Against the Odds? Social Class and Social Justice in Industrial Societies

TLDR

In industrial societies, unequal reward distribution is widely accepted, yet scholars debate whether such inequality is justifiable, with some viewing mobility patterns as evidence of opportunity inequality and others seeing them as meritocratic reflections of ability. The study investigates the relationship between social class and social justice. The authors integrate normative theories of social justice with recent empirical data on educational attainment and social mobility. The study offers a groundbreaking perspective on class and justice that will influence sociologists and political theorists for years.

Abstract

What is the relation between social class and social justice? This is currently a matter of public as well as academic controversy. While nobody would deny that the distribution of rewards in industrial societies is unequal, there is sharp disagreement about whether this inequality can be justified. Some see existing patterns of social mobility as evidence of inequality of opportunity. Others regard them as meritocratic, simply reflecting the distribution of abilities among the population. This fascinating, interdisciplinary study brings together recent developments in normative thinking about social justice with new empirical findings about educational attainment and social mobility. The result is a path-breaking contribution to our thinking about issues of class and justice, one that will be of interest to both sociologists and political theorists for many years to come.