ANTHR310 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Racialization, Neoliberalism, International Monetary Fund

• School: University of Alberta
• Department: Anthropology
• Course: ANTHR310
• Professor: Joseph Hill

Document Summary

Current theories about the relationship of capitalism to inequality and oppression tend to focus on the particular form of capitalism that emerged under the influence of neoliberal theory and policies in the late 1970s. The notion of neoliberalism has its roots in classical liberal economic philosophy. Li(cid:271)e(cid:396)alis(cid:373) is a philosoph(cid:455) (cid:271)ased o(cid:374) the idea of (cid:862)laissez fai(cid:396)e(cid:863) (cid:894)(cid:862)let do(cid:863)(cid:895) (cid:272)apitalis(cid:373: opposes government interference in economic affairs. Freeing markets from any kind of interference: deregulating anything that can interfere with profits, such as environmental laws. Privatizing a so(cid:272)iet(cid:455)"s p(cid:396)oje(cid:272)ts, goods, a(cid:374)d se(cid:396)(cid:448)i(cid:272)es whether electricity, toll highways, or the fresh water supply by selling them to private investors. Replacing the idea of a (cid:272)o(cid:373)(cid:373)u(cid:374)it(cid:455) o(cid:396) (cid:862)pu(cid:271)li(cid:272) good(cid:863) (cid:449)ith o(cid:374)e that (cid:448)alues (cid:862)i(cid:374)di(cid:448)idual (cid:396)espo(cid:374)si(cid:271)ilit(cid:455)(cid:863) In the us, neoliberal ideas are associated with neoconservationism and the christian right. Neoliberal philosophy assumes the following: motivation for economic gain is a fundamental element of human nature.