Most people can imagine a world without kings. Most can even imagine a world without slavery. But few can imagine a world without political government.

And yet, if we step back and examine the structure honestly, we see something alarming: a tiny number of individuals wield monopolized power over the lives, labor, and property of millions—backed by the legal right to use force. That system may be democratic in form, but in function, it’s still built on coercion.

The Free Cities movement challenges this foundation. It doesn’t seek to reform politics from within. It offers a peaceful, entrepreneurial alternative: jurisdictions where governance is based on contract and consent, not force.

This week’s article on Free Cities Substack makes the case that what we consider “normal” political governance may, in fact, be the next institution to be rendered obsolete—just as slavery once was. That comparison may be provocative, but it is worth serious thought.

The article draws powerful parallels between past social transformations—like the abolition of slavery—and today’s emerging Free Cities movement. Just as abolitionists were once told that society couldn’t function without slavery, today’s voluntaryists are told that society can’t function without coercive rule. History suggests otherwise.

Rather than seek to impose a new order on everyone, Free Cities advocates want to expand the space for choice. By building parallel jurisdictions, we allow individuals to “vote with their feet” and explore new models of governance—without violence, without revolution, and without waiting for permission.

If you’ve ever questioned whether the institutions governing your life truly serve you—or whether they even can—this article offers a vision of hope, grounded in history and unfolding in the present.

👉 Read the full article on Substack:

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