CHECK YOUR PRIVILEGE
From Elitism to Equality
Today
An introduction to elitism
Social class and elitism at Oxbridge
The idea of equality
From equality of opportunity to equality of outcome
Key questions 1.
2.
3.
Are the elite naturally ‘better’ than us, or created through a structural privilege? If there are structures that reproduce the ‘rule’ of the elite, what are they and how are they constructed?
To what degree should we desire social equality – is it necessary to have an elite?
Being elite
The ‘elite’ are beyond the simply upper-class, but have a particular influence upon the majority
One can be upper-class (either culturally or economically) without being particularly influential
Moreover, the elite entails those who are at the very top of their respective fields
What kind of people do you think of when you think of the ‘elite?’
Elite divisions
The elite are an inherently small and exclusive grouping
That some people in a given society have exceptional characteristics is a social difference
If the elite exist because of structural factors, rather than individual capacities, this is a social division
Moreover, some people can be elite without being part of the structural elite
Elitism
Elitism occurs when this minority group has a disproportionally large (and illegitimate?) influence over the majority
Elitism may be influenced by structural economic or political factors
Conversely, elitism can be maintained by social ‘in-group’ biases: the elite tend to ‘look after’ each other
According to C.Wright Mills (1957, pp.4-5), “They accept one another, understand one another, marry one another, tend to work and to think, if not together at least alike”
We elect those who make the laws, but these people are not necessarily those who rule…
Meritocracy ‘cracy’: rule or governing by
Meritocracy is the idea that those with the most ability should have the most influence
Efforts to promote equality above merit are often sharply rejected
But, is there a level-playing field so that everyone has a chance to display their abilities? Is a pure meritocracy desirable?
Elite theory
The notion of elitism pre-dates sociological analysis, just as the elite pre-date modernity
Early elite theorists (Pareto, Mosca, Michels) had sympathy with the ‘superiority’ of the governing elite
Joseph Schumpeter (1883-1950) argued that democracy was most effective when elites competed for power through the endorsement of the masses
Choose your own elite!
Should the smart rule the stupid?
The power elite
In The Power Elite (1957) C.Wright Mills argued that a new ‘power elite’ had developed out of three centres in the United States: I.
Political power
II.
Industry/business
III.
Military (industrial complex)
I: Political Power
Because politicians are voted for by the people, they should be an example of political meritocracy
They are also a strong example of elitism, given that they are an elected minority with special privileges to rule over the majority
Moreover, in the UK the political elite tend to come from very ‘exclusive’ backgrounds and are often particularly wealthy
The political industry also employs an array of privileged ‘insiders’, from appointed ambassadors to advisers and unpaid interns
Democracy
Demos: The people
Democracy is the rule of the people
The Western (liberal) idea of democracy is supposedly distinct from elitism
But, who are the people and how do they rule?
Elitism in Britain
A 2014 report by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission found that Britain is ‘deeply elitist’
The report argued that Britain was a ‘closed shop at the top’ to a degree that it could be regarded as ‘social engineering’
7% of the public attended private schools, but‌ Profession
Attended private school
Senior Judges
71%
Senior army officers
62%
Senior diplomats
53%
Members of the House of Lords
50%
People on the Sunday Times Rich List
44%
Newspaper columnists
43%
MPs
33%
Why would private school pupils be more likely to join the elite?
The establishment
The establishment is a term first used to refer to the ‘whole matrix of official and social relation within which power is exercised’ (Farlie, 1955 in Jones, 2014 p.8)
Owen Jones (2014, pp.2-4) uses the term to include those who are mostly unelected and unaccountable who rule not only on the basis of wealth and power, but because of their ideas are the ruling ideas of society
Social capital
One way in which the establishment maintains its power is through social networks, or social capital
Bourdieu’s concept of social capital builds on the idea of cultural capital to include ‘social resources’ that often exist within one’s class
Social capital is most often seen in family connections and ‘establishment’ institutions
Internships
Many graduate level jobs are either internships or require the kind of experience gained during internships
Access to these internships is often on an in-group basis
Working for free/expenses is only possible with a financial safety net
Marie Curie Cancer Care You will be involved in researching and securing luxury prizes for events, especially the 2014 Housebuilder Brain Game; building a portfolio of existing UK-wide corporate events and identifying how the charity might benefit; assisting with the production of event promotional material and programmes; compiling mailing lists and sending out tickets; general admin support and more. You must be a graduate or undergraduate with a background and interest in learning more about event management and fundraising mechanisms. You should possess:
Very good communication and organisational skills Excellent analytical skills and good attention to detail Ability to work effectively independently Ability to work effectively as part of a team Confidence, and knowledge of different social networking sites
Would/could you take an unpaid internship after university?
II: Economic power
It is often argued that the free-market economy is the ultimate meritocracy
Yet, the economically powerful are not just the wealthy, but those with influence over the economy and individual organisations
As the economic elite are not elected, there is significant potential for elitism
This elitism can be seen in organisation of corporations as well as the influence over the overall economy
Elitism in the Boardroom
Corporate power is concentrated in the hands of a few traditionally privileged groups
A 2009 Government Equalities Office (GEO) report on increasing diversity in public and private boards found:
19% of Corporate Directors in FTSE-100 companies are women Research by Sealy, Vinnicombe and Singh (2008) found that less than 5% of directors on the boards of FTSE100 companies were from ethnic minorities
There was no evidence of a lack of skills and qualifications in under-represented groups These groups often lacked the perceived ‘social capital’ and found boardroom cultures ‘inhospitable’ The appointment process remains very subjective
In response, there has been a demand in various sectors for more equality in corporate boardrooms, often through quota systems
Sealy, R., Vinnicombe, S. & Singh, V. (2008) "The pipeline to the board finally opens: Women's progress in FTSE 100 boards in the UK", in Vinnicombe, S., Singh, V., Burke, R.J., Bilimoria, D. & Huse, M. (eds) Women on corporate boards of directors: International research and practice, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, pp. 37-46.
What social capital do you have to help your employment prospects?
Marx and the elite
Marx and subsequent Marxist’s like Ralph Miliband have suggested that the role of state is to serve the interests of capital (or the economic elite) – ‘a committee for managing the common affairs of the bourgeoisie’
Political leaders often court the influence of business leaders, both for donations and political backing
Nations and cities openly compete for business ‘talent’ and financial investment
Political policy that threaten business interests are often punished by the ‘market’
Neo-liberalism and the elite
Neo-liberalism refers to the economic system that favours ‘market forces’ above state planning
Neo-liberalism often produces economic growth, but also instability and inequality
Without state intervention into the economy the elite can maintain its economic position without having to actively politically reproduce it
The global elite
One of the defining features of our global era in the development of a ‘superclass’
These bankers, investors and other elites have begun to live in a world quite divorced from the other 99%
Everything can be sourced privately in a ‘bubble’ cut off from regular social reality
This global elite is a noticeable feature of London life
The Super Class According to Oxfam:
In the US the share of national income going to the top 1% has doubled since 1980 from 10 to 20%.
For the top 0.01% it has quadrupled
Globally the share of income for the top 1% (60 million people) and the top 0.01% (600,000 individuals) has grown significantly
As a consequence, their influence, as signified by events like Bilderberg Meetings, or the World Economic Forum allow the super-rich to discuss issues with the political elite
III: Military Power
Mills argued that those with military power in the USA had significant autonomous influence upon the masses
This influence came through foreign policy aims and military spending
President Dwight D. Eisenhower called this the ‘Military Industrial Complex’
What other forms of elitism might be more appropriate for the UK?
The case of Oxbridge
Oxbridge is the term often used to refer to Oxford and Cambridge Universities
The elitism of these schools has long been an issue: An 1852 ‘Royal Commissions’ report identified poorer students access to these schools as a significant issue
Social class is a significant issue in higher education because of its implications for social mobility
A 2013 Parliamentary Report on Oxbridge Elitism made a number of significant findings, much of it based on the ‘Sutton Reports’
Oxbridge elitism 
The top 30 performing state grammar schools had similar A-level scores to the top 30 independent schools

The admissions rate for these independent schools was 13.2% in 2006, compared to 7.5% for the top 30 grammars.

The 100 schools with the highest Oxbridge admission rates contributed more than 30% of students
Accessing Oxbridge 
There has been some efforts to improve access for state school pupils, with targets set around 60% of entrants/applicants

These targets have been largely achieved and rates have been steadily increasing
Why should we care?
Oxbridge is not alone in these figures, but is exceptional, particularly because of its influence – 1% of the British public has attended Oxbridge
Research from the Sutton Trust indicated that:
Over 30% of leading professionals in the U.K., including almost 80% of the judiciary, 47% in financial services and 41% of top journalists attended Oxbridge
Every university-educated Prime Minister since 1937 attended Oxbridge except Gordon Brown
Important questions
Does the over-representation of independent school pupils at Oxbridge universities occur because of merit based decisions
Is it an effect of in-group social biases or social capital?
Are economic factors important?
Why might this happen, or, why aren’t you at Oxbridge?
Equality
The idea of Equality
Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett’s The Spirit Level has reopened global debate around the benefits of equality in developed countries
Their primary argument is that less economically equal societies tend to be more ‘successful’ across a host of social factors
Egalitarianism
Egalitarianism prompts equality over other forms of social organisation
Given inherent differences between humans, equality is difficult to define, most specifically, equality could mean Equality
of outcome
Equality
of opportunity
Equality of outcome
Equality of outcome focuses on flattening social divisions within society
Particular focus is given to economic equality and equal representation in places of power and influence
However, it is often argued that in promoting equality for all, the freedom and opportunity of some is restricted
Quotas
In some areas in which there is longstanding ‘institutionalised’ inequality, quotas have been introduced to produces a minimum of representation
Quotas not only produce diversity, but breakdown ingroup barriers and prompt role-models for others
Conversely, it is argued that quotas discriminate against better qualified candidates and place doubt on those promoted via quotas
Equality of opportunity
Equality of opportunity focuses on treating everyone equally
It is argued that even treatment will lead to social mobility and a meritocratic society
Sometimes, however, ensuring equality of opportunity means making the same structural adjustments as for equality of outcome to create even conditions
For example, to ensure all pupils have an equal opportunity to succeed, funding is redistributed to poorer schools
What form of equality do you support?
One-Minute Essay
Through what mechanisms does elitism work in the UK?
Next Week DOING WHAT COMES NATURAL? SEXISM AND GENDER DISCRIMINATION READING
Abbott, P. (2006) Gender. In G. Payne (Ed.) Social Divisions (second edition), Basingstoke: Macmillan. Scott, S. and Jackson, S. (2006) Sexuality. In G. Payne (Ed.) Social Divisions (second edition), Basingstoke: Macmillan.
How to use this theme
Has elitism influenced your life?
Due you think you lack social or cultural capital?
Was your choice of university influenced by whether you would ‘fit in?’