Economic rationalism refers to a mindset that the market should provide the foundation for all economic, political and social decisions. It has resulted in a "downsizing" of government's role in the provision of human services, the expansion of the private sector, the positioning of individuals as consumers and services as commodities and the valuing of profits and private interests over social benefits.

In order to achieve pre-emptive solutions to social problems, there has to be a change of government in those countries whose governments are pouring their money into war and other businesses.