The Politics of Austerity

Abstract

Since 1980 the neoliberal agenda has become the strongest advocate against social and labour rights. However, the 2008 crisis emerged a new economic, political and juridical model based on the idea of austerity-a muscled form of neoliberalism which deepens the neoliberal ideology by other means. Bearing this in mind, I have chosen to organise this paper around three topics. In the first section, my purpose is to suggest that, in addition to the obvious economic and financial aspects of the austerity model, there is also a social model of reality that must be characterised sociologically. In the second, assuming that to a certain concept of law there is a certain concept of society, I state that to the austerity society correspond a certain type of law and politics. Finally, I identify four possible paths of developing research and action programmes for sociology of the law of austerity.

Cycles of reform in the history of psychosis treatment in the United States

“…As the Mental Health Systems Act moved through the legislative process in 1980, critics expressed concern that it would not succeed in its aims of adequately supporting individuals with chronic psychiatric disabilities ( Falik, 1979 ; Rose, 1979 ). The law was passed in 1980 as authorizing legislation for a broad array of services but without an appropriation.…”