Title

"We Had to Stick Together": Individual preferences, collective struggle, and the formation of social consciousness

Authors

Authors

P. McCall

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Sci. Soc.

Keywords

METHODOLOGICAL INDIVIDUALISM; ANALYTICAL MARXISM; Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary

Abstract

Individualist explanations are incompatible with (and inferior to) Marxist theories of class consciousness and class struggle. Individualist theory (which is static) reduces class consciousness and class struggle to a question of why specific individuals, at a specific place and time and concerning specific issues, would choose to cooperate. Marxist theory (which is dynamic) argues that experience teaches workers that only through cooperation can they further their own interests. The example of the 1991-1998 conflict between Caterpillar Inc. and its workers bears out this contrast. Repeatedly the workers would, at great risk to their individual material well-being, make stands in favor of solidarity.

Journal Title

Science & Society

Volume

72

Issue/Number

2

Publication Date

1-1-2008

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

147

Last Page

181

WOS Identifier

WOS:000254539600004

ISSN

0036-8237

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