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Argues that there is a certain specificity of class, a specificity overlooked by both the adherents and the critics of the centrality of class. It stems from the structural dynamics of the relationship between capital and labour. Rejects Wright's view of objective interests of the working class in socialism and that the analysis of class structure provides the base for a critical social science. (JLN)

Acknowledgements -- Contents -- Abbreviations -- 1 Introduction: Why Class? -- Why Class? -- The Origins and Themes of This Book -- The Structure of the Book -- References -- 2 Imagining Class in Australian History -- Rick Kuhn's History of Class Analysis: Populism and Marxism -- An Etymology of the Term 'Class' -- The Concept of 'Class' in Australia -- Marx's Theory of 'Class' -- Marxism in Australia: Imagining 'Class' in the CPA -- Russell Ward's the Australian Legend -- Conclusion -- References -- 3 The New Left and Marxism -- The Student Movement -- Responding to the Student Movement: Arena -- A 'Demythologising Zeal': The CPA-ML and Humphrey McQueen -- The Use of Gramsci and Lukács Within the New Left -- How 'New' was the New Left? The Project of Reinventing Marxism -- Conclusion -- References -- 4 Connell and Irving's Class Structure in Australian History -- The Making of CSAH -- How Should Class be Studied? 'Historical' Versus 'A Priori' Analysis -- Class Narratives: The Ruling Class, Convicts, Workers and the Proletarian Story -- The Reception of CSAH and Its Second Edition (1992) -- Conclusion -- References -- 5 Wells' Constructing Capitalism and Political Economy -- (Marxist) Political Economy in Australia -- Constructing Capitalism -- Historical Analysis -- Wells' Theory: Explicit and Implicit -- Regimes of Accumulation: Mercantile and Pastoral-Finance -- A Methodology for the Study of 'Surplus Value' -- A Political Economy of Social Classes -- Conclusion -- References -- 6 Andrew Metcalfe and Working-Class Consciousness -- Violence on the Coalfields -- For Freedom and Dignity (1988) -- Larrikin and Respectable Working-Class Consciousness(es) -- Metcalfe's Critique of 'Objectivism' -- Metcalfe's Concept of 'Freedom' -- After Metcalfe: Opportunities for Class Analysis Missed -- Jeffrey Alexander's Methodology of Cultural Sociology