Ep 161: Is Hans Hoppe an Anarchist or a Monarchist?

The Mindcrime Liberty Show discusses whether Hans Hoppe is an anarchist or a monarchist? Many of Hoppe’s critics, as well as his disciples, take the view that he is a monarchist but is that the case? Is Hans Hoppe only backhandedly defending monarchies by arguing they are superior to the current existing regime of so-called liberal democracies, or is he outright defending monarchy? Arguably Hoppe could be read as a monarchist if one thinks that abolishing the state is utopian by stating that monarchies are superior to democracies; however, if one thinks abolishing a privileged class of bureaucracies and functionaries isn’t utopian than Hoppe is arguably the best advocate, albeit unlikely, of anarchism. This of course depends on the definition of anarchism, governments and the state. If anarchism means abolishing all hierarchies, marriage norms and customs as well as other forms of so-called voluntary rule then of course Hoppe isn’t an anarchist. If anarchism means abolishing and privatizing the managerial state then Hoppe, the cultural right-wing anarchist is arguably more of an anarchist than many left anarchists due to the character of the modern democratic state. As Hoppe states in Democracy the G** that Failed it is state welfare and income redistribution scheme, which even conservative socialists like Pat Buchanan support, that is the thing which has undermined the family and has led to the rise of feminism as well as various other isms. The libertine character of today's society is only possible to institutions such as state schools, state regulations requiring hiring of various classes of people, state pension systems and state healthcare systems all of which culturally left people, outside a few exceptions such as Ivan Illich and Michel Foucault, want to support. Hence Hans Hoppe the intellectual is a superior anarchist to most anarchists while voicing backhanded support for monarchies as being superior to the sham character of modern day democratic states.