Does Capitalism Inevitably Increase Inequality?

  • Dave Hill
  • Nigel M. Greaves
  • Alpesh Maisuria
Chapter
Part of the CERC Studies in Comparative Education book series (CERC, volume 24)

In this chapter, we explore educational inequality through a theoretical and empirical analysis. We use classical Marxian scholarship and class-based analyzes to theorize the relationship between education and the inequality in society that is an inevitable feature of capitalist society and economy. The relationship between social class and the process of capitalization of education in the United States and the United Kingdom is identified, where neo-liberal drivers are working to condition the education sector more tightly to the needs of capital. The empirical evidence is utilized to show how capital accumulation is the principal objective of national and international government policy, and of global capitalist organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO). The key onto-logical claim of Marxist education theorists is that education serves to complement, regiment, and replicate the dominant-subordinate nature of class relations upon which capitalism depends, the labor-capital relation. Through these arguments we show that education services the capitalist economy, helps reproduce the necessary social, political, ideological and economic conditions for capitalism, and therefore, reflects and reproduces the organic inequalities of capitalism originating in the relations of production. We also note that education is a site of cultural contestation and resistance. We conclude that, whether in terms of attainment, selection, or life chances, it is inevitable that education systems reflect and express the larger features of capitalist inequality.

Keywords

Conceptual Issue School Choice Educational Inequality Capitalist System Class Struggle 
These 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.
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Copyright information

© Comparative Education Research Centre 2008

Authors and Affiliations

  • Dave Hill
    • 1
  • Nigel M. Greaves
  • Alpesh Maisuria
  1. 1.Professor of Education PolicyUniversity of NorthamptonUK

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