The neoliberal offensive of the 1980s saw a massive attack against the gains that workers had managed to win from the system in the post-war years. Wages were cut, unemployment rose, public services were privatised, the banks deregulated and union rights were restricted. We are still living through the consequences of this turn in international politics and economics today. This talk will explore the origins of the neoliberal turn and explore its legacies for today.