The Bastard Children of Neoliberalism

In this Conflicted Conversation, Thomas sweats his way through a personally revealing exchange with Quinn Slobodian, Professor of International History at Boston University and the author of Hayek’s Bastards: The Neoliberal Roots of the Populist Right.

Quinn explains:

Friedrich Hayek’s “knowledge problem” and his defence of markets over central planning.

Hayek’s later theory of cultural evolution, inherited institutions, and the limits of universal market society.

The split between “cultural Austrians” at George Mason University and “racial Austrians” around the Mises Institute.

Murray Rothbard’s move from courting anti-war hippies to building alliances with paleoconservatives and racial nationalists.

Hans-Hermann Hoppe, anarcho-capitalism, secession, and racially homogeneous private communities.

The Bell Curve, Charles Murray, IQ research, and the politics of scientific claims about race and inequality.

The difference between ideas that are empirically false and ideas rejected because they are morally disturbing.

The post-Cold War transformation of neoliberal enemies from communism to environmentalism, affirmative action, feminism, and welfare.

The divide between neoconservatives and paleoconservatives over US foreign policy, nationalism, and the Iraq War.

Whether Hayek’s Bastards reveals a major genealogy of the modern Far Right—or exaggerates the influence of a provocative fringe.

Visit Quinn’s website: www.quinnslobodian.com

Find Quinn on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/quinnslobodian.com

And on Substack: https://zeithistoriker.substack.com

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Conflicted is a Message Heard production.

Executive Producers: Jake Warren & Max Warren.

Produced and edited by Thomas Small. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices