho!#e set. Ktra3pre$atory, #orrupt, an$ abus!"e

go"ern%ents, ho+e"er, are. An$ so !s anar#hy. As So%a!a1s e8per!en#e !ustrates, )or %any

LDs +!th these !%!te$ opt!ons anar#hy %ay "ery +e be the best )eas!be #ho!#e.

PA R T I N G R E M A R K S

Anar#hy, !e a po!t!#a3e#ono%!# organ!=at!ons, !s r!$$e$ +!th probe%s. 5t !s not #ear

that these probe%s are any %ore nu%erous or se"ere than those that pague go"ern%ents,

ho+e"er. 5 ha"e argue$ that anar#hy +ors better than you th!n. 5n the )a#e o) obsta#es

that stan$ !n the +ay o) !n$!"!$uas1 ab!!ty to #ooperate )or %utua ga!n, !n$!"!$uas $e"eop

sout!ons to o"er#o%e these obsta#es. Th!s !s as true !n so#!ety rue$ by go"ern%ent as one

that e8!sts +!thout go"ern%ent. here the state $oes not pro"!$e a+, or$er, or the


7/8

!nst!tut!ons reu!re$ to pro$u#e these th!ngs, pr!"ate !nst!tut!ons e%erge to per)or% these

roes !nstea$.

-y e8a%pes )ro% abo"e are not !nten$e$ to suggest that these part!#uar !nst!tut!ona

sout!ons are genera!=abe or so%eho+ suggest ho+ other so#!et!es +!thout go"ern%ent

+ou$ e"o"e. On the #ontrary, there !s no /buepr!nt )or ho+ anar#hy +ou$ or $oes +or.

&'>( Th!s, !n )a#t, !s the +hoe po!nt. Pr!"ate !nst!tut!ona responses re)e#t the spe#!)!#probe%s, t!%es, pa#es, an$ other #on$!t!ons that g!"e r!se to the%. 5n a $!))erent t!%e an$

a $!))erent pa#e +!th $!))erent peope, e"en the sa%e probe% s!tuat!on %ay be %et

$!))erenty un$er anar#hy.

The un!)y!ng )eature o) %y e8a%pes !s the !n#ent!"e !n$!"!$uas ha"e to so"e the!r

probe%s. 5n th!s sense, the e%p!r!#a e"!$en#e )ro% anar#hy ony $e%onstrates that as ong

as there are unrea!=e$ ga!ns to rea!=e, peope +! )!n$ +ays to rea!=e the%. ortunatey

)or anar#h!sts, th!s /ony !s #ons!$erabe.

Notes

&'( An$ yet, upon s!%pe re)e#t!on %ust #erta!ny be true un$er so%e #!r#u%stan#es. PeterT. Leeson, /E))!#!ent Anar#hy, Pub!# ho!#e, '0 no. '32 I2007JG ;'3


8/8

Spe#!a 5ssue, I2007JG 2:3;.

On!neGhttpGMM+++.petereeson.#o%MOne-oreT!%e+!thee!ng.p$)

&:( Peter T. Leeson, /An3arrgh3#hyG The La+ an$ E#ono%!#s o) P!rate Organ!=at!on, %!%eo,

2007. On!neG httpGMM+++.petereeson.#o%MAn3arrgh3#hy.p$)

&'0( -ar#us Re$!er, Het+een the De"! an$ the Deep Hue SeaG -er#hant Sea%en, P!rates

an$ the Ango3-ar!t!%e or$ '7003'70, 200;. On!neG

httpGMMrru.+or$ban.orgMDo#u%entsMpub!#po!#y4ournaM2>03neno"a3har)or$.p$)

hr!stopher 9. oyne, /Re#onstru#t!ng ea an$ a!e$ StatesG ore!gn 5nter"ent!on an$ the

N!r"ana aa#y, ore!gn Po!#y Anays!s, 2 I2006JG ;36'.

On!neGhttpGMM+++.##oyne.#o%MPA3!na.PD Peter D. L!tte, So%a!aG E#ono%y +!thout

StateIHoo%!ngtonG Kn!"ers!ty o) 5n$!ana Press, 200J.

&'7( *aro$ De%set=, /5n)or%at!on an$ E))!#!en#yG Another !e+po!nt, 9ourna o) La+ an$

E#ono%!#s, '2, no. ' I':6:JG '322 oyne, /Re#onstru#t!ng ea an$ a!e$ States.

&'>( 9ohn *asnas, /The -yth o) the Rue o) La+, !s#ons!n La+ Re"!e+, I'::

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Anarchy Unbound: Why Self-governance Works Better Than You Think