Sociologists disagree not only on how best to define "class" but also as to its general role in social theory and continued relevance to sociological analysis. This book explores the theoretical foundations of six major perspectives of class through the contributions of experts in the field. While some assume that classes have largely dissolved, others believe class remains one of the fundamental forms of social inequality and social power. Moreover, some see class as a narrow economic phenomenon, while others adopt an expansive conception.
Author(s): Erik Olin Wright
Year: 2005
Language: English
Pages: 222
Cover......Page 1
Half-title......Page 3
Title......Page 5
Copyright......Page 6
Dedication......Page 7
Contents......Page 9
Figures......Page 10
Tables......Page 11
Contributors......Page 12
Introduction......Page 13
1 Foundations of a neo-Marxist class analysis......Page 16
The big picture: what the Marxist concept of class is all about......Page 18
Conceptual components of class analysis......Page 20
Social relations of production......Page 21
Variations in class relations......Page 22
The problem of complexity in concrete class relations......Page 24
Class locations......Page 26
Complexity in class locations......Page 27
Macro- and micro-class analysis......Page 31
Class ”agency”......Page 32
The explanatory claims: the fundamental metathesis of class analysis......Page 33
Marxist class analysis......Page 35
The pay-off: what are the advantages of the Marxist strategy of class analysis?......Page 40
Introduction......Page 43
Social class in the work of Max Weber......Page 44
The aims of class analysis......Page 46
The development of a Weberian class schema......Page 47
The Goldthorpe class schema......Page 48
The boundary problem in neo-Weberian class analysis......Page 55
The unit of class analysis......Page 59
Conclusion......Page 61
3 Foundations of a neo-Durkheimian class analysis......Page 63
Durkheim and the class structure: a selective exegesis......Page 66
The rise of occupational associations......Page 68
The "localization" of the collective conscience......Page 69
Occupations and organic solidarity......Page 71
Was Durkheim right?......Page 73
Multifunctionalism and competing associational forms......Page 74
Cross-national variation......Page 75
The virtues of a realist account......Page 77
Should class analysts care about local organization?......Page 79
A Durkheimian provenance?......Page 84
Improving contemporary models of skill-based exploitation......Page 86
Is more disaggregation always better?......Page 88
Conclusions......Page 91
4 Foundations of Pierre Bourdieu's class analysis......Page 94
Preliminary themes......Page 96
Class structure......Page 98
Class habitus......Page 102
Class practices......Page 104
Classificatory conflicts and symbolic violence......Page 107
From the practical state to the objective state: modalities of symbolic power......Page 114
Domination multiplied......Page 119
Complex causes......Page 120
Crosscutting classifications......Page 122
Conclusion......Page 125
Introduction......Page 131
Theories of inequality and class concepts......Page 133
Class and wealth......Page 140
Wealth and class as life conditions......Page 146
Wealth, rents, and exploitation......Page 148
Monopoly rents......Page 150
Composite rents or rents on asset specificity......Page 153
Rents on natural and cultural endowments......Page 155
Exploitation classes and collective action in modern capitalism......Page 157
Conclusion......Page 161
6 Foundations of a post-class analysis......Page 164
Aspects of class......Page 166
Classic foundations of social (nonclass) analysis......Page 167
Recognizing the multiplicity of generative structures......Page 174
Recognizing the impact of education and knowledge......Page 175
The impact of gender and racial relations......Page 176
Stratification and social formation......Page 177
Social clustering and closure......Page 178
Communities and groups......Page 179
Social actors......Page 181
Diverse social formation......Page 182
Configurations of inequality -- a typology......Page 183
Modern trends -- a short history of class......Page 186
Towards complex (classless) inequalities......Page 188
Conclusions......Page 191
Conclusion: If "class" is the answer, what is the question?......Page 192
Subjectively salient groups......Page 195
Life chances......Page 197
Antagonistic conflict......Page 200
Historical variation......Page 201
Emancipation......Page 203
References......Page 205
Index......Page 219
