Murray Rothbard pointed out that there is no infallible strategy for social change nor any magic formula; it is not an exact science, it is an art, but like art, it can also be discussed, although it probably cannot be proven until it is applied. For this author, a fundamental element is what has today been called the "cultural battle".
Many among those involved in the world of ideas in one way or another, whether as politicians, academics, or journalists, often refer to it as a "battle of ideas." The metaphor is clear, but it is not complete.
It is true that in the world of ideas, they confront each other; the ideas of freedom against those of paternalism, authoritarianism, dirigisme, populism; but a battle is ultimately a clash between two sides, where there is usually a winner and a loser. Since politics is about the control of an apparatus, that of the State, which is by definition monopolistic.
The most prominent economists of the 20th century have pointed out the importance of ideas to explain the policies applied and the evolution of societies. Famous is the quote from John Maynard Keynes in the Final Notes of his General Theory, where he says that economists, who believe themselves to be practical men free from any intellectual influence, are slaves to some dead economist. It is ideas, not interests, that ultimately determine the course, for better or for worse.
The Libertarian Utopia
Ludwig von Mises dedicates an entire chapter of his work Human Action (chap. X) titled "The Role of Ideas," in which he states that society is the product of human action guided by ideologies, understanding these as the totality of doctrines related to individual behavior and social relations as well as doctrines about the "ought to be," about the ends that man should pursue.
In the same year that Mises published his magnum opus, F. A. Hayek published his article on intellectuals and socialism, which begins by stating that in all democratic countries, the belief prevails that the influence of intellectuals on politics is insignificant. It is true to the extent that they could influence popular voting, but over longer periods they may never have had as great an influence as they did at the time he was writing, a power they exert by shaping public opinion. Has this changed with today's social media?
Finally, Milton & Rose Friedman present their version of this same theory, stating that a significant change in social and economic policy is preceded by a change in the climate of intellectual opinion, which may begin in one country, but if it is lasting, it ends up spreading worldwide. At first, they have little impact, but they can then spread quickly until they reach their peak and begin to decline, countered by currents that are often a reaction to the consequences of those ideas, which will inevitably tend not to achieve all that they have promised. Young entrepreneurs will seek new paths by exploring new concepts and generating a new current, which will follow a similar cycle.
Many refer to this world as a battle, in which some ideas confront others. It is clear that, given the complexity of the issue at hand, it is appropriate to use some metaphor to describe it. Economics has always done so. No metaphor is as apt as the invisible hand. The image of a battle emphasizes the confrontational nature of different ideas and promotes the fervor of those involved in it; in that sense, it plays a very important role. If we have a battle for freedom before us, we will be willing to make significant efforts and sacrifices to achieve victory.
Until now, we have been influenced by the waves coming from other seas: we adopted liberal ideas in the 19th century and statist ideas in the 20th century as a result of fascist or communist influences adorned by regional populism.
Could it be that now it is different? That instead of receiving waves from outside, the wave starts here? That the libertarian wave begins in Argentina and spreads to the rest of the world? Something seems to be happening in Latin America with new governments that, while not libertarian, may be more or less close to those ideas. Is this the moment in history when Argentina illuminated the world by recovering values that the West has abandoned?
