Connectivity and Conflict in periods of Austerity: What do we know about the middle class political activism and its effects on public services?
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: School of Social & Political Sciences
Abstract
There is concern that the middle classes enjoy advantages over less affluent social groups in relation to public service provision. Research on this question is, however, fragmented across policy fields and disciplines. This paper presents the results of a realist synthesis of academic research from the UK, US and Scandinavia since 1980. It shows that there is indeed evidence of middle class advantage in relation to public services, with the evidence most secure with respect to the UK, especially schooling, health and land use planning. It also notes, however, that there is insufficient evidence to identify the scale or import of additional benefit. The paper identifies four causal theories derived from the evidence which appear to explain how this advantage comes about. It offers an overview assessment of the strength of the evidence base in relation to both the mechanisms which underpin advantage, and the contexts which support these. It argues that middle class advantage accrues as a result of the interplay between the attitudes and activities of service users, service providers and the broader policy and social context. The paper argues for a more concerted research effort designed to determine the nature, extent and import of middle class advantage.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Annette Hastings (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Hastings A
(2015)
Bourdieu and the Big Society: empowering the powerful in public service provision?
in Policy & Politics
Hastings, A
(2011)
Connectivity and Conflict in Periods of Austerity
Matthews P
(2014)
Homo Economicus in a Big Society: Understanding Middle-class Activism and NIMBYism towards New Housing Developments
in Housing, Theory and Society
Matthews,
(2012)
Understanding middle class community activism
Matthews, P
(2011)
Are the usual suspects a problem?
Description | There is concern that the middle classes enjoy advantages over less affluent social groups in relation to public service provision. Research on this question is, however, fragmented across policy fields and disciplines. This project consisted if a a realist synthesis of academic research from the UK, US and Scandinavia since 1980. It showed that there is indeed evidence of middle class advantage in relation to public services, with the evidence most secure with respect to the UK, especially schooling, health and land use planning. It also noted, however, that there is insufficient evidence to identify the scale or import of additional benefit. The project identified four causal theories derived from the evidence which appear to explain how this advantage comes about. It offers an overview assessment of the strength of the evidence base in relation to both the mechanisms which underpin advantage, and the contexts which support these. It argues that middle class advantage accrues as a result of the interplay between the attitudes and activities of service users, service providers and the broader policy and social context. It argues for a more concerted research effort designed to determine the nature, extent and import of middle class advantage. |
Exploitation Route | These findings can influence the design of policy, programmes and services to minimise the potential of middle class service users capturing more than their share of services. |
Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Government, Democracy and Justice |
Description | Our findings have been used to inform policy and practice of the evidence on middle class capture of public services. |
First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Government, Democracy and Justice |
Impact Types | Societal |
Description | Evidence on the development of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
URL | http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/29853.aspx |
Description | Presentations to DCLG |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | The research was presented twice at the Department for Communities and Local Government - once at an invited seminar and once at a jointly-organised ESRC seminar series. Email evidence from civil servants shows that the seminars allowed the section managing Neighbourhood Planning to consider the equity outcomes of this major policy and work to ensure more diverse urban areas also benefited from neighbourhood plans. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | The Archers in Fact and Fiction: Academic Analyses of Life in Rural Borsetshire. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The research was made accessible to a wider audience at the seminar The Archers in Fact and Fiction: Academic Analyses of Life in Rural Borsetshire. 100 people attended the event and the paper used the character of Lynda Snell to illuminate how middle-class people use their skills to shape places to suit their own desires and needs. The seminar, and the paper itself, received substantial press coverage on BBC Radio 4 (Feedback, PM, and Farming Today); through Archers fans networks (the official BBC Archers blog and the 'Ambridge Observer'); through Twitter (#AcademicArchers was the 7th trending tag in London that day); and through coverage in the Telegraph and Guardian. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |