ABSTRACT
One of the most prominent forms of globalisation discourse or ideology in Australia has been that of neo-liberal hyperglobalism. This discourse has its intellectual roots in economic theory, but it is expressed forcefully in speeches, articles and polemics written by political and corporate leaders, public officials, journalists and other public intellectuals. This chapter analyses the nature of this evolving discourse and the strategies of argument by which it attempts to structure our knowledge of globalisation and political options. Globalisation is a contested concept in political studies. At its most general, globalisation refers to the growing global interconnectedness between economy, technology, culture and political institutions, as well a growing consciousness of such trends. Neo-liberal policy discourse has been particularly strong in Australia. The most common feature of the discourse is the emphasis on the historical inevitability and irreversibility of economic globalisation. The historicist dimensions of neo-liberal hyperglobalism are strongly evident in their political programme.
