Sociology 2105A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Proletarianization, Neoliberalism, Demographic Transition
13 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
There are different explanations about why higher education is required for more jobs. What assumptions are behind them: political agendas. Liberal: delay is functional and necessary, given the complexity of modern occupations/careers. Critical: sorting proletarianized (lower class) labour; ratcheting up educational requirements to reset social class reproduction. Access to (lower) higher education satisfies masses. Elites merely have to achieve higher levels. Neoliberalism: most recent version of laissez faire capitalism (free market: go(cid:448)er(cid:374)(cid:373)e(cid:374)ts ha(cid:448)e stepped (cid:271)a(cid:272)k fro(cid:373) tr(cid:455)i(cid:374)g to (cid:272)orre(cid:272)t (cid:272)apitalis(cid:373)(cid:859)s contradictions; Monopolization, stock market corruption, and extreme wealth inequalities amidst rampant un- and under-employment. Severe consequences for young people: prolongations of youth, the deterioration of youth living conditions, and diminished economic prospects later in life. Massive tax cuts = reduction of social services and mass-education support. Anti-unionization drives in the name of enhanced productivity and labour flexibility. Propaganda efforts: faux policies, think tanks (provide news releases saying everything is normal), and practices designed to reproduce the neoliberal paradigm.
