The Importance of Fellow Travelers
Fellow
travelers are often treated as annoying gadflies, whose only effect is to
distract the hard core of a group. However, they serve in a number of
underappreciated roles. In the Austrian case, they help to bridge the gap
between the mainstream and the Austrian school. Economists like Leland Yeager,
who sympathizes with market process theory, can make a marginalized movement
appear more respectable to the mainstream.They can also help bridge gaps and
create dialogue between different heterodox movements. For example, Theodore
Burczak has recently attempted to synthesize Marx and Hayek, provoking
conversation between Marxist and Austrian economists. Most importantly, such
people help prevent groupthink and insularity within a school of thought.