New Right Viewpoint Flashcards
5 key features of neo-liberalism (as new wright ideology is based on the economic theory of neoliberalism)
free market economy
competition and choice for the consumer
privatisation
deregulation
reduction of the welfare state
key new right belief about stratification
heirarchy is important for social order
there is a need for minimal state intervention and a stronger focus of individual accountability - this will incentivise work and ensure the hardest working people will receive the highest rewards
anyone can improve their social position through talent and effort
Charles Murray - how has hard work been deincentivised
welfare policies have created dependency culture , causing people to not value work
this shows social class inequality is the result of individual behaviour and cultural factors as behaviour and lifestyle choices influences a persons social position
characteristics of the ‘underclass’ according to Murray
lack work ethic
welfare dependency
working class
large drug and alcohol consumption
what are the 3 types of inequality that Saunders has distinguished between
legal equality
equality of opportunity
equality of outcome (equity)
legal equality
the laws that give members of society equal rights
Equality Act (2010) - people cannot be treated differently for having protected characteristics
equality of opportunity
everyone starts at the same point, but there are legitimate inequalities of outcome
supported by basic rights to education, childhood health, incentivised performance through low direct tax
equality of outcome (equity)
people get the same regardless of talent
promoted by wage controls, progressive tax and generous welfare provision
not desirable in a meritocratic society as it creates no incentive for people to work hard
the myth of social immobility - Saunders - evidence for social mobility
governments social mobility commission
- 65% of people born to working-class parents are upwardly mobile
- 40% of those with professional-managerial parents fail to retain this status
the myth of social immobility - Saunders - explanation for why middle class children are more likely to get middle class jobs
MC children twice as likely to get middle class jobs than the WC
talent is passed on in the DNA children inherit to an extent
at least 50% of IQ is heritable
the myth of social immobility - saunders - negative effects of pessimistic views on social mobility
it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy
leads to an unending stream of government initiatives which achieve little - often undermine meritocracy with quotas and targets, rather than enhancing it
Elitist Britain report - 2019 Sutton Trust
around 50% of oxbridge students are from private schools
Marshall and Swift - 1993 - evidence to challenge the view that capitalist societies are meritocratic
Marshall, Newby, Rose and Vogler
- patterns of social mobility were influenced by class even when educational attainment was taken into account.
- working class has less chance of obtaining a position in one of the top classes even when they had the same educational qualifications
- the state should intervene to make job allocation meritocratic
