Healthcare Privatization through Neoliberal Newspeak

John Lapidus is a research fellow in the Department of Economy and Society at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

• 1.Neoliberal Newspeak on healthcare. 2.Private healthcare providers break the law. 3.Insurance companies conquer the healthcare market. 4.Employers and unions sign up for private health insurance. 5.Politicians pave the way for unequal healthcare. 6.Politicians pave the way for unequal healthcare. 7.Politicians pave the way for unequal healthcare.

“Privatization is a crucial issue of our time and, in this original and well-researched book, John Lapidus provides an in-depth study of what he calls the ‘neoliberal newspeak’ of private health industry actors. Through his rich analysis of newspaper content and his comparative discussion of the Swedish case, he shows that, through their discourse, these actors obscure the very dualization of healthcare provision they are encouraging on the ground.”Daniel Béland, McGill University, Canada “John Lapidus provides a much needed, scientifically founded account and analysis of the insidious and gradual processes of privatization of Swedish healthcare and private health insurance and their interdependence, and how it can undermine public healthcare. The book is important also for democracy reasons, as it analyses the arguments and unveils the ‘neoliberal newspeak’ used by lobbyists and politicians in their praise of privatization.”Bo Burström, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden“This book is unique. It shows how neoliberal newspeak and commercial lobbying paves the way for privately insured persons to receive priority care from tax financed private providers. It reveals how this increases inequities and gradually leads to two parallel health care systems. These well documented findings should be of great general importance for all interested in the future of their own tax financed health care system.”Göran Dahlgren, former visiting professor at the University of Liverpool and head of the health care unit at the Swedish Ministry of Health and Social welfare“This very interesting book show how a parallel and hidden profit-driven health care, contrary to principles of equality stated in the Healthcare Act, is developing and how this takes place without any public debate. Instead of acknowledging increasing inequalities, involved actors conceals privatization and its effects by using neoliberal newspeak. This book is an essential reading for all interested in health care politics and neoliberalism.”Stig Montin, Emeritus Professor in Public Administration, University of Gothenburg, Sweden“This book is highly relevant for understanding how welfare states are transforming from one welfare regime to another. Regarding the healthcare sector John Lapidus is the most prominent researcher in Sweden and at Lund University we have used his earlier writings in our education in social policy and sociology. This new book should also be valuable not only for a Swedish but also for an international audience.”Kjell Nilsson, Senior lecturer in sociology, Lund University, Sweden“Sweden has experienced a sustained and successful campaign to privatize parts of its health care system. This neoliberal campaign was orchestrated by employers’ organizations, the insurance industry, the liberal and conservative parties, enthusiastically supported by major newspapers. This incisive and well documented book will be an important read for all interested in the future of health care systems in Europe.”Gunnar Olofsson, Linnaeus University, Sweden“John Lapidus's Privatizing Health Care Through Neoliberal Newspeak does way much more than describing privatization and the ‘divided healthcare states’ it produces. It explains how private providers get into the heads of policy makers, the public and patients who later suffer from the deterioration of health services. It shows the urgent need to advance some ‘public health speak’ to counter privatization.”Ingo Schmidt, Associate Professor of Labour Studies, Athabasca University, Canada