A Brief History of Neoliberalism by David Harvey is a detailed exploration of the rise and impact of neoliberal policies, tracing its theoretical beginnings in the 1950s and 60s and its emergence in response to the fallout of the Great Depression in the 1930s. The book delves into the historical context of neoliberalism, examining how it became a powerful influence on economic and political life, highlighting its consequences and theoretical faults. Harvey argues for a return to the embedded liberalism of the post-1945 era and raises important questions about freedom, democracy, and social equality.

Writing/Prose:

The author employs a clear yet dense writing style that effectively communicates complex ideas in an accessible manner.

Plot/Storyline:

The work presents an intellectual history examining the origins and impacts of neoliberalism through various political and economic contexts.

Setting:

The setting encompasses post-World War II economic landscapes, with a focus on neoliberalism's rise from the 1970s, spanning various global contexts.

Pacing:

The pacing varies, moving quickly through theoretical elements while taking more time to explore detailed discussions of neoliberal impacts.

How was neoliberalization accomplished, and by whom? The answer in countries such as Chile and Argentina in the 1970s was as simple as it was swift, brutal, and sure: a military coup backed by the tra...

Genres:

Topics:

Notes:

David Harvey is a geographer who explores the intersections of economics and cultural criticism.

He wrote 'A Brief History of Neoliberalism' as an intellectual history of neoliberalism's development since the mid-20th century.

Harvey argues that post-World War II Western Europe was characterized by 'embedded liberalism,' which integrated state regulation and social welfare.

The switch to neoliberal policies became noticeable in the late 1970s and early 1980s with significant events like the US-led coup in Chile in 1973.

Neoliberalism promotes the idea of minimal state intervention in the economy but often favors elite interests with state intervention when beneficial to them.

Harvey highlights that neoliberalism has led to a widening wealth gap, allowing a super-rich capitalist class to form.

The book discusses how the concept of freedom in neoliberal rhetoric often excludes the freedom to access social services or negotiate fair working conditions.

Neoliberalism ties into larger themes of nationalism and paranoia towards external threats, impacting civil liberties in the US historically.

Harvey suggests that neoliberal policies have been a way for the rich to restore their dominance over economic resources.

The author emphasizes that healthcare, infrastructure, and job creation are contemporary debates influenced by neoliberal ideology.

From The Publisher:

Neoliberalism-the doctrine that market exchange is an ethic in itself, capable of acting as a guide for all human action-has become dominant in both thought and practice throughout much of the world since 1970 or so. Writing for a wide audience, David Harvey, author of The New Imperialism

and The Condition of Postmodernity, here tells the political-economic story of where neoliberalization came from and how it proliferated on the world stage. Through critical engagement with this history, he constructs a framework, not only for analyzing the political and economic dangers that now

surround us, but also for assessing the prospects for the more socially just alternatives being advocated by many oppositional movements.

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A Brief History of Neoliberalism

David Harvey