Description:
As World War II raged outside his London office, the Austrian economist F. A. Hayek wrote a little book dedicated to "socialists of all parties," highlighting the dangers of centralized planning for individual freedom. For Hayek, it was absurd to believe that it is possible to direct all aspects of a society's economy and also allow for a high degree of personal liberty. Economic control ultimately meant total control of all the means necessary for human happiness. And in 1944, one only had to look to Nazi Germany for evidence of that kind of totalitarian socialism.
Fast-forward to today, with "hot" socialism (Hayek's term) largely discredited, and one might conclude that Hayek's insights are largely out-dated. Nevertheless, in mid-2010 Hayek's Road to Serfdom shot to number-one on Amazon.com, buoyed by the sale of over forty thousand copies in a single week. Apparently, more than a few people today still find Hayek's analysis compelling.
So why the perennial appeal of Hayek's searing critique? As Hayek explains, "the most important change which extensive government control produces is a psychological change, an alteration in the character of the people." Hayek worried that even in a country like America, new collectivist institutions would eventually work to undermine America's tradition of independence and self-reliance. This subtle yet irresistible hollowing-out of the spirit of liberty is the same dynamic Tocqueville observed when he wrote of a new milder form of despotism that would "degrade men without tormenting them," reducing them to "a herd of timid and industrious animals of which the government is the shepherd." In fact, it is Tocqueville that Hayek channels when he speaks of a social welfare state that promises a "High Road to Freedom" but unwittingly takes us down the "High Road to Servitude."
Prompt:
F. A. Hayek wrote The Road to Serfdom at the height of World War II when totalitarianism of the Fascist or Bolshevik variety was a very real threat. But fast-forward to today, with the Soviet Union in the dustbin of history, and the socialist label considered passé, it is certainly fair to ask whether Hayek's indictment of planning and statism remains relevant for our age. Nevertheless, it is the central claim of the recently published ISI book Back on the Road to Serfdom—edited by New York Times best-selling author Thomas E. Woods Jr.—that Hayek's critique remains extremely appropriate for the economic and political challenges we face today.
In light of the arguments made by Woods and his fellow contributors, students are asked to consider whether and/or how the resurgence of statism is putting us back on the road to serfdom. In particular, what are the consequences of an increased role of the state for individuals, families, communities, economic growth, entrepreneurship, culture, and religion? Are there other social forces more responsible for the negative trends identified by the contributors? Finally, what are the prospects for economic and cultural renewal in the arenas examined by the contributors? In other words, what are the best ways to get off the road to statism, and back on the road to freedom and prosperity?
Essays are to be between 1,200 and 1,500 words long, and will be judged on the basis of scholarship, imagination, and quality of writing.
Participation in the contest is free and open to all undergraduate students studying in America. All registered participants will receive a free e-copy of Thomas Woods' book Back on the Road to Serfdom.
All essays must be emailed or postmarked by Thursday, March 15, 2012.
How to Register:
Email essaycontest@isi.org or mail Essay Contest, 3901 Centerville Rd., Wilmington, DE 19807 with complete registration information by Thursday, March 1, 2012. Call or email Chris Fisher at (302) 524-6124 or essaycontest@isi.org with any questions.
Complete registration must include:
- full name
- email address
- mailing address
- university name
- year of graduation
For information on upcoming essay contests, please contact essaycontest@isi.org.