Neoliberalism and Unequal Development: Alternatives and Transitions in Europe, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa

Neoliberalism has evolved from ideology to political program, public policy, and constitutional rule since the 1970s, legitimizing technocratic despotism, financial deregulation, precarious labor, and constitutional-political emptying. This book examines critical perspectives in mainstream neoliberal development analysis, focusing on the neoliberal experiment as a global historical construct through the cases of Africa, Latin America, and Europe. It also considers the weakness of the state resulting from neo-liberal austerity and fiscal stabilization policies, which have amplified the inability to collectively deal with the COVID-19 crisis.

Format: Hardback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 08 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Since the 1970s, neoliberalism has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from an ideology to a political program, then to a public policy, and finally to a constitutional rule. This transformative process has been facilitated by the endorsement of an uncritical, a-historical, and apolitical economic theory that has legitimized technocratic despotism, financial deregulation, precarious labor, and constitutional-political emptying.

This book delves into critical perspectives within mainstream neoliberal development analysis. It explores the neoliberal experiment as a global historical construct through the lens of Africa, Latin America, and Europe. The analysis commences in 1980 with the implementation of Structural Adjustment Plans in Latin America and Africa, followed by the Maastricht Treaty in 1990 in Europe. This period is marked by a significant shift, exemplified by the Africa Rising narrative, which aims to promote the idea of an economically emerging continent. The book also examines the weakness of the state resulting from neo-liberal austerity and fiscal stabilization policies, which have exacerbated the collective inability to address the social, economic, and political ramifications of the COVID-19 crisis.

One of the book's notable features is its extensive comparative analysis between regions, utilizing case studies drawn from African countries. The authors skillfully connect the diverse regional perspectives, presented within the book, in a clear and coherent manner, making it appealing to students, scholars, official development agencies, and third sector organizations interested in the social, economic, and political outcomes of globalization. This book will also be valuable to those seeking insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Europe in the context of neoliberal policies and globalization.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367720643