The Inclusive Society?

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xi

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Ruth Levitas

   Pages 1-6

3. Three Discourses of Social Exclusion

   • Ruth Levitas

   Pages 7-28

4. From Social Justice to Social Cohesion

   • Ruth Levitas

   Pages 29-48

5. The Optimism of Will

   • Ruth Levitas

   Pages 49-69

6. Staking Claims

   • Ruth Levitas

   Pages 70-88

7. Community Rules

   • Ruth Levitas

   Pages 89-111

8. New Labour, New Discourse

   • Ruth Levitas

   Pages 112-127

9. From Equality to Inclusion

   • Ruth Levitas

   Pages 128-158

10. Delivering Social Inclusion

    • Ruth Levitas

    Pages 159-177

11. The New Durkheimian Hegemony

    • Ruth Levitas

    Pages 178-189

12. Back Matter

    Pages 190-223

    PDF

A topical critical examination of the idea of social exclusion and the new political language of social cohesion, community, stakeholding and inclusion. The Inclusive Society? examines the actions and rhetoric of the Labour Party and Labour Government under Tony Blair's leadership. It identifies three different discourses of social exclusion. Using this model, it explores views of inclusion put forward by Will Hutton and other stakeholders, by communitarians including Etzioni and Gray, and by the Labour Party from the Borrie and the Commission on Social Justice to Blair and the Social Exclusion Unit.

• cohesion
• community
• government
• hegemony
• inclusion
• language
• quality
• rhetoric
• social justice
• British Politics

'This incisive and very readable account of the New Labour discourse and politics of social exclusion is both topical and thought-provoking. It reminds us that the cosy language of community, stakeholding and social inclusion can serve to obscure inequalities and fundamental conflicts of interest. It should be read not just by all those interested in the New Labour 'project' but, even more importantly, by those conducting it.' - Ruth Lister, Professor of Social Policy, Department of Social Sciences, Loughborough University

'This is a stunningly effective critique of some of New Labour's flannel. Ruth Levitas has provided a cool, analytical dissection of the subtle changes in approach towards poverty and social exclusion appearing in various influential documents of the 1990s...this book should make both politicians and sociologists squirm.' - Ray Pahl, The Sociological Review

'...this is a really good book - clear coherent, and plainly and intelligibly written.' - David Byrne, Work, Employment and Society

• University of Bristol, UK

  Ruth Levitas

Ruth Levitas is Professor of Sociology at the University of Bristol, founding Chair of the Utopian Studies Society Europe, and Chair of the William Morris Society. Her publications include The Concept of Utopia . In 2012 she received the Lyman Tower Sargent Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Utopian Studies.

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