General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Please help me out. The term-du-jour now seems to "neoliberal" [View all]PufPuf23
(8,910 posts)neo-liberal has been part of my vocabulary at DU under this screen name and also by my first screen name at DU (for over a decade).
I find it bizarre that so many folks at DU say the term "neo-liberal" is meaningless or a smear and then turn around and support neo-liberal politicians and policies.
Neoliberalism from wiki:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoliberalism
Neoliberalism (or sometimes neo-liberalism) is a term which has been used since the 1950s, but became more prevalent in its current meaning in the 1970s and 80s by scholars in a wide variety of social sciences and critics primarily in reference to the resurgence of 19th century ideas associated with laissez-faire economic liberalism. Its advocates avoid the term "neoliberal"; they support extensive economic liberalization policies such as privatization, fiscal austerity, deregulation, free trade, and reductions in government spending in order to enhance the role of the private sector in the economy. The implementation of neoliberal policies and the acceptance of neoliberal economic theories in the 1970s are seen by some academics as the root of financialization, with the financial crisis of 200708 as one of the ultimate results
Neoliberalism and free trade from the Guardian:
http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2012/oct/30/neoliberalism-approach-development-ignored-past-lessons
Neoliberalism's 'trade not aid' approach to development ignored past lessons
Neoliberal development policy was radical and abstract, but its uncompromising approach proved dangerous in the real world
Part one: Walt Rostow and post-1945 development
Part two: resource extraction and the legacy of colonialism