The Shock Doctrine

The Shock Doctrine is a term and concept that was developed by Canadian author and social activist Naomi Klein. The Shock Doctrine refers to the idea that governments and other powerful actors can take advantage of natural disasters, economic crises, and other moments of “shock” to push through controversial policies and reforms that would not be possible under normal circumstances. According to Klein, the Shock Doctrine has been used by governments and other actors around the world to implement neoliberal economic policies, such as privatization and deregulation, often with negative consequences for ordinary people. The Shock Doctrine has been widely debated and has inspired both support and criticism.