Re: [Marxism] Upward Mobility in the Working Class (was Poor, white and pissed)

["Calvin Broadbent" <calvinbroadbent@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,

A simlar process seems to have occurred, and is still occurring, in the
north of Ireland. In certain areas of Belfast, for example, it appears that
the dire living conditions and job prospects there, alongside the relatively
expensive house prices, are impelling many residents to move to newly
urbanised districts on the outskirts of the city (places such as Whitehead
and other parts of Antrim). The 'upward mobility' of sections of the Belfast
Protestant working class, and their emigration to sunnier climes (sic!)
seems to be producing serious political effects there. In some cases, many
homes have been left derelict in the face of increased demand for houses
amongst the working class Catholic polulation. The dereliction of such
houses has been used by the armed and unarmed representatives of British
unionism to suggest that Protestants are facing intimidation by their
Catholic class counterparts. There are, I believe, several instances of
derelict houses and community centres in once largely Protestant urban parts
of Belfast being destroyed (torched and ransacked) by armed loyalist gangs.
In response to this, it appears that Belfast City Council is now investing
to expand the reaches of certain Protestant housing estates (for example, by
building houses on the Cave Hill there).

Perhaps Domhnall or James might like to comment on this phenomenon? Have
there been any systematic studies done on it?

cheers

PS Any recommendations on statistical data relating to the upward mobility
of the working class in the UK and US would be appreciated. I wonder if the
economic policies of Margaret Thatcher resulted in a raising of social
(particualrly occupational and income) status amongst the British working
class? Or just amongst those who mattered?

GEORGE ANTHONY WROTE:

> Did anyone read the "Observer" of Sunday Feb 20th on the subject of US
> population movement out to new sites.
> Alarmingly quoting that although the US population has increased by 17%
> between1982 and 1997, the movement to new urbanised land has increased by
> 50%.  This has laid them open to Bush influence. ie alienation.
> George Anthony

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