Overview

The last decades have witnessed a steady increase in popular discontent with prevailing neoliberal approaches to economy, policy and society. And yet neoliberalism remains dominant, even in the context of the ongoing financial crisis. The anti-neoliberal movement seems disorientated. Typical explanations of this current contradicatory situation highlight that anti-neoliberal movements are unwilling to commit to a policy programme, enact effective political tactics, or challenge state institutions. This book argues that a more deep-seated problem lies at the heart of these deficiencies: how the movement approaches the role of ideology in political action. Reflecting a widely-held belief that ours is a post-ideological age, ideology has been marginalized or altogether rejected by the majority of the movement’s activists and intellectuals. The dismissal of ideology has hindered the politics of resistance and it now becomes clear that a firm ideological vision is what activists urgently require to defy neoliberal domination. This book shows the useful nature of ideology, by exploring continuities between current anti-neoliberal positions and well-known past ideological arguments that changed the world.

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9781783487936

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This illuminating and meticulous study explores a crucial political dynamic of recent decades. Progressives rallied to regain lost ground to the onslaught of neoliberalism, while accepting neoliberalism's spurious disparagement of the power of ideology. Employing a rich range of sources, the author produces a timely riposte to those who doubt the centrality of ideology to political activism and to popular, grassroots movements.--Michael Freeden, Emeritus Professor of Politics, University of Oxford This book is important and admirably incisive. Rafal Soborski makes a compelling case for his claim that progressive, anti-neoliberal social movements have impaired their own effectiveness by neglecting to underpin their action with positive ideological development. Although his aim is primarily diagnostic, the author offers valuable pointers to the potential construction of an inspiring, pluralistic ideological framework for the future.--Christopher Flood, Emeritus Professor of Politics, University of Surrey

This book is important and admirably incisive. Rafal Soborski makes a compelling case for his claim that progressive, anti-neoliberal social movements have impaired their own effectiveness by neglecting to underpin their action with positive ideological development. Although his aim is primarily diagnostic, the author offers valuable pointers to the potential construction of an inspiring, pluralistic ideological framework for the future. -- Christopher Flood, Emeritus Professor, University of Surrey

Author Information

Rafal Soborski is a Professor of International Politics at Richmond, the American International University in London.

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