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90s mogadishu was basically the closest thing to an ancap free market utopia. Certain goods and services where security concerns were mitigated were dirt cheap
by pydry 4y ago
90s mogadishu was basically the closest thing to an ancap free market utopia. Certain goods and services where security concerns were mitigated were dirt cheap (imported goods, cell and internet service) but most everybody was poor, reliant upon remittances from abroad and deathly afraid of violence.
The only difference is that the security void that ancap ideology says "ought" to be filled by "private defence companies" or "insurers" competing with each other over price inevitably ends up being filled by rival gangs who compete over territory. Frankly, that part of the ideology was always just a fever dream.
- krapp 4y agoWhat is a mafia if not an anarcho-capitalist "private defense" and "insurance" provider by another name?
- nonameiguess 4y agoWell, the other issue being foreign countries with government-funded militaries are unlikely to just ignore you and permanently suspend travel and diplomatic relations, and as soon as their citizens are facing threats in your paradise, those foreign militaries are likely to get involved. Major coordination problem in that ancap paradise probably only works if everyone does it.^[1] At least the communist version of utopia acknowledged this with Comintern (doomed to fail for other reasons, of course). [1] Editing to add the note, in case David Friedman comes in here talking about medieval Iceland, I guess it can also work if the world does not yet have widespread global travel and expeditionary militaries.
- throwaway0a5e 4y ago>the security void that ancap ideology says "ought" to be filled by "private defence companies" or "insurers" competing with each other over price inevitably ends up being filled by rival gangs who compete over territory. So basically fledgling governments?
- pydry 4y agoSort of but there are supposed to be a few, theyre supposed to follow the "non aggression principle" and compete purely on the basis of providing government services for money. So, basically warlords but warlords who all somehow agree never to fight.
- brodouevencode 4y ago> 90s mogadishu was basically the closest thing to an ancap free market utopia Most ancaps I know don't tolerate the roving bands of murderous thieving warlords.
- mjhay 4y agoWhat would they do about then?
- dsr_ 4y agoThat's a PR issue. When a band of murderous thieving warlords settles down and calls themselves The Greater Mogadishu Private Security Corporation, and charges subscriptions and special call-out fees rather than robbery and bribery, that's perfectly in line with ancap ideology. Especially if there are multiple groups, so that they can protect you from each other rather than themselves.
- brodouevencode 4y ago> perfectly in line with ancap ideology No, it's not, because personal autonomy and property rights come first.
- boomlinde 4y agoWhich one comes first? To me it seems like personal autonomy and property rights are at odds with each other. If you own the resources I need to live, I can only choose to die or let you choose for me. On the other hand I could just take what I want from you, depriving you of your property, and you'd have to figure out how to fight me off. Strongest team wins, 90s Mogadishu style.
- pydry 4y agoThey cant really come first if you dont have an institution which is geared towards enforcing them. These "insurance" companies would have no particular reason to enforce these rules. Even if they started out with the best intentions theyd gradually turn into warlords fighting over territory.