The book also contains a vigorous defense of minarchist libertarianism against more extreme views, such as anarcho-capitalism (in which there is no state and individuals must contract with private companies for all social services). It is influenced by John Locke, Immanuel Kant, and Friedrich Hayek. Nozick's entitlement theory, which sees humans as ends in themselves and justifies redistribution of goods only on condition of consent, is a key aspect of Anarchy, State, and Utopia.

To support the idea of the minimal state, Nozick presents an argument that illustrates how the minimalist state arises naturally from a Lockean state of nature and how any expansion of state power past this minimalist threshold is unjustified. In opposition to A Theory of Justice (1971) by John Rawls, and in debate with Michael Walzer, Nozick argues in favor of a minimal state, 'limited to the narrow functions of protection against force, theft, fraud, enforcement of contracts, and so on.' When a state takes on more responsibilities than these, Nozick argues, rights will be violated.

It won the 1975 US National Book Award in category Philosophy and Religion, has been translated into 11 languages, and was named one of the '100 most influential books since the war' (1945–1995) by the UK Times Literary Supplement.

Anarchy, State, and Utopia is a 1974 book by the American political philosopher Robert Nozick.

Nozick anarchy state utopia