classes and class conflict during the present capitalist crisis erik olin wright

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Classes and Class Classes and Class Conflict during Conflict during the present the present Capitalist Crisis Capitalist Crisis Erik Olin Wright Erik Olin Wright University of Wisconsin University of Wisconsin December, 2011 December, 2011

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Classes and Class Conflict during the present Capitalist Crisis Erik Olin Wright University of Wisconsin December, 2011. Conditions for Class compromise in the “Golden Age” of developed capitalism (1950s-early 1970s). Class interests and Popular power. strong. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Classes and Class Conflict during the present Capitalist Crisis Erik Olin Wright

Classes and Class Conflict Classes and Class Conflict during the present during the present

Capitalist CrisisCapitalist CrisisErik Olin WrightErik Olin Wright

University of WisconsinUniversity of Wisconsin

December, 2011December, 2011

Page 2: Classes and Class Conflict during the present Capitalist Crisis Erik Olin Wright

Conditions for Conditions for Class compromise in the Class compromise in the

“Golden Age” “Golden Age” of developed capitalismof developed capitalism

(1950s-early 1970s)(1950s-early 1970s)

Page 3: Classes and Class Conflict during the present Capitalist Crisis Erik Olin Wright

Real

izatio

n of

cla

ss In

tere

sts

Popular power strongweak

weak

strong

Class interests and Popular power

The working class

Page 4: Classes and Class Conflict during the present Capitalist Crisis Erik Olin Wright

Real

izatio

n of

cla

ss In

tere

sts

Popular power strongweak

weak

strong

Class interests and Popular power

Region of curve for positive class compromise

The working class

The capitalist class

Page 5: Classes and Class Conflict during the present Capitalist Crisis Erik Olin Wright

Real

izatio

n of

Inte

rest

s of C

apita

l

Popular power strongweak

weak

strong

Region excluded by legal rules and public policy of the democratic affirmative state

Modal country

Capitalist interests and Popular power in the “Golden Age”

Region of curve for positive class compromise

Page 6: Classes and Class Conflict during the present Capitalist Crisis Erik Olin Wright

Going beyond capitalism: The Transition Trough Problem

Transition trough

Capitalism

SocialismBeginning of transition to socialism

Mat

eria

l wel

fare

of m

edia

n pe

rson

Historical time

Hypothetical trajectories

The future

Observable trajectory

Page 7: Classes and Class Conflict during the present Capitalist Crisis Erik Olin Wright

The current era of The current era of stagnation and crisisstagnation and crisis

Page 8: Classes and Class Conflict during the present Capitalist Crisis Erik Olin Wright

Real

izatio

n of

Inte

rest

s of C

apita

l

Popular power strongweak

weak

strong

Golden Age

Page 9: Classes and Class Conflict during the present Capitalist Crisis Erik Olin Wright

Real

izatio

n of

Inte

rest

s of C

apita

l

Popular power strongweak

weak

strong

Current Era of Stagnation & Crisis

Effects of neoliberalism

Effects of financialization and globalization

Effects of austerity and attack on democratic empowerment

Page 10: Classes and Class Conflict during the present Capitalist Crisis Erik Olin Wright

The Transition Trough Problem: Golden Age

Transition trough

Capitalism

Socialism

Beginning of transition to socialism

Mat

eria

l wel

fare

of m

edia

n pe

rson

Historical time

Hypothetical trajectories

The future

Observable trajectory

Page 11: Classes and Class Conflict during the present Capitalist Crisis Erik Olin Wright

The Transition Trough Problem: current era

Transition trough

Capitalism

Socialism

Beginning of transition to socialism

Mat

eria

l wel

fare

of m

edia

n pe

rson

Historical time

Hypothetical trajectories

The future

Observable trajectory

Page 12: Classes and Class Conflict during the present Capitalist Crisis Erik Olin Wright

Three propositionsThree propositions

1.1.The transition trough remains a fundamental obstacle The transition trough remains a fundamental obstacle to transcending capitalism through democratic meansto transcending capitalism through democratic means

2.Nondemocratic transformations of capitalism will not result in democratic-egalitarian socialism

3.The central immediate task, therefore, is how to restore the conditions for positive compromise

Page 13: Classes and Class Conflict during the present Capitalist Crisis Erik Olin Wright

Three propositionsThree propositions

1.1.The transition trough remains a fundamental obstacle The transition trough remains a fundamental obstacle to transcending capitalism through democratic meansto transcending capitalism through democratic means

2.2.Nondemocratic transformations of capitalism will not Nondemocratic transformations of capitalism will not result in democratic-egalitarian socialismresult in democratic-egalitarian socialism

3.The central immediate task, therefore, is how to restore the conditions for positive compromise

Page 14: Classes and Class Conflict during the present Capitalist Crisis Erik Olin Wright

Three propositionsThree propositions

1.1.The transition trough remains a fundamental obstacle The transition trough remains a fundamental obstacle to transcending capitalism through democratic meansto transcending capitalism through democratic means

2.2.Nondemocratic transformations of capitalism will not Nondemocratic transformations of capitalism will not result in democratic-egalitarian socialismresult in democratic-egalitarian socialism

3.The central immediate task, therefore, is how to restore the conditions for positive compromise

Page 15: Classes and Class Conflict during the present Capitalist Crisis Erik Olin Wright

Real

izatio

n of

Inte

rest

s of C

apita

l

Popular power strongweak

weak

strong

Transforming the conditions for class compromise

Democratically regulate finance and strengthen geographically rooted capital accumulation

Deepen democracy

Reconstruct the affirmative state