Las contradicciones culturales del neoliberalismo

Abstract

This article explores the origins, characteristics, contradictions and different stages of historical application of neoliberalism, understood as a discursive strategy and practice shaped by the various currents of political and economic thought that have come together in its conformation. Taking as a starting point the program of ideas and action designed at the Mont Pelerin society by thinkers from the Austrian School, the Chicago School and German Ordo-liberalism, the author reviews four phases of neoliberalism’s historical application in different formats and different parts of the world, as well as the vicissitudes that such application has brought in terms of political and economic praxis. In this regard, the author holds three key arguments: that neoliberalism is not a homogeneous school of thought; that its application has had several distinct phases; and finally that such application has shown various internal contradictions at the heart of its thought and praxis. Based on these three points, the article also attempts to show how some of the main causes of the crisis faced by neoliberalism in different times and countries can be found in the difficulties to maintain the complex and fragile balance that characterized the original neoliberal project.