Mounting Turbulence in Neoliberal Globalization: Political Economy, Populist Discourse, and Policy in Alberta, Canada
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
A fascinating read that should definitely be published. The case study ‘Alberta’ illustrates a crisis of neoliberalism (but no further democratization, yet). The government’s alliance with the fossil industry is of course noteworthy. So is the strategy of blaming environmental and indigenous movements for being allegedly “foreign-funded”.
Some minor revisions would improve the quality and readability of the article. The abstract should be much more concise, consisting of the main argument and the approach. The abstract, for instance, contains quotation marks at the beginning of a sentence, but I have no clue where it ends. Abstract do not usually contain citations. The abstract should invite the reader to read further. The whole article should in fact be edited for more conciseness and readability. The descriptive/narrative style can make for tedious reading. The structure of some sentences is also complicated. Though I can distil the author’s argument and approach from the article, I would like to see their argument and approach clearly and explicitly articulated at the outset.
The author refers to the ‘cosmopolitan consensus of the 1990s and 2000s’. Though I do understand the choice for this terminology, I doubt whether being in the grip of global neo-liberalism can be conceived as a ‘consensus’. I suggest a different term that also does justice to all those who have not agreed to this state of the world but are instead unwilling players in a huge gambling hall.
The author claims that oil prices have dropped since 2014. Could they back this claim with references? To the best of my knowledge, the prices have increased over the last couple of years.
Generally, more references to back up claims and distinguish the article from investigative journalism.
Author Response
( ) I would not like to sign my review report
(x) I would like to sign my review report
English language and style
( ) Extensive editing of English language and style required
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(x) English language and style are fine/minor spell check required
( ) I don't feel qualified to judge about the English language and style
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Comments and Suggestions for Authors
It is necessary to spend some words about Ucraina war, at least in the introduction, and open a discussion around statement like this one"that suddenly threaten our lives with disease or disaster, local and state-level forces seem to be giving way to global ones". The war change our idea about the relationship between local/national/global forces?
The Ukraine war is mentioned parenthetically on page 1. The linkages between the Ukraine conflict, and wheat and fuel supplies to West Asia, North Africa, and Europe (for instance) are eminently well-taken. However, the Alberta industry is overwhelmingly continental, supplying the US and relying on its investment, secondary refining, and consumers. I therefore feel that the stakes about spatial imaginaries are distinct, if important, and my focus here is on the Alberta case.
It could be good if you focus and explain better about the way the Alberta experience can be useful for Western democracies. What does this experience mean for neoliberism in western countries? It is not so clear, especially in the conclusion
I have attempted to work in some more about this, including making a case (using Gerring 2007) that the unusual features of the Alberta case (quasi-party system) help to isolate causal factors of interest from distracting factors (such as – in the Alberta case -- multi-party alternation in government).
Submission Date
29 January 2022
Date of this review
08 Mar 2022 11:18:29
Reviewer 2 Report
It is necessary to spend some words about Ucraina war, at least in the introduction, and open a discussion around statement like this one"that suddenly threaten our lives with disease or disaster, local and state-level forces seem to be giving way to global ones". The war change our idea about the relationship between local/national/global forces?
It could be good if you focus and explain better about the way the Alberta experience can be useful for Western democracies. What does this experience mean for neoliberism in western countries? It is not so clear, especially in the conclusion
Author Response
(x) I would not like to sign my review report
( ) I would like to sign my review report
English language and style
( ) Extensive editing of English language and style required
( ) Moderate English changes required
(x) English language and style are fine/minor spell check required
( ) I don't feel qualified to judge about the English language and style
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Yes |
Can be improved |
Must be improved |
Not applicable |
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Is the content succinctly described and contextualized with respect to previous and present theoretical background and empirical research (if applicable) on the topic? |
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(x) |
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Are the research design, questions, hypotheses and methods clearly stated? |
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(x) |
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Are the arguments and discussion of findings coherent, balanced and compelling? |
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(x) |
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For empirical research, are the results clearly presented? |
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(x) |
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Is the article adequately referenced? |
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Are the conclusions thoroughly supported by the results presented in the article or referenced in secondary literature? |
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Comments and Suggestions for Authors
A fascinating read that should definitely be published. The case study ‘Alberta’ illustrates a crisis of neoliberalism (but no further democratization, yet). The government’s alliance with the fossil industry is of course noteworthy. So is the strategy of blaming environmental and indigenous movements for being allegedly “foreign-funded”.
Some minor revisions would improve the quality and readability of the article. The abstract should be much more concise, consisting of the main argument and the approach.
I have re-worked the abstract to simplify it, and to signal an interpretive work resting on the history and current politics of Alberta, Canada.
The abstract, for instance, contains quotation marks at the beginning of a sentence, but I have no clue where it ends.
Thank you for catching this. A typographical error, which is removed.
Abstract do not usually contain citations. The abstract should invite the reader to read further.
The whole article should in fact be edited for more conciseness and readability. The descriptive/narrative style can make for tedious reading. The structure of some sentences is also complicated.
I have extensively revised the text for readability, sequencing, a clearer statement of the purpose linking the case study, its history, and the reflections on neoliberalism. In attempting to explain things more clearly, it has proven difficult to compress the work, however. This has involved considerable reordering of subheadings, and “word-smithing” to make the work more readable.
Though I can distil the author’s argument and approach from the article, I would like to see their argument and approach clearly and explicitly articulated at the outset.
I have revised the introduction to spell this out more clearly.
The author refers to the ‘cosmopolitan consensus of the 1990s and 2000s’. Though I do understand the choice for this terminology, I doubt whether being in the grip of global neo-liberalism can be conceived as a ‘consensus’. I suggest a different term that also does justice to all those who have not agreed to this state of the world but are instead unwilling players in a huge gambling hall.
I agree with the substance of this comment on our recent lived experience; upon reflection I was thinking about a primarily elite consensus, and undoubtedly had the so-called Washington Consensus in my mind. I have rephrased throughout the article to emphasize “dominant” or “elite” consensus, and also include references in a subsequent paragraph to the opposition to neoliberal globalization throughout its existence. However, some reference to a consensus or similar language (one thinks of “groupthink”, but I find that needlessly polemical) is needed, in my view, to capture the sense of inevitability and of the apparent absence of acceptable options in public policy.
The author claims that oil prices have dropped since 2014. Could they back this claim with references? To the best of my knowledge, the prices have increased over the last couple of years.
I have inserted reference to the website of the US Energy Information Administration, Petroleum and Other Liquids. For both Brent Crude and WTI – Cushing, a sustainable trough in oil prices began in 2014 and continued until the last two years or so. I have inserted a footnote to indicate the latter point about price recovery. The point is to set the context within which the events of 2014-2020 occurred.
Generally, more references to back up claims and distinguish the article from investigative journalism.
This is certainly true. I have substantially expanded the scholarly and journalistic references to back up key claims. Investigative journalism does form part of my source material, including major national and regional newspapers and similar media, as well as peer-reviewed materials from Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, a left-of-centre think tank which was a partner in a major recent partnership grant working on related materials concerning the power of the Canadian oil and gas industry. Some material is not readily available without reference to material of this sort. Unfortunately, this has expanded the total page numbers.
Submission Date
29 January 2022
Date of this review
15 Feb 2022 15:45:29
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
The paper looks better now. In my opinion it could be published.
