The Libertarian Party in the United States is composed of various factions, many of which compete with each other often for prominence within the party. The Libertarian Party is a growing force within U.S. politics, bringing to light new factions and losing old ones as the organization evolves.[1]
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The libertarian wing of the United States Libertarian Party is characterized by the presence of several, distinct factions within its ideological walls.
Minarchists are arguably the ideological backbone of the Libertarian Party, providing much of the party's platform and slogan "Maximum Freedom, Minimum Government".[2][3] Minarchists like Ron Paul of Texas District 14 have been outspoken critics of what they label "big government" and "Statism"[4]
Anarchists have become the main rival faction of the minarchists in the modern Libertarian Party, often clashing with them on practicality vs ideology debates.[5] Anarchists believe that even a small government is undesirable, with many favoring private companies replacing the state in areas such as road ownership, police control, and town hall administration.[6]
The right-wing of the Libertarian Party (not to be confused with right-wing politics in general) has a variety of components to it.
Paleolibertarians are free-market, anti-federal libertarians with culturally conservative views on society. They believe it is the liberty of the national culture to dominate society and freely enforce their cultural beliefs (such as the Minutemen and the church).[7]
Many conservatives have found a new political home in the Libertarian Party, leaving the Republicans to join the ranks of the LP.[8] Some conservatives in the Libertarian Party object to the Bush-supported Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the direction that the Republican Party is heading. Many Tea Party candidates have expressed conservative cultural and social opinions, while still maintaining affiliations with the libertarian and classical liberal ideology.[9]
A socially conservative non-interventionist is also known as a paleoconservative, and lines up with the Constitution Party.
Still others affiliated with this wing of the Libertarian Party support the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are known sometimes as "Libertarian hawks", and are often unpopular with more anti-war/non-interventionist Libertarians.[10]
Although many are turned off by the LP's adherence to American right-libertarian thought, left-libertarians are still a significant faction in party policies. Left-libertarians do not see transnational corporations as the solution to the state, but rather non-profits and voluntary charitable organizations.[11] They are critics of corporatocracy, wage slavery, and the dangers of a increasingly stratified society. Left-libertarians can gravitate between the Democratic Party, Green Party (United States) and Libertarian Party.[12][13]
Unlike the other factions of the Libertarian Party, the centrists are less concerned about ideological perfectionism and more concerned with winning elections. Libertarian-moderate organizations, such as the Libertarian Reform Caucus, have publicly denounced the adherence to such radicalism and rigidity within the party.[14]