Williamson used ‘neoliberalism’ narrowly to mean Mont Pèlerin doctrines

Evidence

Williamson rejected this characterization of the WC and has written in rebuttal: “I use the word ‘neoliberalism’ in its original sense, to refer to the doctrines espoused by the Mont Pèlerin Society. If there is another definition, I would love to hear what it is so that I can decide whether neoliberalism is more than an intellectual swear word” (Williamson 2004, 2; emphasis added). Instead of subjecting the aforementioned “MPS doctrines” to closer scrutiny, Williamson maintained that he himself was not an advocate of the “policy innovations” of the Reagan and Thatcher administrations, except for privatization. — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 91

Categorization

• DEFINE: Pinpoints Williamson’s own contested definition of neoliberalism as referring specifically to Mont Pèlerin Society doctrines.
• CANDY: A quotable line: ‘an intellectual swear word’ — useful shorthand for how the term drifted from its origins.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin: The Making…, 91
• XREF: connects to: Both the Mont Pèlerin Society and its leftist critics obscured what neoliberalism is — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 77; Disputes over the word neoliberalism signaled real disagreement over its content — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin: The Making…, 294; Neoliberalism was a flexible project, not a fixed doctrine with essential content — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin: The Making…, 115

Broader Connections

• Both the Mont Pèlerin Society and its leftist critics obscured what neoliberalism is #qualifies (0.85) — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 77
• Neoliberalism was a flexible project, not a fixed doctrine with essential content #qualifies (0.80) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 115
• Disputes over the word neoliberalism signaled real disagreement over its content #corroborates (0.72) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 294