Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Class and Politics: Manza and Brooks - L&C Ch. 7

Jeff Manza and Clem Brooks in “Class and Politics” argue that class shapes some political outcomes. They say that “interest groups, social movements, and political parties are intimately connected to class forces” (Pg. 207). Another interesting point that they make is that class coalitions “give greater emphasis to market-related and meritocratic policy ideas” (Pg. 215). This is important because the idea of meritocracy in the United States goes along with inequalities and discriminatory policies that have affected those at the bottom. If we think about merit, the people who receive rewards are those who have greater achievements and skills. However, in order to acquire those achievements and skills, people had to succeed in the market and there have been a lot of policies that have made the people at the bottom lose access to the market. Therefore, if we continue to allow meritocratic policies to exist, we also need to develop other policies (like affirmative action) to counteract the historical discriminatory policies that have prevented people from having access to institutions that provide skills and knowledge.

Manza and Brooks also argue that class remains a source of electoral division especially in relation to political participation (pg. 222). Institutional barriers to participation affect how each class will participate. These barriers are placed by government, which is influenced primarily by the rich. If the rich continue to influence political decisions by providing campaign finances and other kinds of “donations”, there will be more inequality in the United States. The people at the bottom will continue to not have the political influence to sway policy.

Finally, Manza and Brooks say that class-based social networks reinforce class influences on politics, such as those of unions. However, with the decline in unionization and the lack of social networks between the poor, the rich are the ones enjoying the benefit of influencing politics. This is true in the sense that politicians are more likely to listen to big corporations and lobbyists than to listen to poor citizens who are likely to not contribute to their campaigns and likely to change political affiliation.

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