The new urban intermediaries? The new middle classes and the remaking of London
In this article the position of the new middle classes that are currently leading the gentrification of much of inner London is considered. The author considers the arguments over whether the social structure of inner London is becoming increasingly polarised. He suggests that the middle income grou...
Enregistré dans:
| Udgivet i: | URI:https://journals.openedition.org/jda, |
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| Hovedforfatter: | |
| Format: | Article ou chapitre numérique |
| Sprog: | Anglais |
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Journal des anthropologues
2000
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| Online adgang: | Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM Accès Université d'Orléans et IFPM |
| Summary: | In this article the position of the new middle classes that are currently leading the gentrification of much of inner London is considered. The author considers the arguments over whether the social structure of inner London is becoming increasingly polarised. He suggests that the middle income groups may in fact be taking on the role of social intermediaries between those high income groups, who are not reliant on state services, particularly education, and those who are most disadvantaged in inner London’s labour and housing markets and totally reliant on state services. The emerging education market is a crucial arena for the middle classes who need to pass on their cultural capital to their children. It is also an opportunity to provide institutions of upward social mobility for the socially disadvantaged. At present it is unclear whether the new middle class presence in London is a force for social inclusion or is likely to add to social exclusion. The author’s conclusion is that the middle classes are more vulnerable to the costs of social exclusion than the upper classes and therefore have an incentive to become the intermediaries in London’s social structure. Short term pressures however to achieve advantage for their children are currently working against this, at least as far as the education system is concerned. The relationship between the middle classes and the marginalised social groups is still under negotiation. Sections of the middle class do however have the « potential » to act as intermediaries and therefore as agents for social inclusion. |
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