The Declining Political Significance of Social Class

Abstract

Argues that social classes have not died, but declined substantially in political significance, justifying a shift from class-centered analysis to multicausal explanations of political behavior & related social phenomena. Here, the key propositions of Clark & Lipset (1991) are extended, & new empirical evidence is added to commentaries by Mike Hout, Clem Brooks, & Jeff Manza (2001 [1993]) & Jan Pakulski (2001). Four general propositions are stated concerning where & why class is weaker or stronger, & then applied to several areas to consider how class has weakened in its impact, especially on politics. Several writers of Marxist background are cited to show how they have converged with others in interpreting central developments. The importance of organizations like unions & parties, independent of classes, in affecting political processes is noted. The rise of the welfare state in generally weakening class conflict by providing a safety net & benefits is discussed. The diversification of the occupational structure toward small firms, high-technology industries, & services weakens class organizational potentials, as does rising affluence. Political parties have correspondingly shifted from class conflict to noneconomic issues, eg, the environment. In many countries, the socialist & communist parties have drastically altered their programs away from traditional class politics toward new social issues & often toward constraining government. New nationalist parties have arisen stressing national identity & limiting immigration. Ways that these developments have cumulatively weakened class politics are described. 1 Table, 3 Figures, 57 References. Adapted from the source document.