Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book describes all by British authors, are "foundational" in that they use the work of Adam Smith as a normative point of reference against which to judge the subsequent history of the market universalism that is capitalist political economy. Given Smith's iconic status as the spiritual father of capitalism, this commonality is a striking sign of neo-liberalism's ability to dictate the terms of engagement of its conscientious objectors. Barry Smart's Smith would be displeased largely on political grounds, Paul du Gay's Smith on largely intellectual grounds, and Andrew Sayer's Smith on both grounds equally. Smart demonstrates wide reading in not only sociology and economics but also the popular critical literature on the globalized market economy. It is clear that Sayer intends these "responsibilities" as a kind of naturalistic underpinning for the functions of the dearly departed welfare state.