Succession in the Stratification System: a Contribution to the 'Death of Class' Debate

The ‘death of class’ debate turns on the simple issue of whether or not class exists. While we may accept that the influence of class is waning, the concept should not be abandoned. Indeed, we should retain the Marxist meaning of the concept, but accept that a variety of stratification orders is possible and that the class order may be subordinated to others. Weber has signalled, in the class-party-status triplet, the most significant possible stratification orders. These exhibit patterns of competition, domination and succession over time. Class was the dominant order only under nineteenth-century Western capitalism. Since then class has been succeeded by other stratification orders. During the twentieth century the predominant order has focussed on the state and organisational systems. However, under current circumstances, predominance is shifting towards cultural items and processes, to idealised communities that focus on life-styles and value commitments. The general trend which runs through and drives this succession process, is the ‘perfectionalisation’ of the market. © 1994, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.