Religion Based mostly: Non secular Neoliberalism and the Politics of Welfare in america (Geographies of Justice and Social Transformation Ser.)

Religion Based mostly explores how the Non secular Proper has supported neoliberalism in america, bringing a specific focus to welfare―an enviornment the place conservative Protestant politics and neoliberal financial concepts come collectively most clearly. By case research of gospel rescue missions, Habitat for Humanity, and non secular charities in post-Katrina New Orleans, Jason Hackworth describes each the idea and observe of faith-based welfare, revealing elementary tensions between the spiritual and financial wings of the conservative motion.

Hackworth begins by tracing the fusion of evangelical spiritual conservatism and promarket, antigovernment activism, which resulted in what he calls “spiritual neoliberalism.” He argues that neoliberalism―the ideological sanctification of personal property, the person, and antistatist politics―has hardly ever been widespread sufficient by itself to advertise large change. Quite, neoliberals acquire essentially the most traction after they align their efforts with different discourses and concepts. The promotion of faith-based options to welfare is a traditional case of coalition constructing on the Proper. Evangelicals get to offer social companies in step with Biblical tenets, whereas opponents of massive authorities chip away on the public security web.

Although spiritual neoliberalism is most carefully related to George W. Bush’s Workplace of Religion-Based mostly and Neighborhood Partnerships, the concept predates Bush and continues to carry sway within the Obama administration. Regardless of its success, nevertheless, Hackworth contends that spiritual neoliberalism stays an uneasy alliance―a fusion that has been examined and frayed by current occasions.