Grenfell Tower Fire and the Dominate Ideology

Those responsible, along with their allies within society, are now furiously denying their involvement, blaming everything from EU to the opposition, whilst trying to discredit those who fight for the victims within the political arena. For a saving of two pounds per square inch, the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organization who were responsible for Grenfell Tower refurbishment failed to install fire-resistant cladding. The £8.7 million refurbishment also failed to install a sprinkler system, or even cover basic fire safety equipment. Even when the local authority is “doing the right thing” by evacuating and rehousing those affected, media outlets insinuate that these measures are unfair and unjust. Despite the obvious political choices made to save money at the expense of providing people with lower incomes with safe housing and its repercussions, it is those who stand for the poor and want change who are in the wrong.

The cause of the tragedy at Grenfell and the response to it can be explained by the ideas of Cultural hegemony and dominant ideology. Antonio Gramsci suggested that society is lead by a dominant group of people known as the ruling class. They lead which ideas are “mainstream” in the society’s culture and ideology, Gramsci called their position in society a hegemonic position. The power they wield decides which ideas are mainstream and influence both state institutions and civil society. This position of dominance over the dominate ideology, allows the ruling class to decide which narratives are to be heard and what values are to be accepted. In order to maintain this class’s dominance over society, Gramsci theorised, that the ruling class shares some of its power to form alliances with other actors in society. By negotiating what values and ideas are accepted within society's dominant ideology the ruling class, whilst accepting some new values and ideas over some of the old ones, maintain and strengthen their dominant position in society.

Non fire resistant cladding? It must be the EU's fault!

The ideology of the Britain can be described as capitalist, steered by a class society that penalises the poor for being poor. Britain, despite radical social change, has, for the most part, maintained its ruling elite. In the case of Grenfell, the aim for the ruling elite and their allies is to deny their involvement and pass the buck thus defending their hegemonic position. This is done through drawing attention to the tragedy in terms of death toll and the progress of events. By pointing out that the case is being investigated by authorities, it seems that the ruling elite care about those effected. In the current post Brexit climate, there have been attempts to blame the EU and the insulation requirements. By muddying the waters in this way, the ruling class direct the focus of public anger away from themselves and on to scapegoats.

Nobody gives me anything for free.

At its most despicable, their actions attack the poor for being poor. This is inline with the dominant capitalist ideology that states if you are poor it is your own fault. In relation to Grenfell towers, it is rich flat owners who are reportedly the victims due to residents of Grenfell Towers moving into their exclusive apartment blocks. Politically, those who have taken the poor’s side are said to be profiting politically from the tragedy. In other words, Grenfell Towers is the fault of the victims due to the economic status and, according to the ruling elites and their allies, do not deserve any protection from society.