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Libertarian authoritarianism, orlibertarian-authoritarian, is term used to describe apolitical spectrum and dimension that spanslibertarianism, which valuesfreedom, andauthoritarianism, which rejectspolitical pluralism. In the 2010s and 2020s, it has been used to describe a dichotomy,political theory, and political formation that merges aspects of bothright-libertarianism and authoritarianism. The spectrum is recognized inBritish politics, and the theory considersAmerican andEuropean politics.
In the 1990s, theBritish Journal of Sociology published research studyingleft–right and libertarian–authoritarian values, describing them as "two core dimensions of masspolitical belief", and determining that the spectrum has "for several years formed sections of theBritish Social Attitude Survey".[1] TheEuropean Journal of Political Research also studied the dimension within the United Kingdom, regarding its influence inConservative Party elections from 1979–1987.[2] In 2005, in asserting that the British electorate has become more libertarian in recent decades, political scientist,James Tilley, described libertarian-authoritarianism as being "two major value dimensions in British politics".[3] In 2021, afterBrexit and regarding the perceived rise ofpopulism,Cornell International Affairs Review published research discussing libertarian-authoritarian as a dichotomy within the Conservative Party. The review theorized the utility of further study to determine whether the dichotomy could be "useful in understanding contemporary or historical political realignments".[4]
In the United States, theMises Caucus that took control of theLibertarian Party in 2022, has widely been criticized by Libertarian Party members and activists for introducingright-wing authoritarian aspects into the party.[5] During the2024 United States presidential election, members of the Mises Caucus including caucus founder and former chairMichael Heise and then-chair of the Libertarian PartyAngela McArdle opted to personally endorseDonald Trump over the Libertarian Party’s own presidential nomineeChase Oliver.[6] In a move that was heavily controversial within the party, chairwoman McArdle invited Trump to speak at2024 Libertarian National Convention.[7]
In 2018, political scientistWendy Brown, summarized libertarian authoritarianism as "a novel political formation that is an inadvertent effect ofneoliberal rationality" within the context of American politics,right-wing populism, and as part of "a further reconfiguration of neoliberalism".[8]
In 2023, theNew Statesman described the fundamental basis of libertarian authoritarianism to be based in "post-truth politics", and that in thelate-modern era believers validate their opinions "withproto-scientific evidence, rumours,conspiracy theories andfake news". The British magazine described neoliberalism as an additional factor contributing towards the recent rise of the ideology, with modern adheres to the ideology includingPeter Thiel,Elon Musk, andJavier Milei, having merged their libertarianism with their "authoritarian tendencies".[9]
In 2025,Jacobin defined libertarian authoritarians as those who believe in the abolition of the democratic state, on the basis of its restrictions on individual freedoms, and "consider the democratic state itself, the authorities and their regulations, to be invasive and harmful".[10] The theory has also been referenced by theJournal of European Public Policy within the framework ofGerman politics and theCOVID-19 protests.[11]
