The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism

Find and evaluate a critique of The Shock Doctrine written from a right-wing and/or neoliberal perspective, such as those published by the Cato Institute or the Wall Street Journal. Do these works accurately characterize Klein’s argument? What are the strengths and limitations of these arguments?

How does Naomi Klein try to create sympathy for those who are part of the Resistance to Economic and Political Oppression? What rhetorical strategies does she use to create antipathy against those who implement neoliberal economics?

Research a developing country not included in Naomi Klein’s case studies, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mexico, or Serbia. Use Klein’s shock doctrine theory to evaluate and describe how neoliberal economics were applied in that country. In what ways does the case study support or undermine her theory?

How is the argument of The Shock Doctrine shaped by the political concerns of the Bush administration and the War on Terror? In what ways, if any, could her argument be applied to more recent economic and political developments in US policy?

Evaluate how Klein’s decision to structure The Shock Doctrine as a series of case studies contributes to her overall argument. How would a more conventional narrative structure focused on one country, region, or time period impact the underlying argument?

Watch the documentary version of The Shock Doctrine released in 2009. Compare and contrast the presentation of the central argument in each.

How does Klein foreground her own perspective in The Shock Doctrine? Why might she have chosen this subjective approach? How does it relate to her critical theory?

Select one chapter in The Shock Doctrine and evaluate the sources Klein used to justify her claims. Are the sources reliable? Are there claims that are unsupported? How does this change your understanding of the argument in that chapter?