The Precariat: The New Dangerous ClassThis book presents the Precariat – an emerging class, comprising the rapidly growing number of people facing lives of insecurity, moving in and out of jobs that give little meaning to their lives. Guy Standing argues that this class is producing instabilities in society. Although it would be wrong to characterise members of the Precariat as victims, many are frustrated and angry. The Precariat is dangerous because it is internally divided, leading to the villainisation of migrants and other vulnerable groups. Lacking agency, its members may be susceptible to the siren calls of political extremism. To prevent a 'politics of inferno', Guy Standing argues for a 'politics of paradise', in which redistribution and income security are reconfi gured in a new kind of Good Society, and in which the fears and aspirations of the Precariat are made central to a progressive strategy. |
Contents
Chapter 1 The precariat | 1 |
Chapter 2 Why the precariat is growing | 43 |
Chapter 3 Who enters the precariat? | 101 |
Victims villains or heroes? | 153 |
Chapter 5 Labour work and the time squeeze | 197 |
Chapter 6 A politics of inferno | 227 |
Chapter 7 A politics of paradise | 267 |
317 | |
327 | |
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activities agencies allowed basic become behaviour benefits building called capital career cent century China Chinese citizens claim companies contracts contributions costs countries create demand denizens earnings economic emerging employees employment existence expected fear firms flexibility force gain give global globalisation groups growing growth identity income increasing industrial inequality insecurity interns Italy labour market lack lead leave less living lower means migrants million move occupational offer old agers opportunity paid pension person political precariat precarious pressure production reason recession rise salariat schooling sector sense share shift skills social society status subsidies temporary unemployed unions United Kingdom wages women workers young youth