The Shock Doctrine

Naomi Klein (2007)

Klein's excellent book looks at globalization from another perspective from her well researched and coherently argued debut No Logo. Shock Doctrine is arguably one of the most important books of the year, and she points to the relationship between neoliberal politics and shock, be they economic shocks of shock therapy whereby governments reduce public spending dramatically and consequently the public as a whole feel the strain; and also of the relationship between human rights abuses and neoliberal regimes. This is highlighted most clearly in south America where a number of regimes - Pinochet's perhaps being the most notable - have both instituted neoliberal policies and simultaneously been involved in human rights abuses.

One of her most forceful claims is that neoliberal changes have only ever been enacted without recourse to democracy, and indeed she argues they are profoundly undemocratic.