The Road to Serfdom
July 19, 2008
Friedrich von Hayek’s book “The Road to Serfdom” is one hell of a repetitive book, though the central argument (which is relentlessly drilled into the head) is a compelling one. Restated briefly – essentially all collective systems / planned economies will end in totalitarianism and is an assault on individual liberty, despite the best intentions of the planners.
This has been discussed at length by others, however Hayek’s arguments are especially convincing, eg. the master controller of a centrally planned economy has practically unlimited powers, and while he may have the best of intentions, he will not work in the best interests of EVERYONE. It will inevitably come to a point where only the sycophants and cronies will be looked after (at the expense of everyone else).
Ayn Rand touched on the same thing – Atlas Shrugged was among other things an overly long condemnation of cronyism and the “power of pull”.
What is particularly interesting about this book is Hayek’s cautionary discussions on the abuses of power, which have a somewhat contemporary resonance in the way modern politics is conducted. Hayek probably never intended it, but his ideas have been co-opted for less than noble ends. Two examples:
On propaganda (p221) – “The first prerequisite for success in propaganda directed to other people is the proud acknowledgement of the characteristic values and distinguishing traits for which the country attempting it is known to the other peoples.”
On values and words (p161) – “The most effective way of making people accept the validity of the values they are to serve is to persuade them that they are really the same as those which they, or at least the best among them, have always held, but which were not properly understood or recognised before. … And the most efficient technique to this end is to use the old words but change their meaning.”
Linguists George Lakoff and Geoff Nunberg have written extensively about how innocuous words have been framed in new ways so as to change their meaning, eg. words like family values, freedom, class, liberty, etc. Orwell explored this issue in his writings as well, though Hayek did precede him.
