Social Class and Class Politics

Q. Is class politics a result of self-interest or socialisation? (PPE 2020)

Your Reading List for this Week

• Clark, Terry Nichols. (2003). The Breakdown of Class Politics. The American Sociologist, 34(1/2), 17-32. Online Link
• Jansen, Giedo, Evans, Geoffrey, & De Graaf, Nan Dirk. (2013). Chapter 3: Class Voting and Left-Right Party Positions. In Political Choice Matters (p. Political Choice Matters, 2013). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Online Link
• Evans, Geoffrey, and Jonathan Mellon. 2016. “Social Class.” In British Social Attitudes 33, eds. John Curtice, Miranda Phillips, and Elizabeth Clery. Online Link
• Wang, Zhengxu. (2005). Before the Emergence of Critical Citizens: Economic Development and Political Trust in China. International Review of Sociology, 15(1), 155-171. Online Link
• Wang, Zhengxu, & Sun, Long. (2017). Social Class and Voter Turnout in China: Local Congress Elections and Citizen-Regime Relations. Political Research Quarterly, 70(2), 243-256. Online Link
• Benedetto, Giacomo, Simon Hix, and Nicola Mastrorocco. 2020. “The Rise and Fall of Social Democracy, 1918–2017.” American Political Science Review 38: 1–12. Online Link

Theory in Social Science

Political polarization

Political polarisation is the process by which the political opinions of a population become more and more divided along two opposing sides. This can happen on a variety of issues, but it is most commonly seen in two-party systems.

There are many different theories about what causes political polarization. Some of the most common explanations include:

• The rise of partisan media: The rise of cable news and social media has made it easier for people to consume news and information that confirms their existing beliefs. This can lead to people becoming more entrenched in their own views and less willing to listen to opposing viewpoints.
• The decline of trust in institutions: In recent years, there has been a decline in trust in institutions such as the media, government, and the judiciary. This has made people more likely to turn to partisan sources for information, which can further polarize their views.
• The increasing salience of cultural issues: Cultural issues such as abortion, gun control, and same-sex marriage have become increasingly salient in recent years. This has made it more difficult for people on opposite sides of these issues to find common ground.

Baldassari & Bearman (2007) developed a model of political polarization that suggests that it is driven by two factors:

• The increasing salience of political issues: As political issues become more salient, people become more likely to identify with a political party. This can lead to people becoming more polarized, as they become more entrenched in their own party's views.
• The increasing homogeneity of social networks: As people become more connected to others who share their political views, they are less likely to be exposed to opposing viewpoints. This can lead to people becoming more polarized, as they become less aware of the views of those who disagree with them.

Other common references on political polarization include: