Toward a Libertarian Strategy for Academic Change: The Movement Building of Peter Boettke

Abstract

Murray Rothbard (1977) maintained that libertarian social change requires a libertarian cadre both committed to principle and willing to engage others to help advance the cause. This article applies this theory to academia and highlights the contribution of a professor who best exemplifies what can be classified as the centrist or movement-building approach to libertarian academic change, Peter Boettke. This article focuses on Peter Boettke’s efforts to increase the number of academics advancing liberty and then highlights some of his contributions.

Keywords: Social change; Academic strategy; Investment in education

JEL Classification: B31, B25, A13