NEOLIBERALIZAM KAO NOSIVI KONSENZUS VLADAJUĆE KLASE SAVREMENOG KAPITALIZMA: PRILOG KRITICI JEDNE IDEOLOGIJE
NEOLIBERALISM AS GUIDING CONCENSUS OF GOVERNING CLASS IN MODERN CAPITALISM: A CONTRIBUTION TO A CRITIQUE OF AN IDEOLOGY

Summary/Abstract: In this paper we studied the neoliberal ideology, its ideological prehistory, as well as key events and processes that brought about its dominance. The rise of social and economical influence of ideology of neoliberalism was explored in context of social groups (classes) that actively indorse and champion neoliberal ideas, and special material and value oriented interests that ideology of neoliberalism defends and supports within those social groups. Epistemological and theoretical framework in this paper is sociology of knowledge, while using theoretical paradigm of Immanuel Wallerstein’s world systems theory and theories of economical globalization as theoretical basis of our enquiry. Ideology of neoliberalism traces back its routes to ideology of liberalism that was formed in the end of 19th century, which was created and fueled by newly created capitalist class. Liberal consensus that lasted from the middle of 19th to the middle of 20th century lead to long lasting compromise between interests of capitalists and workers. That was achieved by integration of proletariat into social, economical and political system, especially by granting suffrage, and by mild transfer of surplus of value to the working class. This liberal consensus was shattered after the Second World War. Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek, main creators and propagators of ideology of neoliberalism, pressured for abandonment of all of protectionist and solidarity policies that was implemented in the time of liberal consensus demanding unrestricted economical freedoms. Economical globalization and weakening of political power of workers movement were key processes that enabled surge of neoliberal ideas and breakdown of liberal consensus. Key social groups that promote and benefit from propagation of neoliberal ideas and policies are financial segment of the capitalist class, biggest capitalist in real sector of economy and directors and managers of world’s biggest corporations. Strongest capitalist states and the most important international financial institutions pressure other states to adopt neoliberal policies, by political, military and economical means. Neoliberal ideology succeeded in realizing (almost planetary) ideological consensus around ideas of unlimited flow of money, credits, investments and commodities and around superfluous consumption (consumerism), by creating interest based compromise of different fractions of capitalist classes and political and intellectual elites; this is happening on the national level, but also on the international level.

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