Neoliberalism, State-Corporate Power And Regulatory Failure

Based on over a decade of research, this book examines the social harms of Australian prescription and non-prescription medicine regulation and how these ultimately stem from neoliberalism and its reinforcement of state and corporate power. Neoliberalism shapes state and corporate power, regulation and the harms resulting from regulatory failure, yet the links between these themes are rarely discussed. Drawing on the concept of hegemonic neoliberal governmentality, this book critically examines Australian medicine regulation and the harms resulting from its failure in areas such as medicine quality, safety and efficacy, direct-to-consumer advertising, and marketing directed at health professionals. It traces these harms through the colonial foundations and evolution of medicine regulation in Australia, exploring both regulatory failure and the attempts at reforming this regulatory system. It argues that neoliberalism is not regulatable and reinforces and sustains itself, empowering...