Neoliberalism and authoritarianism

There is no abstract, but this overview summarises the chapter:

'This paper argues that neoliberalism has little to do with the "free market", meaning that the state plays a permanent and necessary role in neoliberalization processes. Indeed, state-directed coercion insulated from democratic pressures is central to the creation and maintenance of this politico-economic order, defending it against impulses towards greater equality and democratization. Present-day Europe is an excellent example of the rise of authoritarian neoliberalism, whereby the response to capitalist crisis has facilitated a substantial investment of state and juridical power in the intensification of the attack on formal democratic and substantive social rights. Nevertheless, such apparent strengthening of the European state entails its growing fragility, and it has already helped generate numerous new forms of democratic struggle. The paper also discusses non-European cases and examples.'