What Is Libertarianism?

Are YOU a Libertarian?

Are you a libertarian, or libertarian-leaning?
Or do you have more in common politically with liberals, conservatives,
or others?
Take this extremely fast -- and very accurate -- little Quiz and see!
Millions around the world have taken the
World's Smallest Political Quiz.
As the Washington Post said: "The Quiz has gained respect as a valid measure of a person's political leanings."

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Find out who ELSE is Libertarian

Clint Eastwood, Drew Carey, Kurt Russell, Dave Barry, Penn and Teller… there are zillions of celebrities and outstanding leaders
in all fields
who proudly proclaim
their libertarianism.
You might be surprised by some of them -- and what they have to say
about liberty.
See our ever-expanding list of
Libertarian Celebrities
and VIPs

Here are links to several short, outstanding explanations of the basic principles of libertarianism.

They are short and to-the-point -- a great way to quickly grasp the essence of the libertarian view.

But first, our own short introduction to the subject:

Libertarianism: Your Way to Freedom, Abundance, Peace, Justice

Libertarianism is, as the name implies, the belief in liberty. Libertarians strive for the best of all worlds - a free, peaceful, abundant world where each individual has the maximum opportunity to pursue his or her dreams and to realize his full potential.

The core idea is simply stated, but profound and far-reaching in its implications. Libertarians believe that each person owns his own life and property, and has the right to make his own choices as to how he lives his life - as long as he simply respects the same right of others to do the same.

Another way of saying this is that libertarians believe you should be free to do as you choose with your own life and property, as long as you don't harm the person and property of others.

Libertarianism is thus the combination of liberty (the freedom to live your life in any peaceful way you choose), responsibility (the prohibition against the use of force against others, except in defense), and tolerance (honoring and respecting the peaceful choices of others).

Live and let live. The Golden Rule. The non-initiation of force.

Libertarians believe that this combination of personal and economic liberty produces abundance, peace, harmony, creativity, order, and safety. Indeed, that is one of the central lessons of world history. Virtually all the progress the human race has enjoyed during the past few centuries is due to the increasing acceptance of these principles. But we are still far from a truly libertarian world. Libertarians believe we would see far more progress, abundance and happiness if the ideas of liberty were fully accepted and allowed to work their miracles.

Our goal as libertarians is to bring liberty to the world, so that these wonderful and proven ideas can be put into action. This will make our world a far better place for all people.

If this interests you, please explore the material at this site. Evaluate these ideas. Kick their tires and take them for an intellectual "test drive."

We hope you will join us in embracing this ideal -- and in taking a stand to personally help bring about a world of liberty, abundance and peace.

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"Key Concepts of Libertarianism" by David Boaz
David Boaz is executive vice president of the libertarian Cato Institute and author of Libertarianism: A Primer. This short article, excerpted from that book, explains what libertarianism is, how it developed, how it translates into specific policies, and where it fits in relation to other political philosophies. (Great book, too!)

The Libertarian Party's Statement of Principles
Written in 1972, this short statement is both a stirring and a very precise statement of the libertarian view.

"A Note on Labels: Why "Libertarian"?" by David Boaz.
Where did the word "libertarian" come from? David Boaz is executive vice president of the libertarian Cato Institute and author of Libertarianism: A Primer, a recommended book from which this short selection is excerpted.

"In Pursuit of Liberty" by Jarrett Wollstein
This online pamphlet published by the International Society for Individual Liberty tells what libertarianism is, and how and why people are increasingly demanding it around the globe.

"Libertarianism: The Path to Peace, Prosperity and Freedom" by Jarrett Wollstein
This pamphlet from the International Society for Individual Liberty also explains the basics of libertarianism -- and tells why libertarianism is so urgently needed today.

"The Essence of Liberty" by David F. Nolan
Libertarians -- though sharing a broad agreement on most issues -- disagree among themselves on some issues. There are different kinds of people who call themselves libertarians, just like there are different kinds of conservatives and liberals. This short article, by a founder of the Libertarian Party, argues that "…in order to be considered a libertarian, at least in the political context, an individual must adhere without compromise to five key points." Insightful and though-provoking.

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Lights, Action… Liberty!

Sit back and enjoy "The Philosophy of Liberty," a delightful and very informative 10-minute animated introduction to libertarian principles. Provided by our friends at the International Society for Individual Liberty (ISIL). You can watch in English, French, Spanish or Portuguese.

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Now that you've seen descriptions of libertarianism, please check out Short Definitions of Libertarianism. Lots of people have tried to put the essence of the libertarian philosophy into just a few sentences. Here are some of our favorites.

Or see what else is available at Libertarianism.com.

Or return to Libertarianism.com homepage.

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