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The Inevitability of Neoliberalism

2006: US President George W. Bush embraces Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva after signing trade agreements between US and Brazil

By Brahm C. HARRISON

Table of Contents

What is the Inevitability of Neoliberalism?

     It is important to note that there are many different schools of thought that have arisen as a result of detailed study of Neoliberalism. The Inevitability of Neoliberalism is only one viewpoint that has been and is espoused by current academics. It is a belief that more and more academics are starting to give focus to; because it espouses the idea that there is no alternative to Neoliberalism and that Neoliberalism is the logical next step in the evolution of human democracy (Davies et al, 2007). The argument is stated that since the world has become more and more globalized there is the idea the Neoliberalism will become the dominant form of policy construction and means in which all build their governmental strategies (Klein, 1998). By using this school of thought many academics believe that the paradigm of human democracy is actively shaping its own destiny. This will ultimately lead to a system in which Neoliberalism will actively shape the human condition and the events in human’s lives (Gilbert, 2005). It is important to note that Neoliberalism espouses choice and this is only one of many different choices that can be made about how one could view Neoliberalism. 

Pictured here is one of the many meetings between Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and American President Ronald Reagan in 1982

Canada and the Inevitability of Neoliberalism

     Canada and the US have had a prosperous relationship for the past forty years. There has been an economic linking of both countries’ economies.  The US has intervened in the Canadian economy at different points; however, this has been limited. Since September 11^th 2001, the relationship between Canada and the US has been continually shifting (Rizvi, 2004). This shift is slowly altering the Canadian government’s policies so they are becoming more entwined and in line with the example set by the US (Gilbert, 2005). This is one example of how Neoliberalist agendas are shaping the policies and practices in Canada. Specifically, this change has been focusing on the integration of the Canadian and American economies. Since 2001 Canada has become more dependent on American investment. However, since the fall of the American dollar and global recession in 2008, Canada has been actively seeking more secure economic relationships. China offers Canada one such example of economic prosperity. Although the economic relationship between Canada and China is much like that of Canada and the US; Canada will inevitability become an economic satellite of whatever economic superpower with which it conducts business (Qu et al, 2008). In order to fully understand how Neoliberalism has affected Canada, it is important to highlight the Ontario context which is seen as being the prime example of how the Inevitability of Neoliberalism school of thought has worked hand in hand with the politics of Mike Harris and his Conservative reforms of the mid-late 1990s.

Pictured here is Mike Harris discussing the new EQAO testing strategies with interested parents

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Education in Ontario and the Inevitability of Neoliberalism

     Since the 1950s Canada has looked to its neighbors to set the example for what kind of action for policy should be taken. Looking specifically at the province of Ontario and its radical shift toward policies of Neoliberalism in the early 1990s onward really demonstrates the complexity of the role that Neoliberalism has and is playing within Canada. When Mike Harris was elected as Premier of Ontario, he stated that there was a crisis going on in the education system of Ontario. Harris was actively intervening against the current education orientation in Ontario. The motivation for this intervention was a veiled agenda of maintaining a competitive edge in the global knowledge based economy (Basu, 2004). By doing so Harris and his party the Progressive Conservatives, were fulfilling many of the suggested changes from the previous parties that have been in power such as the NDP (New Democratic Party). The changes were to bring about a more accountable system of education in Ontario that would make the opportunity for education to be standardized and held to some quality control. Harris argued that these changes were unavoidable and every party in power prior to his reforms there was the motivation to move in this direction (Basu, 2004). Reforms introduced by Harris included increased teacher accountability, the introduction of standardized testing and the mass amalgamation of many school boards. By making these changes Harris then charged all employees working in education to carry out these alterations. Many resisted, which resulted in the 1997 teachers strike, however, after a secret deal was made the strike failed. This ultimately led to the adoption of Bill 160 and the guarantee of a continued interest in a Neoliberalist agenda within the Ontario Educational context. (Basu, 2004) Current Premier Dalton Mcguinty, has made some amendments to Harris’ policies, however, many of them are still very active and there is a continued interest in the Neoliberalist’s agenda for education. Many academics feel that the shift in the Ontario context toward accountability clearly demonstrates how Neoliberalism is Inevitably going to reform all contexts around the world to one standardized view. Again this is important to note that this is only one of the many view points espoused by academics.  

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Links

     This section of the Wiki will offer some links to gain greater understanding of the Inevitability of Neoliberalism.

     The following series of videos were from a gathering of Public Services and meeting that was conducted on September 28th 2011 to better educate the public and themselves of Dalton Mcguinty's darker agendas that were at play during his reelection. Part One details the cuts and issues that are present within the Medical arena in Ontario. Part Two and Three detail the current issues and proposed cuts to Education if Mcguinty was reelected and Part Four is the Union of Skilled Services and what current issues are present within their arena. This demonstrates many of the different public sectors view point and struggle with trying to understand the Inevitability of Neoliberalism.

Part 1:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxt7cHRLOLM 

Part 2:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HR6_6Ahi-o 

Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLIWeXSCMLg

Part 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj4KXzuWGKE

     The TVO talk show the Agenda interview Mike Harris recently about many of the reforms he and his party put into place in the 1990s. This video provides a very good reflection of the pro-Neoliberalist viewpoint.

Harris Discusses Accountability to Public: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXjoUfwnKKQ

Harris Discusses his legacy within the political sphere: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3TRpb-o3Ag

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References

Basu, R. (2004). The rationalization of neoliberalism in Ontario’s public education system, 1995-2000. Geoforum 35, (5): 621-634.

Davies, L., Bronwyn, J., and Bansel, P. (2007). Neoliberalism and education. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education (QSE) 20, (3): 247-259.

Gilbert, E. (2005). The inevitability of integration? Neoliberal discourse and the proposals for a new North American economic space after September 11. Association of American Geographers. Annals of the Association of American Geographers 95, (1): 202-222.

Klein, D. (1998). Economic globalization -- associations of 150 years of inevitability. Berliner Journal fur Soziologie 8, (3): 333-343.

Rizvi, F. (2004). Debating globalization and education after September 11. Comparative Education, 40(2), 157-171.

Qu, R., Mahvash, S., Wan, G. (2008). Trade expansion of China and India: Threat or opportunity? World Economy 31, (10): 1327-1350.

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