Liberty After Neoliberalism

THE COVID pandemic has raised hard questions about liberty and the role of state. Many Conservatives have been discomfited by answers that their own government given to these questions, resorting instead a libertarian rhetoric argue for more permissive approach public health regulation. As several commentators pointed out, there is marked asymmetry in this Conservative hostility legal restrictions—broadly, new constraints on business activity are seen as bad, while political protests immigrants thought be much less worrisome. The invocation freedom MPs certainly selective one reflects interest groups make up party’s core support. But also deeper ideological structure rhetoric. discontent Covid regulations just example general mismatch between neoliberal ideals held many challenges face UK result Brexit pandemic. next few years going tricky forced into set policy stances its natural supporters simply don’t believe in. Although populist style post-Brexit Party looks quite different from economically Thatcherite but socially liberal Cameron years, links current posture longstanding influence neoliberalism ideology. Quinn Slobodian Lars Cornelissen intellectual origins contemporary right populism—and opposition Britain’s membership EU—are part found within competing factions right. During 1990s 2000s, leading figures circles became disillusioned with plans construct international economic agreements would parameters around state sovereignty. This ‘globalist’ strategy had premised assumption increasing trade capital flows through legally binding rules discipline national governments shrinking welfare states order remain competitive. early twenty-first century, appeared some stalwarts producing rather disappointing results. Levels expenditure labour market regulation were, view, still unacceptably high. International institutions at time looked advancing market-friendly agenda, particularly EU, now seemed taking characteristics social democratic grander scale. Faced unexpected scenario, intellectuals activists argued democracy should reined opting out fostering hectic form global competition based unilateral pursuit low taxes deregulation. More restrictive immigration policies were recommended neoliberals basis cultural heterogeneity can threaten stability.11 Q. Slobodian, ‘Neoliberalism’s bastards: divide economies’, Public Seminar, 15 February 2018; https://publicseminar.org/2018/02/neoliberalisms-populist-bastards/; ‘Anti-68ers racist-libertarian alliance: how schism among Austrian School helped spawn Alt-Right’, Cultural Politics, vol. 15, no. 3, 2019, pp. 372–86; D. Plehwe, ‘Neoliberals against Europe’, W. Callison Z. Manfredi, eds., Mutant Neoliberalism, New York, Fordham University Press, 89–111; ‘Demos veto demos exit: who embraced referenda secession’, Journal Australian Political Economy, 86, 2020, 19–36; L. Cornelissen, ‘Elements Euroscepticism: came support Brexit’, British 2021; https://doi.org/10.1057/s41293-020-00155-3 (both accessed 31 January 2022). well which drinking. For key backers Brexit, principal objective was uncork further deregulatory turn policy. MP Marcus Fysh recently put it leaked exchange European Research Group’s WhatsApp thread: ‘The whole point radical supply side reform moving away EU model.’22 O’Carroll, ‘How Lord Frost exit got Nadine Dorries deleted Tory group’, Guardian, 19 December https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/dec/19/how-lord-frosts-exit-led-to-a-twitter-frenzy (accessed Perhaps strand conservatism MP, Steve Baker. Baker cuts an unusual figure parliamentary party he publicly attributes his perspective rigorous body ideas than folksy pragmatism other prefer project. A tour Baker’s publications speeches reveals politician immersed himself not well-known texts Hayek, wider canon Ludwig von Mises, Murray Rothbard Robert Nozick. Before entering Parliament 2010 pursued career RAF then software engineer, including stint Lehman Brothers exciting 2006 firm’s bankruptcy 2008. He founders Cobden Centre, think tank emerged wake financial crisis expound economics. What fascinating Centre—and thinking—is avowedly offer libertarianism hitherto mainstream colleagues dismissive monetarism, they regarded fundamentally similar Keynesianism unaccountable power central banks fiat money. They joined left describing broken system. differed using theory cycle diagnose product excessive credit creation sponsored fractional reserve banking. While agreed ‘there applaud’ ‘the Thatcher Reagan years’, told House Commons ‘unfortunately underpinning which, like Keynesianism, infested those dreadful mistakes’ credit.33 S. Baker, speech Commons, Debates, 6 2011, 537, col. 256. argument specifically aimed technocratic elites dominated banking economics profession, whose pretensions scientific authority belied same misguided planning mentality economists criticised mid-twentieth century. spurious belief capacity wise experts meant rate deliberately suppressed’ hence individuals free choices distorted ‘a corrupt system money credit’.44 ‘Moral markets honest money’, 11 September 2009; http://www.cobdencentre.org/2009/09/moral-markets-and-honest-money/ like-minded Eurosceptics, project leaving ultimately secondary underlying reducing pursuing regime sound (in return gold standard very remains table). In revealing intervention Transatlantic Trade Investment Partnership (TTIP) United States 2014, both TTIP did fact ‘free trade’ because focussed ‘merely abolition tariffs’.55 ‘TTIP—when goes wrong?’, 5 March 2014; http://www.cobdencentre.org/2014/03/ttip-when-free-trade-goes-wrong/ Tackling non-tariff barriers trade—a focus negotiations—is account egregious overreach lands us slippery slope socialism. complaints government’s measures channelled scepticism expert opinion arena. Two points follow all this. First, underneath the—at times—overheated offered discontented politicians during debates lurks significant hinterland hard-edged moral vision. concluded recent precisely vein, observing what really stake debate foundational question: ‘Are we empty vessels or mere automata—things managed, if problem? Or spirits with, want better term, soul? We soul—people deserve dignity choice meaning our lives comes responsibility.’66 30 November 2021, 704, 816. eloquent statement sincere committed priority individual responsibility foundation civilised society, therefore ranks objectives, such health, important fundamental goal (and spite importance safeguarding agency). Secondly, however, odds views electoral coalition supported granted large majority case sold electorate one, leadership seems wisely realised. prominent evidently agree turbo-charged version Thatcherism ordered, feeling seemingly magnified experience faces testing period cognitive dissonance increased pay NHS care; largesse deployed, albeit half-heartedly, narrow regional inequality; inflation keeps ticking up, things becoming ever entangled ad hoc bailouts energy market. And that’s before even consider long-term legacy socialising emergency measure. Since tries keep serious decision making hands backbenchers members, ministers will no doubt able brave show road regardless misgivings. direction travel elements grassroots take. fractious unhappy awaits government, whether Boris Johnson helm.