The sources of political orientations in post‐industrial society: social class and education revisited

2004/06/01 by Herman G. Van de Werfhorst, Herman G. van de Werfhorst, Nan Dirk de Graaf · 151 citations
Social Sciences · #Biology and political orientation #Class (philosophy) #Epistemology #Field (mathematics) #Law #Middle class #Political economy #Political science #Politics #Redistribution (election) #Social Policy and Reform Studies #Social and Cultural Dynamics #Social class #Social science #Social stratification #Sociology #Working class #Youth Education and Societal Dynamics

paper · doi:10.1111/j.1468-4446.2004.00016.x

published in British Journal of Sociology 55(2), 211-235 (Wiley)

openalex publication_date 2004/06/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01

Abstract

This paper studies the impact of social class and education on political orientation. We distinguish the 'old' middle class from a new class of social/cultural specialists. However, the difference in their political orientation may especially be related to the level and field of education; the new middle class is more highly educated and often in fields of study that extensively address social competencies, characteristics independently affecting political outcomes. Analyses on Dutch data showed that education is more important in the prediction of 'cultural' liberal issues than social class. Economically-oriented issues are more strongly affected by social class. This means that interests of the new middle class are served by liberal standpoints relating to a strong government and income redistribution policies, but not relating to cultural issues.

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• What is the Liberalizing Potential of Higher Education? An Analysis of Academic Fields and Anti-Immigrant Sentiment Across 32 Countries. [europepmc]

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