Invisible Doctrine

What's "Invisible Doctrine: The Secret History of Neoliberalism" about?

• Exploration of Neoliberalism: The book delves into the history and impact of neoliberalism, an ideology that has shaped global politics and economics since the mid-20th century.
• Anonymous Ideology: It discusses how neoliberalism operates namelessly, influencing various aspects of life without being widely recognized or understood by the public.
• Impact on Society: The authors examine how neoliberalism has contributed to crises such as rising inequality, environmental degradation, and the erosion of public services.
• Historical Context: The book traces the origins and rise of neoliberalism, highlighting key figures and events that have propelled its dominance.

Why should I read "Invisible Doctrine: The Secret History of Neoliberalism"?

• Understanding Modern Politics: The book provides insights into the ideological underpinnings of current political and economic systems, helping readers understand the forces shaping today's world.
• Critical Analysis: It offers a critical perspective on neoliberalism, challenging the notion that it is a natural or inevitable system.
• Comprehensive History: The authors present a detailed history of neoliberalism, making it a valuable resource for those interested in political and economic history.
• Call to Action: The book encourages readers to question and challenge the status quo, promoting the idea of creating a new political narrative.

What are the key takeaways of "Invisible Doctrine: The Secret History of Neoliberalism"?

• Neoliberalism's Influence: Neoliberalism is a pervasive ideology that affects many aspects of life, often without being recognized as such.
• Economic and Social Impact: The ideology has led to increased inequality, weakened public services, and environmental harm.
• Historical Development: Neoliberalism's rise was facilitated by influential figures and think tanks that promoted its ideas.
• Need for Change: The authors argue for the development of a new political narrative to replace neoliberalism and address its negative consequences.

How does "Invisible Doctrine" define neoliberalism?

• Central Belief in Competition: Neoliberalism views competition as the defining feature of human nature, promoting the idea that greed and selfishness lead to social improvement.
• Market Over Politics: It emphasizes economic choice over political choice, casting individuals as consumers rather than citizens.
• Minimal State Intervention: Neoliberalism advocates for reducing state intervention, arguing that the market should determine social outcomes.
• Critique of State Power: The ideology contends that government intervention leads to tyranny and stifles innovation.

What is the "anonymous ideology" mentioned in "Invisible Doctrine"?

• Lack of Recognition: The book describes neoliberalism as an ideology that operates without a widely recognized name, making it both powerful and insidious.
• Influence on Crises: It has contributed to various global crises, including economic inequality, environmental degradation, and political instability.
• Perceived as Natural Law: Neoliberalism is often seen as a natural or inevitable system, akin to scientific laws like gravity.
• Deliberate Power Shift: The ideology was deliberately developed to change the nature of power, favoring market forces over democratic governance.

How does "Invisible Doctrine" explain the rise of neoliberalism?

• Historical Conference: The term "neoliberal" was coined at a 1938 conference attended by key figures like Ludwig von Mises and Friedrich Hayek.
• Reaction to Collectivism: Neoliberalism emerged as a response to collectivist policies like the New Deal and welfare states, which were seen as threats to individual freedom.
• Influential Backers: Wealthy individuals and corporations funded think tanks and academic departments to promote neoliberal ideas.
• Global Spread: The ideology gained traction in the 1970s as Keynesian economics faced challenges, filling the resulting ideological vacuum.

What role do think tanks play in "Invisible Doctrine"?

• Promotion of Neoliberalism: Think tanks have been instrumental in spreading neoliberal ideas, often funded by wealthy backers with vested interests.
• Influence on Policy: These organizations have shaped government policies by providing research and arguments that support neoliberal principles.
• Disguised Lobbying: Think tanks often present themselves as independent, but they function as lobbyists for corporate interests.
• Network of Influence: The book highlights a network of think tanks that collaborate to amplify neoliberal ideology across the globe.

What are the best quotes from "Invisible Doctrine" and what do they mean?

• "We are all neoliberals now." This quote underscores the pervasive influence of neoliberal ideology, suggesting that its principles have been internalized by society.
• "The invisible doctrine of the invisible hand of private interest is sustained by invisible backers." It highlights the hidden forces and funding that support neoliberalism, maintaining its dominance.
• "Disorder afflicts the land, caused by powerful and nefarious forces." This quote introduces the concept of a restoration story, a narrative structure used to mobilize political change.
• "The rich have allowed themselves to believe they’ve secured their wealth through their own enterprise and virtue." It critiques the self-attribution fallacy, where the wealthy attribute their success solely to personal effort, ignoring systemic advantages.

How does "Invisible Doctrine" address the concept of rent?

• Unearned Income: Rent is defined as unearned income, a "private tax" charged by property or service owners beyond their investment.
• Privatization and Rent: Neoliberalism has expanded rent-seeking by privatizing public services, turning collective resources into exclusive property.
• Interest as Rent: The book also identifies interest as a form of rent, highlighting its role in driving inequality.
• Economic Parasitism: Rent-seeking is portrayed as economic parasitism, where wealth is extracted from others without contributing to productivity.

What is the "Pollution Paradox" in "Invisible Doctrine"?

• Incentive to Influence Politics: The dirtiest industries have the greatest incentive to invest in politics to avoid regulation.
• Dominance of Politics: As a result, politics becomes dominated by the most damaging industries, hindering effective regulation.
• Failure to Address Crises: The paradox explains why governments fail to tackle environmental and social crises despite public demand.
• Neoliberal Network's Role: The Neoliberal International network helps maintain this dominance by shaping policy and public opinion.

How does "Invisible Doctrine" propose a new political narrative?

• Restoration Story: The book suggests creating a new restoration story that emphasizes community, cooperation, and democratic power.
• Politics of Belonging: It advocates for a politics of belonging, where people work together to build inclusive and generous communities.
• Participatory Democracy: The authors propose participatory democracy as a means to empower citizens and address systemic issues.
• Public Luxury: The narrative includes the idea of public luxury, where everyone can enjoy shared resources and services.

What is the significance of social tipping points in "Invisible Doctrine"?

• Rapid Change Potential: Social tipping points occur when a critical mass of people adopt new beliefs, leading to rapid societal change.
• 25% Threshold: Research suggests that once 25% of a population is committed to change, the rest quickly follow.
• Historical Precedents: The book cites examples like smoking bans and marriage equality to illustrate how tipping points have led to swift change.
• Urgency for Action: The authors emphasize the need to reach social tipping points before environmental tipping points are crossed.