This 1849 essay by Gustave de Molinari, translated and published by the Ludwig von Mises Institute, argues for a free market approach to security. Molinari contends that security, like other goods and services, should be provided through competition among private companies, rejecting government monopolies or collectivized systems. He uses economic principles to demonstrate the inefficiency and potential for abuse in state-controlled security. The essay contrasts the natural order of society, driven by self-interest and exchange, with artificial systems imposed by governments. Molinari’s vision anticipates modern anarcho-capitalism, though he didn’t use that term, advocating for a system where individuals choose their security providers in a competitive marketplace. The introduction by Murray Rothbard highlights Molinari’s importance in the history of libertarian thought.