Resistance in the Age of Austerity : Nationalism, the Failure of the Left and the Return of God

In November 1999 the first protests associated with the ‘anti-globalisation movement’ took place in Seattle, and came to be seen as the starting point for globalised resistance to neoliberal capitalism. Despite initial optimism, the following years have seen little progress in formulating a coherent alternative to neoliberalism, a failure that has become particularly poignant in the aftermath of the recent credit crisis. Now, the neoliberal mandate that appeared to be in ‘crisis’ in just 2008 has reinvented itself through the guise of a new ‘era of austerity’. In this timely book, Worth assesses the growing diversity of resistance to neoliberalism – progressive, nationalist and religious – and argues that, troublingly, the more reactionary alternatives to globalisation currently provide just as coherent a base for building opposition as those associated with the traditional ‘left-wing’ anti-globalisation movements. From the shortcomings of the Occupy movement to the rise of Radical Islam, the re-emergence of the far-right in Western Europe to the startling impact of the Tea Party in the US – Worth shows that while a progressive alternative is possible, it cannot be taken for granted. About the author 2 Title page 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 Acknowledgements 7 Introduction: In search of a new Prince 8 New Prince, modern Prince or postmodern Prince? 10 The plan of the book 13 1 | The end of history? 16 Neoliberalism: an ideology and a practice 17 The globalization of neoliberalism 21 Neoliberal hegemony 27 After the second 9/11 32 History and the Last Man 36 2 | Resistance and counter-hegemony 39 Conceptualizing resistance 41 Types of resistance 48 Fragmentation 54 Conclusion 56 3 | Another world is possible? 58 The Zapatistas 59 Global civil society and cosmopolitanism 63 The anti-globalization movements 66 The World Social Forum 69 The political left 73 Conclusion: any sign of the postmodern Prince? 77 4 | Nationalist and exceptionalist responses 79 The nature of conspiracy 81 The rise of the European far right 92 Conclusion: a coherent alternative? 97 5 | The return of God 99 Religion as a hegemonic agent 101 Global political Islam 105 Other fundamentalist responses 112 Conclusion: God’s revenge? 118 6 | The age of austerity 120 The financial crisis and the moment for change 121 Austerity: the new common sense? 123 The Tea Party and fellow travellers 128 From austerity to growth? 134 Conclusion: neoliberalism on the defensive? 136 7 | Neoliberalism and potential transformation 139 Neoliberalism versus state capitalism? 140 Neoliberalism versus left nationalism? 144 Neoliberalism versus regionalism? 147 What type of Prince? 150 Conclusion: end of history after all? 154 Notes 157 Bibliography 161 Index 171 In November 1999 the first protests associated with the "anti-globalisation movement" took place in Seattle, and came to be seen as the starting point for globalised resistance to neoliberal capitalism. However, the following years have seen little progress in formulating a coherent alternative to neoliberalism, a failure more poignant in the aftermath of the recent credit crisis. In this book, Owen Worth assesses the growing diversity of resistance to neoliberalism and argues that the more reactionary alternatives to globalization currently provide just as coherent a base for building opposition as those associated with the traditional "left-wing" anti-globalisation movements. From the shortcomings of the Occupy movement to the rise of Radical Islam - Worth shows that while a progressive alternative cannot be taken for granted. The 1999 'battle in Seattle' came to be seen as the starting point for resistance to neoliberal capitalism. Yet the years since have seen little progress in formulating a coherent alternative, a failure that is particularly poignant now that the neoliberal mandate has been resurgent through the post-crisis 'age of austerity'. This timely book argues that, troublingly, reactionary alternatives to globalization currently provide as solid a base for building opposition as those of the left In Search Of A New Prince -- The End Of History? -- Resistance And Counter-hegemony -- Another World Is Possible? -- Nationalist And Exceptionalist Responses -- The Return Of God -- The Age Of Austerity -- Neoliberalism And Potential Transformation. Owen Worth. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [154]-163) And Index. This book examines the formation of globalized resistance to neoliberal capitalism in 1999 and explores why there has been little progress in creating a coherent alternative.