National Libertarian
Barry Goldwater, in 'Conscience of a Conservative,' advocated for limited government, low taxes, and deregulation while promoting a strong national defense. He opposed federal overreach in domestic affairs but upheld nationalist foreign policy stances, particularly anti-communism. While emphasizing individual liberties, his vision included securing borders and protecting national interests, blending libertarian economic ideals with patriotic governance.
What it believes
A minimal state with a maximal border: libertarian at home — low taxes, gun rights, free speech, free enterprise — but the nation guarded hard: sovereignty, restricted immigration, and no global entanglements.
The appeal
It matches how a large bloc of actual voters thinks — government off my back, but a country that is still mine — a combination the pure cells on either side keep calling incoherent while it keeps winning primaries.
Where it breaks
The border state is not small: walls, databases, deportation forces, and surveillance are big government aimed at movement, and the cell's liberty ends conspicuously at the checkpoint — the incoherence is real even if the coalition is too.
Among its neighbours
The Classical Liberal above kept the trade this cell restricts. The Geo-Libertarian beside it funds the watchman without the wall. Below, the Crypto-Anarchist dissolves the borders in cipher. Marketward, the Voluntarist asks what happened to the consent.
Figures — real and imagined — who share the National Libertarian base ideology. They differ only on the third axis: from radical to restorationist, each is a different face of a National Libertarian.
The company you keep.
The social axis (progressive ↔ traditional) splits National Libertarian into nine named shades. Take the quiz to find out which one is yours.
- Radical National Libertarian
- Progressive National Libertarian
- Reformist National Libertarian
- Heterodox National Libertarian
- National Libertarian
- Rooted National Libertarian
- Traditional National Libertarian
- Reactionary National Libertarian
- Restorationist National Libertarian