Libertarianism and Trump’s Venezuela intervention

This is morally indefensible. Values are what distinguish libertarians from others, and they should not be jettisoned because of a collectivist concept.

By any libertarian standard, the removal of Maduro as President of Venezuela is to be applauded. He was a corrupt socialist dictator.

Whether it was a wise use of American taxpayers' money is yet to be seen; much depends on what comes next. Some prior examples of intervention have been sound in principle but not in execution; Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Nicaragua and Guatemala for example.

On the other hand, Panama turned out well, and America and Australia's intervention in Korea saved the people in the south from suffering the same miserable fate as those in the north. And Australia's intervention in East Timor ensured the country would not suffer heavy-handed military rule by Indonesia, now apparent in West Papua.

None of this shows that intervention to overcome coercion is inherently wrong because it crosses a national border, or that it is inevitably a good idea. Rather, it shows that circumstances differ and judgement, caution and planning are vital.

What it means is, there is no libertarian justification for doing nothing about coercion merely because it is occurring in another country. Coercion should always be our concern, wherever it occurs.

It does not mean rushing military aid to those subject to coercion in other countries. There are many reasons why that might not be possible, practical, or advisable. Sometimes it might make sense; sometimes not. But it is perfectly legitimate for libertarians to consider whether there is anything they can do to overcome coercion wherever it occurs.

JS Mill was an advocate of utilitarianism in addition to classical liberalism. This philosophy, generally attributed to Jeremy Bentham, is often summarised as the pursuit of the greatest good for the greatest number. For libertarians, it should be understood to mean the greatest liberty for the greatest number. Mill would agree.