In international politics, one of the most compelling derogatory insults that can be levelled against someone is that they are a "neoliberal". I get called "neoliberal" all the time. Like most terms, it is very difficult to define precisely, but you kind of know it when you see it.
Neoliberal policies are those hated policies that lifted Chile into first world territory and cut infant mortality by 50% in five years.
Neoliberal policies are those that took Singapore from a poor, squalid place to one of the wealthiest countries in the world in the span of fifty years.
Deng Xiaoping instituted a series of neoliberal reforms that raised income and living standards in China such that it is now a world class economic powerhouse.
The last forty years of world history has seen the implementation of policies known as "neoliberal" across the entire world: more trade, lower tariffs, privatization, and more. The world has become decidedly more free--and much wealthier, much healthier, much longer lived, and much more peaceful.
An honest assessment of recent world history is crystal clear: when policies are criticized as neoliberal, they lead to economic growth, falling poverty, falling child mortality, increased lifespan and human flourishing.
Those who continue to use the term neoliberal as an insult are either ignorant of the facts (this is most likely the case for the vast majority), or just plain evil.
Either way, the path forward is clear: if the left curses someone as neoliberal, it probably means their policies will do things like reduce infant mortality and promote human flourishing. If someone regularly uses "neoliberal" as a curse, it probably means that once in power they will endeavour to pursue policies that result in mass poverty, rising infant mortality
