Governance—understood as the set of mechanisms aimed at coordinating social life and regulating conflict—has been a constant feature of human existence from the moment people find themselves living in proximity to one another. Far from being an abstract category, it is a tool for peace and prosperity.

It does not follow, however, that political centralization—so prevalent today—is inherent to every form of governance. Political centralization is not new; the state, however, is.

Americans are increasingly unable to afford housing. For many young people, the “American Dream” seems out of reach. In moments of economic frustration, populists on both the Left and Right rush to identify villains.

Left-wing populists like Zohran Mamdani, Hasan Piker, or Bernie Sanders, blame the very wealthy and cite rising wealth and income inequality as the reason why, for example, home prices have soared. Right-wing populists often blame immigrants, arguing that more people inevitably mean more expensive rents and higher home prices.

He spoke with a very thick Sicilian accent. “Ah, young fellow,” he said to Vito. “People tell me you’re rich. You and your two friends. But don’t you think you’ve treated me a little shabbily? After all, this is my neighborhood and you should let me wet my beak.” — The Godfather, Don Fanucci tries to shake down Vito Corleone

In his exhaustive study of the American Revolution, Conceived in Liberty, Murray Rothbard describes the American revolution as the first “successful war of national liberation” and “a people’s war, waged by the majority of Americans having the courage and the zeal to rise up against constituted ‘legitimate’ government, [and throw] off their ‘sovereign.’” How was this liberation to be achieved?