IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/smo/journl/v10y2025i1p1-26.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Neoliberal Ideology versus Humanist Ideals: Political, Social, and Fantasmatic Logics

Author

Listed:
  • Severin Hornung

    (University of Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Thomas Hoge

    (University of Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Christine Unterrainer

    (University of Innsbruck, Austria)

Abstract

Presented is a multi-level framework of normative social forces, integrating critiques of neoliberalism, (psycho-)analytic social psychology, and radical humanist ethics. Extending a model of political, social, and fantasmatic logics of neoliberal ideology, societal, organizational, and psychological dialectics are analyzed. Dimensions of economistic ideology are positioned against humanist ethical ideals on three levels (macro, meso, micro) and with respect to three domains of relatedness (identity, interactions, institutions). On the societal macro-level, political logics of individualism, competition, and instrumentality negate humanist ideals of individuation, solidarity, and emancipation. On the organizational meso-level, social logics of neoliberal workplaces prescribe self-reliance, competition, and rationalization, whereas humanistic management advocates self-actualization, community, and transformation. On the individual micro-level, psychoanalytic theorizing positions fantasmatic neoliberal logics of success, superiority, and submission against humanist consciousness of evolution, equality, and empowerment. Drawing on social character theory, neoliberal ideologies influence modes of relatedness towards oneself, others, and authorities, resembling ego-oriented, market-driven, and authoritarian tendencies. Humanist ideals are positioned as re-civilizing ethical forces. Linking different streams of theorizing, the model offers a dynamic framework of the corrosive effects of neoliberal Ideology as well as a basis for mobilizing potentials for radical humanist transformation.

Suggested Citation

  • Severin Hornung & Thomas Hoge & Christine Unterrainer, 2025. "Neoliberal Ideology versus Humanist Ideals: Political, Social, and Fantasmatic Logics," Scientia Moralitas Journal, Scientia Moralitas, Research Institute, vol. 10(1), pages 1-26, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:smo:journl:v:10:y:2025:i:1:p:1-26
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://scientiamoralitas.com/index.php/sm/article/view/296
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://scientiamoralitas.com/index.php/sm/article/view/296/198
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fremstad, Anders & Paul, Mark, 2022. "Neoliberalism and climate change: How the free-market myth has prevented climate action," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    2. Buch-Hansen, Hubert & Nesterova, Iana, 2024. "Deepgrowth: Self-transformation towards harmonious being," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    3. Bryan, Alexander, 2023. "Structural Domination and Freedom in the Labor Market: From Voluntariness to Independence," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 117(2), pages 692-704, May.
    4. Armin Pircher Verdorfer & Brigitte Steinheider & David Burkus, 2015. "Exploring the Socio-moral Climate in Organizations: An Empirical Examination of Determinants, Consequences, and Mediating Mechanisms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 132(1), pages 233-248, November.
    5. repec:dau:papers:123456789/10845 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Severin Hornung, 2024. "Faces of Power in Organizations: Foundations, Applications, and Extension," International Journal of Behavior Studies in Organizations, EUROKD, vol. 12, pages 1-22.
    7. Severin Hornung & Thomas Höge, 2024. "Analyzing Current Debates in Management and Organization Studies: A Meta-theoretical Review and Dialectic Interpretation," Scientia Moralitas Journal, Scientia Moralitas, Research Institute, vol. 9(1), pages 1-32, July.
    8. David Murillo & Pau Guinart & Daniel Arenas, 2025. "The Ethics of Commons Organizing: A Critical Reading," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 196(1), pages 3-20, January.
    9. Grant Michelson & Sandrine Frémeaux, 2017. "The Common Good of the Firm and Humanistic Management: Conscious Capitalism and Economy of Communion," Post-Print hal-01625348, HAL.
    10. Grant J. Rozeboom, 2022. "The Virtues of Relational Equality at Work," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 7(2), pages 307-326, October.
    11. Anne Matheson & Pamala J. Dillon & Manuel Guillén & Clark Warner, 2021. "People Mattering at Work: A Humanistic Management Perspective," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 6(3), pages 405-428, December.
    12. Mumby, Dennis K., 2019. "Work: What is it good for? (Absolutely nothing)—a critical theorist’s perspective," Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Cambridge University Press, vol. 12(4), pages 429-443, December.
    13. Harvey, David, 2007. "A Brief History of Neoliberalism," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199283279.
    14. Bruce Baker & Don Lee, 2020. "Solidarity and Workplace Engagement: a Management Perspective on Cultivating Community," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 39-57, July.
    15. Sandrine Frémeaux & Grant Michelson, 2017. "The Common Good of the Firm and Humanistic Management: Conscious Capitalism and Economy of Communion," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 145(4), pages 701-709, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sandrine Frémeaux & Thibaut Bardon & Clara Letierce, 2020. "How To Be a ‘Wise’ Researcher: Learning from the Aristotelian Approach to Practical Wisdom," Post-Print hal-03232780, HAL.
    2. Vianney Domingo & Domènec Melé, 2022. "Re-Thinking Management: Insights from Western Classical Humanism," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 1-21, April.
    3. Jay Joseph & Helen Borland & Marc Orlitzky & Adam Lindgreen, 2020. "Seeing Versus Doing: How Businesses Manage Tensions in Pursuit of Sustainability," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 164(2), pages 349-370, June.
    4. Yuliya Shymko & Sandrine Frémeaux, 2022. "Escaping the Fantasy Land of Freedom in Organizations: The Contribution of Hannah Arendt," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 176(2), pages 213-226, March.
    5. Christian Müller & María Guadalupe Martino, 2020. "Can ‘Civil Enterprises’ survive in the market? Some game theoretical considerations on the one-shot game," Business Research, Springer;German Academic Association for Business Research, vol. 13(2), pages 603-614, July.
    6. Sara L. Wheeler-Smith & Edythe E. Moulton-Tetlock, 2024. "Soothing the Self-Threat of Idea Theft," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 15-51, April.
    7. Camille Meyer & Marek Hudon, 2019. "Money and the Commons: An Investigation of Complementary Currencies and Their Ethical Implications," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 160(1), pages 277-292, November.
    8. Gregorio Guitián & Alejo José G. Sison, 2023. "Offshore Outsourcing from a Catholic Social Teaching Perspective," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 185(3), pages 595-609, July.
    9. Andrew Gustafson & Celeste Harvey, 2023. "From Profit to Purpose: The Distinctive Proposition of the Economy of Communion Approach," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 8(2), pages 167-179, August.
    10. Wendy Stubbs & Frederik Dahlmann & Rob Raven, 2022. "The Purpose Ecosystem and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Interactions Among Private Sector Actors and Stakeholders," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(4), pages 1097-1112, November.
    11. Sandrine Frémeaux & Thibaut Bardon & Clara Letierce, 2021. "How To Be a ‘Wise’ Researcher: Learning from the Aristotelian Approach to Practical Wisdom," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 171(4), pages 667-681, July.
    12. Yuliya Shymko & Sandrine Frémeaux, 2021. "Escaping the Fantasy Land of Freedom in Organizations: The Contribution of Hannah Arendt," Post-Print hal-03597131, HAL.
    13. Ricardo Zózimo & Miguel Pina e Cunha & Arménio Rego, 2023. "Becoming a Fraternal Organization: Insights from the Encyclical Fratelli Tutti," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 183(2), pages 383-399, March.
    14. Martin Schlag & Domènec Melé, 2020. "Building Institutions for the Common Good. The Practice and Purpose of Business in an Inclusive Economy," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 1-6, July.
    15. Gaitree Ramgolam & Needesh Ramphul & Hemant Chittoo, 2025. "Sustainable Human Resource Management—A Systematic Literature Review and Directions for Future Research," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(3), pages 11407-11444, September.
    16. Christian Felber & Vanessa Campos & Joan R. Sanchis, 2019. "The Common Good Balance Sheet, an Adequate Tool to Capture Non-Financials?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-23, July.
    17. Laura Albareda & Alejo Jose G. Sison, 2020. "Commons Organizing: Embedding Common Good and Institutions for Collective Action. Insights from Ethics and Economics," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 166(4), pages 727-743, November.
    18. Dr. Betty Muthoni Njagi, 2022. "Community Service Learning as a New Discourse of Communion of Purpose for the Wellbeing of the Human Person," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 6(11), pages 205-210, November.
    19. Anne Matheson & Pamala J. Dillon & Manuel Guillén & Clark Warner, 2021. "People Mattering at Work: A Humanistic Management Perspective," Humanistic Management Journal, Springer, vol. 6(3), pages 405-428, December.
    20. Jingjing Yang & Di Fan & Caifu Li, 2025. "Employee Overtime and Innovation Dilemma," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 200(3), pages 689-713, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:smo:journl:v:10:y:2025:i:1:p:1-26. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Eduard David (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.