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The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster…
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The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism (original 2007; edition 2008)

by Naomi Klein

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5,3541281,956 (4.18)130
Journalist Klein introduced the term "disaster capitalism." Whether covering Baghdad after the U.S. occupation, Sri Lanka after the tsunami, or New Orleans post-Katrina, she witnessed remarkably similar events: people still reeling were hit again, this time with economic "shock treatment," losing their land and homes to corporate makeovers. This book retells the story of Milton Friedman's free-market economic revolution. In contrast to the myth of this movement's peaceful global victory, Klein shows how it has exploited moments of shock and extreme violence in order to implement its economic policies. At its core is the use of cataclysmic events to advance radical privatization combined with the privatization of the disaster response itself. Klein argues that by capitalizing on crises, created by nature or war, the disaster capitalism complex now exists as a booming new economy, the violent culmination of a radical economic project that has been incubating for fifty years.--From publisher description.… (more)
Member:ZooCat
Title:The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism
Authors:Naomi Klein
Info:Picador (2008), Edition: 1st, Paperback, 720 pages
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Work Information

The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein (2007)

  1. 30
    The Web of Deceit: Britain's Real Role in the World by Mark Curtis (edwinbcn)
  2. 10
    The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Rule by Thomas Frank (AsYouKnow_Bob)
    AsYouKnow_Bob: Frank's canvas is somewhat narrower in scope, but the analysis of the effects of conservative governance is quite similar.
  3. 10
    Capitalism Unleashed: Finance, Globalization, and Welfare by Andrew Glyn (Jestak)
  4. 00
    Ramp Hollow: The Ordeal of Appalachia by Steven Stoll (M_Clark)
    M_Clark: Ramp Hollow looks at the way Appalachia was developed and exploited with the original settlers being progressively marginalized. It shows another side of capitalism long before Milton Friedmann was born.
  5. 00
    The Revolution of Civil Society. Challenging Neo-Liberal Orthodoxy: The Development of the Progressive State by Michael Lloyd (M_Clark)
    M_Clark: Milton Friedmann was heavily influenced by Hayek. This book attacks, in a very philosophical way, the fundamental philosophies of Hayek and the neo-liberals.
  6. 00
    Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq's Green Zone by Rajiv Chandrasekaran (M_Clark)
    M_Clark: This book is a perfect compliment to the book of Naomi Klein who often cites it in her book. Its detailed descriptions of the follies of the people in the Green Zone in Bagdad provides additional coverage on the topics in Klein's book.
  7. 01
    Armed Madhouse: From Baghdad to New Orleans--Sordid Secrets and Strange Tales of a White House Gone Wild by Greg Palast (brianjungwi)
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» See also 130 mentions

English (112)  Spanish (3)  Dutch (2)  Italian (2)  German (2)  Swedish (1)  Finnish (1)  Norwegian (1)  Danish (1)  All languages (125)
Showing 1-5 of 112 (next | show all)
First off, I really like that this book what written with a clear perspective. This being a journalistic project, the author could have very easily sunk into an artificially “objective” perspective, or try to avoid fully committing to the implications of the story she was telling. Thankfully that didn’t happen. The author clearly has a philosophical and ideological basis for the reporting done in this book, and it’s a compelling one. This isn’t just a criticism of American foreign policy or the avarice of international finance - it’s a indictment of the capitalist system that relies on never ending expansion and increase of profits in order to keep itself alive. Reading this book directly after Marx’s Das Kapital vol. 1, I picked up echos of Marx’s critiques of capitalism that are playing out to this very day. Klein’s fluency with these concepts makes her argument even more compelling.

Of course the main function of this book is to shine a light on the machinations of the neoliberal economic order that has effectively run the world economy for the last 35 years, and it does that very well. Americans have a tendency to view geopolitics on a purely ideological level. This was surely a big part of why conservatives and liberals alike were duped into supporting the Iraq war- we feel like it is our duty as the most “advanced” country in the world to save poor brown people from themselves. Who couldn’t benefit from a free press, religious tolerance, equality for women? And yet this was never what the war in Iraq was about. Klein shows that it is economics first and foremost that drives conflict and social upheaval, not vague concepts about freedom. The great switcheroo of American politics is that we traded the fight for economic rights with the fight over cultural rights, and the reason why is clear: those at the top of society know that discussion of economic rights is much more dangerous to them than vague arguments about kneeling for the National anthem or whatever. ( )
1 vote hdeanfreemanjr | Jan 29, 2024 |
THIS should be required reading in school. It summarizes tactics of capitalism that often fail over the last century. This information can help societies prevent repeating these mistakes and consider other options. Very well documented, easy to read, and thought provoking. Highly recommend. ( )
  HauntedTaco13 | Dec 29, 2023 |
Just too depressing. Nothing I can do about any of it.
1 vote ritaer | Nov 2, 2023 |
A foundation text for the 21st century revolution. One of my new faves. ( )
  therebelprince | Oct 24, 2023 |
Probably one of the most disturbing books I've ever read. ( )
  talalsyed | Jul 22, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 112 (next | show all)
The Shock Doctrine shows in chilling detail how the free market has been backed up with violence over the last 30 years. I suspect it has stirred up a debate already.

 

» Add other authors (52 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Naomi Kleinprimary authorall editionscalculated
Coolidge, JeffreyPhotographersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Rekiaro, IlkkaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Stoddart, JimDesignersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Wiltsie, JenniferNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Any change is a change in the topic.
—Cesar Aira, Argentine novelist, Cumpleaños, 2001
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For Avi, again
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I met Jamar Perry in September 2005, at the big Red Cross shelter in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Journalist Klein introduced the term "disaster capitalism." Whether covering Baghdad after the U.S. occupation, Sri Lanka after the tsunami, or New Orleans post-Katrina, she witnessed remarkably similar events: people still reeling were hit again, this time with economic "shock treatment," losing their land and homes to corporate makeovers. This book retells the story of Milton Friedman's free-market economic revolution. In contrast to the myth of this movement's peaceful global victory, Klein shows how it has exploited moments of shock and extreme violence in order to implement its economic policies. At its core is the use of cataclysmic events to advance radical privatization combined with the privatization of the disaster response itself. Klein argues that by capitalizing on crises, created by nature or war, the disaster capitalism complex now exists as a booming new economy, the violent culmination of a radical economic project that has been incubating for fifty years.--From publisher description.

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Book description
Naomi Klein's The Shock Doctrine advances a truly unnerving argument: historically, while people were reeling from natural disasters, wars and economic upheavals, savvy politicians and industry leaders nefariously implemented policies that would never have passed during less muddled times. As Klein demonstrates, this reprehensible game of bait-and-switch isn't just some relic from the bad old days. It's alive and well in contemporary society, and coming soon to a disaster area near you.
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Penguin Australia

An edition of this book was published by Penguin Australia.

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