Debate on Classes

Classes was first published 1985 and constituted the most systematic and coherent statement yet of Wright's recasting of class theory. Classes inspired praise and provoked controversy in equal measure, leading to one of the richest and most stimulating discussions on social divisions hitherto, as is conveyed in the pages of this collection. Leading sociologists and social theorists from the USA, UK, Netherlands and Belgium, submit Wright's methodology and results to searching and trenchant criticism, in some cases offering alternative conceptualisations of the issues involved, in others raising central problems of race, gender, skills, exploitation and the role of managerial strata. In several sections, Wright responds to specific elements of critique, whilst in a long concluding chapter ('Rethinking, Once Again, the Concept of Class Structure') he takes stock of all the points made and seeks to systematically reformulate his approach in an enriched and strengthened form.

Erik Olin Wright is Professor of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.