Taking Social Class Seriously

This article critically analyses the human rights perspective upon the rising poverty and inequality afflicting increasing numbers of people within high-income, liberal democratic societies. I argue that the human rights community is largely failing to diagnose and respond effectively to this systemic injustice suffered by many. Developing upon existing scholarship in this area, I account for our continuing failure by focusing upon social class and argue that the human rights community is afflicted by a form of class-blindness. I then develop the basis for overcoming our continuing neglect of social class, enroute to what I argue is urgently needed if human rights is to provide the kind of political and ethical leadership required for effectively engaging with poverty and inequality in affluent societies: the de-gentrification of human rights.