“But over time, the executive branch grew exceedingly powerful. Two world wars emphasized the president’s commander in chief role and removed constraints on its power. By the second half of the 20th century, the republic was routinely fighting wars without its legislative branch, Congress, declaring war, as the Constitution required. With Congress often paralyzed by political conflict, presidents increasingly governed by edicts.”
So… Neoliberalism is a deliberate political project, not just a label for inequality. Its policies were designed to empower the wealthy and corporations, weaken democracy, and make inequality structural and self-reinforcing. 🤭 much shorter and one doesnt have to watch a youtube video.
And action…
Very American to immediately start ranting g about violence while nonviolent campaigns that mobilize large, diverse groups are statistically more effective than violent resistance.
Tactics include; general strikes: Coordinated work stoppages to paralyze economic activity (e.g., Bolivia’s 2003 gas wars, where unions and indigenous groups blocked roads and halted exports). Occupations and protests: Physically occupying symbolic spaces (e.g., public squares, corporate headquarters) to demand systemic change. Creative disobedience: Using art, music, or satire to subvert neoliberal narratives (e.g., the 2011 Barcelona protests where activists planted vegetables in public spaces to symbolize food sovereignty).
Targeting neoliberal capitalism’s profit-driven core weakens its legitimacy. Boycotts; Collective refusal to engage with exploitative corporations or industries. Debt strikes; Refusing to pay unjust debts (e.g., student loans, predatory mortgages). Worker cooperatives; Building democratically run enterprises that prioritize people over profit.
Or create parallel systems that embody anti-neoliberal values: Solidarity networks: Mutual aid programs for housing, healthcare, and food distribution (e.g., Greece’s crisis-era solidarity clinics). Community land trusts: Removing land from speculative markets to ensure affordable housing. Open-source platforms: Developing free, decentralized alternatives to corporate tech monopolies.
Exploiting contradictions within neoliberal frameworks: Litigation: Challenging trade agreements or privatization schemes in courts (e.g., using human rights law to contest austerity). Policy advocacy: Grassroots lobbying for laws that reverse deregulation and tax cuts for the wealthy.Whistleblowing: Exposing corporate or government corruption to erode public trust.
Neoliberalism operates globally, so resistance must too: Cross-border alliances: Linking movements (e.g., climate justice groups, labor unions) to amplify pressure. Sanctions campaigns: Pressuring governments and corporations via global consumer or investor activism. Counter-summit protests: Disrupting international financial institutions like the WTO or IMF.
Despite your preference for violence; nonviolence works. Nonviolent movements attract more diverse support, including elites and security forces who may defect. Peaceful resistance undermines state claims that protesters are “violent extremists”. Violent repression often backfires, while nonviolence builds long-term networks for systemic change.
Example: In Bolivia, two decades of nonviolent resistance-including strikes, blockades, and marches-toppled six neoliberal governments and paved the way for Evo Morales’ anti-austerity reforms. Similar strategies have driven successes in Serbia, Sudan, and the global anti-apartheid movement. By combining disruption with institution-building, nonviolent movements can dismantle neoliberalism’s grip and replace it with systems centered on equity and collective well-being.
I even wrote this in a comment to you.
So… you were ‘genuinely’ interested, now you know what you can do. Was that so hard to come up with this yourself? Start thinking instead complaining and pushing youtube videos.
My interest in asking was if you meant nonviolent action or violent action. For your information, Americans are doing nonviolent action currently including some, if not all of the things you listed. We definitely need to do more and thank you for the list.
My concern was derived from the fact that
most peopleit feels like most people on this site mean violent action when they say something like meaningful action. And I didn’t want to assume you either were in that camp or didn’t know about recent American protests.For a reference to what I’m talking about here’s a recent post. The post itself is fine, but the comment section contains multiple calls to violence.
https://lemmy.blahaj.zone/post/25226675
edit: typos and clarification
Right, which is is why I brought up the distinction between the two. Especially when people say meaningful change they are usually implying violent change. Also, I’m arguing these exact topics with multiple users. I’ve written this down in comments to other people. Check my comment history if the comment section is too messy to navigate.
Americans are doing those things. We need to do more and more have been planned.
But you did watch the youtube video with facts and an expert that efficiently explains the concept in a concise video essay that we most certainly need to share with others because defeating neoliberalism is a collective effort, right?