New Right Flashcards
(9 cards)
Overall:
Modern perspective of functionalism- also believe that inequality is normal and inevitable. Government should have limited interference in society because it causes more problems than it solves.
Spencer: Trickle-Down Economics
Wealthy should pay less tax and make more profit, the money they spend will create more jobs and everyone will benefit (trickle-down the economic structure)
Government should reduce tax rates and wealthy people are able to keep more income to spend creating jobs and opportunities for all.
AO3- Marxism trickle-down is the same as capitalism, and a major cause of inequality, significant wealth at the ‘top’ and poverty at the bottom
O’Brian: Deserving and Undeserving Poor
People who experience deprivation fall into one of these 2 categories:
Deserving: People who experience deprivation for reasons beyond their control and struggle to work their way out of poverty e.g- people with a disability
Undeserving: People who live by crime and relying on welfare by choice. Many spend money on drugs and alcohol.
A03- Parsons value consensus; these individuals have the lowest value to society and their rewards reflect this.
Jencks: Welfare Benefits and Undeserving Poor
Majority of people receiving welfare benefits are undeserving poor because:
They are more criminal than others
They refuse to do well in school and are uneducated
They are able to work but insist on relying on benefits.
Murray: Underclass Theory
Dependency culture has developed in the UK. ‘Underclass’ has developed; unwilling to work because dependent on state benefits.
There is a cycle of poverty with illegitimate children badly socialised by single mothers relying on welfare state, create generations like themselves.
Leads to a class of people dependent on welfare.
A03- Marx highlighted the lumpenproletariat, similar to underclass, a group of people which will never develop class consciousness even though they would benefit the most from communism,
Herrnstein and Murray: Bell Curve
Link between IQ and class structure
Lower socioeconomic groups- lower IQ
IQ= reflects ability, those with the highest IQ end up with higher qualifications and status
There is a ‘cognitive stratification’ in the workplace; highest ability= highest status.
Galton: Biological origins of inequality
Laden: biology and gender inequality
Saunders- Society is unequal but meritocratic
Suggests UK is meritocratic.
Personal ambition= basis of success
Those willing to work succeed.
There is a link between ability distribution and social class.
Saunders: Welfare state as a cause of inequality
Benefits are too high and too generous.
People no longer need to work to live comfortably.
Poor can do tax-free, cash in hand work and commit crimes such as drug dealing to supplement their incomes.
Underclass is badly educated and have no qualifications to gain work.
Conluding Points:
Concluding points- overstates meritocracy and the positive aspects of inequality, fails to consider capitalism and inequality benefiting the bourgeoisie, Ignores the significant disadvantages faced by women in society. Only major theory highlighting the functional role played in society, without which society may not function effectively.
