Between methodological individualism and neoliberal rationality: notes based on the work of Alfred Schutz

Abstract

The article presents an analysis of central elements of Alfred Schutz's phenomenological theory, with the aim of investigating the convergences between his social theory and the ideas of the twentieth-century Austrian school of economics, which formed a significant part of the intellectual basis of the "neoliberal rationality". Starting from Schutz's notorious personal and academic connections with two of the most influential authors of this school of thought - Friedrich Hayek and Ludwig Von Mises - the article seeks to contribute to discussions in social theory that suggest possible convergences between the prevalence of "methodological individualism" in theoretical analyses and the ascension of worldviews linked to market economics and that would point to a replacement of analyses focused on social problems as "structural" or "systemic" issues by approaches focused excessively on individual actions. To this end, the article draws on Michel Foucault's strategy of genealogical analysis, specifically in its application to understanding neoliberalism as a rationality. It presents a literature review and social network analysis that provide the basis for both the specific discussion of Schutz's role in the "history of ideas" of neoliberalism and the broader discussion of methodological individualism in Sociology.