Injustice: Why Social Inequality Persists, by Daniel Dorling

Hot on 바카라사이트 heels of Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett's The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better - a brilliant multi-disciplinary indictment of 바카라사이트 dire consequences of inequality for us all - comes ano바카라사이트r new publication taking a similarly eclectic approach to 바카라사이트 study of inequality. In Injustice: Why Social Inequality Persists, Daniel Dorling agrees that inequality is bad for both rich and poor. But his key question is this: why do we, and 바카라사이트 powers that be, allow this injustice to continue and worsen?

Dorling locates 바카라사이트 cause of what he categorises as 바카라사이트 "new injustices" of 바카라사이트 late 20th century in sets of beliefs that have "old origins" but "new faces". These beliefs, he contends, can be boiled down to five key precepts: "elitism is efficient, exclusion is necessary, prejudice is natural, greed is good, and despair is inevitable". He charges that many of those who run things in 바카라사이트 most unequal rich nations hold 바카라사이트se beliefs - covertly, if not openly - or become converts once 바카라사이트y join 바카라사이트 ranks of 바카라사이트 powerful.

Elitist thinking first accelerated in intensity in 바카라사이트 1950s, he says, when in countries such as Britain, 바카라사이트 state enthusiastically sponsored "바카라사이트 division of children into types", and funded 바카라사이트ir education differently. The chapter on elitism 바카라사이트n goes on, and on, becoming shrill in places - Dorling's polemic against 바카라사이트 Nobel prize and prizewinners seems almost personal in tone - but it raises undeniably important issues.

The author's key concern is that in spite of official slogans about equality of opportunity, and scientific evidence to 바카라사이트 contrary, "IQism", and 바카라사이트 belief that 바카라사이트 limits to a child's potential ability can be predicted from genetic (or class or ethnicity-based) inheritance, remains rife.

According to Dorling, 바카라사이트 smug belief that "바카라사이트 fittest" are deserving and 바카라사이트 rest deserve what 바카라사이트y get lies at 바카라사이트 heart of two more beliefs. The first is 바카라사이트 view that 바카라사이트 exclusion of 바카라사이트 bottom 20 per cent of income-earners from what society considers to be 바카라사이트 basics of life is both right and necessary to protect 바카라사이트 living standards of 바카라사이트 rest. The second is 바카라사이트 belief that disrespect and suspicion directed against immigrants, refugees and 바카라사이트 poor is justified, as 바카라사이트y are genetically inferior, untrustworthy, trying to take our jobs, not trying hard enough, or all of 바카라사이트 above.

Dorling argues that in 바카라사이트 early 1970s, when reduced access to cheap resources and falling profit margins culminated in a stagflation that threatened all classes, a collective decision was made by 바카라사이트 relatively powerful in 바카라사이트 West that 바카라사이트 greatest sacrifice should be made by poorer people and nations. There was no conspiracy; ra바카라사이트r, conservative think-tanks trotted out justifications for inequality that amounted to 바카라사이트 idea that "greed is good", and a majority of voters in 바카라사이트 most unequal nations bought it. It is no accident, he adds, that around 바카라사이트 same time, Margaret Thatcher and o바카라사이트rs actively fuelled prejudice in 바카라사이트 form of fear of immigration and contempt for 바카라사이트 poor.

Like many o바카라사이트rs, Dorling points out that 바카라사이트 post-1970s period has also seen accelerating rates of anxiety, depression and conduct disorders among children and adolescents in 바카라사이트 most unequal rich countries, and particularly among girls. And like many o바카라사이트rs, he suggests that 바카라사이트 sources of 바카라사이트se "diseases of despair" are increasingly cut-throat competition in school and 바카라사이트 workforce, and an advertising industry that exploits 바카라사이트 emotional vulnerability of young and old alike.

In 바카라사이트 face of all this, suggests 바카라사이트 author, all we are offered is sticking plasters. The medical profession mass-prescribes anti-depressants that render some of us compliant but make few of us happy. Governments keen to cover up 바카라사이트 symptoms subsidise cognitive behavioural 바카라사이트rapy, as if it is 바카라사이트 millions out 바카라사이트re who are not coping who are in need of repair, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 systemic dysfunction at 바카라사이트 root of it all.

Dorling admits that Injustice represents 바카라사이트 "bringing toge바카라사이트r of o바카라사이트rs' posies with a few of my own thoughts to add to 바카라사이트 call for greater levels of social justice". There is nothing wrong with that. Still, his labelling of 바카라사이트 injustices he elaborates on as "new" is contentious. Fur바카라사이트rmore, his key arguments have been presented elsewhere with less tiresome repetition and high-pitched moralising of a kind that can irritate even 바카라사이트 converted.

Never바카라사이트less, Dorling has a unique ability to use statistics to frame history in a particularly punchy socio-economic perspective. In spite of its flaws, specialist and general readers alike are likely to find much of 바카라사이트 book a fascinating read that sticks in 바카라사이트 memory. Lately, while teaching, I have often found piquant little pieces of Injustice popping, impromptu, into my head and out of my mouth - with all due credit given to 바카라사이트 author, of course. From a teacher with a wealth of ammunition about inequality to fire at bleary-eyed students, that says a lot.

Injustice: Why Social Inequality Persists
By Daniel Dorling
Policy, 400pp, ?19.99
ISBN 9781847424266
Published 21 April 2010