Full Answer Section

Klein traces the history of shock therapy back to the 1970s, when a group of economists at the University of Chicago, led by Milton Friedman, began to develop a new approach to economic development. Friedman and his colleagues believed that the best way to promote economic growth was to free up markets and allow the forces of supply and demand to operate unfettered. They argued that this could be achieved by implementing a series of rapid and dramatic changes, or “shocks,” to the economic system.

The shock doctrine argues that this strategy has been used by the United States and its allies to advance neoliberal policies around the world. Klein provides numerous examples of this, including the following:

• In the aftermath of the 1973 Chilean coup d’état, the Chicago Boys, as Friedman’s disciples were known, were brought in to implement a program of economic shock therapy. This led to widespread unemployment, poverty, and social unrest.
• In the wake of the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank imposed shock therapy programs on several Eastern European countries. These programs led to the privatization of state-owned assets, cuts to social spending, and increased inequality.
• In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Bush administration used the chaos and confusion to push through a series of privatization schemes. These schemes led to the destruction of public housing, the loss of jobs, and the further impoverishment of New Orleans’s poorest residents.

The shock doctrine has been criticized by a number of economists and political scientists. They argue that the strategy is based on a flawed understanding of economics and that it has led to widespread suffering and inequality. However, the shock doctrine has also been praised by some for its effectiveness in promoting economic growth.

My opinion of the book

I found The Shock Doctrine to be a well-researched and thought-provoking book. Klein does an excellent job of documenting the history of shock therapy and its use by the United States and its allies. She also provides a number of compelling arguments against the strategy.

However, I do have some concerns about the book. First, I think Klein sometimes overstates her case. She argues that the shock doctrine is a deliberate strategy of the United States government, when in reality it is more likely that it is a strategy that has been adopted by different governments for different reasons.

Second, I think Klein sometimes simplifies the complex economic and political factors that have led to the rise of neoliberalism. She argues that neoliberalism is simply a tool of the wealthy and powerful, when in reality it is a complex ideology that has been embraced by a wide range of people for a variety of reasons.

Overall, I think The Shock Doctrine is an important book that raises important questions about the role of the United States in the world. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in understanding the history of neoliberalism and its impact on the global economy.

Do I agree or not the U.S. is an empire?

I do not agree that the United States is an empire in the traditional sense. An empire is a state that directly controls other territories and peoples. The United States does not directly control any other countries. However, I do believe that the United States has a significant amount of power and influence over other countries, and that it often uses this power to advance its own interests.

Is the book relevant and how?

I believe that The Shock Doctrine is still relevant today. The strategy of shock therapy is still being used by governments around the world, and it is still having a devastating impact on people’s lives. The book is also relevant because it raises important questions about the role of the United States in the world.

In conclusion, I think The Shock Doctrine is an important book that raises important questions about the role of the United States in the world. I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in understanding the history of neoliberalism and its impact on the global economy.