I don’t think it could. But if these two conditions are in place:

(1) Cognitive Imperialism–something like a belief system which holds {ruler/ruled} or {predator/prey} as primary and eternal.

and

(2) The tools to put/keep enough people under the spell of (1).

then we’re back in statism.

Maintain? I think easily. With their leverage, they just re-create a monopoly state–run by them. Of course, naming it something tolerable and doing it for the sake of “freedom.”

My question is how you get there, practically speaking. Because once to that point–in an anarcho-capitalist system–some group could potentially wield more power than all others. And unless they valued the universal interests above all other interests, then they would take that power. This makes me believe that the only way to bring about such a system is through raised awareness and consensus.

Quite true. But the question is: how easily could they acquire and/or maintain that economic power without the help of a monopoly state?

I think anarcho-capitalism describes the world as it is. The legal system acts as arms to protect those with the most economic power. Government is just a leverage mechanism; control of it = just another form of currency. So, my fear is that market anarchy devolves within a generation or so. One company would operate as a government and monopolize the law.

UNLESS, when you speak of libertarians ensuring equality of outcome–when it comes to authority–you mean rule of universal interests. But to get there, the only object is raised awareness. And the only means with which I’m comfortable are non-violent.

I would be delighted if they were to do so. But you can understand that I’m not going to hold my breath waiting for them to do so.

How could equality of authority be ensured in the Hobbesian jungle?!

Well, you know the answer to that!

As an innocent statist–always holding out hope that I cannot refute libertarianism–I do wonder whether some form of consensus could bridge the gap. After all, if compliance with the legal system is a form of submission, could not the legal system itself submit to Lockean egalitarianism? In other words, what if those in positions of authority relinquished their power–from the inside out?

As I ask these questions, the socioeconomic egalitarian part of my psyche starts to interrupt: “No! Then we’re in the Hobbesian jungle! How could equality of authority be ensured in the Hobbesian jungle?!”