Neoliberalism’s Hollow Promise of Freedom
Neoliberalism often presents itself as a victory for individual autonomy. In an interview, Grace Blakeley explains the hollowness of this claim — and why the Left needs to offer its own, better vision of human freedom.
A City of London worker walks through Leadenhall Market on September 14, 2020, in London, England. (Dan Kitwood / Getty Images)
Despite the many horrors of today’s world, there are still people telling us that capitalism means the “freedom” of the market. In her new book, Vulture Capitalism: Corporate Crimes, Backdoor Bailouts and the Death of Freedom, Grace Blakeley, journalist and staff writer for Tribune, confronts this neoliberal mythology. She shows how much capitalism owes to planning and state intervention — and combines this with engaging case studies of corporate crimes, imperialist power, and financial bailouts. These are not “excesses” of capitalism, she argues, but its very essence.
In an interview, she spoke to Jacobin’s Helmer Stoel about her new book, her politics, and the challenges for the Left.
Helmer Stoel
What drew you into politics in the first place?
Grace Blakeley
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