Social classes in Marxist theory

Social Classes in Marxist Theory
This is a thorough account of the major
modern Marxist theoretical positions on the
theory of class, including the work of
Poulantzas, Carchedi and Olin Wright. It
also presents a devastating critique of their
attempts to differentiate social/
occupational classes according to a Marxist
theoretical scheme based on the relations
of production. It covers the issues that have
impinged on these debates - the divorce of
ownership and control, control of the
enterprise, industrial democracy, patterns
of investment in a detailed and empirical
way which makes available much up-to-
date evidence.
The book also provides an account of
classes in modern capitalism which is
relevant and useful for the socialist project
of changing the class structure. It gives an
extended analysis of the economic class
structure of modern British capitalism and
the opportunities and problems for
socialism associated with that structure. It
also discusses the specifically social and
political aspects of 'class' in Britain over the
post war years. The final chapter focuses on
class relations and politics in the period of
Thatcherism, and the possibility of a revival
in the fortunes of socialism.