Marxist Class Theory for a Skeptical World

Copyright

Contents

List of Figures and Tables

Acknowledgements

1 Introduction

2 Analytical Marxist Theory of Class

1 Main Concepts in Analytical Marxist Theory of Class

2 Connecting Core Class-Concepts, and Levels of Class-Analysis

3 Class Analysis, Struggle for Socialism, and Socialist trategies

4 Conceptual Advantages of Wright’s Theory of Class

5 Wright’s Class Theory in Relation to His Marxist Social Theory

6 Conclusion

3 Anti-essentialist (Post-structuralist) Marxist Theory of Class

1 Post-structuralist Marxist Notion of Class Relation

2 Class Agency/Struggle and Geography of Capitalism

3 Class Theory as a Part of Marxist Social Theory in Anti-essentialist Marxism: The Principle of Non-dominance

4 The Politics of Anti-essentialist Marxism or Class Politics of Distribution

5 Semiotic/Linguistic/Emotional Resistance and Intervention

6 Conclusion

4 A Critique of Theories of Class in Analytical and Anti-essentialist Marxisms

1 Class and Property

2 Class, Surplus, and Exploitation

3 The Primacy of Class and of Capitalist Class Relations

4 Problematic Conception of Class-Agency and Anti-capitalism

5 A Reformist View of Post-capitalist Politics

6 Class Character of Revisions to the Marxist Theory of Class: Theories and Interests

7 Conclusion

5 Philosophical Foundations of Class Theory

1 Marxist Philosophy: A Brief Statement of Basic Principles

2 Philosophy and Class Theory

3 Conclusion

6 Class Theory at a Trans-historical Scale

1 Class in All Class Societies: Class, Property, and Exploitation

2 Historically Specific Form of Class: Class in Pre-capitalist Society

3 Objective Conditions, Class Struggle, Class Consciousenss and Transition in Class Form of Society

4 Class and the State: Political Oppression as a Part of Class Relation

5 Conclusion

7 Marxist Theory of Capitalism as Class: A Dialectics of Exchange, Property and Value Relations

1 Capitalist Class Relation as Exchange/Money Relation

2 Capitalist Class Relation as Property Relation

3 Capitalist Class Relation as a Relation of Value

4 Money Relation, Property Relation, and Value Relation all Internally Connected

5 Concrete Map of Class Relations in Capitalist Social Formation

6 Objective Effects of Class Relations on the Working Class: Suffering and Immiserization

7 Conclusion

8 Subsumptions of Labour by Capital: Theory of Capitalist Class Relation from an International Perspective

1 How is Capitalism Conceptualized?

2 Formal and Real Subsumptions of Labour as Forms of Capitalist Class Relation

3 Transition from Formal Subsumption, and the Mediation of Class Struggle

4 Imperialism, Subsumption of Labour under Capital, and Class

5 Misconceptions about Subsumption of Labour and Dominant Contradiction in Modern Society

6 Summary, and Theoretical and Political Implications

9 The Capitalist State as Constitutive of Capitalist Class Relation: Class Exploitation and Political Oppression

1 The Capitalist State and the Capitalist Class Relation

2 Democratic State Form and the Capitalist Class Relation

3 Capitalist Class Relations and Barrier to Working Class Access to State Power

4 Conclusion

10 Dialectics of Class Consciousness

1 Consciousness of the Bourgeoisie

2 Consciousness of the Working Class and Its Multiple Forms

3 Capitalist Class Relation and Working Class Consciousness

4 Class Consciousness, Objectivism and Workers’ Struggle: Somegeneral Considerations

5 ‘Marxist Elitism’ and Class Consciousness

6 Conclusion

11 Trade Unionist Struggle and the Proletariat

1 Struggle from Above and Struggle from Below

2 ‘Primitive’ Revolts of the Working Class

3 Trade Union Struggle

4 What Makes (Spontaneous or Trade Unionist) Struggle Necessary and Possible?

12 Class Struggle and the Proletariat

1 A Marxist Critique of Spontaneous Trade Unionist Struggle

2 Trade Union Struggle is a (Subordinate) Part of Class Struggle

3 Revolution as the Ultimate Form of Class Struggle

4 Revolutionary Role of the Proletariat

5 Political Hegemony of the Proletariat

6 Political Vehicles for Class Struggle

7 Conclusion

13 Conclusions, and Further Reflections on the Political Implications of Class Theory

1 Marxist Philosophy and Class Theory at a Trans-historical Level

2 The Totality of the Capitalist Class Relation

3 The Capitalist Class Relation, Internationally Speaking

4 The State and the (Capitalist) Class Relation

5 (Working) Class Consciousness and (Working) Class Power

Works Cited

Index