Abstract

No doubt, social inequality is increasing everywhere. However, within a general dominance of neo-liberal imperatives, it appears nowadays as a politically devaluated issue, largely neglected by social theory, whereas reduction of inequality is no longer considered an uncontroversial objective of social policies. Instead, other concepts attract all attention in matters of social policies: equity, introduced by theories of justice; difference, together with a politics of identity; social exclusion, linked to an ossession with the underclass. All these concepts seemingly erode the importance of inequality. The article argues that they actually work in order to restrict - if not deny - the need for anti-inequality policies. The task for social theory is rather to reformulate a frame integrating inequality with such concepts. This only might help against a misleading unavoidable choice between a new powerful individualism eroding solidarity, and a polarization leading to a dual society.