Brief+History+of+Neoliberalism


 * __ Harvey, David. 2005. //A Brief History of Neoliberalism//. Oxford Univ. Press, Oxford & NY __**
 * 1) What three quotes capture the critical import of the text?

“It is with this doctrine [neoliberalism]- its origins, rise, and implications- that I am here primarily concerned. Neoliberalism is in the first instance a theory of political economic practices that proposes that well-being can best be advanced by liberating individual entrepreneurial freedoms and skills within an institutional framework characterized by strong private property rights, free markets, and free trade. The role of the state is to create and preserve an institutional framework appropriate to such practices.” (p. 2, and continues to suggest that markets should be expanded and created, links to privatization, deregulation)

Discussing inequality, power concentration by the wealthy elite, stratification, and shift from state wealth to individual wealth across national boundaries, and “financialization”: “The flows of tribute into the world’s major financial centres have been astonishing. What, however, is even more astonishing is the habit of treating all o this as a mere and in some instances even unfortunate byproduct of neoliberalizaton. The very idea that this might be – just might be- the fundamental core of what neoliberalization has been about all along appears unthinkable. It has been part of the genius of neoliberal theory to provide a benevolent mask full of wonderful sounding words like freedom, liberty, choice, and rights, to hide the grim realities of the restoration and reconstitution of naked class power, locally as well as transnationally, but most particularly in the main financial centres of global capitalism.”(p.119)

“The main substantive achievement of neoliberalization, however, has been to redistribute, rather than to generate, wealth and income.” (p.159)


 * 1) What is the main argument of the text?

Tracking the development and spread of the political practice and doctrine now called “neoliberalism”, Harvey follows it from early inceptions and events (the initial tests of neoliberal governance in Chile, after Allende is deposed), until today. Links to contemporary issues such as post 9-11 fears of terrorism, neo-conservatism, shifts away from Import Substitution Policies, etc.

Neoliberalism, has failed in most respects to live up to is rhetoric, but he suggests its promotion and longevity are directly related to its one are of success, the expansion and reinforcement of the class privilege and power of the elite.


 * 1) Describe at least three ways that the main argument is supported.

Economic and Demographic statistics. Historical and Discursive analysis. Mapping of key intellectual trends.


 * 1) Describe the main literatures that the text draws on and contributes to.

Globalization Theory Culture of late-modernity/postmodernity Political Economy & Economics (macro) Political Science


 * 1) Describe at least three of the text’s themes or topics that are of general interest in STS.

Policy This is a central political position behind the funding and political control of science and tech.

Science The emphasis on science may have fed into neoliberalism and the push for market of neoliberalism may have fed into the way people talk about scientific method. i.e. Popper was member of the Mont Pelerin Society (p.20,36). Suggests paradigmatic influence and bias (Nobel Prize p. 113)


 * 1) Explain how this book could inform your research.

The book provides historical and political background to which I may ground any transnational research, also suggests critiques of a number of globalization theorists.

NOTES Compares US & UK 43, 55, 90 etc WHY DO WE GO ALONG 38 Discourse 24, 37, 44, 57, 119, 183, 198 Class identity & constitution 31 Culture Wars 205, 61 & CEOs 33 Discourse and Power 21-22, 49-51, 58 NYC (repeated) first time 45 Common Sense 39,116 Distribution of wealth bizarre 31 RULING CLASS 15, 115, 144,152, 188 Corp structure and motive 32 & Power 89-90 good summary Common Bias of States 70 Neo-conservatism/religious right in US 49,81-82 Embedded Liberalism 11, 40 Thomas Franks Book idea 50 Globalization 2,35, 44,56,116 Hayek 37, 40, 57 & Migration 127 Gramsci (nice quote from Prison notebooks) 149 vs. Liberals 50 DEREGULATION 1,22,44,80 Contra/Problems 67 Ex & Privatization 103 Ex. Mex 98-105 Neoliberalism (define) 2,64,87 Ex China 146-7 Ex -ization 19 Ex Swede 112-5 & Democ 66, 70 Info Tech + Info Soc 4, 157, As Ethic 3, 183, 150 ‘Time Space Compression” 4 In China 120-150 & Flaw 72-3 ( bailouts ),74,79 ( list ) Contextuality (L.E.T.S.) 116, 186 Flexibility (parallel to Ong)75,92 Monetarism 24,54,87,123,193 Freedoms 5,80,122,175,195,200 Currency Function 10 Capital Accumulation 13-4,19,57,148,154* Interest Rate manip 23,29,45,107 Individualism 76 ,158, 192,Structural adjust? Stratification 19, 31 Class, Keynes 20 (intervene),152,186 With inequality 16, 35 Intelligence of the market 21 Inequality 30,11,47,78,87,144, 153, 170, 202 Deindustrialization 26 44,53 Doctrine of individual freedom 20 Weakening of States 79 Theory Vs Usage of Neolib 19, 152 & nationalism 85 Adam Smith –Invis Hand – Friedman 7-9, 20

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EPZ Export Processing Zone ‘dirigiste’ FDI Foreign Direct Investment FCI Fixed Capital Investment Bretton Woods Agree

Central to Harvey’s Evaluation is its failure to “generate” p. 159, rather it acts to form “accumulation by dispossession” p160, which has 4 primary features Privatization 160,165, 172 (& Env) Financialization 161 Management & Manipulation of Crises 162 State Redistribution 163 Type in the content of your new page here.