Neoliberalism and Geopolitics: Notes on Philipp Ther’s "Diagnosis of Our Times"
Neoliberalism and Geopolitics: Notes on Philipp Ther’s "Diagnosis of Our Times"

Summary/Abstract: In the section “Three Voices”, Václav Rameš, Matej Ivančík and Jóhann Páll Árnason discuss a book of essays on post-communist transformations and neoliberal hegemony by the German-Austrian historian Philipp Ther, published in English under the title "How the West Lost the Peace: The Great Transformation Since Cold War". Ther’s essays are a blend of historical analysis and contemporary insights, offering an interpretation of how neoliberal policies, economic upheavals and political reactions have collectively shaped modern Europe. Using Karl Polanyi’s concept of the “double movement” of the pendulum of history as a lens, Ther links the past to the present, highlighting the effects of unregulated capitalism and the recurrent social need for protection, emphasizing the interplay between domestic developments and global trends, and the intricate balance between national policies and international pressures. Árnason reflects on Ther’s analysis of neoliberalism and its global implications within a broader historical and geopolitical framework. Although he identifies with his critique of neoliberalism and defence of Polanyi’s theories, he pleads for a deeper examination of geopolitical dynamics. Ther, he argues, deals only marginally with the role of a major power such as China, leaving aside the complex interplay between ideology and geopolitics. He questions the cyclical nature of social development assumed by Polanyi’s “double movement” and suggests that historical events – from the interwar era to the present – require a more varied and less deterministic analysis. He finds Ther’s interpretation of political populism somewhat vague and notes that its multifaceted nature goes beyond anti-liberal and protectionist promises.

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