Hastings, A. and Matthews, P. (2015) Bourdieu and the Big Society: empowering the powerful in public service provision? Policy and Politics, 43(4), pp. 545-560. (doi: 10.1332/030557314X14080105693951)
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Abstract
There is concern that the ‘localism’ promoted by the UK Coalition Government will further empower the already powerful. This paper uses Bourdieu’s theory of practice to theorise middle-class public service use. Building on a previous evidence review (Matthews and Hastings, 2013) it considers whether the habitus of the middle-classes enables them to gain disproportionate benefit from public services. Service provision is understood as a ‘field’ marked by a competitive struggle between social agents who embody class-based power asymmetries. It finds that engagement with the state is a classed practice producing benefits to those already empowered and that localism may exacerbate inequalities.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Hastings, Professor Annette |
| Authors: | Hastings, A., and Matthews, P. |
| College/School: | College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies |
| Journal Name: | Policy and Politics |
| Publisher: | Policy Press |
| ISSN: | 0305-5736 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1470-8442 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2014 Policy Press |
| First Published: | First published in Policy and Politics 43(4):545-560 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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