Class Schemes of Modern Society in Western Sociology

This article presents the main types of class schemes of modem society in Western sociology. Class compatibility with society individualization is shown, to which a variety of sociologists addresses to deny the concept of classes. Authors of class schemes rehabilitate the concept “class” and state the class polarization in society. There are three class schemes: dual, plural and mixed. Some of the authors’ ideas of class schemes are objectionable. This concerns understanding of the precariat as a class. Critics of this approach help clarify the class concept and class structure outlines of modern Western society. Class analysis in modern Western sociology is not limited to economic explanation of class formation and introduces the possession of non-economic forms of capital as an important criterion of class divisions. The authors of class schemes show the changing nature of upper and lower social classes. In the upper class, the role of owners of non-economic forms of capital increases, while the lower class consists of people who are either in unstable situation in the employment system or excluded from the economically active population. Precariat and underclass appearance shows the weakening of social integration mechanisms and the strengthening of social differentiation processes. Misbalance between both types of social and structural processes threatens the stability of society. Loss of confidence in the future creates in people a sense of “uncertainty”, turning into resentment, because of which G. Standing’s “new dangerous class” is formed. Comparative analysis of class schemes indicates the growth of the class structure dysfunction of modern society.