Neoliberalism: Historical and Conceptual Variations -workshop

Name: Neoliberalism: Historical and Conceptual Variations -workshop
Start: 2025-11-20T09:30:00+02:00
End: 2025-11-21T15:00:00+02:00
Location: Metsätalo

Schedule

Thu, 20 Nov, 2025 at 09:30 am to Fri, 21 Nov, 2025 at 03:00 pm

UTC+02:00

Location

Metsätalo | Helsinki, ES

In recent years, scholarship on neoliberalism has undergone an intellectual renaissance. The concept is no longer used primarily as a pejorative but has instead become a neutral descriptor for the reformulation of liberal doctrine from the interwar period onward. New contributions to the historical study of neoliberalism have significantly expanded our understanding of its intellectual diversity, as well as its political, sociological, and cultural foundations.

However, much of the existing literature continues to rest on a few key assumptions. Neoliberalism is often framed as an Anglo-American phenomenon, closely associated with economic deregulation and free-market rationality. It is commonly understood as advocating for a small state rather than a strong one. Additionally, it is frequently linked to the methodological imperialism of neoclassical economics, shaping its approach to policy and governance.

This workshop seeks to challenge and broaden this perspective by exploring different conceptual and historical variations of neoliberalism, particularly through the lenses of culture and social relations. It will examine traditions such as German ordoliberalism and the Austrian School of Economics to highlight the diverse intellectual currents within the neoliberal movement.

Key questions include:

How did neoliberals themselves understand the novelty of "new liberalism" in relation to classical liberalism?
What was the relationship between economic and political ideas and broader conceptions of culture, society, and human nature?
What role did religious thought play in shaping neoliberal ideas?
By addressing these themes, the workshop aims to provide a more nuanced and historically grounded understanding of neoliberalism beyond its conventional Anglo-American framing.
We're hoping for registration by the 11th of November, by doing this we can accommodate to your dietary needs and avoid food waste!
Register through this link: https://www.lyyti.fi/reg/Neoliberalism_Historical_and_Conceptual_Variations_4679