France, Economic Liberalism, and the Populist Challenge

Abstract This article reviews Contested Liberalization by Jonah Levy. Levy explores the role of politics in slowing the implementation of neoliberal economic policies in France, from the 1980s forward. Levy devotes special attention to the politics and policies of Emmanual Macron. The article examines Levy's argument in the context of the French “dirigiste” tradition and considers Macron's policies and the recent rise of populism in France. It argues that populism has arisen in many advanced countries as they have shifted from industrial to service economies. The rise in working class grievance in the face of low productivity and wage stagnation has proved fertile ground for populist parties.