>>2883153Neoliberalism is overhated. The biggest crime of neoliberalism, like Keynesianism before it, is that its inability to resolve its own structural contradictions invariably leads to a collapse, but unlike Keynesianism before it what it is collapsing into is naked barbarism absent any merit whatsoever. (Where else can you go from a blundered "Just let people do things" program?)
The second biggest crime is that its biggest and most prominent proponent figures like Thatcher, Reagan, Hayek and to a slightly lesser degree Friedman were all psychotic weirdos. The economists offered some genuine insight, but the politicians would endorse any ideology that let them hurt people. This unfortunately muddies the waters compared to the general humanism of Keynesian softies.
Unions are something of a red herring in terms of "things neoliberalism ruined". The most strongly anti-union neoliberals were generally also those who most effectively blundered the doctrine the most. (e.g. Thatcher actively smashed unions, but most of her privatisations were fake and her centralising agenda and general tendency has actively lead to Britain becoming a
more regulated,
less market oriented society.) Britain nevertheless has a higher unionisation rate than Australia, which had a much softer approach where unions voluntarily initiated the structural changes that lead to an implosion of membership numbers. While the Scandi countries maintain high unionisation rates within a nevertheless neoliberal framework.
To answer your question in broad strokes: unions are part of the apparatus for administering capitalism and disciplining or at least structuring labour. They will normalise climbdowns and act as mules for SocDem parties that are well past their prime. This, I agree with. The only thing I would critique is the idea that (in non-Scandi countries, at least) they're relevant enough to have a structurally legitimating position, rather than being half vestigial organ, one quarter extension of HR, and one quarter marginally effective political fundraising tool by the public sector, for the public sector.
No, Anons, this analysis does not mean I "am" a neoliberal, nor am I trying to "convert" you to neoliberalism. All I want is for you to give neoliberalism as fair a hearing as Keynesianism gets, understandiPost too long. Click here to view the full text.