Libertarian Alliance
Encyclopedia
The Libertarian Alliance (LA) comprises two libertarian
think tank
s in Great Britain that promote free-market
economics and civil liberties
. According to the websites of both organisations, "The Libertarian Alliance is a non-partisan group fighting statism in all its forms and working for the creation of a truly free society."
It has been suggested that their advocacy of complete free speech and the abolition of taxation and government intervention in economic and social life combines elements of liberalism, conservatism and anarchism.
Between them, they have produced over 800 publications by over 280 authors. Free Life was formerly the LA's hardcopy journal. Most LA publications are now Internet based.
and Chris Tame
in Woking. It was an alliance of libertarian minarchists
, anarchists
, and classical liberals
. The LA was not the continuation of either the Radical Libertarian Alliance (founded by Mark Brady, Pauline Russell and Chris Tame) in late 1971 nor the earlier Young Libertarians founded by David Myddelton in the late 1960s.
The principles of the LA were formulated by the founding members, and written out by David Ramsay Steele. While the LA had no official leader, it did have a chairperson, secretary, and a treasurer. The Alternative Bookshop, formed in 1978, became the unofficial hub of LA activities for a time.
In 1982 a power struggle within the organization caused a split. Since then there have been two groups both calling themselves the Libertarian Alliance and using the same logo and using the phrase "Let a Thousand Libertarian Alliances Bloom!". Although not always the case in the past, the two groups now have friendly relations and a number of English libertarians are members of both groups. However, reunification does not appear to be likely in the near future.
, Dr Tim Evans having resigned in February 2011. It is a member of Backlash
, which was formed in 2005 in order to oppose a new law criminalising possession of "extreme pornography
".
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
s in Great Britain that promote free-market
Free market
A free market is a competitive market where prices are determined by supply and demand. However, the term is also commonly used for markets in which economic intervention and regulation by the state is limited to tax collection, and enforcement of private ownership and contracts...
economics and civil liberties
Civil liberties
Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
. According to the websites of both organisations, "The Libertarian Alliance is a non-partisan group fighting statism in all its forms and working for the creation of a truly free society."
It has been suggested that their advocacy of complete free speech and the abolition of taxation and government intervention in economic and social life combines elements of liberalism, conservatism and anarchism.
Between them, they have produced over 800 publications by over 280 authors. Free Life was formerly the LA's hardcopy journal. Most LA publications are now Internet based.
History
The original Libertarian Alliance was founded in 1977 by Mark Brady, Judy Englander, David Ramsay SteeleDavid Ramsay Steele
David Ramsay Steele is the author of From Marx to Mises: Post-Capitalist Society and the Challenge of Economic Calculation and Editorial Director of Open Court Publishing Company. With Michael R...
and Chris Tame
Chris Tame
Dr Chris Ronald Tame was a British libertarian political activist. He is best known as the founder and Director of the Libertarian Alliance, a free market and civil liberties think tank.-Early years:...
in Woking. It was an alliance of libertarian minarchists
Minarchism
Minarchism has been variously defined by sources. It is a libertarian capitalist political philosophy. In the strictest sense, it maintains that the state is necessary and that its only legitimate function is the protection of individuals from aggression, theft, breach of contract, and fraud, and...
, anarchists
Anarcho-capitalism
Anarcho-capitalism is a libertarian and individualist anarchist political philosophy that advocates the elimination of the state in favour of individual sovereignty in a free market...
, and classical liberals
Classical liberalism
Classical liberalism is the philosophy committed to the ideal of limited government, constitutionalism, rule of law, due process, and liberty of individuals including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and free markets....
. The LA was not the continuation of either the Radical Libertarian Alliance (founded by Mark Brady, Pauline Russell and Chris Tame) in late 1971 nor the earlier Young Libertarians founded by David Myddelton in the late 1960s.
The principles of the LA were formulated by the founding members, and written out by David Ramsay Steele. While the LA had no official leader, it did have a chairperson, secretary, and a treasurer. The Alternative Bookshop, formed in 1978, became the unofficial hub of LA activities for a time.
In 1982 a power struggle within the organization caused a split. Since then there have been two groups both calling themselves the Libertarian Alliance and using the same logo and using the phrase "Let a Thousand Libertarian Alliances Bloom!". Although not always the case in the past, the two groups now have friendly relations and a number of English libertarians are members of both groups. However, reunification does not appear to be likely in the near future.
Current activities
One group maintains the sites libertarian.co.uk and a blog. Its current president and director of the other Libertarian Alliance is Dr. Sean GabbSean Gabb
Dr Sean Gabb is the director of the Libertarian Alliance, a British free market and civil liberties think-tank..-Career:...
, Dr Tim Evans having resigned in February 2011. It is a member of Backlash
Backlash (pressure group)
Backlash is an umbrella group formed in 2005 to coordinate opposition to the “Consultation on the possession of extreme pornographic material” issued in the UK jointly by the Home Office and the Scottish Executive...
, which was formed in 2005 in order to oppose a new law criminalising possession of "extreme pornography
Extreme pornography
Section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 is a piece of legislation in the United Kingdom that criminalises possession of what it refers to as "extreme pornographic images". The law was enacted from 26 January 2009...
".