1881-1973: Ludwig von Mises Bibliography

LUDWIG VON MISES (1881-1973)

Liberalism [The Free and Prosperous Commonwealth]

This is Mises's most political book, which describes in some detail proposals in line with the classical liberal doctrine he supports. A key statement of his underlying philosophy is "Man has only one tool with which to fight error-reason." Classical liberal policies represent the attempt to apply reason to political affairs. Specifically, a complete free market offers the best chance for peaceful relations among nations. Mises criticizes immigration barriers as an especially severe cause of intemational tension. Workers in countries which pay low wages have a definite grievance against restrictionist immigration policies.

Further, a free market is the only way to solve the vexing nationalities problem that bedeviled European politics during the 1920s and 1930s. Here, national groups joined in a given country found themselves in continual struggle. The reason for this is that if a group assumed control of the government, interventionist policies would enable it to discriminate against the members of competing groups. The solution is a noninterventionist government: then it will not matter much who assumes the reins of power. Public education, because of the conflicts it must engender, also cannot be allowed.

Mises strongly supports the right of self-determination for the members of minority groups: even the smallest group possesses the right of secession. The benefits of an unhindered pursuit of classical liberalism are presented in glowing terms in the book's concluding chapters: they have something of a utopian quality to them.

In another side of his multifarious personality, however, Mises was firmly realistic in his assessment of contemporary affairs. He reveals, e.g., a strong distrust of Russia, as well as a more favorable treatment of the Italian government than one might have expected.

Ludwig von Mises:
An Annotated Bibliography
David Gordon