The 2008 crisis paradoxically strengthened right-wing and austerity politics worldwide

Evidence

In 2010, we were ushered into a grim era of confusion and perplexity on the left. It took a rare degree of self-confidence or fortitude not to gasp dumbfounded at the roaring resurgence of the right so soon after the most dramatic catastrophic global economic collapse after the Great Depression of the 1930s. “Incongruity” seems too polite a term to describe the unfolding of events; “contradiction” seems too outmoded. Austerity became the watchword in almost every country; governments everywhere became the scapegoats for dissatisfaction of every stripe, including that provoked by austerity. In the name of probity, the working class was attacked from all sides, even by nominal “socialist” parties. … By contrast, the financial institutions that had precipitated the crisis and had been rescued by governmental action were doing just fine—nay, prospering at precrisis rates—and in a bald display of uninflected ingratitude, were intently bankrolling the resurgent right. Indeed, the astounding recovery of corporate profits practically guaranteed the luxuriant postcrisis exfoliation of Think Tank Pontification. Nationalist proto-fascist movements sprouted in the most unlikely places, and propounded arguments bereft of a scintilla of sense. — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 9

Categorization

• XREF: Frames the whole book’s ‘thought collective’ thesis—neoliberalism as a resilient doctrinal network—connecting to the reader’s stated interest in how it survived. — connects to: The 2008 crisis reinforced rather than refuted neoliberal and orthodox economic doctrine — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 100; The 2008 crisis produced no genuine reform and empowered the political right — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 8; The 2008 crisis strengthened rather than weakened the political right — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 8 (+8 more)
• corroborated: 3 independent passages support this claim — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 9

Broader Connections

• The 2008 crisis strengthened rather than weakened the political right #corroborates (1.00) — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 8
• The 2008 crisis disoriented the left instead of vindicating its economic worldview #expands (0.80) — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 46
• Radical-right ideological themes predated and outran the economic crisis itself #qualifies (0.78) — Hall, Stuart, Essential Essays, Volume 1, 1101
• Crises marketed as milestones to the Left historically benefit capital and the Right #expands (0.75) — Hall, Stuart, Essential Essays, Volume 1, 1092
• Right-wing parties adopt austerity politics while rejecting the neoliberal ‘globalist’ label #expands (0.72) — Jessica Whyte, The Morals of the Market, 451
• Neglected spontaneous revolts enable right-wing coups during economic crises #expands (0.72)
• Right-wing ideology enables the recession rather than merely reflecting it #corroborates (0.70) — Hall, Stuart, Essential Essays, Volume 1, 1094