L'idéologie néolibérale

The article aims to demonstrate the deeply ideological character of neo-liberalism. Therefore it begins recalling the three main elements of ideology: its theoretical element as an encompassing and cohesive discourse; its pragmatic element as a program of actions, may they be political, moral, ethic, pedagogic, etc., on social reality; its apologetic element as justification and even idealisation of the situation, the interests, the actions or the projects of a certain social group. Next, the article shows that one can find those three elements in neo-liberalism. So it first emphasises its consistency based on the representation of the individual as the atom of social reality with its three major attributes: private property, liberty and equality in front of law. Secondly, it stresses the efficiency of the neo-liberal politics against the interventionist state built after World War 2 and all kinds of non-merchant regulations of the salary relationship in order to promote a ‘society of individuals’. Finally, it highlights that neo-liberalism is merely the justification of financial fraction of capital’s interests which has conquered a hegemonic position among the bourgeoisie within the globalisation.