Libertarianism and Ecological Justice: Perspectives from Anarcho-Capitalism and Minarchism

DOI:  https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/desafios/a.15393

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Published: Jan 20, 2026
Issue: Vol. 38 No. 1 (2026): Libertarianismo en America Latina
Section Reflection Paper


Keywords: libertarianism ecological justice climate denialism ecofascism private property

Main Article Content

Authors

  Luis Eduardo Lamus Parra
Autor
  Rubiela Rocio Lopez Rodriguez
Autora

Abstract

The article analyzes the paradox of libertarianism in power, which, although it proclaims enlightened principles of individual freedom, instrumentalizes the state to benefit corporate interests and deny the ecological crisis. Governments such as those of Trump, Milei, and Bolsonaro are examples of this contradiction, prioritizing economic privileges over environmental sustainability. Two libertarian currents are examined: minarchism, which advocates a minimal state to protect basic rights, and anarcho-capitalism, which rejects all state intervention. Both currents lack the conceptual tools to address ecological justice, reducing nature to private property and rejecting collective regulations. This stance exacerbates the environmental crisis, socializing its costs while privatizing its benefits. The article warns that the void left by libertarianism may favor authoritarian solutions, such as climate apartheid or Malthusian population control. In response, it proposes overcoming libertarian individualism
through a post-libertarian ecological justice that recognizes the rights of nature, promotes the collective management of common goods, and integrates scientific and ancestral knowledge. In conclusion, libertarianism in power reveals its inability to address the ecological crisis, requiring
new paradigms that reconcile freedom, equity, and sustainability within planetary boundaries. This article is presented as part of the doctoral thesis work within the framework of the Interinstitutional Doctorate in Education at the National Pedagogical University of Colombia.

How to Cite
Lamus Parra, L. E., & Lopez Rodriguez, R. R. (2026). Libertarianism and Ecological Justice: Perspectives from Anarcho-Capitalism and Minarchism. Desafíos, 38(1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.12804/revistas.urosario.edu.co/desafios/a.15393
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