class struggle
Workers versus owners
Class struggle is the conflict between social classes with opposing economic interests, particularly between workers and those who own the means of production.
The term is central to Marxist theory, which views history as driven by such conflicts: The union movement emerged from class struggle.
The phrase implies that economic inequality creates inherent tension between classes competing for resources and power.
Capitalist ownership class
- proletariatLaborers lacking capital ownership
- means of productionTools and facilities for manufacturing
- surplus valueProduction minus wages paid
- exploitationSelfish use of others
alienation · false consciousness · commodity fetishism · wage slavery · dictatorship of the proletariat
Dominant group's control
- dominationSupreme authority held
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- eliteSuperior select group
- oligarchyRule by few
subjugation · control · authority · coercion · ideology · state apparatus · propaganda · manufactured consent
Economic inequality measure
- disparityMeasurable difference between things
- povertySevere lack of resources
- exploitationSelfish use of others
- stratificationDivision into distinct levels
social mobility · economic divide · underclass · precariat · wage theft · living wage · austerity · gentrification
Organized resistance to power
- insurrectionViolent uprising against authority
- overthrowForcible removal from power
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- October RevolutionSoviet founding coup
Bolsheviks · Zapatista · Sandinista · Maoism · Leninism · Red Guards · barricades · general strike
Public expression of disapproval
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- picket lineProtesting workers' boundary
- boycottOrganized economic protest
solidarity · unionizing · organizing · direct action · civil disobedience · sit-in · walkout · labor movement
bourgeoisie
Capitalist ownership class
- proletariatLaborers lacking capital ownership
- means of productionTools and facilities for manufacturing
- surplus valueProduction minus wages paid
exploitation · alienation · false consciousness · commodity fetishism · wage slavery · dictatorship of the proletariat
hegemony
Dominant group's control
- dominationSupreme authority held
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- eliteSuperior select group
oligarchy · subjugation · control · authority · coercion · ideology · state apparatus · propaganda · manufactured consent · legitimacy
wealth gap
Economic inequality measure
- disparityMeasurable difference between things
- povertySevere lack of resources
- exploitationSelfish use of others
stratification · social mobility · economic divide · underclass · precariat · wage theft · living wage · austerity · gentrification · redistribution
uprising
Organized resistance to power
- insurrectionViolent uprising against authority
- overthrowForcible removal from power
- rebellionDefiance of established power
October Revolution · Bolsheviks · Zapatista · Sandinista · Maoism · Leninism · Red Guards · barricades · general strike · seizure of power
protest
Public expression of disapproval
- demonstrationPublic display of opinion
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- picket lineProtesting workers' boundary
boycott · solidarity · unionizing · organizing · direct action · civil disobedience · sit-in · walkout · labor movement · collective bargaining
- Marxist WorksCommunist Manifesto, Das Kapital, The Holy Family, Holy Family, Collected Works
- social issuesinequality, racism, poverty, illiteracy, homelessness
- drama themesrevenge, betrayal, forbidden love, love triangle, family conflict
- social classstratum, bourgeoisie, proletariat, underclass, elite
- social classesnobles, aristocrats, underclass, peasants, elite
- social phenomenasocial change, social norms, social movements, conformity, inequality
class strugglesocial harmony
Peaceful coexistence among people
social cohesion · classless society · national unity · corporatism · labor peace
class strugglemeritocracy
Advancement through demonstrated ability
personal responsibility · rugged individualism · social mobility · self-made success · bootstrapping
class strugglefunctionalism
Theory emphasizing purposes and roles
social Darwinism · trickle-down economics · neoliberalism · social contract · pluralism
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