The Debate on Classes (Paperback)

Erik Olin Wright

ISBN 10: 1859842801 / ISBN 13: 9781859842805

Published by Verso Books, London, 1998

About this Item

Paperback. Erik Olin Wright's Classes was hailed on publication, by the American Journal of Sociology, as "almost certain to be the most important book on social classes" of the decade. Wright presented a bold attempt-through the subtle use of the tools of analytical Marxism-to resolve some of the long-standing problems in contemporary class theory.The Debate on Classes brings together major critics of Wright's work to assess the adequacy of his theory. From differing perspectives, they deploy a range of empirical data-from studies undertaken in a number of countries-and they address questions as varied as the concept of "contradictory class locations," the continuing coherence of Marxist approaches to class, the relation between stratification and social development, as well as the contentious roles of gender and ethnicity in generating inequality, and the central problem of the import of "consciousness" and concrete political activity on class composition.Also included are Wright's own spirited responses and reformulations in the light of these criticisms, thereby presenting the reader with an open, scholarly discussion in which intellectual collaboration develops an understanding of the impact of class on the wider terrain of culture and politics. An attempt to resolve long-standing problems in contemporary class theory. The text brings together major critics of the author's work, and Wright's own responses and reformulation in the light of the criticisms. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781859842805

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Debate on Classes (Paperback)
• Publisher: Verso Books, London
• Publication Date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1859842801
• ISBN 13: 9781859842805
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Erik Olin Wright's Classes was hailed on publication, by the American Journal of Sociology, as "almost certain to be the most important book on social classes" of the decade. Wright presented a bold attempt-through the subtle use of the tools of analytical Marxism-to resolve some of the long-standing problems in contemporary class theory.
The Debate on Classes brings together major critics of Wright's work to assess the adequacy of his theory. From differing perspectives, they deploy a range of empirical data-from studies undertaken in a number of countries-and they address questions as varied as the concept of "contradictory class locations," the continuing coherence of Marxist approaches to class, the relation between stratification and social development, as well as the contentious roles of gender and ethnicity in generating inequality, and the central problem of the import of "consciousness" and concrete political activity on class composition.
Also included are Wright's own spirited responses and reformulations in the light of these criticisms, thereby presenting the reader with an open, scholarly discussion in which intellectual collaboration develops an understanding of the impact of class on the wider terrain of culture and politics.

About the Authors

Erik Olin Wright (1947-2019) was Vilas Distinguished Professor of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin. He authored many books, including Classes, Interrogating Inequality, Class Counts, Deepening Democracy (with Archon Fung), and Envisioning Real Utopias.

Guglielmo Carchedi is Senior Researcher in the Department of Economics and Econometrics at the University of Amsterdam. His previous books include Frontiers of Political Economy and Marx and Non-Equilibrium Economics.

Michael Burawoy (1947-2025) was Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley.

Philippe Van Parijs is Professor of Economic and Social Ethics at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. His books include Evolutionary Explanation in she Social Sciences (1981) and Marxism Recycled (1993).