paleolibertarian

Paleolibertarianism is a strand of libertarian political thought that attempts to fuse a commitment to individual liberty, private property, and limited government with paleoconservative concerns about culture, tradition, and national sovereignty. Proponents typically advocate free-market economics and civil liberties while also supporting stricter immigration controls, skepticism toward multiculturalism, and a preference for voluntary or community-based social arrangements over centralized government programs.

Origins and context: the term arose in late 20th-century libertarian discourse and is linked to certain circles associated with the Mises Institute and Lew Rockwell, as well as factions within the Ron Paul movement. It is often contrasted with both neoconservatism and liberal-libertarian strains that emphasize broad social liberalism, while sharing opposition to expansive foreign intervention and large, technocratic welfare-state policy.

Policy orientation: paleolibertarians argue for a minimal state that intervenes little in private life and markets, while supporting traditional social norms and strong national borders. Foreign policy tends toward non-interventionism and skepticism of international alliances and institutions. They emphasize private charity and voluntary associations as substitutes for government programs and may defend immigration controls as a matter of cultural cohesion and national sovereignty. Critics contend that the fusion of libertarian economics with social traditionalism can be inconsistent or coercive, particularly on issues such as immigration or cultural regulation. Proponents argue that voluntary, non-coercive social arrangements can better preserve liberty and social order without centralized power.