RER Bonus Edition – What is Agorism?

Purpose

To explain the concepts of Agorists, Counter-Economics, and Agorism and their roots in the
Non-Aggression Principle. Additionally, to explain the differences between SEK3 agorism and
Second Realm activities.

Background

While there may be valid objections to agorism, many of the objections are rooted in a
straw man version of agorism. The straw man version probably exists because it is difficult
(or, at least, not common) to distill agorism into a coherent elevator speech. Unfortunately,
many people who consider themselves agorists or are proponents of agorism lend credence to
the straw man version and/or actively propagate it.

The straw man version of agorism is basically, “the purpose of agorism is to destroy the state
by only doing business on the black market and not voting.”

Non-Aggression Principle

• The non-aggression principle is the axiomatic statement that aggression is inherently illegitimate.
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-aggression_principle

  The non-aggression principle (also called the non-aggression axiom, the anti-coercion
  principle, the zero aggression principle, the non-initiation of force, ZAP, or NAP)
  is a moral stance which asserts that aggression is inherently illegitimate. Aggression,
  for the purposes of the NAP, is defined as the initiation or threatening of violence
  against a person or legitimately owned property of another. Specifically, any unsolicited
  actions of others that physically affect an individual’s property or person (which may
  also be considered that person’s property), no matter if the result of those actions
  is damaging, beneficial, or neutral to the owner, are considered violent or aggressive
  when they are against the owner’s free will and interfere with his right to
  self-determination or the principle of self-ownership. Supporters of NAP often use it
  to demonstrate the immorality of theft, vandalism, assault, and fraud. In contrast to
  pacifism, the non-aggression principle does not preclude violence used in self-defense
  or defense of others (not sure if pacifism should be mentioned here; pacifism refers to
  such a wide range of principles – many of which do support self-defense).

• NAP is an individual statement

  • “_I_ will not initiate force or fraud against persons or property.
  • No one can be forced to accept the NAP.

Agorists

• Agorists are individuals who structure their personal relationships, to the extent
  possible, to interact with other individuals who adhere to the NAP by word and deed.
  (does the NAP cover “word” outside of contract (which would be deed)?)
  • In addition to the normal benefits of personal relationships, agorist relationships
    have an additional positive value – a mutual appreciation of the NAP.
  • While not deterministic, someone who has a demonstrated history of non-aggression is
    more likely not to be an aggressor in the future.

Counter-Economics

• Counter-Economics is a method of structuring contracts and business transactions to
  specifically exclude the state as a third party.
  • Reduce or eliminate dead weight loss or parasite drag due to the state.
  • Introduces a separate risk premium.
  • A transaction demonstrates that, ex ante, both parties judged the value of the
    transaction, including the parasite drag reduction and risk premium, to be beneficial.

Agorism

• Agorism is a theory outlined by Samuel E. Konkin III in “The New Libertarian Manifesto”
  about a possible outcome of widespread adoption of counter-economic methods.
  • Agorism: the goal
  • Counter-Economics: the means
  • Revolution: the strategy
  • Action!: the tactics

Inaccuracies and misbeliefs

• “Agorism is a strategy to smash the state.”
• “Agorists can be subjected to an agorist purity test.”
• “Agorism ideologically binds agorists to non-voting.”
• “Counter-Economics means doing business on the black market.”
  (depends on the definition of ‘black market’…)
• “Agorism is a subset/strategy for/practical application of anarcho-capitalism”
• “Counter-Economics is a tax-free flea market.”
• “Agorism is going ‘off-the-grid.’”

The Second Realm

• Autonomy and Temporary Autonomous Zones
• Whereas the NAP is the individual granting liberty to all others, the Second Realm
  is the individual simultaneously grasping liberty for themselves
• Second Realm is also about inviting others into a non-coercive lifestyle by building
  and maintaining areas in which non-coercive institutions/cultural-systems exist.