The Protestant Libertarian Podcast Ep 242: Is Libertarianism Right-Wing or Left-Wing? with Alex Bernardo vs. Cody Cook feat. Jacob Winograd
Jan 29, 2026
Cody Cook, co-host of the Libertarian Christian podcast and author of Anarchist Anabaptist, argues from a Christian anarchist and libertarian perspective. He defends libertarianism as rooted in left-wing traditions and stresses individual responsibility amid structural constraints. The debate covers historical labels, hierarchy versus egalitarianism, poverty, immigration, and how different libertarian currents interpret liberty.
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How Libertarianism Shifted From Left To Right
- The left–right labels have shifted: early libertarianism was anti-establishment (left) but modern politics flips that mapping due to egalitarianism vs. anti-egalitarianism splits.
- Alex traces the change from Enlightenment-era left (revolutionary) to 19th–20th century socialism/progressivism which made state power the default, pushing libertarians toward a right-leaning anti-egalitarian posture.
Liberty Versus Authority Trumps Left Versus Right
- For libertarians the main axis is authority versus liberty, not the conventional left–right political parties.
- Both conservatives and progressives often support political establishment power, while libertarians (both Cody and Alex) place themselves on the liberty side.
Christian Case For Qualitative Equality And Anti Egalitarianism
- Anti-egalitarian right rejects leveling; libertarianism can split on whether liberty's goal is equality or respect for distinctiveness.
- Alex situates right-wing libertarianism as valuing qualitative equality (image of God) but opposing enforced quantitative equality.