#Argentina#Milei#AnarchoCapitalism: "Depending on who you ask, Javier Milei’s speech at the 2024 World Economic Forum was one of two things: an endorsement of free-market fundamentalism so bold the Wall Street Journal called it a “spine transplant” or an uninspired list of Hayekian clichés, replete with outdated talk of “defending Western values” against the creep of “socialist serfdom.”
The forum was, if nothing else, a coming-out party for the anarcho-capitalist president of Argentina. Certainly, calling the Davos elite a “socialist cabal” was an attention-grabbing stunt. However, back home, Argentines have had over a month to come to terms with Milei’s slash-and-burn approach to politics. And, as they do, they are beginning to realize that their new leader is not bluffing.
During his first month in office, Milei has announced his intention to deregulate and liberalize the economy, sell off public assets, drastically cut spending, and raise taxes on low-income earners, all in the name of eliminating the country’s deficit. Contained in an omnibus bill currently under debate in Congress, the battery of measures is a bold statement of intent backed by the credible threat of state violence.
Whether Milei’s government will actually be able to pursue its authoritarian brand of “crack-up capitalism” remains to be seen. As several note, much of Milei’s agenda reads like it was lifted from the 1990s Washington Consensus playbook.
To get a better sense of Milei’s short-term agenda and long-term prospects, Jacobin commissioning editor Nicolas Allen spoke with historian Pablo Pryluka."
