Social Inequality and Class Radicalism in France and Britain

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CUP Archive, Jan 26, 1984 - Social Science - 351 pages
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.
 

Contents

Social inequality and class radicalism
3
3
28
The conflict of class interests
37
Political power and class inequality
65
Conclusion
83
The influence of the trade unions
111
8
117
The influence of the political party
129
9
150
The revolutionary tradition
177
War and the crisis of legitimacy
224
Appendix 1
269
Notes
281
Bibliography
325
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