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February 2nd Notes

Pg 97-102

Class analysis framework: A capitalist Mode of Production and the Ruling class

• Borrowed from Karl Marx (1818-1883)


• 3 frameworks, one similar to the elite model, one similar to the statist
model, and one emphasizes the idea of struggle.

Class analysis strategy


-note that contemporary advanced societies are fundamentally capitalist.
• They are organized on the basis of a capitalist mode of production (more
than just economy overriding, master organization of society)
• Mode of production- forces of production and relations of production
profoundly shape the social and political relationships, in this way the
capitalist mode of production generates the fundamental function of
society.
• Private ownership
• A right to keep profits
• Paying for labor
• Market determination of prices.
• In the class analysis framework a persons consumption, lifestyle, or
subjective awareness are a result of social class.
• Two lifestyles, capitalist or worker
• Few question capitalism because they mistake it for forces of nature
rather than forces of cap.
• Class politics is the heart of all politics.
Class analysis view of the nation state
• Protect capitalism and uphold and advance the power of the capitalist
class.
• Nation state and capitalism are mutually interdependent.
• Key idea is the relative autonomy of the state, where the state has limited
room to maneuver, but it cannot violate the basic tenets of capitalism or
oppose the long-term interests of the capitalist class.
• Three sources of the capitalist state's relative autonomy
• 1.) Structural Dependence- state depends on a healthy private
economy for its resources.
• 2.) Illusions of neutrality- illusion that the state operates in the
general public interest.
• 3.) Steering mechanism-unique position in society; it distills and
advances general capitalist class interests and stands apart from the
narrow, short-term, conflicting, and incomplete interests that
individual capitalists express.

Power Structure Model


• Focuses on the organization and political actions of capitalist class
members.
• Model holds that ruling class is FAR MORE THAN ELITE- everything
depends on exploitation of workers
• Despite intra class divisions they all agree that their survival as capitalist
class is crucial, they will defend ferociously their common class interest.
• -occupy powerful positions on several different board of directors
• Have a family background in or marry into old upper-class wealth
• Interact socially with one another.
• The corporate liberal thesis states that a group of farsighted, class
conscious capitalists became politically organized and had a direct, active
role in introducing liberal reforms during periods of social-political crisis.

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