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  • © 2021

The Age of Crisis

Neoliberalism, the Collapse of Democracy, and the Pandemic

Palgrave Macmillan
  • Provides an approach grounded on Marxist political economy
  • Analyses the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic for global neoliberalism
  • Argues that the Covid-19 pandemic has revealed the limitations of neoliberalism

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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xx
  2. Neoliberalism, Financialisation, and Crisis

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
  3. Neoliberalism and Democracy

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 27-27
    2. Political Forms of Neoliberalism

      • Alfredo Saad-Filho
      Pages 29-42
    3. The Crisis of Neoliberal Democracy

      • Alfredo Saad-Filho
      Pages 43-55
  4. A Pandemic with Neoliberal Characteristics

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 57-57
    2. A Neoliberal Health Crisis

      • Alfredo Saad-Filho
      Pages 59-74
    3. Post-pandemic Realities

      • Alfredo Saad-Filho
      Pages 75-88
  5. Case Studies in Disaster

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 89-89
    2. A Very Neoliberal Tragedy

      • Alfredo Saad-Filho
      Pages 91-105
    3. The UK: A Convergence of Disasters

      • Alfredo Saad-Filho
      Pages 107-119
    4. The USA: Decentralisation and Denial

      • Alfredo Saad-Filho
      Pages 121-133
    5. Brazil: Inequality and Catastrophe

      • Alfredo Saad-Filho
      Pages 135-149
    6. India: From Hubris to Disaster

      • Alfredo Saad-Filho
      Pages 151-163
  6. Back Matter

    Pages 165-241

About this book

This book offers an analysis of the causes, development, and likely consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic for global neoliberalism. The analysis will draw upon the author’s previous work on neoliberalism, and on its twin crises: the economic crisis (the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), ongoing since 2007) and, subsequently, the crisis of political democracy that has been associated with the rise of ‘spectacular’ authoritarian leaders in several countries. The approach is grounded on Marxist political economy.

The book argues that the Covid-19 pandemic emerges out of this context of deep inequalities and crises in the economy and in politics, and it is likely to reinforce the exclusionary tendencies of neoliberalism, with detrimental implications both for economic prosperity and for democracy. In turn, the pandemic has revealed the limitations of neoliberalism like never before, with implications for the legitimacy of capitalism itself, and opening unprecedented spaces for theleft.

This book will be of interest to academics in economics, international relations, political science, political economy, sociology and development studies.

Reviews

"​Clearly written, highly engaging and very topical, this is an excellent read that convincingly shows the links between neoliberalism and the damage it has done to public life." (--Ray Kiely, Professor of International Politics, Queen Mary University of London, UK.)

"A convincing argument that the neoliberal age is necessarily one of periodic, overlapping crises: in economies, in politics, in health. But these crises will not force change in themselves: that requires sustained, overwhelming public pressure." (--Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, USA.)

"This is the leading account of the economics, politics and ideology of the Covid-pandemic, emphasising its grounding in an increasingly authoritarian neoliberalism. It forms the starting point for all such political economies." (--Ben Fine, Emeritus Professor of Economics, SOAS University of London, UK.)

"Alfredo Saad-Filho skilfully and lucidly reveals how the COVID-19 pandemic has emerged in a world already strained with contradictions. The Age off Crisis is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the capitalist origins and neoliberal framings of the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, marked by growing levels of authoritarianism, inequalities and violence." (--Susanne Soederberg, Professor of Global Development Studies at Queen’s University, Canada)

"Over the last decades, students, researchers and activists alike have turned to Alfredo Saad-Filho for his penetrating insights into the policy regime of neoliberalism. He now casts his critical eye on the practices of neoliberalism in the moment of pandemics, unprecedented forms of economic policy, and multiplying forms of authoritarian politics. Global neoliberalism has formed a series of paradoxes of wealth besides deteriorating employment, democratic representation without state capacity to pursue mandates, and authoritarian leaders seeking stability but generating political polarization. If there is a book to read on what the post-pandemic political-economic context might look like, and the need to pursue political alternatives to existing politics, this is the one." (--Greg Albo, Professor of Political Economy, York University, Toronto, Canada)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of International Development, King's College London, LONDON, UK

    Alfredo Saad-Filho

About the author

Alfredo Saad-Filho is Professor of Political Economy and International Development at King’s College, London, UK.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: The Age of Crisis

  • Book Subtitle: Neoliberalism, the Collapse of Democracy, and the Pandemic

  • Authors: Alfredo Saad-Filho

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81608-7

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham

  • eBook Packages: Economics and Finance, Economics and Finance (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-81607-0Published: 28 September 2021

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-81610-0Published: 29 September 2022

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-81608-7Published: 27 September 2021

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XX, 241

  • Number of Illustrations: 1 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Health Economics, Economic Growth, History of Economic Thought/Methodology, Political Economy/Economic Systems

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access