The Myth of National Defense
Theoretically, each property owner—and in particular each landowner—might choose to set up a different set of rules that the users of his property (land) have to respect.11 Let us notice in this context that even if I rejected a government only in thought and obeyed it merely out of prudence, this would already be “originary secession” since my brains are undoubtedly part of my property. The government would then no longer control my thoughts, and its control of my behavior would also be diminished. Even if the ultimate goal of a secessionist movement is the liberation of an integrated territory, the establishment of isolated secessionist strongholds is a first step. Such territorial islands are usually dependent on the exchange of goods and services with other territories. The secessionists are therefore compelled to abolish trade barriers and adopt free-market policies. In so doing, they provide a living example for the beneficial operation of purely voluntary forms of social organization. Since this is the best conceivable advertisement for the idea they stand for, secessionist islands are likely to attract ever more territories to adopt their model and thus close the gaps on the political map.12
BENEFITS OF SECESSION Before dealing with questions relating to the realization of secessionist urges, let us point out two major advantages of political reform by secession. First, by its very nature, secession does not transform, but abolishes, hegemonic bonds. All other types of political reform keep these bonds intact and merely modify the way the ruler uses his power. Core organizations like the army, the police
11See
Rothbard, For A New Liberty, chap. 12; Hoppe, “Private Production of Defense”; Werner Habermehl, “Ein Versuch über Monarchie,” eigentümlich frei 8 (April 1999): 271 ff. 12See Hoppe, “Economic and Political Rationale for European Secessionism.” 378