Interventions in the political geography of ‘libertarian paternalism’

Contributions from political, health and economic geography, social policy and environmental policy studies are brought together here in order to examine the implications of a ‘libertarian paternalist’ political ‘project’ which seeks to react in pragmatic and ideological terms to the excesses and limitations of neoliberalism in liberal democratic contexts. The authors explore the contemporary relevance and historical antecedents of so-called ‘nudge’ tactics of governing, and draw attention to the political geographies encountered in this popular political programme in specific cases.

► Examines a novel paradigm of behavioural governance, presented as a corrective to neoliberal excesses and shortcomings.
► Interrogates the political geographies of policy transfer, spatialities of power and spatial divisions of citizen conduct.
► Questions the apparent novelty of libertarian paternalism through a history of state paternalism.
► Explores examples of pensions policy, public awareness campaigns, climate change and health policies.
► Draws out potential paradoxes in libertarian paternalism's negotiations of public spaces and public sensibilities.