Why Neoliberalism Hollowed Out Society – Opinion
Neoliberalism promised prosperity. What it delivered was debt, loneliness, and politicians who act more like corporate lobbyists than leaders. We were told the market would make us free. Instead, it hollowed out our families, communities, and politics — leaving growth charts rising while everything else collapsed.
Table of contents
GDP vs Real Life
Neoliberalism loves numbers. GDP up? Success. Stock markets booming? Progress. But behind the glossy figures:
- Stagnant wages.
- Crushing debt.
- Families priced out of housing.
- Communities stripped of stable jobs.
We got the illusion of wealth — a society measured in graphs, not in lives lived well.
Weak Politics, Strong Corporations
Under neoliberalism, politicians became glorified lobbyists. Campaign donations and post-office jobs in the private sector turned parliaments into waiting rooms for corporate boards.
Real leadership disappeared. Decision-making shifted from elected officials to boardrooms and financial markets. Politics became theatre; corporations wrote the script.
The Social Hollowing
Neoliberalism wasn’t just an economic model. It was a cultural bulldozer.
- Communities fragmented as local industries vanished.
- Family and civic life gave way to atomised consumerism.
- Shared values eroded, replaced by “choice” and “individual freedom.”
It’s hard to raise resilient kids, support neighbours, or sustain culture when every social bond is reduced to a transaction.
Identity as Distraction
By the 2010s, inequality had grown too obvious to ignore. Enter identity politics. Instead of debating class, elites shifted focus to diversity slogans and culture wars.
Corporations loved it: it cost nothing, distracted from wealth inequality, and kept people fighting over labels instead of paychecks. (See also: Woke Capitalism Explained).
What We Lost
We sold solidarity for cheap credit. We traded stability for GDP growth. We outsourced politics to markets and culture to activists.
Neoliberalism didn’t just change how economies work. It hollowed out what makes a society feel like home.
Conclusion
We were promised prosperity. We got a society of debt, division, and disconnection. The GDP line is still climbing. We aren’t.
Read: The Fear Machine of Neoliberalism – Opinion
FAQ
What did neoliberalism do to society?
It prioritised markets and profit over community, politics, and family, leaving people disconnected and insecure.
Did neoliberalism cause culture wars?
Yes — by ignoring class issues, it allowed identity politics to dominate debate.
Is neoliberalism just about economics?
No. It reshaped culture and politics, reducing everything to market logic.
What’s the alternative?
A system that values family, community, and fairness as much as economic growth.
