I heard Naomi Klein being interviewed on this a couple months ago..
- this idea of pushing for change when people are disoriented by a crisis-- its not necessarily radical capitalism, it can be any ideology
although certainly the crew in washington has been doing it..

they brought Yegor Gaidar to Iraq, shortly after the invasion.
(hes the architect of the major economic changes in Yeltsins Russia, when they gave away the state industry for a pittance - that PUtin has been working on recovering lately)
Gaidars suggestion was that it be done even faster in Iraq, ie. sell off the oil industry, eliminate oil & food subsidies for the people - before they realize whats going on..