Jacobin is a child of crisis, born in the aftermath of the 2008–2010 global financial meltdown. In the two decades preceding the crisis, neoliberal ideals had become common sense. We had reached the “end of history” — for most people, capitalism was experienced more as an anonymous force, not something we voted upon or agreed to.

The economic crisis was a wake-up call. It brought the halcyon days of blind faith in free markets and aspirational individualism to a screeching halt. For the first time in a long time, capitalism, and the centrality of profit-making in the organization of our society, became visible. When Wall Street got bailouts and bonuses while regular people were handed pink slips and foreclosure notices, a deep popular anger bubbled over.

This fury was expressed in the Wisconsin State Capitol building and Occupy Wall Street encampments, but it was also visible in a growing hunger for new ideas — ideas that challenged the status quo. Jacobin was created as a space to foster and develop them.