Neoliberalism’s contested definition does not make the term analytically useless

Evidence

Many continue to find it useful to avoid the term—preferring “advanced liberalism,” distinguishing between “financialization” and neoliberalism, or insisting on neoliberalization as a verb rather than a noun. The authors in this book find it perfectly acceptable to use a word with a contested definition. Rather than jettisoning the term altogether, they seek to add precision to its use, examine its conceptual background, clarify important building blocks, and observe its evolution as a result of the interplay of intellectual debate, changing circumstances, and, not least, social struggles. — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 15

Categorization

• XREF: Directly relevant to the reader’s goal of fracturing the caricature of neoliberalism — the opening move against critics who dodge the term. — connects to: Ideological diversity is normal and not grounds for discarding the term neoliberalism — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 16; Neoliberalism is internally plural yet not formless — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin: The Making…, 10; Neoliberalism lacks a stable meaning or historically specific constituency — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin: The Making…, 17 (+13 more)

Broader Connections

• Neoliberalism is internally plural yet not formless #corroborates (0.92) — 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 lacks a stable meaning or historically specific constituency #contradicts (0.88) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 17
• Neoliberalism is best understood as open problems, not fixed solutions #expands (0.85) — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 162
• Neoliberalism originated in contested debate, not a pure doctrine #corroborates (0.84) — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 405
• Neoliberalism’s internal plurality is strategic strength, not weakness #expands (0.82) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 1014
• Neoliberalism is a novel doctrine in flux, not a return to laissez-faire #corroborates (0.78) — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 439
• Neoconservatism and neoliberalism remain contested as distinct or overlapping schools #qualifies (0.75) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 1822
• Contingency scholars reject theoretical coherence in explaining neoliberal policy #complicates (0.75)