Neoliberalism’s political strength partly derives from being poorly understood

Evidence

Because the neoliberals were never parochial, it would seem prudent for us to imitate their cosmopolitan stance. Diversity of nationalities and disciplines is necessary because neoliberalism remains a major ideology that is poorly understood but, curiously, draws some of its prodigious strength from that obscurity. — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 81

Categorization

• SEED: The obscurity-as-strength claim could seed an essay on how ideological vagueness itself is a political asset, comparing across neoliberalism and other ‘umbrella’ movements.
• XREF: Connects to Foucault’s and Bourdieu’s treatments of how diffuse/unexamined ideas wield power; also echoes how ‘neoliberalism’ functions as a floating signifier in contemporary debate. — connects to: The unknowability of the world economy drove neoliberal federalist reform — Quinn Slobodian, Globalists: The End of Empire and the…, 77; Neoliberalism differs from traditional conservatism in ways that shield it from accountability — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 2313; Neoliberalism’s invisibility was manufactured by both its architects and its critics — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 77 (+14 more)

Broader Connections

• Neoliberalism’s internal plurality is strategic strength, not weakness #corroborates (0.85) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 1014
• Neoliberalism’s contested definition does not make the term analytically useless #expands (0.80) — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 15
• Neoliberalism’s cohesion comes from thought-collective structure, not explicit doctrine #corroborates (0.80) — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 916
• Neoliberalism operates through systematic contradiction and disavowal of its own practices #corroborates (0.80) — Wendy Brown, Undoing the Demos, 81
• Neoliberalism’s appeal lies in an esoteric knowledge reserved for the Elect #expands (0.75) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 2148
• Neoliberal theories succeed as policy rhetoric despite having scant evidence #expands (0.75) — Mark Blyth, Austerity, 425