Wright's Contemporary Reconstruction Of Class Theory

Erik Olin Wright is one of the most important representatives of Analytical Marxism,and his theory on class has a significant influence in this field.This thesis tries to make systematic research on Wright's theory of class,for there is not much research on it in the domestic academic circles.With the advent of the post-industrial era,great changes have taken place about the class structure in contemporary capitalist society.The class theory in traditional Marxism is difficult to provide fully explanations to these changes,so Wright tries to rebuild class theory in the Marxist tradition.One of the most obvious changes is the emergence of “middle class” in contemporary capitalist society,which Wright calls "new middle class".Wright proposes the concept of “contradictory locations within class relations” to solve the problem of class locations within class relations,which points out that we can consider the same class location with multiple characteristics of class identity.At the same time,John Roemer's theory of the corresponding relations on "wealth-exploitation-class" has influence on Wright.According to the current class relations situation in contemporary capitalist social,Wright proposes three types of exploitation assets: production assets,organization and technology assets.On the basis of the three dimensions of exploitation,Wright establishes the basic framework of capitalist social class structure,which is called the "twelve class locations" model.And he launches a series of research on class based on the framework.Based on the "twelve class locations" model,Wright develops a large number of empirical studies on the class structure in contemporary capitalism society.Two conclusions are particularly important: the first is “the working class is still the largest class”,and the second is “Marx made wrong forecast on social class structure of capitalism development trends,and ‘middle class' is gradually expanding.”In the study of class consciousness and class formation,Wright develops two kinds of analysis train of thought.The first is based on his basic framework of class structure,centered on "location",and guided by objective material interests.Wright constructs a series of research models,and carries on empirical researches.In the second path,Wright is affected by E.P.Thompson's theory of class formation,centering on the individual class experience and guided by subjective emotional identity,and analyzes how the class experience have influence on class consciousness and class formation.After comparison,Wright attempts to combine the two paths.Finally,Wright puts forward two solutions to the class problem in the capitalist society.The first is to achieve positive class compromise between workers and capitalists.Second,by deepening democracy,using his "social empowerment" theory,he proposes theory of beyond capitalism and towards socialism.In Wright's study,"Radical egalitarianism" is a theory goal;“middle class” is a breakthrough point;"exploitation" is the central mechanism of class relations;“class location” is a keyword.He adopts the “analytical” method of thinking,and seeks to establish macro theory in theoretical construction of micro basis,and uses a variety of instrumental methods--empirical research,setting up the model,the theory of game theory and so on to achieve his goals.Empirical study echoes the theory is a feature in the research of Wright's class theory.The basic framework of capitalist social class structure established by Wright adopts the method of combing class and stratum,which in effect is combing Marxist Class Analysis and Weberian Class Analysis.This is a theoretical innovation,but at the same time,the multiple dimensions of exploitation theory have paradox.The reason is Wright's combination of a variety of ideas finally causes the incompleteness of the theory.In the empirical research on class structure,Wright describes the class map of contemporary capitalist society by providing a large number of detailed data.However,on the development trends of Marx's forecast on the "middle class",Wright ignores Marx's two modes theory in the development of the capitalist society.And the conclusion of gradually expanding of the middle class is contrary to many research conclusions made by other contemporary scholars.Class structure is a complex problem,and how the class structure in contemporary capitalist countries develops is still needed carefully explored.The class consciousness and class formation theory is full of characteristic,which clearly outlines the different class structures and characteristics of Sweden,the United States and Japan.However,Wright ignores the sense of mission contained by class consciousness.And the two solutions proposed by Wright both have advantages and disadvantages.Although the theories and methods have shortcomings in Wright's research,we also can't deny his contemporary reconstruction of class theory has important theoretical and realistic significance.