Neoliberal missionaries' proposed Delhi meet to focus on limited economic freedom in Global South

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*

The Mont Pelerin Society (MPS) is organising its 2024 Biennial Congress and General Meeting from September 22 to 26 in New Delhi with the goal of advancing freedom and prosperity for the next six billion people in the Global South. The event is being hosted by the Centre for Civil Society (CCS), based in Hauz Khas, New Delhi. This marks the third time the MPS is holding its meetings in India. The society previously organised its meetings in Goa in 2002 and in New Delhi in 2011.

The MPS was established in 1947 by anti-socialist economists and business leaders, led by Friedrich Hayek, Milton Friedman, and others, to counter the growing influence of socialist alternatives.

The MPS and its neoliberal thought collective has not only shaped the foundations of international trade in the 20th and 21st centuries but has also influenced economic policies to promote capitalism as the sole economic system in the name of a free society committed to individual liberty. While the western-led capitalist growth is a reality, individual freedom remains as elusive as the American dream or salvation after death.

The mission and vision of both MPS and CCS, along with their founding principles, represent a true meeting of minds. These two organisations complement each other with their shared, philosophically evangelical commitment to the principles of free markets and private property, all in the name of individual freedom and liberty.

The meeting promises "to dissect the intricate fabric of prosperity, learning from diverse perspectives and experiences", while seeking a path forward in the face of "global challenges such as climate change and emerging technology."

The neoliberal economists and their thought collective with their unfettered commitment to Hindutva capitalism under the illiberal and authoritarian leadership of Narendra Modi stand in contrast to the so-called commitment of the MPS to the ideals of freedom and liberty. Yet, the MPS has no qualms about collaborating with authoritarian leaders.

It has supported dictatorships and anti-democratic forces worldwide to sustain the growth of neoliberal capitalism. The MPS continues to endorse global fascism to protect capitalism from its ultimate failure.

The founders and patrons of the CCS have demonstrated their unwavering commitment to the 1991 economic reforms initiated under the leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh from the Congress Party. These reforms were further advanced and consolidated by the so-called Hindutva nationalists under the leadership of both Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi.

These political forces have consolidated capitalism in India at the expense of democratic polity and welfare policies. This consolidation has led to a concentration of wealth in the hands of a very few people while marginalising majority of Indians.

The upcoming meeting of the MPS in New Delhi and its organisers assert that “while some free nations have become wealthy, a large part of the world, notably in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, still has limited economic freedom and, as a result, has generated limited wealth.”

Neoliberal evangelists consider developed capitalist countries as free nations, though they haven't provided basic needs to citizens

The meeting aims to identify the causes and propose solutions to “enhance the cause of freedom and prosperity in these societies” in the Global South.

The MPS evangelists consider developed capitalist countries as "free nations," even though capitalism has failed to provide adequate housing, food, healthcare, education, and other basic needs for many of their citizens. These missionaries of global capitalism have yet to recognise that capitalism has failed even in the advanced capitalist nations.

These neoliberal capitalist proponents suffer from historical amnesia, refusing to acknowledge that the colonial exploitation of the Global South is the foundation of capitalist progress and prosperity in these so-called free nations, where citizens lack true freedom in everyday governance and economic policymaking.

The capitalist system is discredited because it has failed to deliver peace and prosperity in advanced capitalist countries in the Global North, where poverty, hunger, homelessness, debt, destitution, and unemployment have become new realities.

The MPS and its host CCS are neoliberal thought collectives working tirelessly to deepen capitalism in the Global South under the guise of freedom and democracy. They are trying to achieve this objective by forging alliances with illiberal, undemocratic, and authoritarian political, religious, and cultural forces in India and other countries in Global South.

As Indian democracy dwindles under the leadership of Modi, it is crucial to scrutinise and expose the international and local capitalist allies of Hindutva politics and their economic projects.

These economic and political projects marginalise many while benefiting a few capitalists, all under the façade of economic growth, nationalism, and a deceptive notion of individual choice and prosperity shaped by the market economy.

Beware of these economic missionaries and say no to their projects of pick pocketing schemes!

---

*Scholar based in UK

Comments

Victim to cricketing politics, Alvin Kalicharan was a most organized left handed batsman

By Harsh Thakor* On March 21st Alvin Kalicharan celebrates his 75th birthday. Sadly, his exploits have been forgotten or overlooked. Arguably no left handed batsman was technically sounder or more organized than this little man. Kalicharan was classed as a left-handed version of Rohan Kanhai. Possibly no left-handed batsmen to such a degree blend technical perfection with artistry and power.

Priced out of life: The silent crisis in India's healthcare... who pays attention, and who takes responsibility?

By Aysha* Manisha (name changed) has been living with a disease since the birth of her third child—over ten years now—in the New Seemapuri area of North East Delhi. She visited GTB Hospital, where a doctor told her that treatment would cost ₹50,000, as the hospital would charge for the cost of an instrument that needs to be implanted in her body. Several NGOs have visited her home, yet she has received no support for treatment and continues to live with the illness. Manisha is divorced, without access to ration or pension, and lives with her three children by begging outside a temple.

From snowstorms to heatwaves: India’s alarming climate shift in 2025

By Dr. Gurinder Kaur* Climate change is no longer a future concern—it is visibly affecting every country today. Since the beginning of 2025, its effects on India have become starkly evident. These include unseasonal snowfall in hill states, the early onset of heatwaves in southern regions, a shortening spring season, and unusually early and heavy rainfall, among other phenomena.

'Incoherent, dogmatic': Near collapse of international communist movement

By Harsh Thakor* The international communist movement today lacks coherence or organizational unity. Many groups worldwide identify as communist, Marxist-Leninist, or Maoist, but most promote dogmatism, reformism, or capitulation, using revolutionary rhetoric. Some trace their origins to historical betrayals, like Trotsky’s efforts to undermine the Soviet socialist transition or the 1976 coup in China that restored a bourgeoisie under Deng Xiaoping. Others focus on online posturing rather than mass engagement. Small communist organizations exist in places like Turkey, South Asia, and the Philippines, where Maoist-led struggles continue. No international forum unites them, and no entity can forge one.

Honouring Birsa Munda requires resisting the loot of natural resources

By Raj Kumar Sinha* The legacy of Dharti Aaba Birsa Munda is inseparable from the struggle to protect indigenous land, identity, and rights. On June 9, as we commemorate Shaheed Diwas (Martyrs’ Day), it is imperative to reflect not only on his life but also on the ongoing injustices faced by tribal communities in the name of “development.”

Old bias, new excuses: How western media misrepresents India’s anti-terror strikes

By Gajanan Khergamker The recent Indian military strikes on Pakistan, dubbed Operation Sindoor, have sparked a storm of international media coverage. Several prominent outlets have portrayed India as the aggressor in the escalating conflict, raising concerns over biased reporting. This commentary critiques coverage by foreign media outlets such as The New York Times , Reuters, BBC, and CNN, which have often been accused of framing India’s actions as escalatory while downplaying or omitting critical context regarding Pakistan’s role in fostering terrorism. By examining historical patterns and current geopolitical dynamics, this analysis highlights the recurring selective framing, omission of evidence, and a tendency to favor narratives aligned with Western geopolitical interests over factual nuance.

Sewer deaths 'systemic crimes' rooted in caste-based oppression, economic marginalization

By Sanjeev Kumar* Despite repeated government claims that manual scavenging has been abolished in India, the relentless spate of deaths among sewer and septic tank workers continues to expose a deeply entrenched reality of caste-based discrimination, systemic neglect, and institutional failure. A press release issued by the Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM) paints a harrowing picture of hazardous conditions faced by sanitation workers across the country—conditions that routinely lead to fatal outcomes with little to no accountability.

Vishwamitri river revival? New report urges action on pollution, flood risks, wildlife protection

By A Representative The Vishwamitri Committee, formed by the Gujarat State Human Rights Commission, has submitted two supplementary reports on June 5, 2025, detailing efforts to rejuvenate the Vishwamitri River in Vadodara, considered Gujarat's cultural capital. The reports (click here and here ) respond to directives from a May 26, 2025, GSHRC hearing. Comprising environmentalists, urban planners, and zoologists like Neha Sarwate, Rohit Prajapati, Dr. Ranjitsinh Devkar, Dr. Jitendra Gavali, and Mitesh Panchal, the committee focuses on mitigating pollution, stabilizing riverbanks, managing flood risks, and preserving biodiversity, particularly for crocodiles and turtles.

India’s $693 billion illusion: Why our foreign exchange reserves are built on debt, not strength

By Hemantkumar Shah* India’s foreign exchange reserves have touched a staggering $693 billion, of which $586 billion is in the form of foreign currencies—primarily U.S. dollars—and the rest in gold. The government and many economists tout this as a sign of economic strength. But is this truly a matter of national pride, or should it raise concerns?

Search This Blog