#### : The Secret History of Neoliberalism `Author:` George Monbiot (co-authored with Peter Hutchison) `Availability:` > [!info] > https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/the-invisible-doctrine ![[TheInvisibleDoctrine.jpeg]] ## Key Takeaways Of course. The Invisible Doctrine: The Secret History of Neoliberalism by George Monbiot (co-authored with Peter Hutchison) i Monbiot argues that neoliberalism is not just an economic theory but a successful "political project" that has become the dominant ideology of our time, so pervasive it's now the "water we swim in." Its core aim is to systematically transfer power from the people to a small corporate and financial elite by reshaping society, politics, and even our very sense of self. --- Key Takeaways in Bullet Points 1. It Was a Deliberate, Orchestrated Project, Not a Natural Evolution · The ideology was developed and promoted from the 1940s onwards by a dedicated group of thinkers (like Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman) and wealthy business interests. · They created a "thought collective" of think tanks, academic positions, and media outlets to slowly and persistently inject their ideas into the mainstream until they became common sense. 2. The Core Goal is a "Lock-In" for the Elite · The ultimate objective is to create a permanent, unchangeable power structure that serves capital. This is achieved by: · Dismantling Democracy: Framing democratic collective action (like taxation and public spending) as "tyranny of the majority" or a "road to serfdom." · Enclaving Politics: Writing international trade deals that give corporations the power to sue governments (ISDS clauses) for policies that hurt their profits, effectively placing corporate law above public law. · Shrinking the State's Power to Help, Not Hurt: The state is weakened in its capacity to regulate business, provide social safety nets, or represent the public interest, but strengthened in its capacity for surveillance, security, and enforcing market logic. 3. It Redefines Human Nature and Freedom · Freedom as Market Freedom: Neoliberalism redefines freedom not as political liberty (freedom of speech, assembly) or freedom from want, but exclusively as freedom from government intervention in the market. · The "Ubermensch" Ideal: It promotes a vision of humans as purely self-interested, competitive, calculating entrepreneurs of the self. Cooperation, empathy, and collective action are portrayed as weak or unnatural. 4. It Creates a Hollowed-Out Society · The Destruction of the Commons: It systematically privatizes public assets and spaces (water, forests, the broadcast spectrum) and commodifies every aspect of life, destroying the shared "commons" that foster community. · Crisis as Opportunity: Follows the "Shock Doctrine" (Naomi Klein) – using moments of crisis (economic, natural disaster, war) to push through unpopular pro-corporate policies while the public is reeling. · Loneliness and Powerlessness: By destroying communities and social bonds, it creates isolated, anxious individuals who are easier to control and sell to. 5. It's an Invisible Ideology · The most insidious success of neoliberalism is that it is no longer seen as an ideology. It's presented as a neutral, technical, and inevitable reality—"There Is No Alternative" (TINA). · This makes it incredibly difficult to challenge because its assumptions are embedded in our language, institutions, and daily lives. We are encouraged to see social problems as personal failures. The Book's Central Argument and Call to Action Monbiot's central argument is that to fight the crises of our time (climate change, inequality, political extremism), we must first make the invisible doctrine of neoliberalism visible. We must name it, understand its history, and recognize it as a political choice, not a law of nature. The book is a call to rediscover a politics based on community, democracy, and the common good as the antidote to the isolating, exploitative logic of neoliberalism. ## Summary ## Quotes - ## Notes [[Determined - By Robert Sapolsky|Determined - By Robert Sapolsky]] `Concepts:` [[Politics]] `Knowledge Base:` [[Books index]]