The Free Market Myth: Power, Politics, and Protectionism Free market economics, envisioned as a system of unfettered trade, minimal government interference, perfect competition, and unrestricted factor mobility, remains a theoretical construct rather than a practical reality. Geopolitical imperatives—state power, security, and strategic interests—consistently override market principles, as evidenced by historical mercantilism, Cold War trade blocs, and modern sanctions. Social and political pressures in affluent nations restrict labor mobility, thwarting a free labor market, while technology protectionism, driven by national security concerns, fragments global innovation. The World Trade Organization (WTO), often misrepresented as a beacon of free trade, is a pragmatic compromise, managing trade tensions through rules that permit tariffs, subsidies, and exemptions. Additional barriers—market failures, corporate monopolies, inequality, cultural norms, and financial controls...