PLEASE NOTE THE DATE AND ROOM CHANGE FOR THIS EVENT
CIDRAL Workshop
Prof. Patrick Joyce on ‘Neoliberalism and ‘History’
Tues 21st June 2016, 6pm – 6pm
Ellen Wilkinson, Room A3.6
What is “neoliberalism”? This is my first question in the workshop. How does it differ from liberalism? Can we conceive of it as a single, unified entity? What we call “neoliberalism” seems however to have several elements. The existing literature has covered a number of them (see the Handbook introduction as an example).
As well as involving plural strands and plural places (“neoliberalism” is global after all) it has plural interpretations. Interpretation is our second question. Two of the most influential interpretations are the (neo-) Marxist and the Foucauldian ones. In the former crises in capitalist accumulation and class politics are seen as the root and the directing force. In the second neoliberalism is seen as driven by governmental imperatives (“governmentality being the key element).
Depending on which aspects we look at different historical trajectories are apparent, and with these different timeframes. Some of these have been traced but many not, so this is fertile ground for historical practice. This is my third theme, historicising neoliberalism. What can historical enquiry bring to the table that other approaches do not?
Places for this workshop are limited. Please email max.jones@manchester.ac.uk to reserve a place.
Reading:
1. Simon Springer, Kean Birch, Julie MacLeavy eds The Handbook of Neoliberalism June 2016 Introductory chapter:
https://www.academia.edu/20300183/An_introduction_to_neoliberalism
2. William Davies, “The difficulty of 'neoliberalism'” Open Democracy 6.1.2016
https://www.opendemocracy.net/will-davies/difficulty-of-neoliberalism
and “Incredible Neoliberalism”, pre-publication paper, 2015.
3. Michel Foucault, The Birth of Biopolitics, College de France Lectures, 1978-9, lecture on US neoliberalism, 14th March 1979 . Also try and have a look at 21 March lecture, if possible.
Readings for the workshop can be downloaded at: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/87kulgm2bkc4fpn/AAD9WFbqgoK8G-dJh8bpl06Ea?dl=0
Patrick Joyce is Emeritus Professor of Modern History at the University of Manchester.
He writes about the history of power and social relations in Britain and elsewhere from the 18th century onwards. He works chiefly on the state, the city, and the nature of freedom and liberalism down to contemporary times.
For further information on his extensive publications and current research projects visit: http://www.patrickjoyce.info/
