Read: Ong, Neoliberalism as Exception, introduction, chapters 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10

1. Ong describes the project of anthropology as "midrange theorizing about observable contemporary human phenomena in a variety of mutating human situations" (13). What does she mean? Do you agree with her description of this theoretical goal?

2. What does Ong mean by neoliberalism as exception? How about exceptions to neoliberalism? Please find several examples of each and bring them to class to serve as the basis for our discussion.

3. How does Ong's analysis of neoliberalism relate to Foucault's theory of "biopolitics"?

4. Citizenship is an important dimension of Ong's discussion. How and why?

5. How, according to Ong, are education and expertise changing under neoliberal regimes?

Question for Response Paper #10: Neoliberalism
Neoliberalism has replaced globalization as the current buzzword in the social sciences. Imagine that you've been asked to give a brief presentation in an anthropology class about what neoliberalism is and how Aihwa Ong's analysis of it might be useful for anthropologists. Write a draft of what you might say, being sure to cover the following: how Aihwa Ong defines neoliberalism, an example or two from her book that might help to illustrate neoliberalism on the ground, as documented by an anthropologist, what the concept of neoliberalism allows us to pay attention to, and your assessment of the strengths, weaknesses, or significance of Ong's analysis. If you wish, you might also briefly relate Ong's work to that of other scholars, such as Foucault, Marx, or Bourdieu.

For more information, contact: aleshkow@holycross.edu