ABSTRACT

The neoliberal belief in frictionless flows is a seductive intellectual conceit – movement is progress, stillness is reactionary. A key element of the globalization discourse is in freeing the movement of people, things and ideas in order to foster ever faster economic growth. Of course, this fantasy has limits. Flows of migrant bodies into Europe from the Middle East and Africa prompt protest. Afghani heroin enters the United States covertly. Attempts are made to stop the spread of extremist ideologies. Thus the mobility being encouraged by globalization is of people, things and ideas that are sympathetic to the neoliberal project.