"[neoliberalism is] a theory of political economic practices that proposes that human well-being can best be advanced by liberating individual entrepreneurial freedoms and skills within an institutional framework characterized by strong private property rights, free markets, and free trade. The role of the state is to create and preserve an institutional framework appropriate to such practices [...] The state has to guarantee, by force if need be, the proper functioning of markets. If markets do not exist (in areas such as land, water, education, health care, social security, or environmental pollution) then they must be created, by state action if necessary. But beyond these tasks, the state should not venture [...] Deregulation, privatization, and withdrawal of the state from many areas of social provision have been all too common"
-A Brief History of Neoliberalism, David Harvey
i'm not as well read as i want to be so my analysis of this will simply be through anecdotes and experience. so i guess its more comments than analysis, lol. when i think about it, its kind of my way, i suppose. i learn theory tidbits or new definitions and i try to apply them to my life and experiences i have had. im more of an applier, not a theorizer.
anyway, this definition really struck me as it pertains to cultural neoliberalism. this idea that "liberating individual entrepreneurial freedoms" is what's best for us is what i see everywhere (in my western hegemonic bubble i was born and live in, that is). you've probably heard the whole "market of free ideas" phrase if you've been on the internet for a while (or chronically online like i tend to be). that the exchange of ideas in a "free" environment is the best method with the best results. which obviously isn't true because you end up with morally wrong ideas being held up in the same space as morally right ideas (i.e. fascism, which has and will cause untold damage to many, being held and taken as seriously as any other ideology)
another example of this in a physical space is the degradation of community for the individual. we must uphold notions of freedoms even if they hurt the community. a great example is the effort to overturn Roe v. Wade in the US. the allowance of far-right and christian fundamentalist voices has directly led to the serious injury/trauma or even death of people [1, 2, 3, 4]. something that will keep happening. all in the name of personal freedoms.
call me authoritarian but i believe we should be working together as a collective, a community. and an individual or individuals should not be allowed to overtake that. don't get me wrong though. i believe in democratic centralism. i believe there should be room for a debate before a decision is made. but once a consensus is made, individuals shouldn't be able to derail that decision purely because we must respect personal freedoms. if there is cause or facts are brought to light that justify the need to undo or change that decision, yes. but allowing a n*zi to debate if the holocaust was real or allowing people to die due to lack of access to a medical procedure simply because some people's religion frowns on said procedure is not good for all.
and this is where cultural neoliberalism (if you will) comes back in. this need to protect individual freedoms at the expense of collective good, all because of the belief "human well-being can best be advanced by liberating individual entrepreneurial freedoms". in conclusion, neoliberalism sucks. watch this video that made me want to write this 🙂👍