Key specificities of the social fabric under new-capitalism

Abstract

The paper describes manifestations of inequality and poverty evolving under new-capitalism in Hungary. The new aspect of inequality include unlimited force-fields and unbridled competition between them, new splits of inequality, and the absence of both ceiling and floor. The new features of poverty include massive and lasting joblessness leading to the socialisation of children in an atmosphere of hopelessness, extreme social exclusion turning entire micro-regions  into poor and  Gypsy  ghettos, demeaning forms of workfare, and the like. About half of Hungary's residents have lost out on the regime change, meaning that they are worse off now than before it. Roughly half the losers are poor and about half a million (the entire population of the country is ten million) were poor both before and after. The new inequality and poverty is a challenge to all Hungarians, particularly to  politicians and the poor themselves. Responses are often distorted because the sudden and extreme poverty has spawned a vehement rejection of the poor, often combined with  rapidly spreading racism.