Hans-Hermann Hoppe on decentralization

As indicated, the democratic system is on the verge of economic collapse and bankruptcy as in particular the developments since 2007, with the great and still ongoing financial and economic crisis, have revealed.  The EU and the euro are in fundamental trouble, and so are the US and the US dollar.  Indeed, there are ominous signs that the dollar is gradually losing its status as dominant international reserve currency.  In this situation, not quite unlike the situation after the collapse of the former Soviet Empire, countless decentralizing, separatist and secessionist movements and tendencies have gained momentum, and I would advocate that as much ideological support as possible be given to these movements.

For even if as a result of such decentralist tendencies new State governments should spring up, whether democratic or otherwise, territorially smaller States and increased political competition will tend to encourage moderation as regards a State's exploitation of productive people.  Just look at Liechtenstein, Monaco, Singapore, Hong Kong, and even Switzerland, with its still comparatively powerful small cantons vis-a-vis its central government.  Ideally, the decentralization should proceed all the way down to the level of individual communities, to free cities and villages as they once existed all over Europe.  Just think of the cities of the Hanseatic League, for instance.  In any case, even if new little States will emerge there, only in small regions, districts, and communities will the stupidity, arrogance, and corruption of politicians and local plutocrats become almost immediately visible to the public and can possibly be quickly corrected and rectified.  And only in very small political units will it also be possible for members of the natural elite, or whatever is left of such an elite, to regain the status of voluntarily acknowledged conflict arbitrators and judges of the peace.

~ Hans-Hermann Hoppe, A Short History of Man: Progress and Decline, pp. 131-132

2015

Hans Hermann-Hoppe on the myth of the "noble savage"

In the literature, primitive man has been frequently described as peaceful and living in harmony with nature.  Most popular in this regard is Rousseau's portrayal of the "noble savage."  Aggression and war, it has been frequently held, were the result of civilization built upon the institution of private property.  In fact, matters are almost exactly the reverse.  True, the savagery of modern wars has produced unparelled carnage.  Both World War I and World War II, for instance, resulted in tens of millions of deaths and left entire countries in ruins.  And yet, as anthropological evidence has in the meantime made abundantly clear, primitive man has been considerably more warlike than contemporary man.  It has been estimated that on the average some 30 percent of all males in primitive, hunter-gatherer societies died from unnatural - violent - causes, far exceeding anything experienced in this regard in modern societies...  Of course, primitive warfare was very different from modern warfare.  It was not conducted by regular troops on battlefields, but by raids, ambushes, and surprise attacks.  However, every attack was characterized by utmost brutalilty, carried out without mercy and always with deadly results; and while the number of people killed in each attack might have been small, the incessant nature of these aggressive encounters made violent death an ever-present danger for  every man (and abduction and rape for every woman).

~ Hans Hermann-Hoppe, A Short History of Man: Progress and Decline, pp. 27-28

John Walker reviews Hans-Hermann Hoppe's "A Short History of Man: Progress and Decline"

This short book (144 pages) collects three essays previously published elsewhere which, taken together, present a comprehensive picture of human development from the emergence of modern humans in Africa to the present day. Subtitled “Progress and Decline,” the story is of long periods of stasis, two enormous breakthroughs, with, in parallel, the folly of ever-growing domination of society by a coercive state which, in its modern incarnation, risks halting or reversing the gains of the modern era.

~ John Walker, "Book Review: A Short History of Man," Ricochet, May 20, 2015