Johan Norberg
Anyone who’s read his outstanding book In Defense of Global Capitalism or heard him speak knows what a fine thinker and communicator Johan Norberg is. Now you can visit his web site, which includes his quite interesting and informative blog.
Not only am I a fan of his written work, but I’ve been deeply impressed by how Johan explains the role of the business corporation to left-leaning audiences in a way that shows how important the firm is to the organization of voluntary cooperation, why one should not be hostile to business corporations per se, and why one should focus on what business corporations do — lobby for special favors at the expense of others, for example, or create wealth through voluntary cooperation — rather than on the corporate form, if one is to advance justice.
Ah yes, “In Defense…” is a good book. Another good pro-free trade book is Russell D. Roberts’s “The Choice.”
You got one too many N’s in the URL. The correct URL is: http://www.johannorberg.net/
I haven’t read Norberg, but it’s exciting to see this kind of thinking coming out of my native Scandinavia. I think Norbergs communication style comes from an environment infused with Social Democrat thinking and state indoctrination. You _must_ be able to talk to left-leaning audiences to get any widespread recognition in those parts.
Thanks, Henri! I’ve corrected the error in the main posting.
I want to expand on my last note, and Tom’s comments. I actually think the American libertarian movement has been historically poor in converting on the left. Libertarians in the US media is most often compared, and often confused with, conservatives. Libertarian organizations are usually allied with conservative organizations, rarely liberal ones.
Is there any inherent reason this should be? Coming from the left myself, I don’t think so. I personally feel that missing out on left-leaning audiences is a big weakness.
I read his book. Awesome.
I’ve been a fan of Norberg’s and daily reader of his blog for a while now. If you think being a free-market thinker is tough in the U.S., try doing it in Sweden where just about everyone is part of the “left”.