Analyze neoliberalism

We are living with Covid. Sometimes more successfully than others. But we can learn from comparing our present moment to the emergence of SARS in 2000. First thing to know: neoliberal globalization is not just about capital and business; it is also about the rapid planetary movement of disease.

Remember, the concern with neoliberalism as an economic policy is the reduction of state spending on maintaining essential public health, education and welfare infrastructure. Governments are expected to show that they know how to “discipline” populations by making policy that requires people to pay more for services that many regard as essemtial to the public interest. And if one cannot pay, then one must learn to do without. Why does this matter? It matters because governments are seen as economic actors who have to bid for capital and investment in a competitive market. This is a light version of Harvey’s argument and we see glimmers of it in Savoie’s book as well.

Globalization is as much about disease as it is about business, culture and technology. In Toronto in 2000 we had a first-hand experience with the globalization of illness with the arrival of SARS – Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

Please look for intersections between two aspects of the SARS phenomenon: travel and illness and the reductions made in health care infrastructure under the Mike Harris Conservative government in Ontario.

http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/en/e_records/sars/report/

Please make sure you provide enough quoted material to make your argument.

Things to do:

Explore the report
Focus on relevant sections – dealing with global travel in the context of neoliberal reductions in government spending
Analyze the material looking for quotes
Write up the results of your selections

700 words not including the quotes