Underclass

Underclass

Introduction

Charles Murray is an American political scientist and author who made remarkable contribution in sociology through his work related to social issues and welfare state. The concept of underclass represents a group or segment of the population in any society that lives below the poverty lines (Dalrymple, 2003). No doubt, underclass was living since centuries but the term of 'underclass' was first discovered by Charles Murray in 1989 while he was travelling to United Kingdom. He conducted a comprehensive research on British class system and found that there is a specific group of population that fills the space below British working class. Murray not only identified the level of poverty in this segment of population but also found that this class is also responsible for crimes, which is making them a isolated segment in British society (Kaufmann, 2012).

In fact, the issue of underclass is subject to wide debate in literature of sociology as it suggests that poor remain poor generation after generation because they have unique value system and their unwillingness to change their poor conditions regardless of other social and economical factors prevailing in a society and country where they are living (Lewis, 1959).

On the other hand, the concept of welfare state in British society finds its root back in the 1940s to 1970s era. The post-war phase was characterized by the mutual agreement between the government and the citizens that for Britain's economy to revitalise and strengthen its ability to achieve social and economic objectives, it is imperative for the state to intervene.

On the other hand, the concept of welfare state cannot be detached from the debate of underclass (Kaufmann, 2012). The concept of welfare state flourished during that era because of struck the right balance among the economical, social, and political forces in the society. It would not be conservative to conclude that it was during this time when the welfare of citizens superseded the goal of maintaining the status-quo (Kaufmann, 2012). The three main characteristics of British society during the stated phase were government providing guarantee to citizens for establishing social justice and protection, rendering top-quality public services for those in need, and setting up of minimum standards resulting in increased affordability of all, regardless of low or high income group (Schifferres, 2005).

Discussion

Social Class

Social class is a form of social stratification in which a group of individuals share common characteristic socio-economic ties, either through their productive or 'social' purchasing power or "economic" or the position within the bureaucracy in an organisation devoted to such purposes (Dalrymple, 2003). These links may generate or be generated by interests or objectives that are considered common and strengthen interpersonal solidarity. The formation of a class system depends on the fact that social functions are, regardless of the existence of an organic link, mutually dependent to a larger social context.

Class society is a hierarchical division based primarily on differences in income, wealth and access to material resources. Although classes are not closed groups, therefore, an individual can move from one class to ...