A Revisionist History
This chapter reconsiders a number of the as if assumptions that shaped the orthodox theory and policy initiative developed around the world. It argues that these as if assumptions need to be rejected at a time when the increasing competition for decent jobs in both developed and emerging economies has resulted in a narrowing of freedom. Within this context, people need to invest more time and effort jumping through more and higher hoops in order to stay in the competition. This is a manifestation of the “impossible pressures” put on people in today’s global economy. The chapter contends that this has narrowed rather than extended human freedom as predicted by the orthodox approach. An urgent need therefore exists to present a radically different interpretation of human flourishing under conditions of economic and social transformation.