pp.28 – 29: In many ways this is an important section as for Marx “class struggle” is the motor force for bringing about social change. Aspects of these ideas will be discussed in more detail later. It is worth coming to understand the idea of class consciousness and the distinction between a ‘class in itself’ and a ‘class for itself’.
• Class struggle
• Class consciousness
• Class polarization
pp.60 – 62: According to Marx, due to the development of the capitalist economy and the inherent contradictions within it, capitalist society would polarize around the two major classes. A homogeneous working class would be created that would develop a consciousness and awareness of its identity and exploitation.
This idea is explored here and in pp. 62-63.
It is a major source of controversy and is worth exploring in detail.

pp.62 – 63:
• class consciousness
As above, Marxists believe the contradictions in capitalism will lead to a class - conscious proletariat with:
 an awareness of its members of their exploitation
 a recognition of their common interests
 an identification of a group with whom their interests conflict
 and a belief in collective action to further their interests
This idea is controversial as stated.
For Roberts (2001) the working class has become disorganised, disempowered and devalued and therefore lacks class consciousness. Roberts uses Skeggs (1997) to support his claim.
• the persistence of class consciousness:
Devine, (1992, 1994) however, believes that there is evidence of the persistence of class consciousness within the working class. The working class shares experiences and desires that are a basis for class solidarity and class action. Devine found that workers still experienced a strong sense of class division in the workplace.
• Inconsistencies in class consciousness
• The continuing relevance of class:
In an important study Marshall et al (1988) emphasised the continuing relevance and importance of class in British society.
pp.67 – 75: This section deals with class identity and culture.
pp.83 - 89: This section picks up on a recurring theme; that class is becoming less significant, that class analysis is no longer useful for sociologists or even that social class is dying.
pp.84-86: Here there is a significant discussion of the work of Pakulski and Waters, (1996) The Death of Class. They argue that empirical evidence demonstrates that class as an essential social difference in societies is losing its special significance. Rather for them although social inequality is not disappearing they do argue that other social cleavages are emerging in post-class society.
• Types of society:
Pakulski and Waters argue that capitalist societies have gone through 3 phases:
 economic-class society
 organized class society
 status-conventional societies
For Pakulski and Waters, in status-conventional societies economic inequalities have become much less important in shaping social differences. They identify 4 key changes in the stratification system in these types of society:
1. Culturalism
2. Fragmentation
3. Autonomization
4. Resignification

• Reasons for the death of class:
For Pakulski and Waters a politics based on class differences is dead, rather political issues based on ethnicity, gender, religion and cultural differences and preferences are more important.
• Criticisms of Pakulski and Waters:
 Bradley, (1997) argues that economic definitions of class and the use of the language of class have been used in a confusing manner by Pakulski and Waters.
 They claim that consumption patterns and lifestyle differences are more significant than class differences. But these are based on economic circumstances. It is difficult for those with few resources to make lifestyle ‘choices’.