Resilient Liberalism in Europe's Political Economy

Advance praise: 'Given the abject failure of neo-liberalism's latest policy offering - austerity - to promote growth in Europe, why are neo-liberal ideas and policies still the only game in town? The answer to such a simple question involves multiple threads of explanation, linking powerful interests to ideational plasticity, and institutional stickiness. Schmidt, Thatcher, and their collaborators have delivered a volume that gives us powerful answers to these pressing questions.' Mark Blyth, author of Austerity: The History of a Dangerous Idea Advance praise: 'Neo-liberalism persists, paradoxically, as a dominant approach to European policymaking despite mountains of evidence showing that it fails to deliver on its promises. In Resilient Liberalism in Europe's Political Economy an outstanding team of social scientists explains this paradox by showing how neo-liberalism's malleability, partial implementation, discursive and institutional advantages and powerful supporters have frustrated most efforts to sweep it aside. In doing so they provide lessons about how we might defend against neo-liberalism in the future ...' John L. Campbell, Class of 1925 Professor, Dartmouth College, and Professor of Political Economy, Copenhagen Business School Advance praise: 'The neo-liberal trust in efficient markets has failed dramatically in the present crises, but the paradigm still seems to shape economic and social policies in Europe. The contributors to this volume have documented the resilience of neo-liberal beliefs and practices in a range of crucial policy fields and they succeed in explaining specific policy trajectories within a common frame of reference. Intellectually exciting and immensely enlightening.' Fritz W. Scharpf, Director Emeritus, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies, Cologne