Topic Summaries

Explanations for the existence of poverty

A-Level > Sociology > AQA > A Level Sociology Topic Summaries > Work, poverty, and welfare > Explanations for the existence of poverty
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Exam overview
  • New Right: 👤 Murray (1984) attributes poverty to a dysfunctional underclass characterised by crime, lone parenthood, and unwillingness to work. Welfare creates dependency and perverse incentives.
    • Criticised for stereotyping and ignoring structural inequalities.
  • Culture of poverty (👤 Lewis, 1966) Poverty sustained by a subculture of fatalism and immediate gratification passed through generations.
    • Blames victims and underplays external constraints.
  • Relative deprivation: (👤 Townsend, 1979) poverty results from lack of resources needed to participate in normal society due to structural factors and government inaction. 
    • More applicable to developed societies but still contested. 
  • Marxist: 👤 Marx (1848) stated that poverty is an inevitable outcome of capitalism, created by exploitation, low wages, and unemployment.
    • Overlooks cases of reduced poverty within capitalist welfare states.
  • Situational factors: (👤 Weber, 1905) life events such as redundancy, illness, or family breakdown can push people into poverty, creating cycles of hardship.
    • Recognises fluidity but less focus on structural causes

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