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Politics and Privilege
How the Status Wars Sustain Inequality
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Rory McVeigh
Language:
English
Published/Copyright:
2025
About this book
In the United States, the bottom 50 percent of households hold only 1 percent of the nation’s wealth. Scholars and commentators have long viewed democracy as the antidote to economic inequality, but US electoral politics bears little resemblance to a struggle between the haves and the have-nots. What makes extreme disparities of wealth and income so persistent, and why has the political process failed to address the problem?
Based on data from an innovative experiment, this book presents a bold new theory that shows why American politics revolves around status differences, not class conflict. Analyzing a sample of nearly 2,600 participants, the authors investigate whether Americans are more likely to support a social-change organization if it explicitly opposes racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and religious bigotry or if it focuses exclusively on economic equality. Drawing on the results, they argue that privileged groups’ desire to preserve their status is the primary obstacle to forming progressive alliances. Status hierarchies are at the heart of political polarization, which stalls legislative efforts to reduce economic inequality or tackle pressing issues such as climate change, gun violence, and access to health care. Rigorous and timely, Politics and Privilege demonstrates why an agenda that simultaneously addresses economic and status inequalities is essential to progressive politics today.
Based on data from an innovative experiment, this book presents a bold new theory that shows why American politics revolves around status differences, not class conflict. Analyzing a sample of nearly 2,600 participants, the authors investigate whether Americans are more likely to support a social-change organization if it explicitly opposes racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia, and religious bigotry or if it focuses exclusively on economic equality. Drawing on the results, they argue that privileged groups’ desire to preserve their status is the primary obstacle to forming progressive alliances. Status hierarchies are at the heart of political polarization, which stalls legislative efforts to reduce economic inequality or tackle pressing issues such as climate change, gun violence, and access to health care. Rigorous and timely, Politics and Privilege demonstrates why an agenda that simultaneously addresses economic and status inequalities is essential to progressive politics today.
Reviews
Compelling and timely, Politics and Privilege is a brilliant account of how status hierarchies shape American politics and guide political behavior, from worker unity to racial politics to political polarization. With a clever experimental research design and a fresh take on political theory, this book is an absolutely essential read for understanding contemporary politics, crises of U.S. democracy, and where we go from here.
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Why are Americans so polarized? Based on extensive new evidence, Politics and Privilege goes a long way in answering this vexing question. Social status, not economic class division, drives polarization, as groups at the tops of hierarchies defend their privileges against groups seeking equality. These status hierarchies must be leveled if our democracy is to thrive.
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Politics and Privilege offers a clear-eyed and insightful roadmap to understand how status differences drive today’s polarized politics. With its innovative experimental research design, elevation of voices across the political spectrum, and surprisingly hopeful conclusions around prospects for political change, this book redefines and renews the promise of social science in perilous times.
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Frontmatter
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CONTENTS
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1 IT’S THE ECONOMY, STUPID! Or Not?
1 -
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2 STATUS CONTESTATION AND POLITICS THEORY
24 -
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3 BROAD SUPPORT FOR WORKER UNITY
40 -
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4 RACE, GENDER, AND STATUS PRESERVATION
54 -
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5 LGBTQ, IMMIGRATION, RELIGION, AND STATUS PRESERVATION
81 -
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6 STATUS CONTESTATION AND POLITICAL POLARIZATION
111 -
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7 HEATED STATUS BOUNDARIES
137 -
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8 LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
188 -
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METHODOLOGICAL APPENDIX
203 -
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NOTES
225 -
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INDEX
253
Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
November 25, 2025
eBook ISBN:
9780231561617
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook ISBN:
9780231561617
Audience(s) for this book
For an expert adult audience, including professional development and academic research
