This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Orton, M. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Irresponsible citizens? New Labour, citizenship and the case of non-payment of local taxation

University of Warwick, Michael.Orton{at}warwick.ac.uk

This article engages with the debate about citizenship and responsibility by drawing on the experience of citizens whose voice is rarely heard in that debate. The article draws on a study of a specific citizenship obligation, the payment of local taxation, and in particular interviews with people who had failed to pay local tax - a group who could potentially be characterized as ‘irresponsible citizens’. From the perspective of these citizens the experience of paying local tax raises issues not about a deficit of responsibility but insecurity and the struggle to make ends meet. The examination of local tax and citizenship also raises issues about what will be described as the unequal distribution of obligation under New Labour. The article concludes by arguing that what is highlighted is the need for consideration of responsibility in relation not just to poor citizens but to all citizens, and in particular those with higher incomes.

Key Words: council tax • debt • insecurity • responsibility • social relations

Critical Social Policy, Vol. 24, No. 4, 504-525 (2004)
DOI: 10.1177/0261018304046674


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?