Neoliberalism: a critical reader

Alfredo Saad-Filho and Deborah Johnston (eds), Pluto, 271 pages, paperback, £15.99

According to this book, neoliberalism is the dominant ideology of our time. It means the imposition of privatisation, deregulation, cuts in welfare spending and free trade by governments and by international financial institutions.

The book argues that neoliberalism was a response to the economic and political crisis that began in the 1970s. It was first imposed by the most powerful states on their own labour movements and then systematically pushed onto the rest of the world.

But the authors provide evidence to show that neoliberalism has not been a success. It has not fostered rapid economic growth and has exacerbated inequality. It has also elicited revolt and resistance - with strikes, riots, and popular uprisings.