The Working Class from Marx to Our Times

This book reviews Marx's contributions to the debate on the working class, presenting a synthesis of his and Engels' ideas and 20th-century Marxist writers' understanding of social classes, the class struggle, and the working class. It also includes dialogue between Marx and Marxists, empirical elements of class reality, and debates in social sciences. The thesis is that the working class is an analytical category for understanding social life under capitalism, but Marx's discussion is complex and wider than many Marxists have presented it.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 188 pages
Publication date: 25 April 2023
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This comprehensive book delves into Marx's profound contributions to the ongoing debate surrounding the working class. The first part of the work serves as a comprehensive synthesis of the key ideas and perspectives of Marx and Engels, as well as 20th-century Marxist thinkers, regarding social classes, class struggle, and the working class. The subsequent sections present engaging dialogues between Marx and Marxists, exploring their discussions on the working class presented in the first part. Additionally, the book incorporates empirical insights into contemporary class realities, as well as debates within the social sciences and historiography on the same topics.

The central thesis defended in this book is straightforward yet profound: the working class, also known as the proletariat, as conceptualized by Karl Marx, possesses validity as an analytical category for understanding social life within the framework of capitalism. However, it is important to note that Marx's exploration of this issue is intricate and multifaceted, and the category of the "working class" in his approach encompasses a broader spectrum of perspectives than what many Marxists have traditionally presented.

Through meticulous analysis and thoughtful exploration, this book offers a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of Marx's ideas on the working class. It sheds light on the historical development of the class, its social and economic implications, and the ongoing challenges and struggles faced by workers across different societies. By examining Marx's writings alongside contemporary perspectives and empirical evidence, the book provides a valuable resource for scholars, activists, and anyone interested in comprehending the complexities of class relations and the ongoing struggle for social justice.

Weight: 278g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030973575
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022