Class Matters: Inequality and Exploitation in 21st Century Britain

In the twenty-first century, social class remains a significant aspect of British life, despite the end of mass industry and the rise of ordinary working people. In Class Matters, Charles Umney brings Marxist analysis to modern Britain, showing how core Marxist concepts are essential to understanding pay inequality, job security, routinization, and managerial control. He argues that class must be understood as a dynamic and exploitative process integral to capitalism to better understand the gains capital has made at the expense of labor over the last four decades.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 20 May 2018
Publisher: Pluto Press

Social class continues to hold a significant place in British society in the twenty-first century, deeply ingrained in social and political discourse. Despite the decline of mass industry and the rise of ordinary working people, its influence remains undiminished. However, there is a notable absence of a compelling Marxist expression or analysis of class in this contemporary landscape.

In his book "Class Matters," Charles Umney seeks to bring Marxist analysis into the modern context, exploring its relevance in the call centers, office blocks, and fast-food chains of contemporary Britain. By examining core Marxist concepts, such as pay inequality, job security, routinization, and managerial control, Umney demonstrates how these ideas are essential in understanding the evolving dynamics of class in modern society.

Umney offers a critical analysis of competing perspectives, challenging the notion that class can be simply described as a static categorization. Instead, he argues that class must be understood as a dynamic and exploitative process that is integral to capitalism. By viewing class as a dynamic force, Umney highlights the ways in which capital has gained at the expense of labor over the past four decades.

Through his comprehensive exploration, Umney provides a valuable contribution to the understanding of class in contemporary Britain. His book offers a fresh perspective on the ongoing struggles and challenges faced by different social groups, shedding light on the complex interplay between economic, political, and social factors that shape our lives. By reintroducing Marxist analysis into the conversation, "Class Matters" contributes to a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the social dynamics that shape our world.

Weight: 282g
Dimension: 215 x 144 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780745337081