7.1g Social Class & Workers' Control

Question 1

Social class

Answer 1

Socialists believe that individuals who share a similar social and economic position have similar outlooks and aims, and that social classes can explain why society is divided.

Socialists believe that social classes are the main drivers of change in society rather than individuals.

The focus on social class is based on the importance socialists place on representing the working class and their interests.

Question 2

Social class: Marxists

Answer 2

Marxists believe that a person’s social class is determined by whether they are an owner of productive wealth, and so a member of the bourgeoisie, or if they are a member of the working class, and so a member of the proletariat.

Marxists argue that class conflict is inevitable between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat.

The conflict will grow in intensity and result in a working class revolution which overthrows capitalism and replaces it with an equal society without social classes.

Question 3

Social class: social democrats

Answer 3

Social democrats view social class as the difference in income and status between those in non-manual jobs and people in manual occupations.

Social democrats believe that socialist goals can be met through state provision of welfare and redistribution schemes which try to reduce the distinctions between social classes within society.

Question 4

Workers’ control

Answer 4

Socialists favour workers’ control as it means a fairer and more equal distribution of resources because decisions will benefit all of the workforce rather than shareholders and executives.

Socialists also favour workers’ control because it means narrowing distinctions in social class, which is important in achieving the socialist goal of a society which is based on equality and social justice.

Workers’ control within society is evidence of a step closer to a socialist society.

Question 5

Arguments for workers’ control

Answer 5

Workers’ control can refer to a number of schemes which aim to give workers full democratic control over where they work, and so gives workers the power to make decisions.

Workers are key in the process of production and so should be given influence over the process.

Workers’ control encourages increased employee engagement within the business they work for.

Workers’ control offers a means of combating alienation and the view of capitalists that labour is only a commodity.

Question 6

Arguments against workers’ control

Answer 6

Worker’s schemes can be argued to be utopian (idealistic but not possible) in nature and fail to understand that enterprises need individuals with the skills to lead business successfully and take risks, which workers often do not have.

So, greater management roles for manual employees may have a negative impact on the economic success of businesses.