The Concept of Class: An Historical Introduction

Description

Originally published in 1982, The Concept of Class provides a concise and stimulating guide to the historical development of the concept of ‘class’ and the different ways in which it has been applied in social and political theory. The author begins by determining where and how the word acquired its political sense, and after a short re-examination of its classical background, moves on to consider Marx’s reformulation of the concept and his proposals for making it a fundamental term in the study of society. He traces the different strands of Marxist and non-Marxist use of the term right up to the twentieth century, considers the confusion of ideas that had resulted at the time, and analyses the utility of ‘class’ in assessing the nature of contemporary socialist states and post-industrial capitalist societies. In conclusion, Dr. Calvert suggests that class is an ‘essentially contested concept’ – that is, a concept on which agreement is by its nature impossible. Today it can be read in its historical context. Cover Title Page Copyright Page Original Title Page Original Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents Acknowledgements Introduction 1: The Classical Concept of Class 2: Class as Balance 3: Class as Struggle 4: Class, Status and Power 5: Class in Advanced Capitalism 6: Class in Socialist States 7: Making Sense of Class 8: The End of Class? Bibliography Index