The alternative narrative according to which neoliberalism is not a suitable analytical category because it changes or because it has multiple and sometimes contradictory meanings amounts to self-defeating denialism, expressing a desire for a neat and simple singular ideology with an ahistorical essence to replace the messy world of competing worldviews. Marxism, liberalism, and conservatism have experienced kaleidoscopic refraction, splintering, and recombination over the decades. We see no reason why neoliberalism would not exhibit the same diversity. Indeed, we can prove that it has. If the loose use of terms was the grounds for expungement, then “socialism,” “capitalism,” “conservatism,” and plain “liberalism” would have long been purged.

Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, loc. 16