World History

Valiant Hearts is the rare game that combines engaging gameplay with a compelling narrative and a strongly anti-war message.

Full-on anti-capitalism is again fashionable. The supporters of the latest surge in socialist sympathy relies on the idea that socialism can better deliver a decent standard of living. But without functioning markets, such a goal will prove impossible.

Murray Rothbard discusses the veil of sanctity that has been wrapped around Gandhi by his numerous disciples and exposes his thoughts to the rigors of individual freedom and genuine civil disobedience.

Recorded at the Mises Institute in Auburn, Alabama, on 22 July 2015.

Recorded at the Mises Institute in Auburn, Alabama, on 21 July 2015.

Surprisingly, Marx and Lenin were occasionally insightful when it came to the problems and consequences of fiat money in the economy. In principle, they opposed unbacked currency. But of course, once communists seized political power, those principles went right out the window.

Mises had diagnosed these problems long before they became apparent.  In a series of essays written between the two World Wars—but also in Omnipotent Government published in 1944—, Mises showed that in a world where governments interfere in their domestic markets, and with the monetary system, and where (economic) nationalism prevails, it is pointless to hope for any political and economic resolution from supranational organizations. The best these institutions can do is prolong the disastrous effects of government policies, and postpone—though loans and bailouts—their inevitable collapse.

Sardinia has a long history of agitating for secession from Italy. Now some Sardinians want to secede form Italy in order to become a new region of Switzerland. Ludwig von Mises defended this "secede-and-join" tactic and called it "self-determination."

Pope Francis's two major writings as pope are marked by a relentless pessimism and a world view in which human institutions such as markets are constantly making life worse and worse. This view, however, is not supported by the facts.

Celebrate Star Wars Day: Here Are My Review/Previews of the Prequels. It's All About the Battle of Ideas!