Standing - The Precariat
Standing, G. (2011). The Precariat: The New Dangerous Class. London: Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-1-84966-351-9
In this now classic book on the topic, Guy Standing addresses the issue of precarisation of all work. He claims that precarious working conditions might have created a common ground for the formation of the new social group, a ‘class-in-the-making’, in his own words. This class, although it might not be fully self-aware, is defined by worsening working and living conditions. The author explains the social, technological and political trends underpinning the rise of this new social formation and focuses on the conditions of many vulnerable groups within it.
This book is important for cultural policymakers for several reasons. First, it offers a comprehensive and informative overview of the changing landscape of work. Second, it moves from stating that there are more and more individuals who are in precarious positions to claiming that those individuals collectively form a social formation (in his terms, ‘a dangerous class’). This formation is thought to have larger social, cultural, and economic impacts. Finally, the book offers ideas on how to tackle the situation to policymakers interested in making cultural work more dignified and fairer.
Guy Standing "The Precariat: The New Dangerous Class”