Reinvigorating Democracy: Middle-Class Moralities in NeoLiberal Times

Abstract

This chapter examines the democratic possibilities that emanate from middle-class identities which are grounded in sociality and openness to difference. In what ways might these identities work against, and disrupt, normative views of what it means to be ‘middle-class’ at the beginning of the twenty-first century? In the US context Kahlenberg (2001p. 62) argues that middle-class parents constitute powerful resources within state schools, intensely involved in their children’s schooling, driving up standards and drawing in additional resources. For Kahlenberg middle-class parental involvement not only has a positive influence on their own children’s educational experiences and achievements, it enhances the experience of all children in the school (p. 63). We interrogate Kahlenberg’s assertion in the light of our own UK-based data. There is also an examination of the role of social mix in parents’ understandings of, and levels of commitment to, notions of ‘a common good’, and the extent to which the idea of the school being an extension of the local community is valued but more importantly put into practice in their actions. While the focus is on processes of ‘thinking and acting otherwise’ in order to uncover some of the commitments and investments that might make for a renewed and reinvigorated democratic citizenry, what also emerges strongly are the difficulties of turning these commitments and investments into more equitable ways of interacting with class and ethnic others. The chapter explores some of the possible reasons why the translation of sentiments into practices is a real challenge for this left leaning, pro-welfare segment of the middle-classes, concurring with Cucchiara and Horvat (2009) that the benefits of middle-class parental involvement in disadvantaged inner city schooling are more limited than its proponents have argued. The wider political culture and discourses of neoliberalism that valorise competition, individualism and the market are seen to make it increasingly difficult to convert inclinations into actions, even for these white middle-classes who express a strong commitment to community and social mixing.KeywordsCivic EngagementUrban SchoolComprehensive SchoolingCivic ResponsibilitySocialist PrincipleThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.