The New Right and inequality Flashcards
Define free market
without government intervention
Define indivualism
induvial pursuit of wealth collectivism = opposite
Define Laissez-Faire
let it be
Type of theory
Macro theory
Positive about capitalism
Conservative
Like functionalists – view that some are better than others
The New Right and politics
Associated with politicians like Margret Thatcher in (UK) Ronald Regan (USA)
New Right view of inequality
That inequality is a problem for society
believing inequality is inevitable and useful for society
Induvials - responsible for own life
Push for a laissez-faire approach to running the economy
Free market
without government intervention, where competition between firms ensures choice is undesirable e.g. direct taxation limits people’s choices about how to spend their money
The New Right is both economically libertarian and socially authoritarian, examples of this contradiction
Anti-homosexuality (conservative views)
Adoption
Greater powers to police
Trickle down theory
wealthy pay less tax and make more profit, the money they spend will stimulate the economy and ultimately create more jobs – everyone will benefit
Why is Trickle down theory criticised?
Heavily criticised as many sociologists would argue this unfair
Tax evasion would massively effect the trickle of cash from top to bottom
Murray
Underclass theory
claim a UK benefit system means people make a rational choice to stay poor (easier)
State dependent, lazy and selfish culture
make welfare low enough to make life uncomfortable
What did Murray say about the underclass?
“Defined by their behaviour. Their homes are littered and unkempt. The men are unable to hold down a job. Drunkenness is common”
Why would Owen Jones criticise Murray?
the underclass are demonised by the media as a culture, the underclass engage in poverty porn
Criticisms or Murray
stereotypical views of the poor
stereotypical views of the poor
Evidence for dependency culture is limited
Many induvials born into poverty move out of it
Often based on assumed inheritance of intelligence
Is often racist in its links to ethnic minorities
Coates and Sillburn
Cycle of deprivation – suggests that the poor transmit poverty to their children through poor socialisation
Cultural deprivation theory
argue that the poor have a culture that keeps them from success
O’Brian
thinkers from the New Right applied concepts from Victorian times
Deserving (of help) poor people – poor for reasons beyond their control, struggle to work their way out of poverty
Undeserving of poor – live by scrounging, they spend their money on drinks and drugs
Jenks
the new right tens to see those who exist on welfare benefits as being undeserving poor because:
They are more criminal than others
They refuse to do well in school/uneducated
They are unwilling to work, and insist on living off benefits
Dependency culture - Saunders
the existence of the welfare state and benefits may support poor people but it creates inequality by trapping these people in poverty and what he has termed this as dependency culture
Why does Saunders believe a dependancy culture has formed?
benefits are so high - people feel no reason to work poor that aren’t working, they can do tax-free cash in hand work and commit crimes underclass - uneducated children of middle-class parents are born smarter and therefore, more likely to achieve success in society
How do Marshall and swift, Breen and Goldthorpe criticise Saunders?
he ignores class destinations, and some people are trapped in poverty
Evaluation of New Right theories
X new right are blaming the victims of social deprivation,
X little evidence trickle down theory is happening
(100 people have the same wealth as 18 million)
X NR claim the nuclear family is the best place - dark side of the family (¼ women – domestic violence)
X popular with governments for blaming the underclass
X families cannot rely on state - Wallace the burden falls on women to care for sick and elderly
X people who abuse welfare system by making fraudulent payments, rich avoid paying taxes e.g., paradise papers (the queen
