The Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein
- 1. The Shock Doctrine, written by Naomi Klein, is a critical examination of how governments and corporations exploit crises to implement neoliberal economic policies that favor the wealthy while devastating public welfare. Published in 2007, the book argues that in the aftermath of disasters—whether natural, political, or economic—there is a systematic pattern of 'shock therapy' employed, wherein populations are disoriented by impending chaos and are subsequently unable to resist radical changes in policy that prioritize privatization, deregulation, and austerity measures. Klein draws connections between historical events, such as the economic overhaul in Chile under Pinochet, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, and the post-9/11 reforms initiated in the United States, illustrating how these moments of crisis are seen as opportunities for powerful elites to impose their agendas. The book serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of capitalism's intersection with state power and urges readers to recognize and resist the mechanisms that perpetuate this cycle of exploitation, advocating for a broader, more humane approach to economic policy that prioritizes social equity and justice over profit.
The term 'shock doctrine' is modeled on the psychiatric practice of:
A) Electroshock therapy.
B) Psychoanalysis.
C) Group therapy.
D) Hypnotherapy.
- 2. Which economist's theories are most associated with the 'shock therapy' economic policies critiqued in the book?
A) John Maynard Keynes.
B) Adam Smith.
C) Milton Friedman.
D) Karl Marx.
- 3. What event does Klein use as a prime example of 'disaster capitalism' in the United States?
A) The dot-com bubble burst.
B) The 9/11 attacks.
C) Hurricane Katrina.
D) The 2008 financial crisis.
- 4. The Chicago Boys were a group of economists who implemented free-market shock therapy in which country?
A) Argentina.
B) Poland.
C) Chile.
D) China.
- 5. In the book, what is the purpose of the initial shock, according to the doctrine?
A) To stimulate technological innovation for rebuilding.
B) To encourage international aid and donations.
C) To disorient the public and clear the way for radical economic reforms.
D) To unite the population against a common enemy.
- 6. What does Klein identify as a key outcome of shock therapy in Russia in the 1990s?
A) The preservation of the Soviet-era social safety net.
B) A smooth transition to a stable democracy.
C) The rise of the oligarchs and massive wealth inequality.
D) The rapid and equitable distribution of wealth.
- 7. Which international institution is frequently critiqued in the book for promoting shock therapy policies?
A) Amnesty International.
B) The World Health Organization (WHO).
C) The International Monetary Fund (IMF).
D) The Red Cross.
- 8. Klein connects the use of shock therapy to the work of which psychologist?
A) Ewen Cameron.
B) B.F. Skinner.
C) Sigmund Freud.
D) Carl Jung.
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