ABSTRACT
The chapter analyzes economic austerity and neoliberal restructuring programs implemented in several countries from the 1970s to the present, stressing their often non-deliberative, top-down even authoritarian nature. It demonstrates how policies portrayed as correcting macro imbalances and promoting economic efficiency can also produce serious social costs including human rights violations: episodes of violence associated with sharp adjustments in food prices (“food riots”) and public transportation fares (“transport riots”). Reviewed empirical evidence shows the negative impact of austerity on public health, social expenditure and public participation and discusses new methodologies aimed at gauging the impact of economic policies on human rights. The chapter also examines various instances of direct democratic consultation on austerity that were frustrated such as the Greek referenda of 2011 and 2015, in which anti-austerity voting majorities were ultimately dismissed by national governments concerned by the hostile reactions of foreign creditor governments, international financial institutions and foreign central banks.
