Having No Choice: Social Exclusion in the Affluent Society

The article discusses social exclusion in the affluent society. It suggests a change of perspective from the typical focus on the generation of income and resources to the opportunities of using them, from means to ends. Therefore, an updated conception of affluent society will be outlined first. It is centred on the importance of having access to a variety of options and freedom of choice. Then, corresponding social positions of relevance to analyses of inequality and marginalisation, namely having choices, having to make choices and having no choices, will be distinguished. Having no choices will be shown to be an analytical criterion for social exclusion. This will be illustrated by the empirical example of charitable assistance by food banks.