Neoliberalism

Bibliographic Data

ID4525720
AuthorsN Morningstar (0000-0002-3950-1457, University of Cambridge, corresponding author)
EditorsF Stein (0000-0002-0123-9895), Joel Robbins, Andrew Sanchez (0000-0001-8660-7505), M Candea (0000-0001-7260-4194), Sian Lazar (0000-0002-0056-6333), Rupert Stasch, Hildegard Diemberger (0009-0004-7655-6520)
Year2020
Publication date2020-10-30
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueOpen Encyclopedia of Anthropology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2398-516X • E-ISSN: 2398-516X
PublisherThe Open Encyclopedia of Anthropology (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.29164/20neolib
OpenAlexW4241313503
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited20

‘Neoliberalism’ is a widely used term that travelled from economic philosophy into policymaking, and from policymaking into critical social scientific discourse in the late twentieth century. It refers to a form of capitalism ascendant since the 1970s but informed by post-war economic philosophical ideas. In practice, it is characterised by the retrenchment of the welfare state and an increased role of the state in preserving market competition. Anthropologists have critically engaged with neoliberalism. They have at times used the word as a neutral description of an economic doctrine or set of related policies, and at others as a normative description of their negative effects. This entry starts by exploring the benefits and drawbacks of two different ways of theorising neoliberalism. First, it examines contributions that have treated neoliberalism as a world system, and the influence of Marxist concepts on this approach. Second, this entry presents work that frames neoliberalism less as a unified system and more as a flexible mode of governing, and the influence of the work of Michel Foucault on this body of literature. Third, it addresses how the intersections between these two approaches have been productive for anthropologists. In order to demonstrate as much, this entry highlights insights about the effects of neoliberalism on the state and on labour. It concludes by setting out ongoing debates about the use of neoliberalism and related concepts proposed to think critically about contemporary capitalism

Capitalism · Doctrine · Marxist philosophy · Normative · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Retrenchment · Sociology · Welfare state · Foucault, Power, and Ethics · Law · Public Administration

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access