Description
NEOLIBERALISM AS POLITICAL THEOLOGY
Book Summary
José Luis Villacañas offers a profound reflection on the rise and crisis of the neoliberal order, analyzing it not merely as an economic system, but as a true political theology. Through the study of the thought of Christian Laval and Pierre Dardot, and drawing on the European philosophical tradition, the author reveals how neoliberalism has shaped a new subjectivity, where market rules are internalized as a natural imperative. This book is an indispensable tool for understanding the theoretical foundations and civilizational impact of neoliberal rationality.
What is it about?
The work explores neoliberalism as a comprehensive civilizational revolution that goes beyond mere economic policy. Villacañas examines how this school of thought has managed to structure human subjectivity, causing individuals to internalize the rules of liberal economy as if they were natural impulses. To do so, the author traverses the sociopolitical history of Europe, delves into the philosophy of Jürgen Habermas, and analyzes Michel Foucault's seminar "The Birth of Biopolitics." The book not only dissects neoliberal rationality but situates it as a political theology that has marked the last fifty years and whose decline poses crucial questions for the future.
Main themes
- Analysis of neoliberalism as political theology and dominant rationality.
- Critical study of the thought of Christian Laval and Pierre Dardot.
- Relationship between neoliberalism, biopolitics, and subjectivity.
- Influence of Jürgen Habermas's philosophy on the understanding of the neoliberal order.
- Civilizational revolution and transformation of human subjectivity.
- Crisis and decline of the neoliberal paradigm from a philosophical perspective.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is intended for readers interested in political philosophy, sociology, and critical theory. It is especially relevant for students and academics seeking a deep understanding of neoliberalism beyond its economic aspects, as well as for anyone wishing to understand the social and subjective transformations of recent decades. It will also be of great value to those who follow the thought of authors such as Michel Foucault, Jürgen Habermas, or Laval and Dardot themselves.
What this book offers
- An original perspective that links neoliberalism with political theology, expanding the traditional analytical framework.
- A rigorous study of the philosophical foundations that support neoliberal rationality, supported by key authors of contemporary thought.
- Keys to understanding how neoliberalism has shaped subjectivity and the internalization of market rules.
- A critical reflection on the sunset of the neoliberal order and its implications for the future of civilization.
Technical data
- Author: VILLACAÑAS, JOSE LUIS
- Publisher: Ned Ediciones
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: SOCIAL AND POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
- Collection: HUELLAS Y SEÑALES
- Binding: Paperback
- Edition date: March 2026
- Number of pages: 304
- Weight: 766 g
Editorial review
This work represents a significant contribution to contemporary philosophical and political debate. José Luis Villacañas succeeds in building bridges between critical theory, the history of ideas, and the analysis of the present, offering a reading that invites us to rethink neoliberalism from its deepest foundations. His approach, which transcends the merely economic to enter the sphere of subjectivity and political theology, makes it an essential reference for those seeking conceptual tools to understand and question the current order.