Ben Waber reviewed Hayek's Bastards by Quinn Slobodian
A Dense Run Through the Intellectual Roots of Neo-Liberalism's Transition to Fascism
5 stars
This is another great tour through the intellectual tradition of neoliberalism by Quinn Slobodian, although unlike in "Globalists" we get much closer to the present day. It's also a profoundly gross, uncomfortable journey, since he traces the evolution of neoliberalism to the modern fascist movements in the US and Europe. A lot of time is spent on the engagement of neoliberals with the modern eugenics movement and a comparatively light jaunt through the gold-worshipping doomsday branch of the movement. Throughout the book highlights not only the morally bankrupt and scientifically vapid theorizing of the movement, but also how the conclusions clashed with many of neoliberalism's founding tenets. Highly recommend
This is another great tour through the intellectual tradition of neoliberalism by Quinn Slobodian, although unlike in "Globalists" we get much closer to the present day. It's also a profoundly gross, uncomfortable journey, since he traces the evolution of neoliberalism to the modern fascist movements in the US and Europe. A lot of time is spent on the engagement of neoliberals with the modern eugenics movement and a comparatively light jaunt through the gold-worshipping doomsday branch of the movement. Throughout the book highlights not only the morally bankrupt and scientifically vapid theorizing of the movement, but also how the conclusions clashed with many of neoliberalism's founding tenets. Highly recommend