A scholarly school explains neoliberalism’s rise as ad hoc contingency without theoretical coherence

Evidence

A last mode of explanation follows a methodology emerging, in part, as a backlash against what is seen as an excessive emphasis on the power of ideas. This is a historicization of the rise of neoliberalism based on contingency. Here it is less the political power of economic ideas or economic power but the accumulation of political decisions of ad hoc governance. These scholars suggest that it is a fool’s errand to look for theoretical coherence or consistency in historical developments such as the Reagan tax cuts, the fiscal crisis of New York in the 1970s, or the decisions to deregulate financial industry or to build the European Monetary Union. These were all decisions made by harried politicians under acute pressures of management and not according to preconceived plans. — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 204

Categorization

• DEFINE: Maps a distinct explanatory school (contingency-based historicization) within the historiography of neoliberalism, useful for tracking intellectual camps.
• XREF: connects to: Scholars dispute whether ideas or class interest explain neoliberalism’s internal cohesion — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 121; Contingency explanations of policy fall short when key actors were doctrinaire neoliberals — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 205; Contingency scholars reject theoretical coherence in explaining neoliberal policy (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• Contingency scholars reject theoretical coherence in explaining neoliberal policy #qualifies (0.85)
• Neoliberalism’s deliberate epistemic inconsistencies enabled its long-term success #contradicts (0.78)
• Neoliberalism operates from a unified playbook despite surface variation #contradicts (0.75) — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 917
• Neoliberalism self-consciously planned as a multi-generational intellectual project #contradicts (0.75) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 116
• Neoliberalism rose to hegemony through transnational networks of scholars and allies #complicates (0.72) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 81