Hayek's Bastards: Decoding the Architects of Modern Economic Ideology
Quinn Slobodian's latest work, 'Hayek's Bastards,' offers a penetrating analysis of the intellectual foundations that shaped contemporary global economic systems. Named after influential economist Friedrich Hayek, the book meticulously traces how a group of economists and theorists transformed traditional economic thinking.
Slobodian's central argument challenges the conventional narrative of neoliberalism, revealing how a network of intellectuals systematically redesigned global economic institutions. The book demonstrates how these 'bastards' of Hayek's intellectual tradition constructed frameworks that prioritize market mechanisms over democratic processes.
Key insights from the book include:
- The deliberate construction of transnational economic governance
- How intellectual networks shaped policy beyond national boundaries
- The strategic deployment of economic theories as political tools
By examining historical documents and intellectual genealogies, Slobodian exposes the calculated strategies that transformed economic policy from national management to global market-driven approaches. The book is not merely a historical account but a critical investigation of power structures that continue to influence contemporary economic thinking.
For readers interested in understanding the complex origins of current global economic systems, 'Hayek's Bastards' provides an essential, nuanced perspective. Slobodian's rigorous research offers a compelling narrative that challenges readers to reconsider fundamental assumptions about economic governance and institutional design.
