Free Talk Live

Many voluntaryists have looked longingly toward Somalia for evidence of our ideas in practice. But it’s a little tough when that real-world example also happens to be the quintessential image of extreme poverty and feuding warlords for most people. Nonetheless, Somalia has improved by virtually every measure of standard of living without a state. Michael van Notten’s book "The Law of the Somalis" describes Somalia’s stateless legal tradition. As Africa explodes into populist movements demanding Western-style democracy, I’d like to argue, as van Notten did, that a superior indigenous alternative is nestled right in their backyard.