Module Convenor: Claudia Stein

 

“Neoliberalism” seems to be the catch word, the linguistic omnivore of our times. Twenty years ago, the term “neoliberalism” barely registered in English-language debates, including academic discourse. Perhaps not surprisingly, the use of the term exploded after the financial crash of 2007-8, the most severe worldwide economic crisis since the 1929 Wall Street crash. Almost overnight, the use of the term ‘neoliberalism’ became ubiquitous. Public debate and academic research began to seriously investigate the economic, political and socio-cultural conditions of ‘neoliberalism’ its potential and challenges. But what exactly hides behind the term ‘neoliberalism’? Based on recent research from history, philosophy, political science, sociology, history of economics, cultural studies, and cultural anthropology, this module examines the history of ‘neoliberalism’, its ideas and practices, its promises and challenges. It introduces a critical understanding of neoliberal ideas, from their first theoretical formulation at the beginning of the 20th century to their current application in today's neoliberal governance. At the core of the module's stands the exploration of neoliberal ideas on the market, the state, and human behaviour in the past and present.

The module offers a historical understanding of the changing nature of ‘neoliberalism’, from its first theoretical formulation by European and American intellectuals at the beginning of the twentieth century to today. The module examines and explores the philosophical, political, sociological, psychological, economic, scientific, and social-cultural ideas and concepts that have informed neoliberalism since the 1920s. Designed as a ‘history of the present’, the module encourages students to examine and evaluate the historical conditions in which these theories emerged. The module also enable them to critically analyse how these theories have shaped the organisation of individual 'lived experience' and social life in liberal democracies. An important module focus is also the exploration how to effectively evaluate and critique the challenges that neoliberal ideas pose for current and future governance in liberal democratic societies and the well-being of its citizens.

 

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction: A Short History of Neoliberalism: Markets, States and Human Nature, 1920s to Today

Week 2: Historical Foundations: The Rise of Neoliberal Hegemony

Week 3: Organising, Institution Building and Knowledge Production

Week 4: Crisis Implementation: The Role of Crisis as a Central Tool in Neoliberal Governmentality

Week 5: ‘Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste’: Crisis Ordinary today

Week 6: Reading Week

Week 7: A New Social Ontology and a New Regime of Truth

Week 8: Neoliberalism and Engineering of Human Behaviour: Example of National Education in UK

Week 9: Redefining Selfhood and Identity: The Emotional Entrepreneur

Week 10: Neoliberal Governmentality in Perpetual Crisis Management Today: Ruling Moods and Nudging Citizens

 

Assessment

• Seminar Contribution (20%)
• 3000 Word Essay (80%)