Fusillo on Italy’s Populist Right and Javier Milei

by Stephan Kinsella on June 29, 2025

Longtime PFS speaker¹ Italian legal scholar Alessandro Fusillo (@AlessandroFusi9) appeared on the youtube show below, El Niño Speaks, with very interesting comments about Italy’s Populist Right and also touching on Javier Milei near the end.

The Youtube transcript as cleaned up by Grok is below, as well as a summary. Note Professor Hoppe and others at PFS have also been critical of Milei or debated his performance.² [continue reading…]

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PFP294 | Hans-Hermann Hoppe, Concluding Remarks, Tributes, and Announcements (PFS 2012)

by Stephan Kinsella on May 26, 2025

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 7:51 — 3.0MB)

Property and Freedom Podcast, Episode 294.

Hans-Hermann Hoppe, Concluding Remarks, Tributes, and Announcements.

This lecture is from the 2012 meeting of the Property and Freedom Society. PFS 2012 Playlist.

It was not included previously in the podcast since the video had been lost and I had assumed the audio had also been lost. However, I recently discovered the audio files for two of the speeches as well as Professor Hoppe’s Introductory and Concluding remarks had been preserved, namely those listed below. They are podcast here for the first time.

Hans-Hermann Hoppe (Germany/Turkey), Welcome and Introductions
Karl-Peter Schwarz (Austria), Between Restitution and Re-Expropriation: Desocialization in Eastern Europe
Benjamin Marks (Australia), On H.L. Mencken as a Libertarian Model
Hans-Hermann Hoppe, Concluding Remarks, Tributes, and Announcements

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PFP293 | Benjamin Marks, On H.L. Mencken as a Libertarian Model (PFS 2012)

by Stephan Kinsella on May 26, 2025

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:46 — 7.6MB)

Property and Freedom Podcast, Episode 293.

Benjamin Marks (Australia), On H.L. Mencken as a Libertarian Model.

This lecture is from the 2012 meeting of the Property and Freedom Society. PFS 2012 Playlist. Text of article on which the speech was based is below; docx; pdf. Speech. Transcript also below.

Grok summary of article: H.L. Mencken’s conservatism, as explored in Benjamin Marks’ essay, is a defining trait that sets him apart as a libertarian thinker who held low expectations for societal reform. Unlike typical conservatism, Mencken’s brand is rooted in a deep skepticism of government and religion, viewing them as historically optimistic overreaches that clash with true conservative doubt. He saw many societal problems as insoluble or unlikely to be addressed due to human folly, yet found entertainment in the pretentiousness of events and the futility of reform efforts. His libertarianism was not driven by a desire to convert others but by a commitment to truth, expressed through sharp, clear prose that prioritized self-expression over activism.

Mencken’s approach was neither nihilistic nor despairing; he embraced the world’s flaws with a light-hearted cynicism, finding joy in critiquing its absurdities without expecting change. He believed people’s gullibility and resistance to reason made libertarian ideals unattainable in the near term, a view reinforced by his observations of failed revolutions and reforms that often worsened conditions. Marks argues that Mencken’s consistent, principled stance—free of moral indignation—offers libertarians a radical perspective: not as a competing utopianism, but as a clear-eyed rejection of romantic solutions. His influence, though significant in literature and culture, never popularized libertarianism, underscoring his realism about human nature and societal inertia.

Grok summary of transcript:

Two-Paragraph Summary for Show Notes

0:00–9:00: The speaker begins by expressing gratitude for being invited to the Property and Freedom Society conference, acknowledging the late Neville Kennard, a fervent supporter who passed away in June. Kennard, despite his frail condition, remained passionate about libertarianism, wearing a Rothbard “Enemy of the State” shirt during the speaker’s visit. The speaker introduces the topic, “H.L. Mencken as a Libertarian Model,” contrasting Mencken’s approach with Murray Rothbard’s. Mencken, unlike Rothbard, had no expectations of influencing society, viewing politics as entertainment and government as pathetic yet amusing. His pessimism, rooted in reason, led him to describe himself as a “specialist in human depravity,” focusing on diagnosing societal flaws rather than proposing solutions. This perspective, the speaker argues, is more realistic than Rothbard’s optimistic belief in a long-term libertarian revolution, as outlined in Rothbard’s 1965 essay, which the speaker dismisses as clichéd romanticism.

9:01–19:38: The speaker critiques libertarian optimism by addressing common arguments, such as the internet’s role in spreading libertarian ideas or the belief that economic crises will awaken people to libertarianism. Mencken’s responses, as interpreted by the speaker, highlight counterpoints: easy access to statist propaganda negates the internet’s benefits, and crises often lead to more government intervention. The speaker also challenges the romanticism of Albert J. Nock’s concept of the “remnant,” quoting Nock to show his own pessimism about societal change. Marcus Aurelius is cited to underscore the futility of expecting posthumous recognition. The speaker concludes by suggesting that libertarians can still find joy in critiquing government absurdities, as evidenced by the lively PFS speakers. For optimists, the speaker humorously recommends following Gina Rinehart, a wealthy Australian secessionist, as a potential catalyst for libertarian progress, while emphasizing Mencken’s view that libertarianism is about personal enjoyment, not necessarily societal change.

[continue reading…]

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PFP292 | Karl-Peter Schwarz, Between Restitution and Re-Expropriation: Desocialization in Eastern Europe (PFS 2012)

by Stephan Kinsella on May 26, 2025

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:15 — 16.5MB)

Property and Freedom Podcast, Episode 292.

Karl-Peter Schwarz (Austria), Between Restitution and Re-Expropriation: Desocialization in Eastern Europe.

This lecture is from the 2012 meeting of the Property and Freedom Society. PFS 2012 Playlist.

Transcript and Grok shownotes/summary below.

Two-Paragraph Summary for Show Notes

0:01–15:00: The speaker, invited by Professor Hoppe to the Property and Freedom Society, opens with a reflection on speaking in a “temple of knowledge and liberty,” humorously referencing Roman customs of covering one’s head in temples, except for Kronos, the god of time, who reveals all truths. The talk focuses on historical crimes of expropriation and restitution in post-communist Eastern Europe, challenging the misconception that nationalization was exclusive to communism. The speaker outlines three forms of governmental theft—inflation, taxation, and mass expropriation—emphasizing the latter’s violence and prevalence across the 20th century, from the Balkan Wars to post-World War II population transfers. Specific examples include the expulsion of 3 million Germans from Czechoslovakia under President Beneš’s decrees, which nationalized 80% of the economy by 1948, and the broader displacement of millions across Europe, highlighting that democratic and totalitarian regimes alike engaged in these practices.

15:01–37:12: The speaker critiques the flawed restitution processes in post-communist states, particularly the Czech Republic and Slovenia, where arbitrary time limits (e.g., February 25, 1948, in Czechoslovakia) excluded many legitimate claims. Quoting Murray Rothbard’s Ethics of Liberty, the speaker argues that only restitution to original owners or their heirs upholds justice, yet privatization often benefited former communist elites, fostering oligarchic power structures. Cases like Elisa Fabriova and Prince Kinsky illustrate systemic barriers, with Czech courts and government manipulating legal processes to block aristocratic claims. In Slovenia, Luboš Šeš’s 20-year struggle for restitution yielded minimal recovery, hampered by retroactive laws and biased courts. The speaker concludes that these failures undermine the rule of law, perpetuate corruption, and pose security risks, urging moral clarity despite the unlikelihood of full redress, as time (Kronos) may not deliver justice.

[continue reading…]

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PFP291 | Hans-Hermann Hoppe, Welcome and Introductions (PFS 2012)

by Stephan Kinsella on May 26, 2025

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 6:17 — 2.7MB)

Property and Freedom Podcast, Episode 291.

Hans-Hermann Hoppe (Germany/Turkey), Welcome and Introductions.

This lecture is from the 2012 meeting of the Property and Freedom Society. PFS 2012 Playlist.

It was not included previously in the podcast since the video had been lost and I had assumed the audio had also been lost. However, I recently discovered the audio files for two of the speeches as well as Professor Hoppe’s Introductory and Concluding remarks had been preserved, namely those listed below. They are podcast here for the first time.

Hans-Hermann Hoppe (Germany/Turkey), Welcome and Introductions
Karl-Peter Schwarz (Austria), Between Restitution and Re-Expropriation: Desocialization in Eastern Europe
Benjamin Marks (Australia), On H.L. Mencken as a Libertarian Model
Hans-Hermann Hoppe, Concluding Remarks, Tributes, and Announcements

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Missing Lectures for PFS 2012 Found

by Stephan Kinsella on May 26, 2025

The feed for the Property and Freedom Podcast for lectures from the 2012 meeting of the Property and Freedom Society (PFS 2012 Youtube Playlist) omitted two talks and Professor Hoppe’s Introductory and Concluding remarks since the video had been been corrupted. However, I recently discovered the audio files for these had been preserved, namely those listed below. I have just released them on the Property and Freedom Podcast.

Hans-Hermann Hoppe (Germany/Turkey), Welcome and Introductions [PFP291]
Karl-Peter Schwarz (Austria), Between Restitution and Re-Expropriation: Desocialization in Eastern Europe [PFP292]
Benjamin Marks (Australia), On H.L. Mencken as a Libertarian Model [PFP293]
Hans-Hermann Hoppe, Concluding Remarks, Tributes, and Announcements [PFP294]

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Best 100 Libertarian Podcasts

by Stephan Kinsella on March 24, 2025

Some outfit known as Million Podcasts has produced a list of the Best 100 Libertarian Podcasts, with Property and Freedom Podcast ranking as #32, right after Kinsella on Liberty.

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PFP290 | Hoppe: Considerations and Reflections of a Veteran Reactionary Libertarian (AERC 2025)

by Stephan Kinsella on March 23, 2025

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (66.8MB)

Property and Freedom Podcast, Episode 290.

Bonus podcast episode: Professor Hoppe’s speech, The Ludwig von Mises Memorial Lecture presented at the Mises Institute’s Austrian Economics Research Conference (Fri., March 21, 2025; see Considerations and Reflections of a Veteran Reactionary Libertarian). The transcript is available at Hoppe, Considerations and Reflections of a Veteran Reactionary Libertarian (AERC 2025). In this speech, Professor Hoppe also talked a bit about what he was planning to do in in his PFS 2025 talk later in the year, “Democratic Peace and Re-Education: the German Experience,” 2025 Annual Meeting, Property and Freedom Society, Bodrum, Turkey (Sep. 20, 2025).

Note Professor Hoppe extensively comments on the reaction to his previous criticism of Milei; see Hans-Hermann Hoppe, “Javier Milei” (PFS 2024); Hoppe, “What To Make of Milei,” LewRockwell.com (Oct. 3, 2024); and Kristoffer Mousten Hansen, “Hoppe versus Milei on Central Banking: Breaking Down the Differences,” Mises Wire (Feb. 6, 2025).

He also discusses various other matters, such as the funding of the Frankfurt School by Felix Weil and its influence on Western Europe and on America (and its connection to “wokeism”); US worldwide hegemony since WWII and NATO provocations of Russia after the fall of the USSR, and its role in provoking the Russia-Ukraine conflict; the US role in the Israel-Hamas conflict and the influence of Israel over US policy and the dangerous alliance of the US and American “exceptionalism” paired with Israel’s “Chosen People” image.

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Hoppe’s The Great Fiction in Chinese

by Stephan Kinsella on March 7, 2025

A Chinese translation of The Great Fiction: Property, Economy, Society, and the Politics of Decline (Laissez Faire Books, 2012; second revised edition, Mises Institute, 2021), is now available in a Chinese translation as 自由社会的法律根基 (Feb. 2025) (pdf).

The book was translated by Li San (李三) of the Mises Translation and Compilation Society (米塞斯编译社译丛), a group dedicated to translating and editing the classic works of the Austrian School.

Kinsella’s Legal Foundations of a Free Society in Chinese

by Stephan Kinsella on March 7, 2025

Stephan Kinsella, Legal Foundations of a Free Society (Houston, Texas: Papinian Press, 2023) is now available in a Chinese translation as 自由社会的法律根基 (Feb. 2025) (pdf) (previous draft mentioned here).

The book was translated by Li San (李三) of the Mises Translation and Compilation Society (米塞斯编译社译丛), a group dedicated to translating and editing the classic works of the Austrian School.

PFP289 | Ammous, Polleit, Hoppe, Kinsella, Hülsmann, Discussion, Q&A (PFS 2024)

by Stephan Kinsella on February 24, 2025

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (47.1MB)

Property and Freedom Podcast, Episode 289.

This panel discussion is from the 18th annual 2024 Annual Meeting of the PFS (Sept. 19–24, 2024, Bodrum, Turkey).

Ammous, Polleit, Hoppe, Kinsella, Hülsmann, Discussion, Q&A.

See also Ammous, Polleit, Hoppe, Kinsella, Hülsmann, Discussion, Q&A.

Other talks appear on the Property and Freedom Podcast. Other videos may also be found at the PFS 2024 Youtube Playlist.

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PFP288 | Hans-Hermann Hoppe: “About Natural Order and its Destruction” (PFS 2024)

by Stephan Kinsella on February 17, 2025

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (28.5MB)

Property and Freedom Podcast, Episode 288.

This talk is from the 18th annual 2024 Annual Meeting of the PFS (Sept. 19–24, 2024, Bodrum, Turkey).

Hans-Hermann Hoppe (Germany/Turkey): “About Natural Order and its Destruction”.

Other talks to follow in due course here on the Property and Freedom Podcast. Other videos may also be found at the PFS 2024 Youtube Playlist.

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PFP287 | Thorsten Polleit: “Immanuel Kant’s ‘Enlightenment’—One of the Sharpest Weapons for the Libertarian Fight” (PFS 2024)

by Stephan Kinsella on February 10, 2025

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (22.4MB)

Property and Freedom Podcast, Episode 287.

This talk is from the 18th annual 2024 Annual Meeting of the PFS (Sept. 19–24, 2024, Bodrum, Turkey).

Thorsten Polleit (Germany): “Immanuel Kant’s ‘Enlightenment’—One of the Sharpest Weapons for the Libertarian Fight”.

Other talks to follow in due course here on the Property and Freedom Podcast. Other videos may also be found at the PFS 2024 Youtube Playlist.

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Rothbard, Conceived in Liberty

by Stephan Kinsella on February 9, 2025

Conceived in Liberty

Murray N. Rothbard, Conceived in Liberty, single-volume ed. (Auburn, Ala.: Mises Institute, 2011) (pdf; epub).

Click here for Conceived in Liberty, Volume 5: The New Republic: 1784–1791

There’s never been a better time to remember the revolutionary and even libertarian roots of the American founding, and there’s no better guide to what this means in the narrative of the Colonial period than Murray Rothbard.

For anyone who thinks of Murray Rothbard as only an economic theorist or political thinker, this giant book is something of a surprise. It is probably his least known treatise. It offers a complete history of the Colonial period of American history, a period lost to students today, who are led to believe American history begins with the US Constitution.

Rothbard’s ambition was to shed new light on Colonial history and show that the struggle for human liberty was the heart and soul of this land from its discovery through the culminating event of the American Revolution. These volumes are a tour de force, enough to establish Rothbard as one of the great American historians.

It is a detailed narrative history of the struggle between liberty and power, as we might expect, but it is more. Rothbard offers a third alternative to the conventional interpretive devices. Against those on the right who see the American Revolution as a “conservative” event, and those on the left who want to invoke it as some sort of proto-socialist uprising, Rothbard views this period as a time of accelerating libertarian radicalism. Through this prism, Rothbard illuminates events as never before.

The original four volumes were published in the 1970s, but the odd timing and uneven distribution prevented any kind of large audience. They were beloved only by a few specialists, and sought after by many, thanks to their outstanding reputation. The Mises Institute is pleased to be the publisher of this integrated edition.

This single volume covers the discovery of the Americas and the colonies in the 17th century, the period of “salutary neglect” in the first half of the 18th century, the advance to revolution, from 1760-1775 and the political, military, and ideological history of the revolution and after.

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The Irrepressible Rothbard

by Stephan Kinsella on February 9, 2025

The Irrepressible Rothbard

Murray N. Rothbard, The Irrepressible Rothbard: The Rothbard-Rockwell Report Essays of Murray N. Rothbard (Center for Libertarian Studies, 2000; pdf; epub).

Summing up the work of libertarian economist and historian Murray N. Rothbard (1926–1995) and noting its stunning range, philosopher David Gordon once wondered “if there are really three, four, or five geniuses writing under his name.” The lively essays collected in The Irrepressible Rothbard display one of those geniuses: Rothbard the journalist, cultural critic, political observer, and movement organizer. Even more remarkable, they represent just a fraction of what he wrote in his spare time, for just one publication, and in just the last few years of his life.

His articles combined libertarian antigovernment economics, decentralist local patriotism, antiwar isolation, and a dissident/reactionary cultural outlook that saw the growth of government as the key to the loss of the Old Republic. He defended land-rights groups against environmentalists, citizen militias against gun grabbers, isolationists against imperialists, paleoconservatives against neoconservatives, populists against party regulars, anti–New World Order conspiracy theorists against the establishment, nationalists against internationalist planners, states’ righters against libertarian centralists, the Christian Right against its own leadership, and much more.

These essays show not only Rothbard’s intellectual vigor but the complete joy with which he embraced life, and how his extreme optimism made even the most severe setbacks tolerable. He experienced great disappointments and great successes, but through it all he was heroic, undaunted, and irrepressible.

This volume displays Murray Rothbard’s late political writing as an intellectual model for those who long for liberty, and work for it in our times. This volume’s eighty-five essays address political strategy, war, nationalism, culture, feminism, and much more.

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