Social Inequality and Class Radicalism in France and Britain

by Duncan Gallie

• ISBN13: 9780521277006
• ISBN10: 0521277000
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1984-03-30
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This book, first published in 1983, examines in depth the nature and sources of class radicalism in France and Britain and takes issue with some of the major theories of class consciousness and class action. Drawing on data both from detailed case studies and from wider national surveys, it shows that the conflict of class interests within capitalist societies can lead to sharply diverging attitudes to class inequality. It argues that the explanation of such differences cannot be found in some 'general' law of the evolution of social conflict in capitalist society. It must be sought in the profound institutional differences that exist between the two societies. In particular the study argues for a reassessment of the importance of the experience of war and of the way in which the business and political elite handled the social crises generated by war, in accounting for the long-term structural divergence of capitalist societies.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Social inequality and class radicalism

Conceptions of Class Inequality

Class awareness and class identity

The conflict of class interests

Political power and class inequality

The national patterns

Sources of Proximate Determination

The power structure of the firm

The influence of the trade unions

The influence of the political party

The power structure of the firm, the trade unions and the parties of the Left: discussion

Elements of Historical Reconstruction

The revolutionary tradition

The agrarian roots of working-class radicalism: an assessment of the Mann/Giddens thesis

War and the crisis of legitimacy

Conclusion

Appendices

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.