Description
Book SynopsisThe lifestyle, economic basis and political affiliations of the British upper class are the focus of this exciting new textbook. Combining a review of existing sociological theory on class and capitalism with material drawn from a great variety of sources it is likely to become a standard course text.
Trade Review'This is an excellent analysis of the changing contours of power in British society. John Scott is one of the most distinguished researchers of the British class structure ... a very useful analysis of the latest debates and empirical evidence.'
John Urry, Lancaster University 'A welcome and timely addition to a growing field of academic and general interest ... [it] will undoubtedly come to occupy a regular and prominent place on booklists in higher and further education through the 1990s.' David Coates, University of Leeds
'A challenging and very readableaccount.' THES
Table of ContentsList of illustrations VII
Acknowledgements IX
Introduction 1
1 What is a Capitalist Class? 7
The Orthodox Marxist View 8
The Fabian View 16
Burnham and the Managerial Revolution 19
Post-war Revisionism 20
The Capitalist Class Reconsidered 23
2 What is a Ruling Class? 25
Marx on the British Ruling Class 26
The Orthodox Marxist View 27
An Unorthodox Marxist View 29
The Power Bloc and the State 31
3 The Making of the Ruling Class 40
The Ancien Regime in Europe 41
The Old Society in England 44
The Transition to Modernity 57
4 Is there still a Capitalist Class? 63
Who are the Capitalists? 64
The Development of the Business Class 72
Contours of the Capitalist Class 80
Class Reproduction and Capital Reproduction 90
5 Is there still an Upper Circle? 93
The 'Traditional' Status System 93
'Tradition', Social Networks and Class Reproduction 106
6 Is there still a Ruling Class? 118
Power Elites and the Ruling Class 118
The Changing Anatomy of Political Rule 124
The Structure of Political Domination 139
Notes 153
Index 165
