The Origins of Neoliberalism: Modeling the Economy from Jesus to Foucault

by Dotan Leshem

Dotan Leshem recasts the history of the West from an economic perspective, bringing politics, philosophy, and the economy closer together and revealing the significant role of Christian theology in shaping economic and political thought. He begins with early Christian treatment of economic knowledge and the effect of this interaction on ancient politics and philosophy. He then follows the secularization of the economy in liberal and neoliberal theory.

Leshem draws on Hannah Arendt's history of politics and Michel Foucault's genealogy of economy and philosophy. He consults exegetical and apologetic tracts, homilies and eulogies, manuals and correspondence, and Church canons and creeds to trace the influence of the economy on Christian orthodoxy. Only by relocating the origins of modernity in Late Antiquity, Leshem argues, can we confront the full effect of the neoliberal marketized economy on contemporary societies. Then, he proposes, a new political philosophy that re-secularizes the economy will take shape and transform the human condition.

Genres: History, Philosophy, Politics, Economics

248 pages, Hardcover

Published June 4, 2016

Reviews

[Nikolaj Andersen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though the book contains some interesting points it is unfortunately terribly written. Besides a few helpful models and figures, the message is presented in the most cumbersome language which makes it quite hard to get through. This undermines much of the potential of the book to actually make an interesting intellectual and historical case. That being said, the book has given me a better understanding of the genealogy of the notion of "economy" from the Classical Greek Era, over the Imperial Era, the Christian Era and into liberal and neoliberal notions.

I should add that I would surely have benefited more from the book if I had a stronger understanding of the works of Michel Foucault, Hannah Arendt and Giorgio Agamben since Dotan Leshem persistently reflects his arguments and genealogy in theirs. Though Leshem does present their arguments before discussing them, it seems to be assumed that the reader already knows what he's talking about.