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A night-watchman state, also referred to as a minimal state or minarchy, whose proponents are known as minarchists, is a model of a state that is limited and minimal, whose functions depend on libertarian theory. Right-libertarians support it only as an enforcer of the non-aggression principle by providing citizens with the military, the police, and courts, thereby protecting them from aggression, theft, breach of contract, fraud, and enforcing property laws.^[1]^[2]^[3]

In the United States, this form of government is mainly associated with libertarian and Objectivist political philosophy. In other countries, minarchism is also advocated by some non-anarchist libertarian socialists and other left-libertarians.^[4]^[5] A night-watchman state has also been popularized by Robert Nozick in Anarchy, State, and Utopia (1974).^[6] The United Kingdom in the 19th century has been described by historian Charles Townshend as a standard-bearer for this form of government.^[7]

Origin

As a term, night-watchman state (German: Nachtwächterstaat) was coined by German socialist Ferdinand Lassalle in an 1862 speech in Berlin wherein he criticized the bourgeois-liberal limited government state, comparing it to a night-watchman whose sole duty was preventing theft, playing on the double meaning of the German term Nachtwächter to mean someone who was incompetent or stupid. The phrase quickly caught on as a description of capitalist government, even as liberalism began to mean a more involved state, or a state with a larger sphere of responsibility.^[8] Ludwig von Mises later opined that Lassalle tried to make limited government look ridiculous though it was no more ridiculous than governments that concerned themselves with "the preparation of sauerkraut, with the manufacture of trouser buttons, or with the publication of newspapers".^[9]

Proponents of the night-watchman state are minarchists, a portmanteau of minimum and -archy. Arche (/ˈɑːrki/; Ancient Greek: ἀρχή) is a Greek word which came to mean "first place, power", "method of government", "empire, realm", "authorities" (in plural: ἀρχαί), or "command".^[10] The term minarchist was coined by Samuel Edward Konkin III in 1980.^[11]

Philosophy

Right-libertarian minarchists generally justify the state as a logical consequence of the non-aggression principle.^[1]^[2]^[3] They argue that anarcho-capitalism is impractical because it is not sufficient to enforce the non-aggression principle, as the enforcement of laws under anarchy would be open to competition.^[12] Another common objection to anarchism is that private defense and court firms would tend to represent the interests of those who pay them enough.^[13]

Left-libertarian minarchists justify the state as a temporary measure on the grounds that social safety net benefits the working class. Some anarchists, such as Noam Chomsky, are in agreement with social democrats on the importance of welfare measures, but prefer using non-state methods.^[14] Left-libertarians such as Peter Hain are decentralists who do not advocate abolishing the state,^[4] but do wish to limit and devolve state power,^[5] stipulating that any measures favoring the wealthy be prioritized for repeal before those which benefit the poor.^[15]

Some minarchists argue that a state is inevitable because anarchy is futile.^[16] Robert Nozick, who publicized the idea of a minimal state in Anarchy, State, and Utopia (1974), argued that a night-watchman state provides a framework that allows for any political system that respects fundamental individual rights and therefore morally justifies the existence of a state.^[6]^[17]

References

Notes

^ ^a ^b Gregory, Anthony (May 10, 2004). "The Minarchist's Dilemma". Strike the Root: A Journal of Liberty. Archived January 12, 2020, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
^ ^a ^b Peikoff, Leonard (March 7, 2011). "What role should certain specific governments play in Objectivist government?" Archived September 12, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Peikoff.com. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
^ ^a ^b Peikoff, Leonard (October 3, 2011). "Interview with Yaron Brook on economic issues in today's world (Part 1)". Peikoff.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
^ ^a ^b Hain, Peter (July/August 2000). "Rediscovering our libertarian roots". Chartist. Archived June 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
^ ^a ^b Marshall, Peter (2009) [1991]. Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism (POLS ed.). Oakland, California: PM Press. p. 641^{[permanent dead link]}. "Left libertarianism can therefore range from the decentralist who wishes to limit and devolve State power, to the syndicalist who wants to abolish it altogether. It can even encompass the Fabians and the social democrats who wish to socialize the economy but who still see a limited role for the State." ISBN 978-1604860641.
^ ^a ^b Nozick, Robert (1974). Anarchy, State, and Utopia. Basic Books. ISBN 978-0465097203.
^ Townshend, Charles (2000). The Oxford History of Modern War. Oxford University Press. pp. 14–15. ISBN 0192853732. Britain, however, with its strong tradition of minimal government – the 'night-watchman state' – vividly illustrated the speed of the shift [during World War I] from normalcy to drastic and all-embracing wartime powers like those contained in the Defence of the Realm Act.
^ Sawer, Marian (2003). The Ethical State?: Social Liberalism in Australia. Melbourne University Publishing. p. 87 Archived April 21, 2023, at the Wayback Machine. ISBN 978-0522850826.
^ Von Mises, Ludwig (1927) [1922]. Liberalism. p. 37 Archived April 21, 2023, at the Wayback Machine.
^ "Ἀρχή" Archy [Archy]. A Greek-English Lexicon. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
^ Konkin III, Samuel Edward (1980). New Libertarian Manifesto. p. 9.
^ Long, Roderick T.; Machan, Tibor R., eds. (2008). Anarchism/Minarchism: Is a Government Part of a Free Country? (PDF). Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 978-0754660668. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 30, 2011.
^ Holcombe, Randall G. (2004). "Government: Unnecessary but Inevitable" (PDF). The Independent Review. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 29, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
^ "Chomsky Replies to Multiple Questions About Anarchism". Z Magazine. ZCommunications. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved August 19, 2011. Anarchists propose other measures to deal with these problems, without recourse to state authority. ... Social democrats and anarchists always agreed, fairly generally, on so-called 'welfare state measures'.
^ Richman, Sheldon (February 3, 2011). "Libertarian Left: Free-market anti-capitalism, the unknown ideal". The American Conservative. Archived June 10, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 5, 2012. "[Left-libertarians] prefer that corporate privileges be repealed before the regulatory restrictions on how those privileges may be exercised."
^ Emmett, Ross B. (2011). Frank H. Knight in Iowa City, 1919–1928. Emerald Group Publishing. ISBN 978-1780520087.
^ Gordon, David (2008). "Minimal State". In Hamowy, Ronald (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage; Cato Institute. pp. 332–334. doi:10.4135/9781412965811.n204. ISBN 978-1412965804. LCCN 2008009151. OCLC 750831024. Archived from the original on December 3, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2022.

Bibliography

Machan, Tibor R. (December 2002). "Anarchism and Minarchism. A Rapprochement". Journal des Economists et des Estudes Humaines. 14 (4): 569–588.
Nozick, Robert (1974). Anarchy, State, and Utopia. New York City: Basic Books.
Ostrowski, Marius S. (2014). "Towards libertarian welfarism: protecting agency in the night-watchman state". Journal of Political Ideologies. 13 (1): 107–128.
Wolff, Jonathan (1991). Robert Nozick: Property, Justice, and the Minimal State. Cambridge, England: Polity Press.

External links

"Market Anarchism as Constitutionalism" by Roderick T. Long
"Chaos Theory: Two Essays on Market Anarchy" by Robert P. Murphy
Robert Nozick and the Immaculate Conception of the State by Murray Rothbard

[Gregory-1] Gregory, Anthony (May 10, 2004). "The Minarchist's Dilemma". Strike the Root: A Journal of Liberty. Archived January 12, 2020, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 1, 2020.

[Peikoff-2] Peikoff, Leonard (March 7, 2011). "What role should certain specific governments play in Objectivist government?" Archived September 12, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Peikoff.com. Retrieved January 2, 2020.

[Peikoff_Part_1-3] Peikoff, Leonard (October 3, 2011). "Interview with Yaron Brook on economic issues in today's world (Part 1)". Peikoff.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2020.

[Hain_2000-4] Hain, Peter (July/August 2000). "Rediscovering our libertarian roots". Chartist. Archived June 21, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 1, 2020.

[Marshall_2009-5] Marshall, Peter (2009) [1991]. Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism (POLS ed.). Oakland, California: PM Press. p. 641^{[permanent dead link]}. "Left libertarianism can therefore range from the decentralist who wishes to limit and devolve State power, to the syndicalist who wants to abolish it altogether. It can even encompass the Fabians and the social democrats who wish to socialize the economy but who still see a limited role for the State." ISBN 978-1604860641.

[Nozick_1974-6] Nozick, Robert (1974). Anarchy, State, and Utopia. Basic Books. ISBN 978-0465097203.

[7] Townshend, Charles (2000). The Oxford History of Modern War. Oxford University Press. pp. 14–15. ISBN 0192853732. Britain, however, with its strong tradition of minimal government – the 'night-watchman state' – vividly illustrated the speed of the shift [during World War I] from normalcy to drastic and all-embracing wartime powers like those contained in the Defence of the Realm Act.

[8] Sawer, Marian (2003). The Ethical State?: Social Liberalism in Australia. Melbourne University Publishing. p. 87 Archived April 21, 2023, at the Wayback Machine. ISBN 978-0522850826.

[9] Von Mises, Ludwig (1927) [1922]. Liberalism. p. 37 Archived April 21, 2023, at the Wayback Machine.

[10] "Ἀρχή" Archy [Archy]. A Greek-English Lexicon. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved January 2, 2020.

[11] Konkin III, Samuel Edward (1980). New Libertarian Manifesto. p. 9.

[12] Long, Roderick T.; Machan, Tibor R., eds. (2008). Anarchism/Minarchism: Is a Government Part of a Free Country? (PDF). Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 978-0754660668. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 30, 2011.

[13] Holcombe, Randall G. (2004). "Government: Unnecessary but Inevitable" (PDF). The Independent Review. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 29, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2020.

[Chomsky-14] "Chomsky Replies to Multiple Questions About Anarchism". Z Magazine. ZCommunications. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved August 19, 2011. Anarchists propose other measures to deal with these problems, without recourse to state authority. ... Social democrats and anarchists always agreed, fairly generally, on so-called 'welfare state measures'.

[Richman_2011-15] Richman, Sheldon (February 3, 2011). "Libertarian Left: Free-market anti-capitalism, the unknown ideal". The American Conservative. Archived June 10, 2019, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 5, 2012. "[Left-libertarians] prefer that corporate privileges be repealed before the regulatory restrictions on how those privileges may be exercised."

[16] Emmett, Ross B. (2011). Frank H. Knight in Iowa City, 1919–1928. Emerald Group Publishing. ISBN 978-1780520087.

[17] Gordon, David (2008). "Minimal State". In Hamowy, Ronald (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage; Cato Institute. pp. 332–334. doi:10.4135/9781412965811.n204. ISBN 978-1412965804. LCCN 2008009151. OCLC 750831024. Archived from the original on December 3, 2023. Retrieved February 24, 2022.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{short description|Minimal state}}
 {{use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
-{{Distinguish|Monarchism}}
+{{Redirect-distinguish|Minarchism|Monarchism}}
-[[File:The Night Watch - HD.jpg|thumb|300x300px|The term was coined by [[Ferdinand Lassalle]] and derived from the [[Watchman (law enforcement)|watchman]] system used by various European cities starting in the medieval period. The voluntary militia functioned as a [[city guard]] for internal policing and against external aggression.]]
+[[File:The Night Watch - HD.jpg|thumb|300x300px|The term was coined by [[Ferdinand Lassalle]] and derived from the [[Watchman (law enforcement)|watchman]] system used by various European cities starting in the medieval period. The voluntary militia functioned as a [[city guard]] for internal policing and against external aggression.
+Painting: ''[[The Night Watch]]'']]
 {{libertarianism sidebar}}
 {{forms of government}}
-A '''night-watchman state''', or '''minarchy''', whose proponents are known as '''minarchists''', is a model of a [[State (polity)|state]] that is limited and minimal, whose functions depend on [[libertarian]] theory. [[Right-libertarians]] support it only as an enforcer of the [[non-aggression principle]] by providing citizens with the [[military]], the [[police]], and [[courts]], thereby protecting them from [[aggression]], [[theft]], [[breach of contract]], [[fraud]], and enforcing [[property law]]s.<ref name="Gregory">Gregory, Anthony (May 10, 2004). [http://www.strike-the-root.com/4/gregory/gregory6.html "The Minarchist's Dilemma"]. ''Strike the Root: A Journal of Liberty''. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112154257/http://www.strike-the-root.com/4/gregory/gregory6.html|date=January 12, 2020}}. Retrieved February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name="Peikoff">Peikoff, Leonard (March 7, 2011). [http://www.peikoff.com/2011/03/07/what-role-should-certain-specific-governments-play-in-objectivist-government "What role should certain specific governments play in Objectivist government?"]. Peikoff.com. Retrieved January 2, 2020.</ref><ref name="Peikoff Part 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.peikoff.com/2011/10/03/interview-with-yaron-brook-on-economic-issues-in-todays-world-part-1/|title=Interview with Yaron Brook on economic issues in today's world (Part 1)|last=Peikoff|first=Leonard|publisher=Peikoff.com|date=October 3, 2011|access-date=January 2, 2020}}</ref>
+A '''night-watchman state''', also referred to as a '''minimal state''' or '''minarchy''', whose proponents are known as '''minarchists''', is a model of a [[State (polity)|state]] that is limited and minimal, whose functions depend on [[libertarian]] theory. [[Right-libertarians]] support it only as an enforcer of the [[non-aggression principle]] by providing citizens with the military, the police, and courts, thereby protecting them from [[aggression]], theft, [[breach of contract]], fraud, and enforcing [[property law]]s.<ref name="Gregory">Gregory, Anthony (May 10, 2004). [http://www.strike-the-root.com/4/gregory/gregory6.html "The Minarchist's Dilemma"]. ''Strike the Root: A Journal of Liberty''. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112154257/http://www.strike-the-root.com/4/gregory/gregory6.html|date=January 12, 2020}}. Retrieved February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name="Peikoff">Peikoff, Leonard (March 7, 2011). [http://www.peikoff.com/2011/03/07/what-role-should-certain-specific-governments-play-in-objectivist-government "What role should certain specific governments play in Objectivist government?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912094317/http://www.peikoff.com/2011/03/07/what-role-should-certain-specific-governments-play-in-objectivist-government |date=September 12, 2014 }}. Peikoff.com. Retrieved January 2, 2020.</ref><ref name="Peikoff Part 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.peikoff.com/2011/10/03/interview-with-yaron-brook-on-economic-issues-in-todays-world-part-1/|title=Interview with Yaron Brook on economic issues in today's world (Part 1)|last=Peikoff|first=Leonard|publisher=Peikoff.com|date=October 3, 2011|access-date=January 2, 2020|archive-date=September 12, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912102312/http://www.peikoff.com/2011/10/03/interview-with-yaron-brook-on-economic-issues-in-todays-world-part-1/|url-status=live}}</ref>
-In the United States, this [[form of government]] is mainly associated with [[Libertarianism in the United States|libertarian]] and [[Objectivist]] political philosophy. In other countries, minarchism is also advocated by some non-anarchist [[libertarian socialists]] and other [[left-libertarians]].<ref name="Hain 2000">Hain, Peter (July/August 2000). [https://www.chartist.org.uk/articles/britpol/july_hain.html "Rediscovering our libertarian roots"]. ''Chartist''. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621010116/https://www.chartist.org.uk/articles/britpol/july_hain.html|date=June 21, 2013}}. Retrieved February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name="Marshall 2009">Marshall, Peter (2009) [1991]. ''[[Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism]]'' (POLS ed.). Oakland, California: PM Press. [https://books.googlecomt/books?id=QDWIOL_KtGYC&pg=PA641&dq=Left+libertarianism+can+therefore+range+from+the+decentralist+who+wishes+to+limit+and+devolve+State+power,+to+the+syndicalist+who+wants+to+abolish+it+altogether.+It+can+even+encompass+the+Fabians+and+the+social+democrats+who+wish+to+socialize+the+economy+but+who+still+see+a+limited+role+for+the+State&hl=it&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj9kfqN0bDnAhVDPFAKHcwfAngQ6AEIKzAA#v=onepage&q=Left%20libertarianism%20can%20therefore%20range%20from%20the%20decentralist%20who%20wishes%20to%20limit%20and%20devolve%20State%20power%2C%20to%20the%20syndicalist%20who%20wants%20to%20abolish%20it%20altogether.%20It%20can%20even%20encompass%20the%20Fabians%20and%20the%20social%20democrats%20who%20wish%20to%20socialize%20the%20economy%20but%20who%20still%20see%20a%20limited%20role%20for%20the%20State&f=false p. 641]{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. "Left libertarianism can therefore range from the decentralist who wishes to limit and devolve State power, to the syndicalist who wants to abolish it altogether. It can even encompass the Fabians and the social democrats who wish to socialize the economy but who still see a limited role for the State." {{ISBN|978-1604860641}}.</ref> A night-watchman state has also been popularized by [[Robert Nozick]] in ''[[Anarchy, State, and Utopia]]'' (1974).<ref name="Nozick 1974">{{cite book|title=Anarchy, State, and Utopia|last=Nozick|first=Robert|publisher=Basic Books|year=1974|isbn=978-0465097203|url=https://archive.org/details/anarchystateutop00nozi}}</ref> The [[United Kingdom]] in the [[19th century]] has been described by historian [[Charles Townshend (historian)|Charles Townshend]] as a standard-bearer for this form of government.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/oxfordhistoryofm00town|url-access=registration|title=The Oxford History of Modern War|last=Townshend|first=Charles|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2000|pages=[https://archive.org/details/oxfordhistoryofm00town/page/14 14]–15|quote=Britain, however, with its strong tradition of minimal government – the 'night-watchman state' – vividly illustrated the speed of the shift [during World War I] from normalcy to drastic and all-embracing wartime powers like those contained in the Defence of the Realm Act.|isbn=0192853732}}</ref>
+In the United States, this [[form of government]] is mainly associated with [[Libertarianism in the United States|libertarian]] and [[Objectivist]] political philosophy. In other countries, minarchism is also advocated by some non-anarchist [[libertarian socialists]] and other [[left-libertarians]].<ref name="Hain 2000">Hain, Peter (July/August 2000). [https://www.chartist.org.uk/articles/britpol/july_hain.html "Rediscovering our libertarian roots"]. ''Chartist''. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621010116/https://www.chartist.org.uk/articles/britpol/july_hain.html|date=June 21, 2013}}. Retrieved February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name="Marshall 2009">Marshall, Peter (2009) [1991]. ''[[Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism]]'' (POLS ed.). Oakland, California: PM Press. [https://books.googlecomt/books?id=QDWIOL_KtGYC&pg=PA641&dq=Left+libertarianism+can+therefore+range+from+the+decentralist+who+wishes+to+limit+and+devolve+State+power,+to+the+syndicalist+who+wants+to+abolish+it+altogether.+It+can+even+encompass+the+Fabians+and+the+social+democrats+who+wish+to+socialize+the+economy+but+who+still+see+a+limited+role+for+the+State&hl=it&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj9kfqN0bDnAhVDPFAKHcwfAngQ6AEIKzAA#v=onepage&q=Left%20libertarianism%20can%20therefore%20range%20from%20the%20decentralist%20who%20wishes%20to%20limit%20and%20devolve%20State%20power%2C%20to%20the%20syndicalist%20who%20wants%20to%20abolish%20it%20altogether.%20It%20can%20even%20encompass%20the%20Fabians%20and%20the%20social%20democrats%20who%20wish%20to%20socialize%20the%20economy%20but%20who%20still%20see%20a%20limited%20role%20for%20the%20State&f=false p. 641]{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. "Left libertarianism can therefore range from the decentralist who wishes to limit and devolve State power, to the syndicalist who wants to abolish it altogether. It can even encompass the Fabians and the social democrats who wish to socialize the economy but who still see a limited role for the State." {{ISBN|978-1604860641}}.</ref> A night-watchman state has also been popularized by [[Robert Nozick]] in ''[[Anarchy, State, and Utopia]]'' (1974).<ref name="Nozick 1974">{{cite book|title=Anarchy, State, and Utopia|last=Nozick|first=Robert|publisher=[[Basic Books]]|year=1974|isbn=978-0465097203|url=https://archive.org/details/anarchystateutop00nozi}}</ref> The [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]] in the 19th century has been described by historian [[Charles Townshend (historian)|Charles Townshend]] as a standard-bearer for this form of government.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/oxfordhistoryofm00town|url-access=registration|title=The Oxford History of Modern War|last=Townshend|first=Charles|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2000|pages=[https://archive.org/details/oxfordhistoryofm00town/page/14 14]–15|quote=Britain, however, with its strong tradition of minimal government – the 'night-watchman state' – vividly illustrated the speed of the shift [during World War I] from normalcy to drastic and all-embracing wartime powers like those contained in the Defence of the Realm Act.|isbn=0192853732}}</ref>
 == Origin ==
-As a term, ''night-watchman state'' ({{lang-de|Nachtwächterstaat}}) was coined by German [[socialist]] [[Ferdinand Lassalle]] in an 1862 speech in Berlin wherein he criticized the [[bourgeois]]-liberal [[limited government]] state, comparing it to a night-watchman whose sole duty was preventing theft, playing on the double meaning of the German term ''[[:de:Nachtwächter|Nachtwächter]]'' to mean someone who was incompetent or stupid. The phrase quickly caught on as a description of [[capitalist]] government, even as [[liberalism]] began to mean a more involved state, or a state with a larger sphere of responsibility.<ref>Sawer, Marian (2003). ''The Ethical State?: Social Liberalism in Australia''. Melbourne University Publishing. [https://books.google.com/books?id=3TvKQ9TkiroC&dq=night+watchman+state+Ferdinand+Lassalle&pg=PA87 p. 87]. {{ISBN|978-0522850826}}.</ref> [[Ludwig von Mises]] later opined that Lassalle tried to make limited government look ridiculous though it was no more ridiculous than governments that concerned themselves with "the preparation of sauerkraut, with the manufacture of trouser buttons, or with the publication of newspapers".<ref>Von Mises, Ludwig (1927) [1922]. ''[[Liberalism (book)|Liberalism]]''. [https://books.google.com/books?id=TMkSpFYc_SEC&dq=night+watchman+state+Liberalism+mises&pg=PA37 p. 37].</ref>
+As a term, ''night-watchman state'' ({{lang-de|link=no|Nachtwächterstaat}}) was coined by German [[socialist]] [[Ferdinand Lassalle]] in an 1862 speech in Berlin wherein he criticized the [[bourgeois]]-liberal [[limited government]] state, comparing it to a night-watchman whose sole duty was preventing theft, playing on the double meaning of the German term ''[[:de:Nachtwächter|Nachtwächter]]'' to mean someone who was incompetent or stupid. The phrase quickly caught on as a description of [[capitalist]] government, even as liberalism began to mean a more involved state, or a state with a larger sphere of responsibility.<ref>Sawer, Marian (2003). ''The Ethical State?: Social Liberalism in Australia''. Melbourne University Publishing. [https://books.google.com/books?id=3TvKQ9TkiroC&dq=night+watchman+state+Ferdinand+Lassalle&pg=PA87 p. 87] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421162436/https://books.google.com/books?id=3TvKQ9TkiroC&dq=night+watchman+state+Ferdinand+Lassalle&pg=PA87 |date=April 21, 2023 }}. {{ISBN|978-0522850826}}.</ref> [[Ludwig von Mises]] later opined that Lassalle tried to make limited government look ridiculous though it was no more ridiculous than governments that concerned themselves with "the preparation of sauerkraut, with the manufacture of trouser buttons, or with the publication of newspapers".<ref>Von Mises, Ludwig (1927) [1922]. ''[[Liberalism (book)|Liberalism]]''. [https://books.google.com/books?id=TMkSpFYc_SEC&dq=night+watchman+state+Liberalism+mises&pg=PA37 p. 37] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421162436/https://books.google.com/books?id=TMkSpFYc_SEC&dq=night+watchman+state+Liberalism+mises&pg=PA37 |date=April 21, 2023 }}.</ref>
-Proponents of the night-watchman state are ''minarchists'', a portmanteau of ''minimum'' and ''-archy''. ''[[Arche]]'' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɑr|k|i}}; {{lang-grc|[[:wikt:ἀρχή|ἀρχή]]}}) is a Greek word which came to mean "first place, power", "method of government", "empire, realm", "authorities" (in plural: {{lang|grc|ἀρχαί}}), or "command".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aalphabetic+letter%3D*a%3Aentry+group%3D318%3Aentry%3Da%29rxh%2F|title=Ἀρχή|script-title=el: Archy|trans-title=Archy|work=[[A Greek-English Lexicon]]|access-date=January 2, 2020}}</ref> The term ''minarchist'' was coined by [[Samuel Edward Konkin III]] in 1980.<ref>Konkin III, Samuel Edward (1980). ''[[New Libertarian Manifesto]]''. p. 9.</ref>
+Proponents of the night-watchman state are ''minarchists'', a portmanteau of ''minimum'' and ''-archy''. ''[[Arche]]'' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɑr|k|i}}; {{lang-grc|[[:wikt:ἀρχή|ἀρχή]]}}) is a Greek word which came to mean "first place, power", "method of government", "empire, realm", "authorities" (in plural: {{lang|grc|ἀρχαί}}), or "command".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aalphabetic+letter%3D*a%3Aentry+group%3D318%3Aentry%3Da%29rxh%2F|title=Ἀρχή|script-title=el: Archy|trans-title=Archy|work=[[A Greek-English Lexicon]]|access-date=January 2, 2020|archive-date=September 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927220300/http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aalphabetic+letter%3D*a%3Aentry+group%3D318%3Aentry%3Da%29rxh%2F|url-status=live}}</ref> The term ''minarchist'' was coined by [[Samuel Edward Konkin III]] in 1980.<ref>Konkin III, Samuel Edward (1980). ''[[New Libertarian Manifesto]]''. p. 9.</ref>
 == Philosophy ==
+{{Missing information|section|the minarchic objections of the [[polycentric law]] (such as the non-recognition of legal orders among different providers) and the concept of the "ultra-minimal state." Additionally, the distinction between pro-voluntary funding minarchists, such as [[Ayn Rand]] and [[Robert Nozick]], and pro-tax minarchists is not explicitly illustrated|date=August 2024}}
-[[Right-libertarian]] minarchists generally justify the state as a logical consequence of the [[non-aggression principle]].<ref name="Gregory"/><ref name="Peikoff"/><ref name="Peikoff Part 1"/> They argue that [[anarcho-capitalism]] is impractical because it is not sufficient to enforce the non-aggression principle, as the enforcement of laws under [[anarchy]] would be open to competition.<ref>{{cite book|title=Anarchism/Minarchism: Is a Government Part of a Free Country?|url=http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/areed2/LongXXXMachan.pdf|publisher=Ashgate Publishing|year=2008|editor-last1=Long|editor-first1=Roderick T.|editor-last2=Machan|editor-first2=Tibor R.|isbn=978-0754660668|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130195736/http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/areed2/LongXXXMachan.pdf|archive-date=November 30, 2011}}</ref> Another common objection to anarchism is that private defense and court firms would tend to represent the interests of those who pay them enough.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Holcombe|first=Randall G.|url=https://www.independent.org/pdf/tir/tir_08_3_1_holcombe.pdf|title=Government: Unnecessary but Inevitable|journal=The Independent Review|date=2004|accessdate=January 2, 2020}}</ref>
+[[Right-libertarian]] minarchists generally justify the state as a logical consequence of the [[non-aggression principle]].<ref name="Gregory"/><ref name="Peikoff"/><ref name="Peikoff Part 1"/> They argue that [[anarcho-capitalism]] is impractical because it is not sufficient to enforce the non-aggression principle, as the enforcement of laws under anarchy would be open to competition.<ref>{{cite book|title=Anarchism/Minarchism: Is a Government Part of a Free Country?|url=http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/areed2/LongXXXMachan.pdf|publisher=Ashgate Publishing|year=2008|editor-last1=Long|editor-first1=Roderick T.|editor-last2=Machan|editor-first2=Tibor R.|isbn=978-0754660668|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130195736/http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/areed2/LongXXXMachan.pdf|archive-date=November 30, 2011}}</ref> Another common objection to anarchism is that private defense and court firms would tend to represent the interests of those who pay them enough.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Holcombe|first=Randall G.|url=https://www.independent.org/pdf/tir/tir_08_3_1_holcombe.pdf|title=Government: Unnecessary but Inevitable|journal=The Independent Review|date=2004|accessdate=January 2, 2020|archive-date=August 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829143321/http://www.independent.org/pdf/tir/tir_08_3_1_holcombe.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
-[[Left-libertarian]] minarchists justify the state as a temporary measure on the grounds that [[social safety net]] benefits the working class. Some anarchists, such as [[Noam Chomsky]], are in agreement with [[social democrats]] on the [[welfare state]] and [[welfare]] measures, but prefer using non-state authority.<ref name="Chomsky">{{cite web|url=http://www.zmag.org/chomsky_repliesana.htm|title=Chomsky Replies to Multiple Questions About Anarchism|website=Z Magazine|publisher=ZCommunications|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929074956/https://www.zmag.org/chomsky_repliesana.htm|archive-date=September 29, 2007|access-date=August 19, 2011|quote=Anarchists propose other measures to deal with these problems, without recourse to state authority. ... Social democrats and anarchists always agreed, fairly generally, on so-called 'welfare state measures'.}}</ref> Left-libertarians such as [[Peter Hain]] are [[decentralist]]s who do not advocate abolishing the state,<ref name="Hain 2000"/> but do wish to limit and devolve state power,<ref name="Marshall 2009"/> stipulating that any measures favoring the wealthy be prioritized for repeal before those which benefit the poor.<ref name="Richman 2011">Richman, Sheldon (February 3, 2011). [http://www.theamericanconservative.com/blog/libertarian-left/ "Libertarian Left: Free-market anti-capitalism, the unknown ideal"]. ''The American Conservative''. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610075037/https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/libertarian-left/|date=June 10, 2019}}. Retrieved March 5, 2012. "[Left-libertarians] prefer that corporate privileges be repealed ''before'' the regulatory restrictions on how those privileges may be exercised."</ref>
+[[Left-libertarian]] minarchists justify the state as a temporary measure on the grounds that [[social safety net]] benefits the working class. Some anarchists, such as [[Noam Chomsky]], are in agreement with [[social democrats]] on the importance of welfare measures, but prefer using non-state methods.<ref name="Chomsky">{{cite web|url=http://www.zmag.org/chomsky_repliesana.htm|title=Chomsky Replies to Multiple Questions About Anarchism|website=Z Magazine|publisher=ZCommunications|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929074956/https://www.zmag.org/chomsky_repliesana.htm|archive-date=September 29, 2007|access-date=August 19, 2011|quote=Anarchists propose other measures to deal with these problems, without recourse to state authority. ... Social democrats and anarchists always agreed, fairly generally, on so-called 'welfare state measures'.}}</ref> Left-libertarians such as [[Peter Hain]] are [[decentralist]]s who do not advocate abolishing the state,<ref name="Hain 2000"/> but do wish to limit and devolve state power,<ref name="Marshall 2009"/> stipulating that any measures favoring the wealthy be prioritized for repeal before those which benefit the poor.<ref name="Richman 2011">Richman, Sheldon (February 3, 2011). [http://www.theamericanconservative.com/blog/libertarian-left/ "Libertarian Left: Free-market anti-capitalism, the unknown ideal"]. ''The American Conservative''. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610075037/https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/libertarian-left/|date=June 10, 2019}}. Retrieved March 5, 2012. "[Left-libertarians] prefer that corporate privileges be repealed ''before'' the regulatory restrictions on how those privileges may be exercised."</ref>
-Some minarchists argue that a state is inevitable because [[anarchy]] is futile.<ref>{{cite book|title=Frank H. Knight in Iowa City, 1919–1928|last=Emmett|first=Ross B.|year= 2011|publisher=Emerald Group Publishing|isbn=978-1780520087}}</ref> [[Robert Nozick]], who publicized the idea of a minimal state in ''[[Anarchy, State, and Utopia]]'' (1974), argued that a night-watchman state provides a framework that allows for any political system that respects fundamental [[Individual and group rights|individual rights]] and therefore morally justifies the existence of a state.<ref name="Nozick 1974"/><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|year=2008|chapter=Minimal State|encyclopedia=The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism|publisher=[[SAGE Publishing|Sage]]; [[Cato Institute]]|location=Thousand Oaks, CA|chapter-url=https://sk.sagepub.com/reference/libertarianism/n204.xml|last=Gordon|first=David|author-link=David Gordon (economist)|editor-last=Hamowy|editor-first=Ronald|editor-link=Ronald Hamowy|pages=332–334|doi=10.4135/9781412965811.n204|isbn=978-1412965804|lccn=2008009151|oclc=750831024}}</ref>
+Some minarchists argue that a state is inevitable because anarchy is futile.<ref>{{cite book|title=Frank H. Knight in Iowa City, 1919–1928|last=Emmett|first=Ross B.|year= 2011|publisher=Emerald Group Publishing|isbn=978-1780520087}}</ref> [[Robert Nozick]], who publicized the idea of a minimal state in ''[[Anarchy, State, and Utopia]]'' (1974), argued that a night-watchman state provides a framework that allows for any political system that respects fundamental [[Individual and group rights|individual rights]] and therefore morally justifies the existence of a state.<ref name="Nozick 1974"/><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|year=2008|encyclopedia=The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism|publisher=[[SAGE Publishing|Sage]]; [[Cato Institute]]|location=Thousand Oaks, CA|url=https://sk.sagepub.com/reference/libertarianism/n204.xml|last=Gordon|first=David|author-link=David Gordon (economist)|editor-last=Hamowy|editor-first=Ronald|editor-link=Ronald Hamowy|pages=332–334|doi=10.4135/9781412965811.n204|isbn=978-1412965804|lccn=2008009151|oclc=750831024|title=Minimal State|access-date=February 24, 2022|archive-date=December 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231203073342/https://sk.sagepub.com/Reference/libertarianism/n204.xml|url-status=live}}</ref>
 == See also ==
 {{Portal|Libertarianism}}
 {{cols|colwidth=20em}}
-* [[Minarcho-Communism]]<ref>https://polcompballanarchy.miraheze.org/wiki/Minarcho-Communism What is minarcho-communism? First, we must say what is communism itself? The communist society has four pillars: 1- Absence of social classes. 2- Absence of private ownership. 3-Destruction of the monetary system. 4- Absence of government. Minarcho-communism is a revolutionary, libertarian, left-wing ideology that seeks to have the smallest possible government, a night watchman government, a night watchman government is variously defined in sources. At its most extreme, it is a form of government in political philosophy in which the only legitimate function of government is to protect individuals from invasion, theft, breach of contract, and fraud, and the only legitimate institutions are the military, police, and courts. In its broadest sense, this concept includes fire departments, prisons, and executive and legislative functions among the legitimate functions of the government.Minarcho-communists are communists who accept the existence of the state to protect the people and the absence of crime. Why does communism agree with private ownership of the means of petty production? Because it does not create exploitation. So, if the ownership of the means of mass production does not create exploitation, we (I say we in this text, but if we are or we were the minarcho-communists)* can deal with it. In this way, even if private ownership creates exploitation of the means of petty production (like the exploitation of a master craftsman by his apprentice.), it should be discarded. One of the duties of the night watchman government is to protect people's property and money, and since we agree with the night watchman government, we can also agree with the existence of money (if it is used correctly.).And removing classes, we are against the class system. But in socialism, contrary to capitalism, anyone who works more will be paid more, and maybe a very small class gap will appear, if that gap is really caused by the individual's own work and not by exploitation; There is no objection to it. (The End.)</ref>
 * [[Anarchism and anarcho-capitalism]]
 * [[Anarcho-capitalism and minarchism]]
@@ Line 37: / Line 39: @@
 * [[Taxation as theft]]
 * [[Voluntaryism]]
+* [[Watchman (law enforcement)]]
-* [[Anarchism]]
 {{colend}}
@@ Line 52: / Line 54: @@
 == External links ==
 * [http://praxeology.net/Anarconst2.pdf "Market Anarchism as Constitutionalism"] by Roderick T. Long
-* [https://mises.org/books/chaostheory.pdf "Chaos Theory: Two Essays on Market Anarchy"] by Robert P. Murphy
+* [https://cdn.mises.org/Chaos%20Theory_2.pdf "Chaos Theory: Two Essays on Market Anarchy"] by Robert P. Murphy
 * [https://mises.org/journals/jls/1_1/1_1_6.pdf ''Robert Nozick and the Immaculate Conception of the State''] by Murray Rothbard
 {{libertarianism}}
+{{political philosophy}}
 [[Category:Criticism of capitalism]]