I suggested this topic to Mikhail Svetov for his presentation at MTL Fest 2023, but he preferred to talk about how one should think about global things and build a libertarian international. While preparing for MTL Fest 2024, I suggested giving Mikhail Pozharsky the topic “What should a libertarian do in Russia,” but he talked about why emigration is disgraceful, and that everyone who leaves the country makes things worse for those who remain. Perhaps it is better for me to reflect on the subject myself rather than continue pestering famous bloggers; they have already said what they wanted to say.

There are common notes in the reasoning of both Michaels. Svetov reminds us that a political emigrant is a refugee, usually poor, having lost everything in their homeland, and they should not feel safe in a new place; on the contrary, they should cling to the worldview of “I am at war” to stay sharp, to stay angry, and to be ready to stand by their own and avenge their enemies. Pozharsky speaks of lost emigrants who, after moving to another country, continue to cringe-worthily live by their old political agendas just to give themselves some sense of being needed and some semblance of meaning to their lives.

I extremely dislike both how Pozharsky describes emigrants and how Svetov wants to see them. In my view, a libertarian is a person with a developed sense of self-respect, capable of integrating organically into the market, valuing voluntary cooperation, and knowing that it is entrepreneurs who drive the world forward. The function of a libertarian is to prosper peacefully, preserve their property, and serve as an example for everyone who also wants to become a person of dignity.

Even when fleeing from an old country to a new one in haste and without possessions, a libertarian should not feel it as “I am a victim, I have lost everything.” No, he has successfully closed a dead-end project and immediately proceeded to implement a new one, taking into account the accumulated experience. Should he focus entirely on his own settlement? If necessary, during the most critical stage of his new life project—then yes. As soon as the opportunity arises, it is important to immediately lift one’s head above current chores, look around, establish or refresh friendly and business contacts, and contemplate one’s new position in a broader context.

Should one reject everything that was left behind in Russia or whichever country the emigrant arrived from? Again, not to reject, but to rethink. One could, for example, not just follow how things are going in the Russo-Ukrainian war, but choose a specific brigade, donate to them for supplies, and then proudly tell loved ones, “Look how fiercely my brigade is fighting.” Or, for instance, instead of participating in pathetic election campaigns somewhere on the edge of the earth, simply appoint oneself a deputy right here, in the diaspora, and gain experience in real affairs, earning real authority. The state is out there somewhere, but society is right here. We are all individualists; we form society, rather than bowing to the state like some pathetic collectivists.