Unfortunately for Kropotkin and other free trade absolutists, they make a fatal error: They assume always and everywhere non-hostile trading partners. For example, it makes it really difficult to prosecute a war if one of your trading partners, supplying critical materiel, decides they don't like what your doing.
Or, you become dependent on a trading partner for critical goods, and they decide you need to start ponying up a substantial amount more.
Free trade requires free movement of capital, especially and including human capital. Thus, the last desperate "hail Mary" push for global governance and erasure of borders and nations.
Those trying to bring about a utopia never seem to grasp that the rest of the world doesn't necessarily share their tastes, somehow...
I don't know why you think Kropotkin would disagree with that. Nor why you would characterize him as a free trade absolutist. But I've only read the book discussed here. Does he make a free trade argument somewhere else?
On closer reading, I agree, he's not actually a 'free-trader'. I agree with him on a more decentralized economy as these are clearly more durable ("anti-fragile").
Chalk it up to sleepy posting, I should really avoid opining directly before bed...
Unfortunately for Kropotkin and other free trade absolutists, they make a fatal error: They assume always and everywhere non-hostile trading partners. For example, it makes it really difficult to prosecute a war if one of your trading partners, supplying critical materiel, decides they don't like what your doing.
Or, you become dependent on a trading partner for critical goods, and they decide you need to start ponying up a substantial amount more.
Free trade requires free movement of capital, especially and including human capital. Thus, the last desperate "hail Mary" push for global governance and erasure of borders and nations.
Those trying to bring about a utopia never seem to grasp that the rest of the world doesn't necessarily share their tastes, somehow...
I don't know why you think Kropotkin would disagree with that. Nor why you would characterize him as a free trade absolutist. But I've only read the book discussed here. Does he make a free trade argument somewhere else?
On closer reading, I agree, he's not actually a 'free-trader'. I agree with him on a more decentralized economy as these are clearly more durable ("anti-fragile").
Chalk it up to sleepy posting, I should really avoid opining directly before bed...