David Boaz Introduces Libertarianism: A Primer and The Libertarian Reader

Boaz presents the libertarian position - strong property rights, respect for the rule of law, and dedication to keeping the coercive power of government in check.

David Boaz

David Boaz was a distinguished senior fellow of the Cato Institute and played a key role in the development of the Cato Institute and the libertarian movement. He was the author of The Libertarian Mind: A Manifesto for Freedom and the editor of The Libertarian Reader.

Boaz was a provocative commentator and a leading authority on domestic issues such as education choice, drug legalization, the growth of government, and the rise of libertarianism. Boaz was the former editor of New Guard magazine and was executive director of the Council for a Competitive Economy prior to joining Cato in 1981. The earlier edition of The Libertarian Mind, titled Libertarianism: A Primer, was described by the Los Angeles Times as “a well-​researched manifesto of libertarian ideas.” His other books include The Politics of Freedom and the Cato Handbook for Policymakers.

His articles have been published in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, National Review, and Slate, and he wrote the entry on libertarianism for Encyclopedia Britannica. He was a frequent guest on national television and radio shows and has appeared on ABC’s Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, CNN’s Crossfire, NPR’s Talk of the Nation and All Things Considered, The McLaughlin Group, Stossel, The Independents, Fox News, BBC, Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and other media.

David Boaz is the executive vice president of the Cato Institute and the author of Libertarianism: A Primer and The Libertarian Reader, both published in 1997.

In this video, Boaz speaks at a Future of Freedom Foundation event immediately following the release of the Libertarianism: A Primer. He presents the libertarian position as a cooperative effort hinging on a strong set of property rights, respect for the rule of law, and a dedication to keeping the coercive power of government in check.