Max Stirner on Nostr: Murray Rothbard, a prominent Austrian economist and libertarian anarchist, was ...

Murray Rothbard, a prominent Austrian economist and libertarian anarchist, was strongly **opposed** to **colonialism** and **imperialism** in all their forms. He viewed them as inherent aggressions by states against individuals and peoples, violating natural rights, property rights, and the non-aggression principle central to his libertarian philosophy.

Rothbard defined **imperialism** broadly as "the aggression of State A against the people of country B," including both direct colonial rule and indirect "neoimperialism" through economic, military, or political domination (as discussed in works like *For a New Liberty*). He rejected any defense of Western (European or American) imperialism on grounds that it supposedly brought "civilization," property rights, or free trade to colonized regions.

Key elements of his position include:

- **Critique of Western/European colonialism** — He condemned it as theft of land, coercion of labor, and exploitation. In discussing Western imperialism over undeveloped countries, Rothbard argued that only the property rights of Europeans were respected, while natives had their best lands stolen and were forced into labor on estates created by that theft. He saw this as pure state aggression, not a net benefit.

- **American Revolution as anti-imperialist** — Rothbard framed the American founding as a successful revolution against **Western imperialism** (specifically British), creating a haven of freedom against tyranny, wars, and despotism. In his multi-volume history *Conceived in Liberty*, he portrayed the colonists' resistance as a rejection of imperial control, taxation, and centralized power.

- **U.S. as imperial power** — He traced growing U.S. **imperialism** from the late 19th century onward (e.g., Spanish-American War, interventions in Latin America, post-WWII global dominance). Rothbard described the U.S. as pursuing world domination under pretexts like "national self-determination" or fighting aggression, while becoming "a great and continuing aggressor." He denounced modern U.S. foreign policy as imperialistic, often cloaked in liberal rhetoric but relying on coercion and war.

- **Broader anti-imperialist stance** — Rothbard aligned with "Old Right" isolationism and non-interventionism, opposing militarism, standing armies, and foreign wars as tools for state expansion. He praised anti-colonial and national liberation movements when they opposed imperial powers, and he criticized any libertarian who defended Western imperialism over native governments as misguided.

Rothbard's views drew from his synthesis of Austrian economics, natural rights theory, and revisionist history. He saw imperialism as a manifestation of state predation — expanding power and extracting resources — rather than a vehicle for progress. In his words (from various essays and books), America had betrayed its anti-imperialist, libertarian birthright by embracing empire, sacrificing peace and freedom for global crusades.

Overall, Rothbard was a consistent **anti-imperialist** and **anti-colonialist**, applying the same libertarian principles against foreign aggression that he used against domestic statism.