Revolution ante portas: Inequality, Occupy Wall Street and Social Polarization in the United States

Abstract

The paper analyzes nature and recent sharp increase of inequality in the United States, its implications for social polarization and emergence of Occupy Wall Street movement. Following theoretical explanations on inequality-conflict nexus (particularly those stressing importance of relative, and not absolute relationship) the authors establish correlation between vertical inequality (i.e. inequality between individuals or households) and possibility of political violence onset. Consequently, the authors attempt to connect the state of inequality in the U.S. and its social and political impacts (e.g. material deprivation, intergenerational mobility, political and civic participation, reduced confidence in key government institutions, etc.) with possibility of popular rebellion of (significant) socio-economic groups in the context of long-term effects of the Great Recession. In the light of these arguments, the paper examines foundations and actions of Occupy Wall Street movement, as well as causes of its recent (un)success.