Neo-Liberal Dilemmas of Development: Covid 19 and Socio-Economic concerns of Migrant Labour

The philosophical concerns of Neo-liberalism offering an economic framework for the development of world economies has been of pertinent concern in the present political scenario across nation states owing to the rising inequalities and unrest pervading among various vulnerable and marginalised sections of the society. This paper underlines these concerns philosophically and conceptually, in terms of the major thrust of neo liberalism as a political and economic policy guiding nation states of today. It draws on the economic framework envisaged by neo liberal capitalism in terms of the centrality and dominance of international finance capital besides the political belief in the idea of individual autonomy, free trade, rule of law and role of the state reduced to being a facilitator alone. The praxis of this economic and political belief has resulted in a particular role for the state in terms of defining the ‘common good’ for the citizens. This paper delineates the nature of capitalist development undertaken by states and the socio-economic concerns underlining state policies. Covid 19 has opened the Pandora’s Box of multiple unanswered and unaddressed questions relating to various aspects of the neo liberalism. This paper seeks to argue that in the present liberal democracies of today, whether there is a possibility of reconciliation of the aspects of ‘neo liberalism’ with emphasis on enhancing economic growth and advocating overwhelming role of the individual driven by market logic, and the ‘democracy’ aspect of creating an egalitarian, sustainable and inclusive public sphere with a welfare role of the state. It specifically tries to do so in the context of Indian state and its efforts in shaping the socio-economic reality with concerns of growing unemployment, migrant labours, daily wagers and the unorganised sector and various non-conventional concerns of security. It tries to underline the challenges and the negotiates and debates as to how do we define the role of the state in protecting the migrant labour and ensure inclusive linear growth for all in the current neo liberal world scenario.