Neoliberal Approach Research Articles

Framing feminism in Eurasia: bottom-up strategies of depoliticisation and repoliticisation

Worldwide, feminist politics is increasingly marginalised and faces resistance from governments and societies. In post-socialist Eurasia, gender discourses are dominated by international donors promoting a neoliberal approach, as well as states mobilising patriarchal norms for nation building. Focusing on three grassroots feminist initiatives in Eurasia, this article explores alternative gender visions emerging from the ground up, which are oriented towards social justice. Drawing on critical frame analysis, literature on creativity and gender, and intersectionality, we examine the framing strategies deployed by feminist groups to advance their agendas and translate feminist thinking into local contexts. Analysing both discursive and visual forms of expression, we identify two framing strategies: depoliticisation (to reach broader audiences and avoid backlash) and repoliticisation (to disrupt dominant discourses). By discussing the dilemmas arising from each strategy, the article contributes to ongoing debates on feminist organising in contexts that are hostile to feminism.

Producing non-communicable diseases(NCD's) as health 'problems' in Botswana: A critical analysis of the NCD strategy (2018-2023).

Non-communicable diseases (NCD's) have recently become a focus of attention for policymakers in Botswana. In line with the global community, the country has been intentional about dealing with the challenges posed by NCD's and the potential threat it poses to the population. Although the concern with NCD's is legitimate, it is relatively unknown how NCD's have been constructed as policy 'problems' in Botswana. More importantly, the genealogy of NCD's and the politics of their emergence has largely been outside the scope of mainstream policymaking. This paper draws from Carol Bacchi's 'What's the Problem Represented to Be' (WPR), a poststructural analytic approach to examine how the Botswana Multi-Sectoral Strategy for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (2018-2023) represents the NCD 'problem' in Botswana. The paper argues that the NCD strategy in Botswana is framed from a neoliberal approach that place emphasis on individual responsibility and neglect larger social forces. Furthermore, the paper highlights that the use of international 'experts' and consultants bring along international tropes of evidence that might undermine local knowledge systems. The NCD strategy essentially neglects the socio-cultural factors that shape NCD risk in Botswana. The paper provides a critical analysis of how the construction of NCD 'problems' might undermine the everyday experiences of the people of Botswana. Alternative conceptualisations of the NCD 'problem' identified by the WPR analysis is outlined in the conclusion of the paper.

Industrial Policy, Sector Selection and Export Markets Strategies. The Case of the Kyrgyz Republic

The article analyzes industrial policy in general and the choice of economic sectors with the best potential for job creation, contribution to GDP and budget revenues. The necessity of implementing industrial policy as the preferred choice and the main strategy for achieving the overall goals of the country's economic development, in contrast to the neoliberal approach of trade openness, is discussed. The economic development of a country requires the transformation of economic activity from low-productivity sectors to high-productivity sectors by targeting selected sectors in which the country has comparative advantages. Changes of this magnitude can be achieved through a targeted, coordinated and consistent long-term industrial policy implemented by the Government. The methodology for selecting potential sectors of the economy, as well as target countries for exports, trade, investments and economic cooperation is presented using the example of Kyrgyzstan. It is concluded that effective industrial policy and the choice of priority sectors of the economy, combined with the choice of strategic economic alliances within the framework of EAEU membership, contribute to the successful development of the Kyrgyz Republic over the past decade.

Supporting the Recovery of NDIS Participants With Psychosocial Disability: A Narrative Literature Review

ABSTRACTThis narrative literature review examines key issues surrounding psychosocial disability support in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). It highlights the NDIS's neoliberal approach to support, which has underpinned a lack of clarity around the conceptualisation of psychosocial disability and recovery. Several studies identified a mismatch between the episodic nature of mental illness and the NDIS's permanent disability criteria. Additionally, the review highlights the NDIS's inadequate consideration of social disadvantage in implementing support for individuals with psychosocial disability. Challenges in managing NDIS funding can result from both fluctuating mental health conditions and a lack of accessible information for informed decision‐making regarding service options. Findings highlight that the NDIS tends to employ a neoliberal approach focused on capacity building, which may not fully capture the qualitative and individualised aspects of recovery. Systemic and socio‐structural barriers within the NDIS and individual circumstances can hinder NDIS service users' decision‐making. In conclusion, the review emphasises the need for a diverse range of services tailored to the specific needs of NDIS participants with psychosocial disability to support their unique recovery processes. There is a need for further research to comprehend the multifaceted recovery processes and lived experiences of NDIS participants with psychosocial disability.

Neoliberal Policy and Equity on Campus: A Comparative Administrative Study of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and College Athletics

This research analyzes NIL policy to determine its fit within the neoliberal policy framework and assesses its intersection with equity. Systemic and administrative factors within college athletics contribute to the NIL landscape. Disparities in earning potential are a natural product of market-based policies. Earnings and valuations by race and gender show equity ramifications. A comparative analysis of NIL policies and university websites and interviews shows a shift toward the neoliberal approach, providing targeted administrative mandates while promoting market capitalism within college athletics. As a result, NIL policy’s neoliberal tendencies have a significant impact on social equity.

AGRICULTURE AS A UNIFER OF SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE FACE OF FREE MARKET CHALLENGES

Individual stages of the implementation of sustainable development should be important to people in their drive toward effective production and economic goals. Successful implementation is vital to maintaining access to food. Sustainable development should ensure sufficient food supply for the population in various living conditions, maintain compliance with food health safety, and keep the needs of biodiversity into consideration. Over the last few decades, agriculture has undergone a huge change, and attention should be paid to the quality of food products, the fulfillment of conditions, and actions that must be taken at many stages of production and food trade in order to ensure an adequate human existence. A look at agriculture also allows us to see its multifunctionality in a changing global world. Ensuring food security, without violating ecological security, while maintaining elements of rural culture, presents significant challenges for national and global agrarianism. The neoliberal approach should also take into account not only the financial dimension but also the broader perspective of social responsibility.

Economic Transformation in Crisis: Singapore's Strategic Pivot Post-1985

In this work, we examine the transformative impact of the 1985 recession on Singapore's economic policies and national development. The present research foregrounds the recession as an event that accelerated a shift in focus from a state listed mixed economy toward that of a basically neoliberal approach having the objective of building economic resilience and competitiveness. Through looking at their effects on GDP growth, income distribution, and employment quality, this paper illustrates their successes while, at the same time, shows ongoing challenges in the form of income inequality. The findings underscore continual policy adaptation as a key to sustain economic growth with social equity for Singapore.

THE FEATURES OF THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING CULTURAL POLICY AND ITS DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN SOUTH KOREA

This article discusses the closed door policy of korean culture and its transition to an open door policy, as well as the impact of various reforms on culture. Highlighted the role of the state in the emergence and expansion of cultural policy. In the course of the work, a comparative historical method of analyzing cultural policy was used. It was found that the neoliberal approach of the government led to the creation of a cultural policy that has a powerful impact on the economy. The main purpose of the article is to substantiate the peculiarities of the development of cultural policy on the example of South Korea. The research methods in the work were the study of literature in the field under study and the analysis of materials on cultural policy, as well as the development of cultural and creative industries in South Korea. This article substantiates the role of the government in cultural policy, and the role of cultural policy for the state as an economic factor. Discussed the internal logic of the development of cultural policy and the South Korean way of development after Japanese colonialism. The article asserts the importance of state intervention in cultural policy, which has created an effective guarantee system. Despite significant works on the cultural policy of South Korea, there are few works in a comparative historical approach in Kazakhstan. Therefore, the theoretical and practical significance of the article is that the work can be useful for representatives of the scientific community who are interested in the cultural policy of South Korea.

Local institutional strategies and responses to climate change risks in the Indian Sundarbans: A political economic analysis

In this article, we use a political economic analysis in arguing that climate change risks and vulnerabilities are often produced and sustained through inappropriate, loosely designed and socially contested institutional mechanisms. Using ethnography, we contribute to the existing social science scholarship on climate vulnerability and risk by focusing on a political economic analysis of how risks are framed and responded at local institutional levels in the Indian Sundarbans. Our paper offers place-based nuances of climate politics to show how local institutions are characterised by power relations, economic incentives and political influences while facilitating and deploying climate risk management strategies. Empirical findings from our study highlight that neoliberal approaches to climate risk management facilitated by local institutions reveal predominant market mechanisms, patron–clientele relations and technologically engineered solutions to create local climate economies. From our findings, we conclude that political economy of climate change can explain why and how adaptation policies become ineffective in everyday experiences of precarious living.

Academies in England and Independent Schools in Finland: A Distributed Leadership Perspective

Many education systems adopt neoliberal privatisation and marketisation approaches to diversify education provision and improve quality. England is a leading example, transforming local authority-maintained schools into academies. In contrast, Finland resists neoliberalism and maintains a small number of independent schools. This paper examines how resources and leadership are distributed in academies and independent schools to explain the different educational paths taken by England and Finland. This study uses a scoping review approach to explore and contrast academies and independent schools. The comparison covers aspects such as history, education administration, local governance, accountability, curriculum and performance, teacher professional development and home–school–community relationships. The findings reveal that academies in England often concentrate leadership roles and resources among a privileged few, including large Multi-Academy Trusts, technocratic trustees and curriculum experts. This concentration tends to marginalise local communities and parents, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. In Finland, independent schools serve a supplementary role within the education system, catering to specific cultural, linguistic and religious groups while adhering to the national core curriculum and regulations. While existing studies critique the academisation movement in England and commend the high-performing public school system in Finland, a direct comparison between academies in England and independent schools in Finland has been lacking. This systematic review offers original insights into these two types of schools and clarifies why neoliberal approaches often exacerbate rather than mitigate disparities in education access and equity.

New Architecture of Foreign Direct Investment Regulation in the European Union

This article examines current trends in financial governance within the European Union (EU), focusing on the regulation of foreign direct investment (FDI). The adoption of supranational mechanisms for EU FDI screening through Regulation 2019/452 not only highlights the expansion of multi-level governance, as promoted by the European Commission, but also reconfigures the EU's role as a global actor in investment transactions. This shift directly impacts a wide range of stakeholders.The study aims to explore the institutional architecture established by Regulation 2019/452 and address the research question: Why has the EU transitioned from a neoliberal approach favoring free capital movement (positive integration) to a framework emphasizing common European monitoring rules (negative integration)? The theoretical framework combines the concept of multi-level governance and securitization theory, underpinned by new institutionalism, which facilitates an analysis of how institutions, particularly the European Commission, articulate and advance common interests within political frameworks. The findings reveal that the securitization of Chinese FDI served as a critical tool for the Commission to legitimize its push for supranational regulation. Regulation 2019/452 is identified as “entry-level legislation,” designed to be amended through its built-in revision mechanism, ultimately broadening the Commission’s exclusive competencies in this area. This trajectory was partially confirmed by the Commission’s January 2024 proposal to strengthen the Regulation. The analysis situates this shift within a broader global context, demonstrating how the EU's move from neoliberalism to protectionism mirrors trends in other major economies, such as the United States, China, and India, all of which employ FDI monitoring mechanisms. The article also identifies key events that acted as catalysts for the EU’s geopolitical reassessment of foreign investment—from a stance of openness to recognizing potential threats to collective security and public order. It draws a parallel with the Commission’s use of securitization discourse in the energy sector, which contributed to the partial communitarization of energy policy through multi-level governance.

Dilemma of Individualism and Freedom in Neoliberal Understanding

There is a clear tension in the neoliberal approach to individualism and freedom. Focusing on the process of individualization and individual self-determination in markets, neoclassical approaches recognize that individuals are committed to social mobility and responsibility to act within market rules on, individual autonomy and the ability to set self-determined goals appear to be limited to market participation. The market is seen as an inherently dynamic system developed over time. According to Hayek, individualism refers to social progress and conformity to society. The aim of this paper is to respectfully examine the apparent inconsistencies and limitations of how individual freedom and choice have been conceptualized by neoliberal thinkers, through an analysis of the works of Hayek and Friedman. Neoliberal policies articulate the notion of free will and question the definition of freedom from a purely economic perspective. By further examining these nuances, the study hopes to reflect on the personal and societal political implications associated with neoliberalism’s more limited understanding of self-government and voluntarism. Finally, an examination of balanced perspectives can add to the ongoing discussion on how best to organize social policies that maximize individual dignity and collective well-being in the long run at in a constructive manner.

Counterinsurgency, forest governance, and the dynamics of change in the forests of South Asia: Transition in Bangladesh's forests

Counterinsurgency, forest governance, and the dynamics of change in the forests of South Asia: Transition in Bangladesh's forests

Rethinking Industrial Strategies and the State: A Global South Perspective

Abstract: After decades of opposition and neglect in the context of a dominating neoliberal approach to markets and institutions, industrial policy has experienced a renaissance. In the wake of financial, climate, and health crises, setting a sound industrial strategy has emerged as an absolute policy priority. Yet contemporary industrial strategies remain bound by outdated frameworks and preconceptions. Those shaped by the Global North in particular fall short of addressing the unique challenges Global South countries face, including limited state capacity, dependence on volatile global markets, and colonial legacies. These factors necessitate a radical rethinking of industrial strategy. The article argues that to avoid reproducing the mainstream view of state intervention, industrial strategy should fundamentally rethink the role of the state—not as a market fixer, but as a capable and confident market shaper.

Intra-Africa trade and the need to rethink the neo-liberal approach

Notwithstanding past trade reforms, trade in Africa and particularly intra-Africa trade, remain dismal. Africa has even created economic communities, fitted with monetary, fiscal, and socio-political anchors, by way of various Regional Economic Communities (RECs) – now reflected by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Whilst these have yielded marginal benefits, the persistence of low intra-Africa trade calls into question their suitability. Focused on the realities of institutions targeted by these reforms and Africa's context – i.e., weak linkages between institutions, high informality, and low social capital – we posit that reforms have not elicited the hoped-for high intra-Africa trade because of their near total reliance on the neo-liberal approach, which neglects Africa's context. Drawing on Africa's sociology and new institutional economics, we use a conceptual institutional analysis to evolve a political economy based framework that suggests potential solutions: Linking the formal sector that currently underpins economic/trade policies to the informal institutions that are reflective of Africa's norms, values, cultures and expectations (the informal sector), and scaling up production; via the cooperatives production model, strategic procurement mandates, and effectuation of continental transportation infrastructure network, are our recommended pathways to reversing the current dismal intra-continental trade.

Distractive language education policies and the endangerment of Indigenous languages in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Focusing on language education policies in Bangladesh, this article shows how the policies have distracted people’s attention from the harms inflicted on the country’s Indigenous communities and their languages. I discuss two factors that have contributed to policy distractions in this context: a strong form of Bangla linguistic nationalism and a neoliberal approach to English language teaching. To address the problem of language education policy distractions, I put forward an argument for paying attention to what matters the most for protecting linguistic human rights and fostering linguistic diversity. Paying such transformative attention will require a mother-tongue-based multilingual approach to education and the creation of territorial niches for protecting and promoting endangered languages.

Refugees as Entrepreneurs? A Challenge to HDP Programmes

ABSTRACT Protracted refugee situations in territories of war or natural hazards challenge the logic of the humanitarian-development-peace (HDP) nexus that inspires liberal humanitarianism. The organised expression of that nexus is the so-called ‘integrated approach’ in which humanitarian aid, development aid and peacebuilding are intertwined in missions aimed at promoting a durable peace. The experiences of camps for Palestinian and Syrian refugees in Jordan and of South Sudanese and Congolese refugees in Uganda question some basic assumptions of the HDP programmes. In the last two decades, the policies adopted in these locations show a two-fold reconfiguration of the HDP liberal programme: first, the aim of containing humanitarian crises locally, in the peripheries, thereby preventing their adverse effects spreading to the core of the international system; second, a focus on refugees’ capacity to become more resilient and entrepreneurial in order to overcome their vulnerable condition. Overall, this so-called neoliberal approach to humanitarianism with its focus on containment and individual entrepreneurship-inspired resilience has moved away from its liberal configuration as part of a systemic reconfiguration of local social fabric.

The Salvage Frontier: Place, Nature, and Neoliberalism in a Small Northern Town

AbstractThe transition to a neoliberal economy that has been happening in Northern Canada has promised increasing control over resources to residents. Yet, the neoliberal approach carries significant risk, especially as it attempts to extract profit from failed and abandoned public projects—what Anna Tsing calls “salvage accumulation”. In Churchill, Manitoba, the primary economic drivers—shipping and tourism—have turned the town as a place into a particular type of salvage commodity. Built upon abandoned infrastructure, non‐human nature, the collapse of other industries, and the changing climate, these industries rely upon the overall place image of Churchill to bring non‐market goods into the commodity process. This process removes local control of place image (and experience) yet still embeds the risk of the venture in the location itself. Salvage accumulation as an entrepreneurial practice unequally distributes the risk onto residents while allowing the profits to accrue elsewhere.

Schools don’t care: Rearticulating care ethics in education

Schools self-identify as caring communities and teach young children to be caring for each other. But schools also teach other contradictory and competing messages, such as individualism and self-reliance, rationalist concepts of justice and meritocracy, and other neoliberal approaches to life and community. Furthermore, while endorsements of care are commonly found in educational institutions, caring is not always (or even often) practiced or regarded as a major aim in schools, in contrast with human capital approaches to youth development. This essay examines how schools do and don’t care. At its core is the rearticulation of care ethics in education, and what caring means within the contemporary field. Over time, enthusiasm for care ethics has peaked and waned. It begins with a brief explanation of what caring is within the field of care ethics, before it considers how caring is ideally involved in education. In this case, discourses of care ethics and caring in education can be coopted against the writings of care ethicists to complement positive psychology, socially conservative character education and civic education, and individualistic and neoliberal approaches to education. As a result, schools can appear to care, but do so in highly distorted ways. These distortions, I argue, do not reveal fundamental limitations or flaws within care ethics approaches to care. Instead, they demand a reconsideration and rearticulation of care ethics in the contemporary education landscape: a context which has changed considerably since debates and articulations of care ethics in the 1980s.

Promoting Social Solidarity Economy in Tunisia: Neoliberal Assumptions and Missed Opportunities Within the Triple Nexus Discourse

ABSTRACT Formally launched by the United Nations (UN) in 2016, the so-called Triple Nexus has been adopted by several international donors that have intervened in Tunisia since the fall of its authoritarian regime. Faced with the state's limited capacity to address critical post-revolutionary challenges such as escalating poverty and radicalisation, external actors – spanning multilateral, bilateral and non-governmental organisations – have endeavoured to tackle humanitarian, development and security issues to promote stability and support the fragile democratisation process in the country. In this context, Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) initiatives have gained prominence as a means to concurrently address diverse challenges associated with the ‘lack of social development’, including marginalisation and the absence of social cohesion – identified as catalysts for radicalisation and instability. In contrast with these stated objectives, fieldwork spanning 2015 to 2019 across various regions of Tunisia reveals that the international donor discourse on SSE, entrenched in a neoliberal approach and government securitisation strategies, exacerbates economic insecurity and amplifies marginalisation.