Research Guides
Libertarian doctrine states that all people have an inalienable set of rights that cannot be annulled, given up or taken away in the interests of a larger group. Government intervention is seen as interfering with personal autonomy and ingenuity, which are the keys to maximizing human prosperity and achievement. Taken to its extreme, libertarian views can move from a mildly laissez-faire approach to virtual anarchism. See also Conservative.