Introduction to Neoliberalism

You may have heard the word “neoliberalism.” But what does it mean? The answer is rarely clear. Some scholars and commentators have recently hailed the “end of neoliberalism,” while others insist that we still live “under neoliberalism.” Those who use the word generally agree that whatever neoliberalism is, it is both very bad and very powerful. Other critics have called for the term to be retired, deeming it too vague. But neoliberalism—as a word, if nothing else—appears to be here to stay. In this talk, Lewis Page will trace a history of the idea of neoliberalism and the connections and divergences between its various meanings. Through doing so, he hopes to provide a useful set of tools for anyone interested in this notoriously slippery concept.

Lewis Page is a writer and researcher pursuing a Master of Arts in the Science and Technology Studies Graduate Program at the University of British Columbia. He has worked as an editor and journalist in California and India and studied history and anthropology at the University of Chicago.