Food for Thought

Under capitalism, war is the continuation of corporate competition by other means, socialists claim. There is a direct connection between capitalism, crisis and war. Liberals are convinced that the opposite is true: crises and wars arise precisely when the state becomes too powerful and interferes too much in economic life. According to them, it is protectionist industrial policies that increase the likelihood of war: “If goods don’t cross borders, soldiers will.” (Frédéric Bastiat) So which is true? Is interventionism or a free economic system to blame for wars? What should be done to reduce the risk of wars? These questions were discussed at the LI Conversation held in Zurich on February 28, 2023. Yaron Brook, President of the Ayn Rand Institute, was the guest speaker.