Ideological diversity is normal and not grounds for discarding the term neoliberalism

Evidence

The alternative narrative according to which neoliberalism is not a suitable analytical category because it changes or because it has multiple and sometimes contradictory meanings amounts to self-defeating denialism, expressing a desire for a neat and simple singular ideology with an ahistorical essence to replace the messy world of competing worldviews. Marxism, liberalism, and conservatism have experienced kaleidoscopic refraction, splintering, and recombination over the decades. We see no reason why neoliberalism would not exhibit the same diversity. Indeed, we can prove that it has. If the loose use of terms was the grounds for expungement, then “socialism,” “capitalism,” “conservatism,” and plain “liberalism” would have long been purged. — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 16

Categorization

• XREF: Core to the reader’s purpose: the internal-varieties thesis refutes the crude single-ideology caricature by analogy with Marxism and conservatism. — connects to: Neoliberalism is internally plural yet not formless — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin: The Making…, 10; Neoliberalism’s contested definition does not make the term analytically useless — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 15; Neoliberalism’s internal plurality is strategic strength, not weakness — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin: The Making…, 1014 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Neoliberalism is internally plural yet not formless #corroborates (0.90) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 10
• Neoliberalism’s contestedness reflects its diffuse, multi-variant nature, not emptiness. #corroborates (0.90) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 2095
• Neoliberalism’s contested definition does not make the term analytically useless #corroborates (0.88) — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 15
• Neoliberalism is internally diverse and marked by real internal conflict #corroborates (0.85) — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 45
• Neoliberalism lacks a stable meaning or historically specific constituency #responds-to (0.85) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 17
• Neoliberalism’s internal plurality is strategic strength, not weakness #corroborates (0.80) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 1014