Help here please-- what is the difference between neo-liberal and

[eilen]

neo-conservative? I see these two terms being bandied about quite a bit and am perplexed.

[mrcheerful]

1. Here is a good place to start

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoliberalism

[salvorhardin]

2. Not a whole lot

Neoliberalism is more centered on the market, while neoconservatism is more focused on foreign policy. The former seeks a return to classical liberalism (laissez faire) while neoconservatism was a reaction to New Liberalism (e.g. FDR) and the fear of Communism. You usually wind up with both philosophies in the same person.

[ThomWV]

3. "Neo-Liberal" is a new phrase the right is cooking up

There is no such thing as a new liberal - its just a phrase the right is cooking up that will find greater and greater use in deriding attempts by Democrats of all stripes to improve society.

[RaleighNCDUer]

10. Wrong. Actually 'neo-liberal' predates 'neo-conservative'. The idea

of modern imperialistic 'liberal' philosophy dates from the early 70s, where it was born out of a response to the 'new left'. It favors economic and cultural imperialism, along with more typical 'social justice' issues that liberals are better recognized for. A great many neocons, Wolfowitz et al, were neolibs in the 70s.

The DLC was born out of the neolib movement.

Saying there is no difference between liberals and neolibs is about the same as saying there's no difference between Stalinists and Trotsyites.

edited for 'Stalinists'.

[xchrom]

4. here are some links -- but neoliberalism has some things in common with neoconservatism -

so they do sometimes get confused.

but neoliberals are often seemingly socially progressive but want a greater emphasis on privatization of the social compact.

i.e. reductions in welfare services, social security, etc.

http://www.globalexchange.org/campaigns/econ101/neoliberalDefined.html
The main points of neo-liberalism include:

1. THE RULE OF THE MARKET. Liberating "free" enterprise or private enterprise from any bonds imposed by the government (the state) no matter how much social damage this causes. Greater openness to international trade and investment, as in NAFTA. Reduce wages by de-unionizing workers and eliminating workers' rights that had been won over many years of struggle. No more price controls. All in all, total freedom of movement for capital, goods and services. To convince us this is good for us, they say "an unregulated market is the best way to increase economic growth, which will ultimately benefit everyone." It's like Reagan's "supply-side" and "trickle-down" economics -- but somehow the wealth didn't trickle down very much.

2. CUTTING PUBLIC EXPENDITURE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES like education and health care. REDUCING THE SAFETY-NET FOR THE POOR, and even maintenance of roads, bridges, water supply -- again in the name of reducing government's role. Of course, they don't oppose government subsidies and tax benefits for business.

3. DEREGULATION. Reduce government regulation of everything that could diminish profits, including protecting the environment and safety on the job.

4. PRIVATIZATION. Sell state-owned enterprises, goods and services to private investors. This includes banks, key industries, railroads, toll highways, electricity, schools, hospitals and even fresh water. Although usually done in the name of greater efficiency, which is often needed, privatization has mainly had the effect of concentrating wealth even more in a few hands and making the public pay even more for its needs.

5. ELIMINATING THE CONCEPT OF "THE PUBLIC GOOD" or "COMMUNITY" and replacing it with "individual responsibility." Pressuring the poorest people in a society to find solutions to their lack of health care, education and social security all by themselves -- then blaming them, if they fail, as "lazy."



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoliberalism
you should note the neutrality of this article is disputed

Broadly speaking, neoliberalism seeks to transfer control of the economy from public to the private sector,<3> under the belief that it will produce a more efficient government and improve the economic health of the nation.<4> The definitive statement of the concrete policies advocated by neoliberalism is often taken to be John Williamson's<5> "Washington Consensus", a list of policy proposals that appeared to have gained consensus approval among the Washington-based international economic organizations (like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank). Williamson's list included ten points:

* Fiscal policy Governments should not run large deficits that have to be paid back by future citizens, and such deficits can only have a short term effect on the level of employment in the economy. Constant deficits will lead to higher inflation and lower productivity, and should be avoided. Deficits should only be used for occasional stabilization purposes.
* Redirection of public spending from subsidies (especially what neoliberals call "indiscriminate subsidies") and other spending neoliberals deem wasteful toward broad-based provision of key pro-growth, pro-poor services like primary education, primary health care and infrastructure investment
* Tax reform– broadening the tax base and adopting moderate marginal tax rates to encourage innovation and efficiency;
* Interest rates that are market determined and positive (but moderate) in real terms;
* Floating exchange rates;
* Trade liberalization – liberalization of imports, with particular emphasis on elimination of quantitative restrictions (licensing, etc.); any trade protection to be provided by law and relatively uniform tariffs; thus encouraging competition and long term growth
* Liberalization of the "capital account" of the balance of payments, that is, allowing people the opportunity to invest funds overseas and allowing foreign funds to be invested in the home country
* Privatization of state enterprises; Promoting market provision of goods and services which the government can not provide as effectively or efficiently, such as telecommunications, where having many service providers promotes choice and competition.
* Deregulation – abolition of regulations that impede market entry or restrict competition, except for those justified on safety, environmental and consumer protection grounds, and prudent oversight of financial institutions;
* Legal security for property rights; and,
* Financialization of capital.






i believe that this is the direction the current Democratic Party is heading.
i'm sure that notion will cause outrage.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Neo-liberal is about economics; neo-con about foreign and military policy

'neo-liberal' is about the turn that started in the 1980s from Keynesian economics (which had dominated western, and world, economic policy since the 1930s) to policies for the free market, anti-tariff, low-tax, privatisation and/or shrinking of government services and so on. So called because the original liberals (and the term is still generally used for this in much of the world, especially continental Europe) were anti-tariff businessmen, opposed to the landowning conservatives who wanted tariffs to protect their farming income. The 'neo' comes because they say this is a return to that after the greater government running of economies in the mid 20th century.

'Neo-conservative' was at first used for people coming from somewhere on the left (sometimes moderates, like Democrats, sometimes basically Marxists) who decided that communism, at least as implemented in the 20th century, was a big danger, and that an aggressive foreign and military policy, including invading countries when needed, was required. With the demise of communism, it's looked around for other enemies, such as Saddam Hussein, just because it likes throwing its weight about. The definition of having a leftish past has been widened now, and it's typically applied to any conservative in favour of using the military to force other countries to do what the USA tells them (as opposed to isolationists - Ron Paul can never be accused of being a neo-con, whatever else he does wrong).

[xchrom]

6. +1 for the history. nt

[Bitwit1234]

7. When republicans yell "liberal" I just wish a lot of people

would just post the difference between the word liberal and the word conservative. Liberals want to move forward. They believe in giving everyone a chance.

Conservatives want to stand still or go backward and block all "new and better" conditions. Gee they sure live up to their name don't they.

[RaleighNCDUer]

8. 'R' and 'D'? nt

[valerief]

9. I'll bet they both have to do with making rich people richer. nt

[OHdem10]

11. Neo-Liberal is described at Coogle as DLC . Cemtrosts, Third Way

Many Neo-Liberals signed on to the Neo-Cons Foreign Policy.

[CrispyQ]

12. Excellent question.

I've enjoyed reading the answers & links, as I too, didn't really know the diff between the two.

K&R