Policy Press

The Political Economy of Fortune and Misfortune

Prospects for Prosperity in Our Times

By Scott Timcke

Published

Mar 31, 2023

Page count

180 pages

ISBN

978-1529221756

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Bristol University Press

Published

Mar 31, 2023

Page count

180 pages

ISBN

978-1529221763

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Bristol University Press

Published

Mar 31, 2023

Page count

180 pages

ISBN

978-1529221763

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Bristol University Press
The Political Economy of Fortune and Misfortune

Luck greatly influences a person’s quality of life. Yet little of our politics looks at how institutions can amplify good or bad luck that widens social inequality. But societies can change their fortune.

Too often debates about inequality focus on the accuracy of data or modelling while missing the greater point about ethics and exploitation. In the wake of growing disparity between the 1% and other classes, this book combines philosophical insights with social theory to offer a much-needed political economy of life chances.

Timcke advances new thought on the role luck plays in redistributive justice in 21st century capitalism.

“Timke’s book is a theoretically sophisticated engagement with the concepts of luck, inequality and justice; what these mean under capitalism; and, crucially, what they could mean in the pursuit of social justice. A timely read that critically engages and expands the conceptual, philosophical and political boundaries.” Carin Runciman, University of Edinburgh

"Timcke presents a cogent and compelling argument showing the structural opportunism of luck in shaping our understanding of the nature of distributional justice." Gary McCarron, Simon Fraser University

"Scott Timcke argues that liberalism lacks a good dose of Marxist historical materialism. Coming after the failures and crises of neoliberalism and the Third Way, Timcke's work makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of inequality, challenging assumptions about luck and meritocracy in contemporary capitalist societies." Sean Jacobs, The New School

Scott Timcke is Senior Research Associate with Research ICT Africa. His research focuses on the transformations of race, class and technology during modernity.

1. Introduction

2. The Egalitarian Turn in Liberalism

3. Where Liberalism Falls Short

4. The Problem of Contingency

5. Accounting for Uncertain Opportunities

6. A Social Analysis of Institutional Luck

7. Markets are Not Morally Neutral

8. Conclusion: The Tasks of Engaged Liberal Social Theory