Neoliberalism And Capitalism: A Literature Review

While limited research has been conducted on the existing relationship between ecovillages capitalism, and neoliberalism, there have been studies that allude to the interactions between non-profit organizing, neoliberalism and capitalism. Ted Baker, in this article titled Ecovillages and Capitalism, notes this fact by stating, his own “need to address the limited amount of literature that had already been generated by this connection” (Baker, 2013). More generally, the interactions between nonprofit structures and existing capitalist economic structure seems to be that of replacing the former economic paradigms which sought to amass public funds for social services and the public good. Not only has marketization, and globalization, altered …show more content…
Research suggests that “community leaders ' avoidance of party politics is politically constructed: neoliberal reforms restructure leaders ' local game in ways that make partisanship a contextual liability” (Pacewicz, 2015). Moreover, “these reforms diminish community leaders ' influence over national politics and create structural opportunities for the hyperpartisan advocacy and organization that dominate contemporary political discourse” (Pacewicz, 2015). Ultimately, the divisiveness in politics that is largely due to neoliberal and capitalist influence had made it more difficult for political plurality. Both economically and politically, more radical groups and those economically disadvantaged struggle to participate in the political sphere. The grassroots and community mobilization of the 1960s and 1970s allowed for political participation to soar. Politicians “mobilized grassroots coalitions about hot-button issues” (Pacewicz, 2015). But modernly as we see politicians failing to mobilize grassroots and community activists, we see a greater polarization of politics and the radicalization of grassroots and community organizing. This radicalization in many ways blacklists the issues which these organizers address. The issues and the organizers are taken less seriously and, as a result, their voices …show more content…
One of the most important factors being something seemingly benign: the way in which we talk about social change. Previously rhetoric was focused on the idea charity. Charity denoted “enactments of dependency by the less fortunate on the good will of the more privileged” (Radicova and Rustin, 1996). While nonprofit, grassroots organizing and the like “identifies areas of social life that are motivated by intrinsic communities of value, neither dominated by individual profit seeking nor by subordination to the state” (Radicova and Rustin, 1996). However, despite this change in rhetoric, and perhaps even in community and/or political participation, this does not change nor aid in the rhetoric surrounding more radical forms of organizing like ecovillages, intentional communities, and communes. These forms of action are still stigmatized and more susceptible to influence and subversion. This is why further research and analysis is necessary to understanding the impacts of neoliberalism and capitalism upon all forms of nonprofit work and grassroots and community