Neoconservatism,bohemia and the moral economy of neoliberalism

This paper is concerned with the moral economy of neoliberalism. The goal is to show the development of this moral economy through the discourse of neoconservatism. The research pays particular attention to the incorporation of aspects of bohemia in the construction of this moral economy. The paper charts the development of the neoconservative moral critique of political modernity in the second half of the twentieth century by drawing on the leading neoconservative figures, Norman Podhoretz and Irving Kristol. The first part of this research makes clear the homology between the neoconservative critique of bohemia and excessive capitalism, where both are accused of nihilism as part of the moral abyss of liberal modernity. The second part of this research shows how, through the work of George Gilder, neoconservatives re-imagined a moral economy for capitalism that overcame the apparent nihilism whilst retaining the unrestrained nature of accumulation. Through a celebration of the heroic entrepreneur, neoliberalism’s moral economy is based upon a celebration of risk, an embrace of chance and an overturning of bourgeois morality. Neoliberalism incorporates the bohemian critique of bourgeois capitalism into a critique of the social democratic welfare state which, by prioritising safety over pleasure and excess, is deemed to be both incapable of offering spiritual satisfaction as well as being ill suited to a post-Fordist economy. The flexible nature of bohemia that rebelled against organised strictures of bourgeois morality and Fordist organisation is welcomed by the neoliberal turn. The spiritual satisfaction of life on the edge offered to the neoliberal subject acts as a form seduction and mirrors the creative freedom offered through bohemia. Neoliberalism’s gift, however, comes at a price, the edgy existence is coupled with removal of social safety nets and increasing insecurity and precariatisation.     

布什政府外交政策述评

兴起于20世纪60年代末70年代初的新保守主义近几年已成为美国社会的主导思潮.作为共和党的保守主义者,布什上台后采取了一系列在新保守主义影响下的外交举动.本文阐述了新保守主义的思想缘起、基本观点,分析了在其影响下的美国政府的外交政策,并对其进行了评论.     

欧美当今主导政治思潮析论

自冷战结束,尤其是小布什当政以来,原本密切的欧美关系出现裂痕。通过对欧美主导性政治思潮演进的学理分析,可以发现裂痕的实质性原因是双方主导政治思潮———新自由主义和新保守主义———的对立。由此带来当今双方对内对外政策的差异,并对未来欧美关系的发展产生影响。     

新保守主义及其指导下的布什政府的对外政策

兴起于 2 0世纪 6 0年代末至 70年代初的新保守主义近几年已成为美国社会的主导思潮。作为共和党的保守主义者 ,布什上台后采取了一系列在新保守主义影响下的外交举动 ,以一种傲慢的美国主义界定美国的世界地位、外交政策的道义目标和与其它大国的关系 ,片面地强调意识形态和战略优势对维持美国世界领导地位的作用。在当前全球化进程日益加快 ,国家间经济合作与依赖程度不断加深的国际背景下 ,新保守派在理论上的这种缺陷 ,将从根本上限制其对美国外交政策产生更大的影响。     

论20世纪80年代美国“学校选择运动”中的意识形态冲突

“学校选择运动”是20世纪80年代美国保守主义教育改革的重要组成之一,发端于保守主义者对进步主义者构建的“单一的最优制度”的反思,蕴含着保守主义阵营中新保守主义与传统派对公共教育政策文本中“选择”符号的不同理念,体现了专业化与市场化两大逻辑对“选择”这一政策符号解释权的争夺,并在特许学校的制度实践中达成妥协。由此,创立并强化了一套由保守主义意识形态主导的公共教育体系。