Pluralism and heterodox economics

Abstract

The purpose here is to revisit the role of pluralism in heterodox economics and to make the case for its continuing centrality in heterodox economics and heterodox strategy. For some, heterodox economics could be defined in terms of pluralism contrasted with mainstream monism. But some argue that many heterodox economists are, or should be, monist, while others argue that orthodox economics has in any case become more pluralist. Underlying some of these differences of opinion there is confusion as to what pluralism actually entails. The first need to be addressed here is therefore to try to clarify the meaning of pluralism, making the case for one way of defining and understanding it. The future of heterodox economics is then discussed in terms of pluralism in these terms.