Interventionist Non-Interventionism

 The concept of interventionist non-interventionism highlights a paradox within the role of government in modern society. While many libertarians and conservatives criticize government intervention in both domestic and foreign issues, they often overlook a unique form of intervention where the government monopolizes services, imposes taxes, and yet fails to provide the promised services.

1. Intervention and Non-Interventionism

• The term "intervention" is frequently used by libertarians to describe how governments disrupt voluntary interactions and engage in unnecessary foreign involvement.

• Commonly, a non-interventionist stance is preferred, arguing that many issues arise from past government actions, which could be resolved by refraining from further interference.

2. The Interventionist Paradigm

• Society tends to view government action as necessary; there is a prevailing belief that not intervening during problems would lead to disaster.

• Historical misinterpretations, such as the unfair labeling of President Herbert Hoover as the "do-nothing president" during the Great Depression, illustrate how interventionist actions are often misrepresented.

3. Contributions from Mises and Rothbard

• Economists like Ludwig von Mises and Murray Rothbard have critiqued interventionism extensively. Rothbard specifically categorized interventions based on their nature, highlighting that most intervention occurs through state actions, as only the state can legally use violence.

4. Rothbard’s Taxonomy of Intervention

• Rothbard identified three intervention types:

• Autistic: Direct violent actions without exchanges, such as murder.

• Binary: Forced exchanges between an aggressor and a victim, similar to theft.

• Triangular: Prohibits or compels exchanges between two parties.

5. Interventionist Non-Intervention

• This new concept refers to when the government monopolizes certain services while imposing taxes and simultaneously failing to deliver these services.

• This scenario is a form of coercive intervention because it involves the government claiming authority over services, demanding payment through taxes, which, in effect, restricts alternatives and voluntary actions from citizens.

6. Analyzing Interventionist Non-Intervention

• Interventionist non-intervention can be seen as a combination of Rothbard’s binary and triangular interventions; it forces payment for services not rendered while stifling private competition.

• A key characteristic is the monopolization of services, where the government’s failure to act is a higher-order form of intervention as it controls the market while providing no service.

7. Implications of Bureaucracy

• Mises's work indicates that the guarantee of government revenues protects it from market forces, allowing it to charge for services that are never delivered, a privilege not allowed to private businesses.

• This phenomenon showcases the unique nature of government in that it can extract money for non-delivery, reflecting a failure of accountability.

The concept of interventionist non-interventionism reveals a complex relationship between government action and inaction. It underscores the issue of monopolization by state authorities who impose taxes while failing to fulfill their service promises, representing a unique and critical form of intervention that undermines citizen freedom and market efficacy. 

https://mises.org/mises-wire/interventionist-non-interventionism