This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Gazpacho (talk | contribs) at 04:23, 23 July 2005. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 04:23, 23 July 2005 by Gazpacho (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
The Ludwig von Mises Institute is a foundation, based in Auburn, Alabama, dedicated to research on economics and political economy. It subscribes to a view of government and economics inspired by the Austrian School economist Ludwig von Mises. The Institute's founder and current president is Llewellyn Rockwell Jr. Murray Rothbard was a major influence on the Institute's activities, and he served as its vice president until his death in 1995.
The Institute's goal is to "undermine statism in all its forms." It opposes both communism and the American System school of economics. The Institute runs various seminars and a comprehensive Web site aimed at teaching about the Austrian School of Economics. In addition, it funds scholarly research in the area of Austrian Economics all over the world through various endowments and fellowships.
In addition to its commentary on Austrian economics, the Institute frequently criticizes Abraham Lincoln, supports a right of secession, and takes a critical view of all U.S. government activities, foreign and domestic, in American history. Unlike some neoconservative organizations, the paleolibertarian Institute takes an antiwar, anti-interventionist stand on American foreign policy, and considers war to be an ultimate violation of rights to life, liberty, and property, for Americans and foreigners, with destructive effects on the market economy and empowering effects for the government. The Mises Institute's website offers a large number of writings in support of individualism, and explicitly critical of collectivism, fascism, socialism, and communism. An upcoming seminar, for example, explicitly condemns fascism.
Dispute with the Southern Poverty Law Center
 | The neutrality of this section is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Citing some mutual affiliations between the Institute and the League of the South, the liberal Southern Poverty Law Center alleges the Mises Institute to be a Neo-confederate organization. . Its web site is frequently critical of Abraham Lincoln's handling of the American Civil War, and frequently supports a right of secession.
As with many political activities involving the SPLC, the group's application of the "neo-confederate" label is controversial and has been denounced as defamatory. Several Ludwig von Mises Institute affiliates have denounced the organization for making allegations that they deem irresponsible and for playing the race card. Myles Kantor has denounced the SPLC, stating that it engages in fear mongering and the smearing of legitimate, non-racist groups in pursuit of profitable financial contributions and ideological goal. According to Kantor, the SPLC's labelling tactics make the "egregious" and "defamatory" implications that "the Center for the Study of Popular Culture and Mises Institute seek to restore Hitlerian policies." Gail Jarvis, writing for Rockwell's website, accuses the SPLC's Morris Dees of using scare tactics including "hate group" labelling to solicit and accumulate financial contributions. Tibor Machan asserts that the SPLC and Dees are "not fighting poverty but they were a major threat against the First Amendment and the presumption of innocence in our criminal justice system." Karen DeCoster writes that Dees and the SPLC "have made zillions from anti-free speech, anti-free press hate campaigns" by making false allegations of racism.
Individuals associated with the Mises Institute
- Lew Rockwell, President
- Patricia Barnett, Vice-President
- Jeffrey Tucker, Editorial Vice-President
- Hans-Hermann Hoppe, Distinguished Fellow, former Editor, Journal of Libertarian Studies
- Mark Thornton
- Thomas DiLorenzo
- Walter Block
- Jeffrey M. Herbener
- Joe Salerno
- David Gordon, Editor, Mises Review
- Roderick Long, Editor, Journal of Libertarian Studies
- Stephan Kinsella, former Book Review Editor, Journal of Libertarian Studies
- Justin Raimondo
- Gene Callahan
- Myles Kantor
External links
- About the mission, history, activities, and faculty of the Mises Institute
- The Ludwig von Mises Institute