Humans love their independence. Wars have been fought for it, songs have been written about it, and history is filled with examples of individuals and communities seeking to raise a flag towards more liberating ideals. And some have taken the flag very literally. Project Minerva was an ambitious endeavour led by Michael Oliver in the 1970s to create a libertarian utopia on the coral reefs of the South Pacific. They got some coral, wrapped it in chicken wire, covered it in cement, and dumped it on the existing coral reefs which lay just a few metres beneath the water line. High above their man-made island, the flag for the Republic of Minerva flew proudly. But do these libertarians think about the impact on indigenous populations? And would you really want to live in a country (or a planet) that is bankrolled and governed by the wealthy elite? Surely they have their own agenda, and it’s likely not the health and well-being of their citizens… 00:00 Shipwrecked on Invisible Reefs 01:27 Michael Oliver Escapes from Nazi Rule 03:28 Constructing a Libertarian Utopia: The Republic of Minerva 05:02 Exploring Libertarian Escapes with Professor Raymond B. Craib 09:09 Post World War II Market Libertarianism 13:27 Sealand: A Libertarian Exit with Longevity 18:15 Ethical Dilemmas of Libertarian Exits 21:42 Grand Schemes of Billionaires: Dreams vs. Reality 22:24 The Labor Dilemma in Utopian Projects 24:52 The Contrast Between Organic and Engineered Libertarian Projects 31:04 Ethical Quandaries of Libertarian Experiments 35:23 Reimagining Power and Governance in Libertarian Exits 42:43 The Cautionary Tale of the Republic of Minerva 45:58 Concluding Thoughts on Libertarian Utopias SOURCES: A Narrative of the Wreck of the Minerva, by Peter Bays Adventure Capitalism: A History of Libertarian Exit, from the Era of Decolonization to the Digital Age, by Raymond Craib Escape Therapy: On Douglas Rushkoff’s “Survival of the Richest”, by Raymond Craib, in LA Review of Books See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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