Attempt fails to clarify the class issues

Class, a symposium edited by Richard Mabey, Published by Anthony Blond. New Zealand price $2.30.

One would have liked to be kinder to this book for it is published "in an attempt to clarify the influence of class in our society today." Apart from three contributions (by academic sociologists) this attempt fails miserably.

The main fault of the contributors is that few can provide any idea of what it is that they are writing about. "Class", to be sure, is a difficult concept-it was that demon Karl Marx who was responsible for foisting upon a misguided socialist movement the notion that it is class that represents the conflicting aims based on the division of labour in capitalist society.

This, at least, appears to be the view of these predominantly middle-class radicals who seem unaware that class is an integral part of, and dependent on, an economic system. Totally neglected, for instance, is the fact that the existence of poverty is essential to any class society.

Instead we are told that "the saddest aspect" of class structure is the failure of class members to understand the others' class values and their "inability to talk to one another in the broadest sense of the word." There is similar woffle on pop culture, the contemporary novel and other nebulous subjects, the likes of which make the mind boggle. The hogwash served up by the majority of contributors seem to be the result of a gullibility to the ideas of status quo apologists and a glibness matched only by smart journalese to be found in pretentious newspapers.

Even the three best contributions, by Dennis is Marsden (education), Matthew Murray (welfare state) and Stuart Hall (mass media), say little that cannot be found in established works, and said more clearly and exactly.

Class is part of a series labelled "The Great Society." but if this is representative of the standard of the others in the series, then it will remain as still-born as that other Great Society. It seems unnecessary to add that its interest to New Zealanders is about as relevant.—Nevil Gibson.