Pensée unique

"Pensée unique" (French pronunciation: [pɑ̃se ynik]；French for "single thought") is a pejorative expression for mainstream ideological conformism of any kind, almost always opposed to that of the speaker. Originally, it is a French expression and referred to claims that neoliberalism is the only correct way to structure society. The phrase implies that mainstream discussion is limited by ideological assumptions of what is possible. One example of pensée unique given by critics was TINA ("There is no alternative"), the motto of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher. The expression was coined by Jean-François Kahn, editor-in-chief of L'Événement du Jeudi,^[1] in an editorial in January 1992. The phrase pensée unique is often used by political parties and organisations and in criticism. The term has been used regarding prohibitionism of marijuana, with some commenters saying that pensée unique is a barrier to legalization.^[2]

See also

• Conventional wisdom
• There is no alternative (TINA)