Research on neoliberalism is still divided into social scientific and social history literatures on the one hand, and economic and intellectual history literature on the other hand. Major publications also still suffer from Anglo-Saxon bias due to a focus on English language literature despite a wide range of relevant publications in other major languages. The conference will provide for a truly global coverage and a more comprehensive integration of approaches and disciplinary commitments by way of examining, firstly, ideational and institutional origins of neoliberalism in a range of countries and international organizations, secondly, by observing the evolution of neoliberalism in rarely talked about countries like Japan, India, China, South Africa, Guatemala and Iceland, thirdly, by way of examining a range of topics in economic history and science philosophy, and fourthly, by way of examining social technologies of relevance making (think tanks, academic prices, journalism etc.). All contributions will locate their focused analysis within the wider neoliberal networks (i.e. look beyond specific countries or fields). Particular attention will be paid to networks of organized neoliberalism (like Mont Pèlerin) and other relevant circles (like corporate and political constituencies). Contributing scholars come from a wide range of countries and academic disciplines. Special highlight: Melinda Cooper (University of Sidney) will deliver the keynote lecture on “neoliberalism’s” family values – old and new alternatives to the welfare state. For more background on the conference see the preface of the 2009 volume “Roads from Mont Pèlerin: The Making of the Neoliberal Thought Collective” edited by Phil Mirowski and Dieter Plehwe.
The conference was jointly organized by Phil Mirowski (Notre Dame), Dieter Plehwe (WZB), Hagen Schulz-Forberg (Aarhus University) and Quinn Slobodian (Wellesley College).
The conference was co-financed by the WZB Research Unit Inequality and Social Policy and the VELUX “Good Society” Project at Aarhus University.
