Are there any?
Switzerland maybe?
If not today, have there ever been any?
If there are or were some, what are/were the major defects you see? (either departures from liberal principles or weaknesses of their quasi-libertarian system)
Here is the list of the Top 10 countries by Economic Freedom according to The Heritage Foundation:
http://www.heritage.org/research/features/index/topten.cfm
Switzerland is in there but not Number 1.
As for social freedom, I think Switzerland loses out (for reasons such as compulsory military service, having an ID card,etc).
I think that the freest countries today are the non- European OECD nations, but for a fine historical example you could look at the United States, just after its foundation by libertarian thinkers. Where it went wrong for them I don't know.
Irish Liberty Forum
MatthewWilliam: Where it went wrong for them I don't know.
Where it went wrong for them I don't know.
Oh, that's easy. They created a Federal government with the explicit power to tax and legislate.
Pro Christo et Libertate integre!
That's a good list but it's not one whose criteria necessarily correspond with Austrian theory.
For example, is there, or has there ever been something closer to a liberalized banking system? More private or quasi-private judicial system? (arbitration, intermediation etc. perhaps?)
Less restrictive competition rules?
More private property rights?
Countries without a fiat monetary system?
How about chile?
People of Zimbabwe and Somalia stopped using their legal tender money after things got wild and instead made their money transactions with US dollars. I think they still use dollars today.
russel the first settlement in new zealand had no government .it was mainly a whaling ship town supply post set up under the protection of a local tribe of Maori.mostly bars and brothels.the local Maori liked it as a trading post the local maori did well of it.farm steads were set up by whiteys under their protection.it was known as the hell hole of the pacific but i think that was more to the fact that whalers would spend all there money on piss and prostitutes.no wars conflict between maori and settlers until 162 years ago tomorrow when we introduced our worst import government suddenly settlers became seen more often as a threat not a opportunity.