Anchored in the principles of the free-market economics, 'neoliberalism' has been associated with such different political leaders as Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, Augusto Pinochet, and Junichiro Koizumi. In its heyday during the late 1990s, neoliberalism emerged as the world's dominant economic paradigm stretching from the Anglo-American heartlands of capitalism to the former communist bloc all the way to the developing regions of the global South. At the dawn of the new century, however, neoliberalism has been discredited as the global economy, built on its principles, has been shaken to its core by a financial calamity not seen since the dark years of the 1930s. So is neoliberalism doomed or will it regain its former glory? Will reform-minded G-20 leaders embark on a genuine new course or try to claw their way back to the neoliberal glory days of the Roaring Nineties? Is there a viable alternative to neoliberalism? Exploring the origins, core claims, and considerable variations of neoliberalism, this Very Short Introduction offers a concise and accessible introduction to one of the most debated 'isms' of our time. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Author Biography

Manfred B. Steger's academic fields of expertise include global studies, political and social theory, peace studies, and international politics. His most recent publications include Globalism: Market Ideology Meets Terrorism (Rowman & Littlefield, 2005) and Globalization: A Very Short Introduction (2003). Ravi K. Roy is Lecturer of Global Studies and teaches International Development and Global Studies at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia. His research expertise is in Economic Policy and Public Policy. He is the co-editor of Neoliberalism: National and regional experiments with global ideas (Routledge, 2007) and the co-author of Fiscal Policy Convergence from Reagan to Blair: The Left Veers Right (Routledge, 2004).