Conceptualising "precarious prosperity" for comparative research

Monica Budowski 1 Robin Tillmann 2 Wiebke Keim 3 Michèle Amacker 4
1 Université de Fribourg
2 Université de Lausanne
3 SAGE - Sociétés, Acteurs, Gouvernement en Europe
4 Université de Berne
Abstract : Recent empirical research suggests the increase of population segment amongst the non-poor. It is located in vicinity of the structural position of the poor in industrial as well as developing societies; it is characterised by the mobility across the division line as well as the opportunities for agency. This position has not yet been theoretically conceptualised for comparative research. In this paper we subject various concepts in poverty research, their theoretical backgrounds and ideological and political implications to critical scrutiny in search of analytical elements to conceptualise these empirical findings. The reviewed concepts have strong political and ideological implications and present national scientific traditions. They presuppose homogeneous societies and/or transmit a dualistic view of society. Inequalities and dynamic processes are blended out. The more recent term “precarious prosperity” appears useful to analyse this structural position. Precarious prosperity is inherently a paradox: it simultaneously refers to a critical dynamic (precarious) and a more favourable material situation (prosperity). Precariousness depicts potential downward mobility linking research on this structural position more tightly to social inequality and mobility analyses.
Keywords : poverty precarious prosperity precariousness qualitative comparative research social inequality underclass social exclusion marginality
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Chapitre d'ouvrage
Inequality beyond globalization. Economic changes, social transformations, and the dynamics of inequality, LIT, pp.201-222, 2010, 9783643800725
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Dernière modification le : mardi 3 février 2015 - 16:16:41
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Monica Budowski, Robin Tillmann, Wiebke Keim, Michèle Amacker. Conceptualising "precarious prosperity" for comparative research. Inequality beyond globalization. Economic changes, social transformations, and the dynamics of inequality, LIT, pp.201-222, 2010, 9783643800725. <halshs-01077298>

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