Political Systems and Social Stratification

Abstract

The assumption behind this book is that ‘social mobility’ is important for the study of modern political change for three reasons. First, the concept of mobility is one that has important cultural implications and thus consequences for the ideologies of political parties, governments and electors. In part this is related to concepts of egalitarianism (which often means equal opportunity for success rather than a levelling-out of living standards), liberalism, the ‘open society’ and utilitarianism. The Protestant ethic, the ‘opportunity state’, a ‘property-owning democracy’ and the ‘ragsto-riches’ saga, all are part and parcel of the rhetoric of modern societies. In a negative way—by their emphasis on equality and hard work rather than social status and occupational mobility—the Communist states share part of this culture (and of course in terms of their actual changes in stratification show even higher rates of upward mobility). Since the English Civil War and the Protectorate the concept of social mobility and rule by an élite of the economically successful has been a dominating factor in Western political ideas and has recently become important throughout the world. Thus quite apart from the statistical incidents of mobility the idea itself is an important element in the development of political culture.