Naming Neoliberalism: Exposing the Spirit of Our Age

by Rodney Clapp

Neoliberalism is the reigning, overarching spirit of our age. It consists of a panoply of cultural, political, and economic practices that set marketized competition at the center of social life. The model human is the entrepreneur of the self. Though regnant, neoliberalism likes to hide. It likes people to assume that it is a natural, deep structure--just the way things are. But in neoliberalism's train have come extreme inequality, economic precariousness, and a harmful distortion of both the individual and society. Many people are waking up to the destructive effects of this order. Anthropologists, economic historians, philosophers, theologians, and political scientists have compiled considerable literature exposing neoliberalism's pretensions and shortcomings. Drawing on this work, Naming Neoliberalism aims to expose the order to a wider range of readers--pastors, thoughtful laypersons, and students. Its theological base for this "intervention" is apocalyptic--not in the sense of impending doom and gloom, but in the sense of centering on Christ's life, death, and resurrection as itself the creation of a new and truer, more hopeful, and more humane order that sees the principalities and powers (like neoliberalism) unmasked and disarmed at the cross. The book carefully lays out what neoliberalism is, where it has come from, its religious or theological pretensions, and how it can be confronted through and in the church.

Genres: Economics, Religion

233 pages, Hardcover

Published July 20, 2021

Reviews

[Phorbas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Always hilarious when those who's faith recommends to not be concerned with the doings of this world... proffer their ratty takes on matters, for money basically.
Very vague assumptions with no real-world evidentiary tie-ins, fallacies, and alarmism ahead.

[Jerry Wicker · Rating 2 out of 5]

A difficult read, but a few valuable nuggets scattered throughout the book. This is a theological work, but keep a dictionary and thesaurus handy while reading. I appreciate a good vocabulary, however, this author uses terminology that seems almost foreign making it a slow read and also causing points to get lost.

[Jack Shuster · Rating 1 out of 5]

An odd assortment of incoherent ramblings about the virtues of Christianity:

This book has little, if anything, to do with Neoliberalism. Instead, Clapp offers up 200 or so pages filled almost entirely with quotes and citations from Christian theologians and the New Testament, with some incomprehensible discussion thereof peppered in between.

It veres so drastically from the promise of "Naming Neoliberalism" and does nothing to expose "the Spirit of Our Age." It's difficult to understand what Clapp was thinking when he titled and authored this book. It appears that he wanted an excuse to promote the salvation of Christ without overtly attempting to convert or preach to his readers, but he fails and does exactly that.

Why include the five percent of lines dedicated to Neoliberalism? What do they add? They are hazy, ill-defined window dressings for a text that reads mostly as a rambling sermon.

If you are looking for a well-informed discussion of Neoliberal politics and governance, look elsewhere. If you are interested in converting to or reaffirming your faith in Christianity, then this book is for you; although you would never guess that by its title.

[David Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was delighted to stumble on this accessible little book talking about a topic I felt was largely ignored in my Christian circles: the encompassing and enduring impact of neoliberal policies and dogmas on our economy and worldview, and thus by extension our theology and daily lives.
Clapp’s “apocalyptic” lense (apocalyptic as a theological tradition) was a nice way to engage his topic. His wrestlings with economy, climate catastrophe, nationalism and fear of death are honest and insightful. He paints an alternative vision with Jesus’s life and freedom at the center.
Much recommended.

[Joel Wentz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling apocalyptic reading of the spirit of our age. A bit shorter than I wish, as Clapp tackles a massive range of topics that could use even more analysis, but it's a strong argument as it is.

Full review forthcoming for Englewood Review of Books.

[Dick Olsen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Best left for the scholars of cloistered religious institution. While there are tidbits of wisdom and, dare I say, enlightenment in Clapps work, the struggle to wade through the vocabulary, biblical citations, academic footnoting, and just plain weeds simply isn't worth it.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended by David Fitch. Great read. First two chapters were the best.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful unveiling of how neoliberalism is the base of our western culture and economy yet calls us to faithfully be free from its various traps and free for the life reflected in Gods kingdom.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paulson presents a superior description of the history and shape of neoliberalism as it has reshaped our economy and made the marketplace an all-encompassing reality that impacts every facet of life. What has resulted from the efforts of those advancing a neoliberal world view and set of values is a world in which the neoliberal order is presented as the natural environment that cannot be challenged or questioned. By making the economic order all encompassing, the possibility of transcendence and meaning has been eliminated. The result is a nihilism in which human life has no meaning beyond the need to produce economic wealth to be offered on the altar of consumption. He follows with an exploration of how Christian faith challenges neoliberalism with a hope for a creation outside of the current economic order, in which humans are co-creators with God and participants in a transcendent order of God's making, which embraces all creation. I recommend the book to anyone who wants to understand how we got here, and to explore how neoliberalism forecloses hope in the 21st century world.