THE END OF CLASS - SOME THOUGHTS ON A CON TESTED CONCEPT

Both within social theory and social history debate ranges around the usefulness of ideas of ''class''. This article reflects on this debate . It considers the history of the concept and the ways it has been use d in analysing different historical periods. It argues that there is a need to refine its usage and to modify crude distinctions made betwee n structuralist and culturalist approaches. Its conclusion suggests th at there is considerable scope for such a reformulated class analysis.