Neoliberalism and Social Darwinism
Lest anyone tell me I should not blog about politics or economics, let me educate them/you: There is a branch of theology called “political theology.” This essay is about that; it is an example of it.
Here is a Youtube video you need to watch if you want to know WHY what is happening in America is happening. The deep cause is “neoliberalism” which is not at all what it sounds like—at least to untutored ears. And neoliberalism and Social Darwinism go together hand-in-hand even though many neoliberals will deny that.
Youtube: Neoliberalism, Social Darwinism and Biopolitical Modernity. It’s longish, but well worth the time and attention—if you want to understand the ideology driving American society and culture.
Neoliberalism is a distinct ideology that believes and teaches that economic freedom and competition, unfettered by government controls, is better than any other way of life in a society. “Market fundamentalism.” And it has “eugenic-like effects” because it believes and teaches that government should not interfere in the free market to overcome inequalities of life. That is where Social Darwinism and neoliberalism join hands and become one; neoliberalism is the economic and social expression of Social Darwinism even if some neoliberals criticize Social Darwinism.
Social Darwinism is the belief that helping the poor, the weak, the vulnerable, with government aid, any kind of redistribution of wealth, welfare, possibly even charity, goes against the grain of nature itself. Nature’s law is survival of the fittest. Any limits placed on the strong, the capable, the inventive, the creative, the smart, drags down the social order and goes against nature itself.
Neoliberalism believes and teaches the same. Watch the Youtube video. Only neoliberalism does not necessarily express any disdain for the lower classes, the poor, the weak, the ignorant, the incapable. It simply says government should not place any limits on the smart, the capable, the innovative, the wealthy. And government regulation of the economy and redistribution of wealth necessarily always does that. The strong, the smart, the capable, the upwardly mobile should be free to pursue their goals without government regulations and limits dragging them down.
If that sounds like Ayn Rand, it is. The video mentions her. But it talks more about Friedrich Hayek, the Austrian-British economist who is widely considered the “guru” of modern neoliberalism. He criticized Social Darwinism and tried to distance himself from it, but Social Darwinists love his philosophy and, according to theological Adam Kotsko, turn it into a theology. I prefer to say they turn it into an ideology. But a true ideology is very much like a theology. (However, it is my Anabaptist opinion that true Christianity is NOT an ideology at all!)
The video offers numerous quotes from Hayek and other neoliberals and their critics. It argues that the outcome of neoliberalism in social policies is inevitably the same as Social Darwinism. The “least of these” get left behind and that may be sad but it is right because allowing the strong, the smart, the innovative, the upwardly mobile to thrive without limitations or restrictions imposed by government, is best for everyone, for the common good. It may not help the homeless man or woman sleeping beside the street, but in the long run it helps society as a whole, possibly everyone, to live better lives. This is, of course, a form of utilitarianism.
President Ronald Reagan may not have understood neoliberalism or Social Darwinism, but his economic policies (e.g., “trickle down economics”) worked with neoliberal principles. According to the video, and I believe this, American public life has been driven by neoliberalism at least since Reagan. The so-called Reagan Revolution was an incipient neoliberal revolution.
The video reaches into contemporary American politics and economics with the ascendency of “the billionaires” including especially Elon Musk. Musk and Trump are often hailed as conservatives, but the video makes crystal clear that they are really neoliberals.
A basic principle of American society and culture is “equal opportunity for all.” That has not always been lived out, but free public education is a major effect of it—at least in principle. However, neoliberalism does not really believe in equal opportunity for all. It says there will always be a portion of the population which is destined to live in abject poverty even if given equal opportunity to thrive. They are the weak of the earth. Die off they will and must. Eventually, however, even the weak will benefit from the unhindered rise of the strong, if they choose to.
What is a Christian response to neoliberalism? Is it compatible with Christianity? Many Christians will say yes and admire and promote Hayek and others like him as paragons of virtue. What is the duty of a Christian pastor who has a member-teacher in his or her church who is teaching neoliberalism (probably not by that term) in his or her church? What about a president of a Christian liberal arts college or university? Should neoliberalism be permitted there? I know of churches and Christian colleges/universities where neoliberalism is the reigning ideology and blended together with Christianity.
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