Neoliberalism: A Critical Reader

Alfredo Saad-Filho, Deborah Johnston9780745322988, 0-7453-2298-0, 0-7453-2299-9

Neoliberalism is the dominant ideology shaping our world today. It dictates the policies of governments, and shapes the actions of key institutions such as the WTO, IMF, World Bank and European Central Bank. Its political and economic implications can hardly be overstated. Yet there are obvious problems with the neoliberal project. This book is a perfect introduction to neoliberalism that is ideal for anyone seeking a critical perspective. It explains the nature, history, strengths, weaknesses and implications of neoliberalism from the point of view of radical political economics. Short, self-contained chapters are written by leading experts in each field. The books is organised in three parts: the first section outlining neoliberal theory, the second exploring how neoliberalism has affected various policy areas, and a third looking at how neoliberal policies have played out in particular regions of the world. Using a broad range of left economic perspectives, from post-Keynesian to Marxist, this is a great resource for students of politics and economics, and anyone looking for a grounded critical approach to this broad subject.

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Table of contents :
Contents……Page 5
Introduction……Page 10
PART I: THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES……Page 16
1. The Neoliberal ( Counter-) Revolution……Page 18
2. From Keynesianism to Neoliberalism: Shifting Paradigms in Economics……Page 29
3. Mainstream Economics in the Neoliberal Era……Page 39
4. The Economic Mythology of Neoliberalism……Page 50
5. The Neoliberal Theory of Society……Page 59
6. Neoliberalism and Politics, and the Politics of Neoliberalism……Page 69
7. Neoliberalism, Globalisation and International Relations……Page 79
PART II: SURVEYING THE LANDSCAPE……Page 90
8. Neoliberalism and Primitive Accumulation in Less Developed Countries……Page 92
9. Neoliberal Globalisation: Imperialism without Empires?……Page 100
10. Neoliberalism in International Trade: Sound Economics or a Question of Faith?……Page 108
11. ‘A Haven of Familiar Monetary Practice’ The Neoliberal Dream in International Money and Finance……Page 115
12. From Washington to Post- Washington Consensus: Neoliberal Agendas for Economic Development……Page 122
13. Foreign Aid, Neoliberalism and US Imperialism……Page 129
14. Sticks and Carrots for Farmers in Developing Countries: Agrarian Neoliberalism in Theory and Practice……Page 136
15. Poverty and Distribution: Back on the Neoliberal Agenda?……Page 144
16. The Welfare State and Neoliberalism……Page 151
17. Neoliberalism, the New Right and Sexual Politics……Page 158
18. Neoliberal Agendas for Higher Education……Page 165
19. Neoliberalism and Civil Society: Project and Possibilities……Page 172
20. Neoliberalism and Democracy: Market Power versus Democratic Power……Page 179
21. Neoliberalism and the Third Way……Page 186
PART III: NEOLIBERAL EXPERIENCES……Page 194
22. The Birth of Neoliberalism in the United States: A Reorganisation of Capitalism……Page 196
23. The Neoliberal Experience of the United Kingdom……Page 208
24. European Integration as a Vehicle of Neoliberal Hegemony……Page 217
25. Neoliberalism: The Eastern European Frontier……Page 224
26. The Political Economy of Neoliberalism in Latin America……Page 231
27. Neoliberalism in Sub- Saharan Africa: From Structural Adjustment to NEPAD……Page 239
28. Neoliberalism and South Asia: The Case of a Narrowing Discourse……Page 246
29. Assessing Neoliberalism in Japan……Page 253
30. Neoliberal Restructuring of Capital Relations in East and South- East Asia……Page 260
Contributors……Page 268
Index……Page 274