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Postmaterialism. The 'silent revolution' and the 'New Class' - In this article an alternative interpretation is proposed to explain the spread of what Inglehart has denominated as post-materialist values. A first indication for this explanation was found in one of the criticisms that were formulated against Inglehart’s scarcity and socialization hypothesis. Central to the alternative explanation is the concept of the ’New Class’. This fairly recent social stratum originated from the expansion of higher education, the evolution in occupational structure - in particular the growth of the service and knowledge industries - and increasing secularization. Moreover, especially the most postmaterialistic part of this New Class, the ’social and cultural specialists’, appeared to experience status incongruity between their high level of education and their relatively lower income and occupational prestige. In response they will emphasize their highest status, and consequently attach more importance to the intellectual and the nonmaterialistic. The results of our analysis show that postmaterialism is indeed best explained by appealing to the concept of the ’New Class’.
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How to Cite: Matthyssen, E. (1994) “Postmaterialisme: de "stille revolutie" en de "nieuwe klasse"”, Tijdschrift voor Sociale Wetenschappen. 39(2). doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/tvsw.95169