The class system is a form of social stratification predicated on the nexus between “ownership and control of resources and the type of work that people do” (Kendall, 2015, p. 225). Karl Marx advanced the class theory through which he posited that the history of the society is predicated on a legacy of struggles among classes. Accordingly, since its primitive inception stage, the society has emerged and evolved with fundamental stratifications (Andersen & Taylor, 2008, p. 216). In pursuit of conflicting class interests, the said classes have never ceased to clash. In the world of capitalism characterized by the pursuit of the “American dream,” various classes in America have been in a constant struggle among themselves. This paper critically analyzes the contemporary class system in America. With the assumption of upper, middle, lower and working classes, it explores the relations among the said classes.
Marx predicated the position occupied by an individual in society’s structure on their relations with the means of production. To this end, a capitalist work situation is two-fold. It comprises the bourgeoisie who own the means of production such as the factories and the mines on one hand and the proletariat who must sell their labor and services to the capital owners so as to earn a living. This relationship is characterized by inequality and exploitation. The bourgeoisie manipulates the society’s superstructure by controlling social institutions such as the government to maintain their capitalist position (Kendall, 2015, p. 226).
Accordingly, Max predicted that the exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie would lead to disenfranchisement of the working class which would trigger a class conflict. As a result, the conflict would lead to the ousting of the capitalist class and its puppet government and other social institutions and the replacement thereof with more egalitarian institutions. The contemporary American Class system resonates with the one envisioned by Marx only to the extent in which class conflict has not materialized into a revolution (Weir, 2007, p. 506).
The departure of America’s class system from the Marx prediction is attributed to the re-organization of control and ownership of societal means of production in contemporary America’s capitalist society. Contrary to the Marx class system, the means of production in the present-day America are not owned and controlled by individuals. More so, separation of ownership of means of production and control thereof has occurred. For instance, means of production are owned by corporations comprising a number of stakeholders. Furthermore, the operations of these corporations are not run by the stakeholders. Instead, they are managed by paid managers. Consequently, the exploitation of the workers has significantly decreased as a function of the separation of control and ownership of capital (Kendall, 2015, p. 227).
Additionally, despite the fact that America’s society is heavily stratified into upper, middle and lower classes, the class in the lower pedestal is not badly off economically. Social welfare services provided by the state coupled with the adoption of livable wages for workers have cautioned the lower class from extremely dire economic situations (Andersen & Taylor, 2008, p. 216). As a result, they do not feel estranged and alienated. Moreover, the evolution of capitalism from the Industrial Age to Information Age has seen the enactment of laws and formulation of policies geared at the protection of rights of workers and ensuring the safety of work environment. Besides, the rights in question have found generous expression in America’s contemporary jurisprudence. Accordingly, the Marx’s class conflicts and resultant revolution have not found manifestation in America’s class system (Kendall, 2015, p. 227).
In conclusion, the contemporary American society is stratified into aforementioned upper, middle, lower and working classes. The upper class consists of the members of society who own the means of production. The middle class is by and large composed of those who control the means of production. The lower class comprises those who must sell their labor to upper and middle classes to earn a living barely enough to sustain their survival. Due to the enactment of rights of workers and enforcement thereof coupled with the egalitarian social welfare system, the class conflicts and ultimate revolution predicted by Marx have been eschewed. Marx’s prediction is yet to come to pass. Its realization is not imminent either. However, his theory remains relevant in contemporary sociology.
References
Andersen, M. L., & Taylor, H. F. (2008). Sociology: Understanding a Diverse Society, Updated. Belmont CA: Thomson Wadsworth.
Kendall, D. (2015). Sociology in Our Times. Stamford: Cengage Learning.
Weir, R. E. (2007). Class in America: H-P. London: Greenwood Press.
