[Abood]

What exactly is neo-liberalism? And how did it come to be? Does this even fit in the "Liberalism" section of the forum? How exactly is it "Liberalism"? Why do so many people, many who even despise the turn "Liberal", identify themselves with neo-liberalism and support it?

Is neo-liberalism the free global market? Is it the corporations taking over? Would it be neo-liberalism if there was free trade between small businesses that aren't as greedy? What exactly are people fighting when they're fighting neo-liberalism? Are they fighting transnational corporations? Are they fighting capitalism? Are they fighting free trade? What is it?

[Dan]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoliberalism

What exactly is neo-liberalism?

The ideology advocating the expansion of free markets both nationally and internationally and the erosion of the state.

And how did it come to be?
...
How exactly is it "Liberalism"?

It's classical economic liberalism with a more international focus. It's not the American definition of liberalism, but the more classical European definition.

Does this even fit in the "Liberalism" section of the forum?

Modern liberalism. Civil rights & liberties, State responsibility to the people (welfare).

I'd say no. It'd be more in the Libertarian sub-forum or the E&C sub-forum.

Why do so many people, many who even despise the turn "Liberal", identify themselves with neo-liberalism and support it?

Because the free market brings prosperity and political freedom, and they're too pacifistic to support neo-conservative policies of spreading the free market and political freedom by force.

Is neo-liberalism the free global market?

It is the ideology behind the expansion of the free global market.

Is it the corporations taking over?

MNCs would play a huge part in spreading the free market.

Would it be neo-liberalism if there was free trade between small businesses that aren't as greedy?

This question is nonsensical. All businesses are greedy; the reason businesses exist is to make money.

What exactly are people fighting when they're fighting neo-liberalism?

Economic freedom, prosperity, peace, and political freedom; although, they're justification is that they're fighting corporate takeover.

Are they fighting transnational corporations? Are they fighting capitalism? Are they fighting free trade?

Those are all what those opposing neo-liberalism claim to be fighting.

[Andres]

Economic freedom, prosperity, peace, and political freedom; although, they're justification is that they're fighting corporate takeover.

One should be careful to distinguish between what one believes the proper results of a theoretical ideology, and the effects of an actual implementation, with all the compromises that entails. Mexico has had a neo-liberalist economic policy for almost 20 years and I would not accuse someone of fighting neo-liberalist policies of fighting prosperity. A real case scenario is more intricate than your naive talking point suggests.

[Abood]

And I'm stupid enough to have fallen for it?

I know the day-to-day definition of neo-liberalism. I just want a more concrete definition, in economic and philosophical terms: Who came up with the term, what it originally meant, etc.

[Adam_Smith]

I would say that "Neo-liberalism" is best understood as a departure from the previous "laissez faire" model of capitalism in which the only contribution expected from government was for it to stay out of the way. Since then, government has come to be seen as a required activist ally. Under neo-liberalism, governments must not only break down international trade barriers such as tariffs, quotas, subsidies and price controls but also "barriers to trade" such as labor protections, health, safety and environmental regulations. Moreover, as a philosophy, neo-liberalism trandsends mere pragmatism but sees its mission in moral terms. While an earlier generation of economic liberals may have respected the right of nations to chart their own courses, perhaps to come around to free market ways due to economic competition alone, neo-liberals are crusaders for their ways seeing them as required for a healthy and peaceful world order.

[Adam_Smith]

HERE is another interesting take on neo-liberalism. (It is a critique of neo-liberal pundit Tom Friedman).

Thomas Friedman calls this complex of policies the "Golden Straitjacket," the wearing of which, no matter how uncomfortable, is allegedly the only route to economic success. The complex includes privatizing state-owned enterprises, maintaining low inflation, shrinking the size of the state bureaucracy, balancing the national budget, liberalizing trade, deregulating foreign investment, making the currency freely convertible, reducing corruption, and privatizing pensions. It is called neoliberalism because of its acceptance of rich-country monopolies over intellectual property rights (patents, copyrights, etc.), the granting to a country's central bank of a monopoly to issue bank notes, and its assertion that political democracy is conducive to economic growth, none of which were parts of classical liberalism. The Golden Straitjacket is what the unholy trinity tries to force on poor countries. It is the doctrinal orthodoxy taught in all mainstream academic economics departments and for which numerous Nobel prizes in economics have been awarded.

[el topo]

One has to distinguish between the official creed of neo-liberalism and the actual socio-economic policies neo-liberals implement and defend. The official doctrine, as everyone knows, is a free market, small government, whose intervention in the market is minimal or non-existent, free trade, etc. In practice, this is mere rhetorics used to attack government's programs that benefit people with low income, while big businesses and the rich get all government's protection and help they need. No wonder people are fighting it.

[newengland_elitist]

what is neo-liberalism relationship with libertarianism. i would say they are very similar, although not the same thing because neoliberals seem to have a more interventionist foreign policy then most libertarians.