This book investigates the theoretical underpinnings of anarchism and its compatibility with public choice theory. Edward P. Stringham, an economist known for his work on entrepreneurship and free markets, examines how the principles of public choice—which analyze political decision-making through an economic lens—can be applied to stateless societies. The work explores whether decentralized mechanisms can effectively provide public goods and manage social order in the absence of a coercive state, drawing on economic models and historical examples.

The book is regarded as a significant contribution to the literature at the intersection of anarchism and public choice economics. Scholars and readers interested in libertarian and free-market thought often cite Stringham's work for its rigorous economic analysis of stateless societies. The arguments presented are typically seen as challenging conventional notions of governance and the necessity of the state, offering a robust framework for understanding decentralized order.