Javier Milei, the president of Argentina, blasted what he perceives to be the advance of collectivist ideas in Western society at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2024 annual meeting at Davos, warning about the dangers these represent for the quality of life in the world. Milei explained that these ideas, which might be adopted with good intentions, inevitably open the door to state action and socialism.
Javier Milei Warns Against Collectivist Ideas at Davos
Javier Milei, president of Argentina, warned against Western societyβs new path, criticizing the ideas of collectivism that, according to his thoughts, are advancing in several nations. In a speech at this yearβs World Economic Forum (WEF) meetings at Davos, Milei stressed the dangers these ideas presented to todayβs developed world.
Milei stated:
The West is in danger, it is in danger because those, who are supposed to defend the values of the West, find themselves co-opted by a vision of the world that β inexorably β leads to socialism, consequently to poverty.
As an opposite to these new conceptions, Milei defended capitalism and libertarian ideas that have boosted the world economy since the Industrial Revolution. He also criticized the issue of social justice, stressing that the means to defend it and sustain it are born out of state-managed violence and coercion. βIt is an intrinsically unjust idea because it is violent; It is unfair because the State is financed through taxes and taxes are collected coercively,β he explained.
Milei states that collectivism places obstacles in the way of entrepreneurs, making it more difficult to produce goods and provide services at better prices. He also blasted socialism, stating that it was a failure in every country it was tried, bringing poverty to millions.
The libertarian explained that Argentina was an example of what these collectivist policies can do to a country and remarked that the supporters of these policies, after having failed to establish economic questions as their focus, migrated their struggles to social areas like radical feminism, population control, and environmental issues.
Finally, he highlighted entrepreneursβ roles in todayβs world, calling them not to yield to the political class or the state. He concluded:
You are social benefactors. You are heroes. You are the creators of the most extraordinary period of prosperity we have ever experienced.
What do you think about Mileiβs views on collectivism, capitalism, and socialism? Tell us in the comments section below.
