The ruling class Flashcards
Composition and outcomes: Mansbridge
Democracies elected w more women, minorities, working class b/g. outcomes produced for these groups are better. Angela Rayner as deputy PM, pol image of working-class b/g. gov more likely to produce outcomes better for pp of working-class b/gs, particularly women.
What do subjective perspectives do?
generate knowledge otherwise inaccessible about society. Bringing in perspectives which historically would have been absent from the institution.
What is the political class?
A term used to refer to politicians as a collective. Often more akin to a narrative story about politics. Composition has a key role to play. “The Westminster Bubble”.
Politicians more like themselves and less like the electorate. Withdrawing into the pol institutions and having fewer external connections.
MPs by education
32% went to fee paying schools in 2015, decreased to 23% by 2024. 7% overall population. 63% educated in comprehensives. Party differences – higher proportion in conservative than Labour.
Dependent on the party which is in government. Labour majority 2024 brings this figure down. Argument education reflective of societal advantage, ie social connections. Proxy for early life privilege.
MPs by occupation
Concern w/in academics about the rise of professional politicians. Worked in their whole life and never had a “proper job”. Brokerage occupations and instrumental occupations.
Brokerage: occupations often w/in the public sector. Visible pp known in the community, but not w a direct link to politics
Instrumental: direct link to pol. Working for an MP or party etc
Process of emergence
Eligibility pool to considering running to running for office to holding office.
Most electoral candidates are put forward by parties. In the UK, the prevalence of ‘safe easts’ means selection in many ways is more important than elections. The number of marginal seats does seem to be increasing.
Most electorally successful parties will have internal competitions to select candidates.
Who runs for office?
Gender: men more likely to be politically ambitious than women
Education: individuals w higher levels of education are more politically ambitious than those w lower levels of education
Location: North/South divide
Family: individuals whose parents were involved w politics more likely to be politically ambitious
Class: higher social grades more likely
Ethnicity: caveat of limited sample size, evidence certain ethnic minority groups have lower levels of pol ambition than white respondents.
Do voters discriminate?
Argument about discrimination against non-traditional candidates. Doesn’t appear to be an issue with the voters. Parties overarching hold on this system.
Hargrave [2022]: women do suffer from gendered stereotyping.
