New Right and Stratification www.educationforum.co.uk

Thatcherism New Right approaches to sociology became popular in the 1980’s and are closely linked to the politics of Thatcher and Reagan AKA market liberalism/neo-liberalism Main sociologists of the New Right – Peter Saunders, David Marsland and Charles Murray

Neo liberalism Belief in free markets Small state Low tax Equality of opportunity Meritocracy Individual responsibility All based on the 18th/19th century ‘laissez faire’ liberalism of Adam Smith and WE Gladstone If markets are allowed to be free the ‘hidden hand’ of the market will look after everyone

Saunders and Stratification All societies NEED stratification Societies were there are unequal rewards work best Egalitarian societies inevitably become repressive whereas in egalitarian societies become freer If everyone was treated equally force would need to be used to get people to undertake difficult or unpleasant jobs “In the absence of economic rewards and penalties the only sanctions available would be those involving threat of physical force”

3 Types of Equality Saunders identifies 3 types of equality: Formal or Legal equality – everyone has the same standing under the law and the same legal rights Equality of Opportunity – everyone has an equal chance to become unequal – they start the race of life from the same start line and the best get ahead Equality of Outcome – everyone gets treated the same regardless of ability or effort Saunders supports 1&2 but rejects 3

Inegalitarianism Saunders and the New Right believe in inequality because they argue it promotes economic growth, self fulfilment and individual responsibility Meritocracy works – individual selfishness leads to benefits for everyone

Charles Murray New Right thinkers also criticise as harmful social policies designed to create greater equality Murray argues that over generous benefit systems create a dependent underclass who in turn develop a deviant and harmful culture of dependence, laziness, immorality and criminality