An understanding of neoliberalism needs to take into account its dynamic character in confronting both socialist planning philosophies and classical laissez-faire liberalism, rather than searching for timeless (essentialist) content. It was primarily a quest for alternative intellectual resources to revive a moribund political project. It was flexible in its intellectual commitments, oriented primarily toward forging some new doctrines that might capture the imaginations of future generations. At various junctures, this might involve unexpected feints to the left as well as the right.

Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, loc. 115