Neoliberalism as a political rationality: Australian public policy since the 1980s

Abstract

Since the 1980s a remarkable transformation has occurred in the rationale that informs public policy in Australia. This transformation reflects a fundamental change in the way national economies and populations are conceived by policy-makers, and has led to the emergence of new strategies of governance as a consequence. We argue that this change of direction in Australian public policy may be best thought of as a specific neoliberal 'political rationality'. The first section of the paper outlines changes in con ceptions of the economy and subjectivity which are associated with neoliberalism as a political rationality. The second part of the paper examines the articulation and imple mentation of neoliberalism in Australia over the last couple of decades.

Connections: the contribution of social capital to regional development

“…Neoliberalism is a political economic system that emphasises free markets to promote economic growth and community wellbeing (Harvey, 2005;Lemeke, 2001). Neoliberalism became the dominant economic policy rationale within Australia during the 1980s and 1990s (Beeson and Firth, 1998). While Australia's agricultural trading partners in Europe, the United States and Asia have maintained protectionist agricultural policies, Australian neoliberalism has been the rationale for industry deregulation.…”

Rethinking the Politics of Social Capital: Challenging Tocquevillian Perspectives

“…Neo-liberal policy came to dominate Australian policy making in the 1980s in response to the perceived "crisis of the welfare state" and the changing nature of the economy and its hold over Canberra has not since been relinquished (Pusey 1991;Beeson & Firth 1998;Stilwell 2000;O'Neill and Moore 2005). Australia, was drawn into the neo-liberal project "in conscious pursuit of the enhanced competitive advantage that was commended to nations by Michael Porter (1990)" as the 80s and 90s saw both sides of politics dominated by the belief that neo-liberal policies "represented the only workable response to the forces of 'globalisation'" (Badcock 1997: 252).…”

Response ‐ The Royal Australasian College of Physicians: a 21st century college

“…The radical cost cutting and privatisation of social services that followed the adoption of neoliberal principles became a public policy strategy rigorously embraced by governments around the world, including successive Liberal and Labor governments in Australia. 11 The particular system of beliefs and practices defining the roles and powers of managers in our present context is what is referred to as managerialism. 12 This is defined by two basic tenets: (i) that all social organisations must conform to a single structure; and (ii) that the sole regulatory principle is the market.…”