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Natural Elites, Intellectuals, and the State
This monograph engages the long-running controversy about the origin of the state. Hoppe adopts the theory that extends from a Rothbardian view of the role of elites in society and their monopolistic tendencies. He further maps out a strategy for how the non-state-connected natural elites can turn back the tide of state-connected elites. It is a seminal contribution to the literature with a hopeful roadmap for the future.
17 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 28, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 26, 2022
This short but somewhat classic paper on the rise of the concept of State through changing dynamics between the elite and intellectual classes by Hans-Hermann Hoppe, professor of economics at the University of Nevada, was an interesting read but disappointing.
There were too many ill-formed notions that ended in an equally vague solution. It was the equivalent of reading a paper about addiction that says, "Addicts lie. Make them stop lying." Gee. Thanks, I guess?
It does seem that much of the content of this monograph is based on personal opinion rather than academic scholarship, which leads to some naive conclusions. For example, when comparing the fate of historical elites vs the current rich-and-famous, he says "thank goodness--their opinions carry no more weight in public opinion than most other people's." If that were true, Madonna wouldn't have been sharing her thoughts about "blowing up the White House," actors wouldn't have been endorsing their candidate for president or their pet social engineering project at the Oscar ceremonies, and cable news anchors would be delivering the news instead of acting as mouthpieces for their political party. Today's elites very much know that enough folks out there listen to them to make it worth their time to engage in propaganda.
His point is that the societal role of the elites and the intellectuals have reversed. The post-monarchal world did not give power to the proletariat, but rather brought the elites down to the level of the proletariat. Where the intellectuals were merely the teachers for the kids of the upper class, or the secretaries and librarians of the estate, the intellectual class has assumed control over policy. It is via the modern intellectual class that the State has it's voice. Throughout history, the intellectuals were privately employed by elite families. Now, they are funded by the State in government jobs or as tenured public servants in academia.
The author believes these "statist" intellectuals of the modern world have been corrupted. He doesn't say what exactly is the nature of this corruption, but he does give us a hint of how immoral ideas spread easily among intellectuals, namely through marginalization. Intellectuals rely on their popularity for their jobs. So let's take the case of universities. They exercise incredible power over nations by influencing the thought of the next generation of elites. What happens if the deans of just a few influential schools were to push a certain agenda? That agenda would easily take firm hold in the curricula of every classroom. Perhaps in just another generation or two, the new intellectuals at the school who were influenced by this agenda will establish this line of thought as the status quo. Any of their peers who do not share the established sociocultural or political views are considered old fashioned, out-moded. They are ridiculed. Eventually, they must conform or leave. Thus, where universities should offer a wide variety of ideas for self-discovery, they become startling in their ideological uniformity. Hoppe thinks we are heading for a collapse of society if we do not help the intellectual class get their morals and mojo back via private patronage of unbiased intellectual output.
Whether or not you agree with some or all of these sentiments, this is a deeply flawed handling of an otherwise worthwhile discussion. If you are looking for well-researched and thoughtful historical, political, and philosophical insights into the challenges of post-industrial Western civilization, you won't find your answers here.
There were too many ill-formed notions that ended in an equally vague solution. It was the equivalent of reading a paper about addiction that says, "Addicts lie. Make them stop lying." Gee. Thanks, I guess?
It does seem that much of the content of this monograph is based on personal opinion rather than academic scholarship, which leads to some naive conclusions. For example, when comparing the fate of historical elites vs the current rich-and-famous, he says "thank goodness--their opinions carry no more weight in public opinion than most other people's." If that were true, Madonna wouldn't have been sharing her thoughts about "blowing up the White House," actors wouldn't have been endorsing their candidate for president or their pet social engineering project at the Oscar ceremonies, and cable news anchors would be delivering the news instead of acting as mouthpieces for their political party. Today's elites very much know that enough folks out there listen to them to make it worth their time to engage in propaganda.
His point is that the societal role of the elites and the intellectuals have reversed. The post-monarchal world did not give power to the proletariat, but rather brought the elites down to the level of the proletariat. Where the intellectuals were merely the teachers for the kids of the upper class, or the secretaries and librarians of the estate, the intellectual class has assumed control over policy. It is via the modern intellectual class that the State has it's voice. Throughout history, the intellectuals were privately employed by elite families. Now, they are funded by the State in government jobs or as tenured public servants in academia.
The author believes these "statist" intellectuals of the modern world have been corrupted. He doesn't say what exactly is the nature of this corruption, but he does give us a hint of how immoral ideas spread easily among intellectuals, namely through marginalization. Intellectuals rely on their popularity for their jobs. So let's take the case of universities. They exercise incredible power over nations by influencing the thought of the next generation of elites. What happens if the deans of just a few influential schools were to push a certain agenda? That agenda would easily take firm hold in the curricula of every classroom. Perhaps in just another generation or two, the new intellectuals at the school who were influenced by this agenda will establish this line of thought as the status quo. Any of their peers who do not share the established sociocultural or political views are considered old fashioned, out-moded. They are ridiculed. Eventually, they must conform or leave. Thus, where universities should offer a wide variety of ideas for self-discovery, they become startling in their ideological uniformity. Hoppe thinks we are heading for a collapse of society if we do not help the intellectual class get their morals and mojo back via private patronage of unbiased intellectual output.
Whether or not you agree with some or all of these sentiments, this is a deeply flawed handling of an otherwise worthwhile discussion. If you are looking for well-researched and thoughtful historical, political, and philosophical insights into the challenges of post-industrial Western civilization, you won't find your answers here.
April 26, 2021
Short, concise, and powerful. Has some very interesting insights, e.g. intellectuals as a market good who increase in quantity and decrease in quality (just like the government under a democracy vs. under a monarchy [i.e. taxes + govt. employees + debt increase, but govt. quality decreases]) when they go from privately to publicly paid. Which is why we have so much academic nonsense being published and so little Shakespeares.
August 9, 2026
რაღაცეებში შეიძლება არ დავეთანხმო, მაგრამ ჩვენი დროის ერთ-ერთი უდიდესი ინტელექტუალი რომ არის ეს კაცი წყალი არ გაუვა. Democracy Kills Indeed. ამასთანავე ძაან პატარა ესეა, საინტერესო და მარტივად წასაკითხი, თანაც უფასოა. რა თქმა უნდა, ნებაყოფლობით :)
February 19, 2025
This is a very potted history of the formation of states, the role of elites, the development of democracy and the problems it has caused.
It's probably the best place to start for people new to Hans-Hermann Hoppe. If you like reading the thoughts of an opinionated intellectual who refutes a lot of what passes for settled wisdom, then you'll enjoy this essay.
Despite its brevity, there's much food for thought. Hoppe applies the economic concept of monopoly to natural elites and intellectuals, noting that many of the typical consequences of monopoly (lower quality, higher prices) apply in these cases too.
Hoppe regrets the fact that intellectuals now tend to be sponsored by the state - i.e. work at universities - instead of living on the support of private donors. This was true at the time of writing (2013), but I wonder if platforms like Substack have changed that dynamic. It's now possible to crowdfund intellectuals through Substack, which has put an end to the state-led monopsony of academia and freed people to fully speak their minds.
A potentially interesting change!
It's probably the best place to start for people new to Hans-Hermann Hoppe. If you like reading the thoughts of an opinionated intellectual who refutes a lot of what passes for settled wisdom, then you'll enjoy this essay.
Despite its brevity, there's much food for thought. Hoppe applies the economic concept of monopoly to natural elites and intellectuals, noting that many of the typical consequences of monopoly (lower quality, higher prices) apply in these cases too.
Hoppe regrets the fact that intellectuals now tend to be sponsored by the state - i.e. work at universities - instead of living on the support of private donors. This was true at the time of writing (2013), but I wonder if platforms like Substack have changed that dynamic. It's now possible to crowdfund intellectuals through Substack, which has put an end to the state-led monopsony of academia and freed people to fully speak their minds.
A potentially interesting change!
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December 21, 2024i cant rate this
summary: "Natural elites," individuals who rise through superior achievements and moral authority, historically maintained social order voluntarily. The state, however, "displaces natural elites" by monopolizing coercion and expropriating wealth. Intellectuals, in exchange for state privileges, "manufacture ideologies to justify the state's actions." This alliance between intellectuals and the state erodes "natural authority" and voluntary cooperation, replacing it with centralized coercion and exploitation.
summary: "Natural elites," individuals who rise through superior achievements and moral authority, historically maintained social order voluntarily. The state, however, "displaces natural elites" by monopolizing coercion and expropriating wealth. Intellectuals, in exchange for state privileges, "manufacture ideologies to justify the state's actions." This alliance between intellectuals and the state erodes "natural authority" and voluntary cooperation, replacing it with centralized coercion and exploitation.
November 23, 2023
His best book so far
March 7, 2020
Este texto cauteriza nuestras más caros prejuicios. Subraya la relación insana de (la mayoría de) los intelectuales con el Estado, al cual fortalecen en aras de aumentar su propia preponderancia, aunque al final aquél se voltee contra ellos.
Considero que todo científico social debería leer este texto y reconocer que Hoppe nos expone un punto ciego de nuestras disciplinas: su velado estatismo. Ahora, cuando leo que éste o aquél investigador llama a construir una nueva procuraduría, o a levantar otro baluarte para la burocracia, sólo me río. Uno no vuelve a ser el mismo después de leer este opúsculo.
Considero que todo científico social debería leer este texto y reconocer que Hoppe nos expone un punto ciego de nuestras disciplinas: su velado estatismo. Ahora, cuando leo que éste o aquél investigador llama a construir una nueva procuraduría, o a levantar otro baluarte para la burocracia, sólo me río. Uno no vuelve a ser el mismo después de leer este opúsculo.
February 2, 2026
A sharp and provocative challenge to democratic orthodoxy and modern egalitarianism in the West. Hoppe makes a compelling case that many of today’s elites are propped up by academia rather than market forces, which helps reinforce a fairly uniform—often left-leaning—view of society and its problems. But when you factor in Peter Turchin’s idea of “elite overproduction,” things get more complicated. In a world flooded with credentialed would-be elites, it may actually be harder than ever for the kind of “natural elites” Hoppe envisions to rise organically today.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews