PSCI 2002 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Upper Class, Garrett Camp, Class Consciousness
29 Nov 2017
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Document Summary
The concept of class is not as concrete as many other aspects of society, but it includes differences in income, wealth, education, occupation, opportunity, and power. Karl marx analyzed a capitalist economy and observed that society was divided between two basic classes: the bourgeoisie who owned everything (the means of production) and the proletariat who worked for them. The workers were exploited by the owners and eventually resorted to a violent revolt, a so- called communist revolution. Many people think marx was basically correct and continue to see evidence to support his observations. Others think he was too extreme, but still feel that society is marked by class divisions, with huge differences of income, wealth, opportunity, and power. Chapter 8 divides canadians into four such divisions: the upper class (or corporate elite); the middle class; the. Measuring differences in income is the simplest way to reveal class divisions, but other factors can supplement the analysis.
