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Invisible doctrine : the secret history of neoliberalism / George Monbiot & Peter Hutchison.

by Monbiot, George, 1963-

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Allen Lane, 2024.

320.5130973 M736i

9780735248595 (pbk.)

x, 213 p. ; 21 cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

"In 'The Invisible Doctrine,' George Monbiot and Peter Hutchison offer an eye-opening account of how neoliberalism was deliberately conceived as a way of establishing, and changing, the nature of power--and the ways in which the ideology has caused or contributed to the great majority of predicaments that now challenge us, from the 2008 financial crisis to ecological and environmental disasters that threaten our very existence. In succinct and compelling prose, Monbiot and Hutchison trace the parallel and intertwined history of neoliberalism and capitalism, the rise of Ludwig Von Mises, Friedrich Hayek, and free-market economics in the late twentieth century, neoliberalism's growing influence in government and monetary policy, and the international dissemination of the doctrine across the entire political spectrum. What ensues is an astounding expoš about how the crises that neoliberalism causes are in fact used as an excuse and an opportunity to extend neoliberalism even further and increase oligarch power. Yet every system has a tipping point, and neoliberalism's is appearing as global uprisings and massive environmental collapse. The solution, Monbiot and Hutchison emphasize, is bringing people together through mutual aid--only then do we have any hope of surviving the catastrophes that capitalism and neoliberalism inflict. Weaving together modern history and economics, The Invisible Doctrine is a brilliant survey of the ideologies that pervade our lives and is a call to develop a politics of belonging, based on participatory and deliberative democracy--one that belongs to us, for us."--From publisher.

"British journalist and environmental activist Monbiot and filmmaker Hutchison mount a damning, persuasive critique of neoliberalism, an ideology that exalts capitalism and greed. A term coined in 1938 based on the writings of economists Friedrich Hayek and Ludwig von Mises, and enthusiastically popularized by Milton Friedman, neoliberalism, the authors assert, has caused or contributed to economic inequality; “diseases of despair” such as suicides and overdoses; the erosion of the tax base, resulting in a lack of public funding for health, education, and infrastructure; and the advent of demagogues, such as Viktor Orbán, Narendra Modi, Donald Trump, Boris Johnson, and Jair Bolsonaro. These “deeply flawed human beings with oversized egos and pathological insecurities” have been enabled by neoliberal ideologues who promote the mantra that competition, deregulation, and privatization will lead to wealth that will enrich everyone. However, the authors warn, freedom from regulation benefits only the very wealthy, leading to the exploitation and endangerment of workers, environmental damage, and the kinds of “exotic financial instruments” that caused the financial crisis of 2008. “As a general rule,” write the authors, “privatization is legalized theft from the public realm.” Instead of taking responsibility for the endemic problems they cause, neoliberals blame ordinary people for crises. They promote the idea that personal changes can be solutions, urging citizens to recycle while their enterprises loot natural resources. Neoliberalism has coopted both political parties, established influential think tanks, and found supporters in the press. The authors’ argument against neoliberalism includes proposals for change: Campaign finance reform may draw new political actors; local efforts can serve as models for “participatory, deliberative democracy.” “Once roughly 25 percent of the population is committed to change,” they contend, the rest of society will quickly join them."--Kirkus Reviews.

Hutchison, Peter (Peter D.).

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