The Nature of Neoliberalism: What can we learn about neoliberalism from Neil Davidson’s new book?

This article provides an overview of Neil Davidson's book on neoliberalism, examining its origins, evolution, and impact. Davidson argues that neoliberalism encompasses an ideological discourse, a strategy employed by state managers, and a distinct era of capitalism. The text explores the ideological foundations of neoliberalism, its gradual implementation by state managers, and the cultural dilemmas it presents. It also discusses the challenges and contradictions of neoliberalism, including its failure to deliver rising living standards and its dismantling of the welfare state. The article concludes by highlighting the rise of right-wing populism as a threat to neoliberal stability and suggests that only a new rise of working-class struggle can challenge it. The text also engages with Marxist analysis, challenging alternative explanations for the post-World War II boom and the rise in profitability from the 1980s to the early 2000s. Overall, the article offers a Marxist perspective on the history of capitalism and the current global crisis. [Extracted from the article]