Abstract
Innset introduces the attendees of the 1947 founding meeting of the Mont Pelerin Society with short biographies and demographic analysis. The data shows that the vast majorities of the attendees were white men of considerable privilege, and it is argued that this fact should be taken into account when contextualizing the ideas emanating from this group. The point is further elaborated with reference to Wilhelm Röpke’s circulated article rallying against taxes on luxury goods, and in a reading of William Rappard’s opening address on the topic of liberalism and economics .
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Notes
- 1.
I can confirm that this is the case at least with the archives after Friedrich Hayek, Fritz Machlup, Lionel Robbins, Milton Friedman, Trygve Hoff and Maurice Allais.
- 2.
Interview with Dorothy Hahn 18.10.2016.
- 3.
This description is based on photos from the meeting, found in the archives of Lionel Robbins. London School of Economics Library Archives, Lionel Robbins Collection, Box 10, Folder 2.
- 4.
I would know, because in one of the early drafts I did precisely that.
- 5.
The quotations from Rappard’s opening address are taken from a manuscript and not from notes made by Dorothy Hahn. They can therefore be considered to be rather accurate. The top of the first page of the archival document in question states: “PRIVATE Not for publication (It is specially requested not to quote from this document except with the express permission of the person concerned)”. I have, however, taken the liberty of the historian to make some quotations, as I read the disclaimer to relate to more short-term use of the manuscript. Liberaal Archief, Mont Pelerin Society, Box 1, Folder 1: “Mont Pèlerin, 1947”.
- 6.
Riksarkivet, Oslo, Trygve Hoff/Farmand, Box 16.
- 7.
HLA, “Fritz Machlup Collection”, Box 43, Folder 15, “Friedrich Hayek 1933–1944”.
- 8.
Riksarkivet, Oslo, Trygve Hoff/Farmand, Box 16 (translated from the Norwegian).
- 9.
The only ones who might not have had PhDs were the American journalists Felix Morley and Henry Hazlitt and libertarian activists Loren Miller and Leonard Read.
- 10.
Hoover Archives, Mont Pelerin Society Collection, Box 28, Folder 5: “R-W”.
- 11.
- 12.
Hoover Institution Library and Archives, Mont Pelerin Society, Box 5, Folder 12: “Minutes”.
- 13.
Riksarkivet, Oslo, Trygve Hoff/Farmand, Box 16 (Translated from the Norwegian original).
- 14.
Hoover Institution Archives, Mont Pelerin Society, Box 5, Folder 12: “Minutes”.
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Innset, O. (2020). An Army of Fighters for Freedom. In: Reinventing Liberalism. Springer Studies in the History of Economic Thought. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38885-0_5
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