Conclusions
Globalisation/migration (domestic vs external inequality) and educational expansion (education vs property inequality) have created new multi-dimensional conflicts about inequality, leading to the collapse of the postwar left-vs-right party system.
Why didn’t democracy reduce inequality?
Because multi-dimensional coalitions are complicated.
Without a strong egalitarian-internationalist platform, it’s difficult to have the low-education, low-income voters from all origins vote for the same party.
Racism/nativism & higher education = powerful forces dividing the poor if there’s no strong uniting platform.
-Thomas Piketty, “Brahmin Left vs. Merchant Right: Rising Inequality and the Changing Structure of Political Conflict.” EHESS & Paris School of Economics Sciences Po, January 24 2019
h/t Boing Boing, which provides a nice overview. Open Question: Am I a member of the Brahmin Left?
