Anarchy Unbound
Why Self-Governance Works Better Than You Think

In Anarchy Unbound, Peter T. Leeson uses rational choice theory to explore the benefits of self-governance.

Peter T. Leeson (Author)

9781107025806, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 14 April 2014

270 pages, 4 b/w illus. 5 tables
23.1 x 15.2 x 2 cm, 0.57 kg

'Persuasive arguments for a state of anarchy.' Morning Star

In Anarchy Unbound, Peter T. Leeson uses rational choice theory to explore the benefits of self-governance. Relying on experience from the past and present, Professor Leeson provides evidence of anarchy 'working' where it is least expected to do so and explains how this is possible. Provocatively, Leeson argues that in some cases anarchy may even outperform government as a system of social organization, and demonstrates where this may occur. Anarchy Unbound challenges the conventional self-governance wisdom. It showcases the incredible ingenuity of private individuals to secure social cooperation without government and how their surprising means of doing so can be superior to reliance on the state.

1. Anarchy unbound
Part I. Self-Governance and the Problem of Social Diversity: 2. Social distance and self-enforcing exchange
3. The laws of lawlessness
Part II. Self-Governance and the Problem of Violence: 4. Trading with bandits
5. Efficient plunder
Part III. Social-Governance and the Problem of 'Bad Apples': 6. Pirates' private order
7. Criminal constitutions
Part IV. Self-Governance as Superior to the State: 8. Efficient anarchy
9. Better off stateless
10. An argument for anarchy in LDCs
11. A future for thinking about self-governance.

Subject Areas: Political economy [KCP], Macroeconomics [KCB], Economics [KC], Sociology [JHB]