The Classical Liberal Theory of Empire

Mises in 1919

The Anti-Imperialist League and the Battle Against Empire

A Libertarian Gallop Through American History

A Libertarian Gallop Through American History

Is Voluntary Government Possible? (video)

The Truth about the Great Depression (video)

Labor Market Superstitions (video)

The Myth of Natural Monopoly (video)

How States Fall and Liberty Triumphs

A Century of War

A Century of War John V. Denson The Twentieth Century: An Austrian Critique

The Issue of Tariffs: How U.S. Revenue Collection Was Turned Inside-Out

Brown Bag Seminar, Mises Institute; May 19, 2005. The handouts from this lecture are available for Download (in PDF). [58:57]

The Road to Serfdom

Finally, here is an edition of Road to Serfdom that does justice to its monumental status in the history of liberty. It contains a foreword by the editor of the Hayek Collected Works, Bruce Caldwell. Caldwell has added helpful explanatory notes and citation corrections, among other improvements. For this reason, the publisher decided to call this "the definitive edition." It truly is.

This spell-binding book is a classic in the history of liberal ideas. It was singularly responsible for launching an important debate on the relationship between political and economic freedom. It made the author a world-famous intellectual. It set a new standard for what it means to be a dissident intellectual. It warned of a new form of despotism enacted in the name of liberation. And though it appeared in 1944, it continues to have a remarkable impact. No one can consider himself well-schooled in modern political ideas without having absorbed its lessons.

What F.A. Hayek saw, and what most all his contemporaries missed, was that every step away from the free market and toward government planning represented a compromise of human freedom generally and a step toward a form of dictatorship--and this is true in all times and places. He demonstrated this against every claim that government control was really only a means of increasing social well-being. Hayek said that government planning would make society less liveable, more brutal, more despotic. Socialism in all its forms is contrary to freedom.

Nazism, he wrote, is not different in kind from Communism. Further, he showed that the very forms of government that England and America were supposedly fighting abroad were being enacted at home, if under a different guise. Further steps down this road, he said, can only end in the abolition of effective liberty for everyone.

Capitalism, he wrote, is the only system of economics compatible with human dignity, prosperity, and liberty. To the extent we move away from that system, we empower the worst people in society to manage what they do not understand.

The beauty of this book is not only in its analytics but in its style, which is unrelenting and passionate. Even today, the book remains a source of controversy. Socialists who imagine themselves to be against dictatorship cannot abide his argument, and they never stop attempting to refute it.

Misesians might find themselves disappointed that Hayek did not go far enough, and made too many compromises in the course of his argument. Even so, anyone who loves liberty cannot but feel a sense of gratitude that this book exists and remains an important part of the debate today.

The Mises Institute was honored that Hayek served as a founding member of our board of advisers, and is very pleased to offer this book again to a world that desperately needs to hear its message.

Harry Truman and the Imperial Presidency

[43:26]

Rethinking Churchill

[32:12]

Free Speech and Dissent During Wartime

Free Speech and Dissent During Wartime John V. Denson

Free Speech and Dissent During Wartime

Free Speech and Dissent During Wartime John V. Denson

Creating the Next Great Depression

Creating the Next Great Depression Various Artists Economic Downturn: Cause and Cure

Creating the Next Great Depression

Creating the Next Great Depression Various Artists Economic Downturn: Cause and Cure

Applying Economics to American History

Applying Economics to American History Various Artists Economics for High School Students

Applying Economics to American History

Applying Economics to American History Various Artists Economics for High School Students

The Founding Fathers of Monetary Destruction

The Founding Fathers of Monetary Destruction Various Artists Depression, Monetary Destruction, and the Path to Sound Money

Smashing Myths and Restoring Sound Money

Smashing Myths and Restoring Sound Money Various Artists Depression, Monetary Destruction, and the Path to Sound Money

Keynesian Predictions vs. American History

The Mises Circle in Houston, Texas; 23 January 2010. Sponsored by Jeremy S. Davis.

Keynesian Predictions vs. American History

The Mises Circle in Houston, Texas; 23 January 2010. Sponsored by Jeremy S. Davis.

The Private Supply of Money

The Private Supply of Money, presented by Prorfessor George A. Selgin, author of Good Money, a history of private coinage in Britain during the industrial revolution. He explains that the total privatization of money is not a far-flung idea but rather an

The Private Supply of Money

The Private Supply of Money, presented by Prorfessor George A. Selgin, author of Good Money, a history of private coinage in Britain during the industrial revolution. He explains that the total privatization of money is not a far-flung idea but rather an

The Biggest Lies about Recessions and War

Mark Thornton talks about the Biggest Lies about Recessions and War, at the Prosperity, War & Depression seminar.

The Myth of US Government Benevolence

Joseph R. Stromberg discusses the Myth of US Government Benevolence at the Prosperity,  War & Depression seminar.

2. The Christian Middle Ages

2. The Christian Middle Ages Various Artists Economic Thought Before Adam Smith

2. The Christian Middle Ages (continued)

2. The Christian Middle Ages (continued) Various Artists Economic Thought Before Adam Smith

Mercantilism as the Economic Aspect of Absolutism

This audio version of the Mises Daily was read by Jeff Riggenbach. Murray N. Rothbard (1926–1995) was dean of the Austrian School. He was an economist, economic historian, and libertarian political philosopher.

Jean Bodin: Apex of Absolutist Thought in France

This audio version of the Mises Daily was read by Jeff Riggenbach. Murray N. Rothbard (1926–1995) was dean of the Austrian School. He was an economist, economic historian, and libertarian political philosopher.

The Skeptic as Absolutist: Michel de Montaigne

This audio version of the Mises Daily was read by Jeff Riggenbach. Murray N. Rothbard (1926–1995) was dean of the Austrian School. He was an economist, economic historian, and libertarian political philosopher.

War and Inflation: Financing the Empire

Phoenix, Arizona; 10 April 2010. Includes an introduction by Douglas E. French.

War and Inflation: Financing the Empire

Phoenix, Arizona; 10 April 2010. Includes an introduction by Douglas E. French.

Five Best Books on the Current Crisis

Five Best Books on the Current Crisis Various Artists Economic Downturn: Cause and Cure

Five Best Books on the Current Crisis

Five Best Books on the Current Crisis Various Artists Economic Downturn: Cause and Cure

13. The Suppression of the Tories Begins

Pages 65-70 in the text, as read by Dr. Floy Lilley. From Part 2, "Suppresing Tories."

12. New York Fumbles in the Crisis

Pages 58-61 in the text, as read by Dr. Floy Lilley. From Part 1, "The War Begins."

11. The New Postal System

Pages 56-57 in the text, as read by Dr. Floy Lilley. From Part 1, "The War Begins."

10. The Second Bank of the United States, 1816-1833

From 'A History of Money and Banking in the United States: The Colonial Era to World War II'. Read by Matthew Mezinskis.

9. The War of 1812 and Its Aftermath

From 'A History of Money and Banking in the United States: The Colonial Era to World War II'. Read by Matthew Mezinskis.

8. The First Bank of the United States, 1791-1811

From 'A History of Money and Banking in the United States: The Colonial Era to World War II'. Read by Matthew Mezinskis.

7. The United States: Bimetallic Coinage

From 'A History of Money and Banking in the United States: The Colonial Era to World War II'. Read by Matthew Mezinskis.

6. The Bank of North America

From 'A History of Money and Banking in the United States: The Colonial Era to World War II'. Read by Matthew Mezinskis.

Giovanni Botero: The First Malthusian

This audio version of the Mises Daily was read by Jeff Riggenbach. Murray N. Rothbard (1926–1995) was dean of the Austrian School. He was an economist, economic historian, and libertarian political philosopher.

5. Revolutionary War Finance

From 'A History of Money and Banking in the United States: The Colonial Era to World War II'. Read by Matthew Mezinskis.

4. Private Bank Notes

From 'A History of Money and Banking in the United States: The Colonial Era to World War II'. Read by Matthew Mezinskis.

3. Government Paper Money

From 'A History of Money and Banking in the United States: The Colonial Era to World War II'. Read by Matthew Mezinskis.