A series of seven posts, published from June 16 to June 27, 2016, reflect on Asin Shivani’s article, “This Is Our Neoliberal Nightmare: Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and Why the Market and the Wealthy Win Every Time” (Alternet, June 8, 2016). In these posts, I express agreement with Shivani’s description of Hillary Clinton as an avatar of neoliberalism; in contrast to Bernie Sanders, who represents a humane alternative to neoliberalism, and Donald Trump, who rejects neoliberalism through a turn to authoritarianism. And I maintain that Shivani’s rejection of what he calls “neoliberal multiculturalism” has some validity.
At the same time, I maintain that the article is not sufficiently historical and global, and that the author does not seem to understand the origins of the neoliberal project, nor discern its unsustainability. He does not, in this article at least, propose a political strategy to hasten the future demise of neoliberalism.
Drawing upon what has been occurring in Latin America during the last twenty years, I call upon intellectual and activists of the North to form alternative popular parties, rooted in an alternative comprehensive and global understanding, that would seek take control of governments in key nation-states of the core, directing these governments toward policies that are consistent with the universal human values that have been proclaimed by humanity. The Bernie Sanders campaign is not necessarily the take-off point for such a project, and neither is the Occupy Movement.
The series of posts reflecting on Shivani’s article are as follows:
“Neoliberalism” 6/16/2016;
“What are the origins of neoliberalism?” 6/17/2016;
“Ideological frames” 6/20/2016;
“The nation-state in a neoliberal world” 6/21/2016;
“Neoliberalism and presidential elections” 6/23/2016;
“Neoliberalism, multiculturalism & identity politics” 6/24/2016; and
“The future of neoliberalism” 6/27/2016.
.
To find them, in the category Critique of the Left, scroll down.
At the same time, I maintain that the article is not sufficiently historical and global, and that the author does not seem to understand the origins of the neoliberal project, nor discern its unsustainability. He does not, in this article at least, propose a political strategy to hasten the future demise of neoliberalism.
Drawing upon what has been occurring in Latin America during the last twenty years, I call upon intellectual and activists of the North to form alternative popular parties, rooted in an alternative comprehensive and global understanding, that would seek take control of governments in key nation-states of the core, directing these governments toward policies that are consistent with the universal human values that have been proclaimed by humanity. The Bernie Sanders campaign is not necessarily the take-off point for such a project, and neither is the Occupy Movement.
The series of posts reflecting on Shivani’s article are as follows:
“Neoliberalism” 6/16/2016;
“What are the origins of neoliberalism?” 6/17/2016;
“Ideological frames” 6/20/2016;
“The nation-state in a neoliberal world” 6/21/2016;
“Neoliberalism and presidential elections” 6/23/2016;
“Neoliberalism, multiculturalism & identity politics” 6/24/2016; and
“The future of neoliberalism” 6/27/2016.
.
To find them, in the category Critique of the Left, scroll down.
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