minarchism

Minarchism is a political philosophy within libertarianism that advocates a government minimal in scope, with its legitimate functions limited to protecting individual rights. A minarchist state would provide national defense, police, and a formal judicial system to enforce contracts, adjudicate disputes, and protect property rights, while refraining from intervening in most social or economic affairs.

The term contrasts with anarcho-capitalism, which seeks to eliminate the state altogether. While there is no single founder, minarchism is a common position in libertarian debates. Robert Nozick’s Anarchy, State, and Utopia argued for a minimal state that arises from and remains within a narrow set of protective functions; by contrast, Murray Rothbard’s broader libertarian project argues for the abolition of the state. Thus, minarchism is often described as a “night-watchman” state.

Policy and practice: funding comes through taxation or other mechanisms to sustain defense, police, and courts; non-defended services, such as education or welfare, are typically left to private markets or voluntary associations. Proponents argue the minimal state best preserves freedom and reduces coercion, while critics contend it cannot reliably provide public goods, regulate markets to prevent abuses, or address inequality.

History and debates: rooted in classical liberal thought and modern libertarianism, with ongoing discussions about feasibility, transition, and the balance between security and liberty. See also libertarianism, minimal state, anarcho-capitalism, Nozick, Rothbard.