A libertarian country in the middle of the ocean?
April 28, 2008 by Abhishek
This is one of the most interesting ideas I have seen in a while.
Needless to say, I am excited. Yet a part of me tells me that it will result in something like what one commenter predicts:
It sounds like a great idea, seeing as anyone with a boat could hook up to whichever jurisdiction they wanted, giving them that almost zero cost of movement.
However, I guarantee–guarantee–that as soon as stuff like this was set up and people were going for drug holidays and cocaine was being moved through them and weapons were sold willy-nilly and gambling and prostitution and all of it, the big countries would just get together and come up with an Oppression Pact, change the maritime laws, and shut it all down.
Interesting idea. Goa already has its floating casino that saves a trip to Kathmandu for some people.
There is one problem that will always crop up in any such idea, and it is not related to the state - it will attract the worst possible members of society which will drive the others away. While there is a section of libertarians that believe in anarchy, competitive government and private security and courts, I doubt how such institutions will function.
If you consider the naxal-infested districts of India today, they are basically a form of anarchy - the government has withdrawn and the naxals rule with an iron fist. If any experiment in anarcho-capitalism has to succeed, you have to try it in the real world - a world where violence is a given.
A libertarian society can only function if accompanied by a strong law and order system (in order to protect the freedoms guaranteed by law). Obviously, an anachist society will collapse. I presume whoever is behind this project is aware of this.