Neither Conservatives nor Progressives: Fragmentation in the Cultural Repertoires of the Upper Middle Class

This chapter aims to present a comprehensive understanding of upper middle class (political) cultural repertoires in relation to a variety of topics of public interest, such as inequality, globalization, and meritocracy. Our purpose is to add another layer to the already complex depiction of a fragmented upper middle class, which we have unveiled throughout the previous chapters. We also, however, put forward the crosscutting argument that notwithstanding this fragmentation, we can see a remarkable internal coherence within each segment. This coherence is, we claim, one outcome of an ongoing process taking place intra- and inter-generationally, between partners, between parents and children, and between families and schools. We will demonstrate the existence of clear cultural repertoires related to politics which variously emphasize, inter alia, tolerance, (blind) obedience to rules versus a reflexive stance toward them, and globalized views on economics and culture, versus strong support for the status quo. Given these findings, we will contend that it is hardly possible to argue that we are in the presence of a homogenous upper middle class that became neoliberal. Rather, we are witnessing cultural repertoires that have proved to be effective, long-lasting, and tolerant enough to succeed in maintaining a dominant position. We will show that although the upper middle class exhibits some openness to progressive views, these views do not predominate. This is above all a class that exhibits a type of political fragmentation that works well in the service of its own reproduction. In order to fully understand the nuances and differences within the upper middle class, we show the characteristics of three clusters in relation to cultural repertoires: communitarian individualism, individualization, and networked pragmatism.