Rethinking Class

Abstract

Considers five conceptual innovations in the analysis of social class that represent departures from conventional Marxism: (1) the notion of causal powers; (2) the strategic character of collective action; (3) the need to examine resources available to social classes; (4) the dialectic of class structure & struggle; & (5) the significance of space & place to the formation & reproduction of class actions. An event-ontology is argued against in favor of a "thing-ontology," meaning that there are enduring structures in time & space that persist because of their causal powers. Class formations thus are explored for particular social characteristics embedded within enabling (through causal powers of institutions & social groupings) as well as constraining structures. Attention is drawn to the US service class, competing actors for whom collective action has become a strategic vehicle. 18 References. C. Mariani