Guns & Butter radio host, Bonnie Faulkner, continues the interview Dr. Rasmus on the major themes and analyses of his just published book, ‘The Scourge of Neoliberalism: US Economic Policy from Reagan to Trump‘, Clarity Press, January 2020.
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In Part 1
the first interview (see posted below this blog), Bonnie and Dr. Rasmus discuss the material origins of Neoliberalism, its evolution from the late 1970s to its crisis in 2008-09, the failure of Obama to restore its full momentum, and Trump’s current effort to do so–which has been only partially successful.
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In this Part 2
of the interview, Rasmus explains why Trump’s restoration of a new virulent form of Neoliberalism is failing, and why it will continue, due to new emergent technological and other material forces in the 21st century US and global economy. Rasmus discusses these technological-material forces, which constitute the ‘natural’ restructuring of the capitalist system, and why such forces are coming increasingly into contradiction with the ‘induced’ restructuring represented by Neoliberal policies. Rasmus explains this increasingly unstable relationship will of necessity lead to the deeper crisis of Neoliberalism (compared to 2008-09 that was partially overcome) in the 2020s decade ahead.
A new policy mix and regime will have to emerge. The structure of that regime won’t be Neoliberal as we know it, but something else–i.e. either more proto-fascist (corporate-state integration) or something more progressive. The outcome will be decided by political conflict. In the process the US political system will continue to change, as it has the last three decades, but now more rapidly as political sources defending Neoliberalism chip away at democratic rights at home (USA) and former alliances abroad. The collapse of Neoliberalism is accompanied by a structuring of the US political system itself, especially a further restriction on democratic and civil rights and liberties.
Listen to the Part 2 Interview, “After Trump, What’s Next?”, GO TO
http://gunsandbutter.org/blog/2020/02/02/after-trump-and-neoliberalism-whats-next
(For those interested in the Part 1 Interview, “Neoliberalism from Expansion to Stagnation”, GO TO)
http://gunsandbutter.snappages.com/blog/2020/01/23/neoliberalism-from-expansion-to-stagnation
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