Wo liegt die Mitte der Mittelklasse?

Wo liegt die Mitte der Mittelklasse

Análise de classes

Resumo No texto, que é o capítulo introdutório do livro Class counts, Wright defende a relevância da análise de classes para o entendimento da sociedade e da política contemporâneas. Ainda que a variável "classe" não explique sozinha todos os fenômenos sociais, nem mesmo seja parte das explicações de todos, ela é significativa em uma grande variedade deles. Portanto, deve ser sistematicamente explorada nas investigações da sociologia e da política. Wright afirma também a superioridade da leitura marxista das classes sociais, capaz de abranger mais facetas do que a weberiana. E, por fim, defende que tal análise deve ter como ponto de partida um entendimento da estrutura de classes, não simplesmente de seus conflitos. Para o desenho desta estrutura, importam a propriedade dos meios de produção, mas também o controle de especializações e de autoridade nas relações de trabalho. Palavras-Chave: classes; marxismo; trabalho   Abstract In the text, which is the introductory chapter of the book Class counts, Wright argues for the relevance of class analysis to the understanding of contemporary society and politics. Although the variable "class" alone does not explain all social phenomena and is not part of their explanations, it is significant for a wide variety of them. Therefore, it should be systematically exploited in investigations of sociology and politics. Wright also claims the superiority of the Marxist reading of social classes, which is able to cover more aspects than Weberian reading. And finally, she argues that such analysis must take as its starting point an understanding of the class structure, rather than simply its conflicts. Ownership of means of production matter for the design of that structure, but also control of expertise and authority in labor relations. Key words: classes; Marxism; labo

Class Is Not Dead! It Has Been Buried Alive

By means of a reanalysis of the most relevant data source—the International Social Mobility and Politics File—this article criticizes the newly grown consensus in political sociology that class voting has declined since World War II. An increase in crosscutting cultural voting, rooted in educational differences rather than a decline in class voting, proves responsible for the decline of traditional class-party alignments. Moreover, income differences have not become less but more consequential for voting behavior during this period. It is concluded that the new consensus has been built on quicksand. Class is not dead—it has been buried alive under the increasing weight of cultural voting, systematically misinterpreted as a decline in class voting because of the widespread application of the so-called Alford index