Cultural libertarianism

Cultural libertarianism is a term coined by Allum Bokhari which generally defines a broad movement standing in the opposition of what he calls “cultural authoritarianism”, i.e. political correctness, conservative correctness, and various attempts to limit freedom of speech. It can be described as a “free speech fundamentalism” as it puts “total artistic and intellectual freedom” as its utmost principle.[1][2] It differs from libertarianism because it opposes not only suppression of the freedom of speech by a state, but also by non-state groups.[3] Bokhari states that while cultural libertarians are often libertarians or conservatives (e.g. when it comes to their views on economy), they are actually “united only by their opposition to authoritarianism and their robust views on free speech and free expression and cannot reliably be placed on the left-right spectrum”.[2]

Bohari divides cultural libertarians into three broad categories:[2]

* “Vanguard hell-raisers” – individuals who “generate headlines” by provoking “social justice warriors”, usually by trolling (probably the best known is Milo Yiannopoulos, also Lauren Southern adhered to trolling in her "The Triggering" event),
* Academics, journalists, political and social commentators who “provide intellectual substance to the movement” (e.g. Christina Hoff Sommers, Jon Ronson, Bill Maher, Adam Baldwin, Maajid Nawaz, Cathy Young, Carl Benjamin a.k.a. Sargon of Akkad, Katie Hopkins, Lauren Southern, Dave Rubin, British online magazine Spiked),
* Comedians, directors and other artists, concerned about the threat to creative freedom posed (e.g. Chris Rock).

## Criticism[edit]

The movement has been criticized (to partial extent) by Daniel Pryor, a Fellow of the Center for a Stateless Society, a left market anarchist think tank, because cultural libertarians often employ methods (e.g. doxxing, harassment, death threats, excessive trolling) used by “social justice warriors” and pro-political correctness activists whom they criticize. Pryor also criticizes its non-recognition of “structural oppressions” as far as cultural libertarians “tend to view oppression as a phenomenon occurring on an individual or small group level”.[4]

## References[edit]

1. ↑ Allum Bohari & Milo Yiannopoulos, Enough! Entire Entertainment Industry Says ‘No More’ to Social Justice Warriors, Breitbart, 20 Jul 2015, Accessed 13 Feb 2017
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Allum Bokhari, Rise of the Cultural Libertarians, Breitbart, 24 Aug 2015, Accessed 13 Feb 2017
3. ↑ Lauren Southern - You might be a "cultural libertarian" if..., Rebel Media, 27 Aug 2015, Accessed 13 Feb 2017
4. ↑ Daniel Pryor, Cultural Libertarianism on Trial, Center for a Stateless Society, 4 Aug 2015, Accessed 13 Feb 2017