Invisible Doctrine: The Secret History of Neoliberalism

Neoliberalism is the dominant ideology of our time, shaping society in countless ways, yet most people struggle to define it. In this work, journalist George Monbiot and filmmaker Peter Hutchison examine how a fringe philosophy from the 1930s—centered on competition as the defining feature of humanity—was systematically promoted by wealthy elites seeking to protect their fortunes and power. Think tanks, corporations, media outlets, universities, and politicians were deployed to advance the idea that people are consumers rather than citizens. The authors connect neoliberalism to multiple crises: climate disasters, economic crashes, degradation of public services, and child poverty. They argue these problems have been exacerbated by an ideology that subordinates democracy to the power of money. The book traces a direct line from neoliberalism to fascism, which exploits people's hopelessness and desperation. Monbiot and Hutchison propose an alternative politics based on participatory democracy and the principle of "private sufficiency, public luxury," offering a vision for moving beyond the neoliberal era.