The role of the petty bourgeoisie in the current crisis

Evans, Dan; Hanmer, Owain

Abstract

The interlocking crises of capitalism that we face are coming to a head. Amidst these dangerous times we are witnessing a response from the organised working class across the world through waves of strike action and unionisation drives in new sectors. Yet the working class is not the only class that is moving from politically dormant to active. Throughout history the petty bourgeoisie has been a decisive actor during periods of crises, and is today re-emerging as a powerful, dangerous force that has grown enormously in size during the neoliberal era. While the petty bourgeoisie was the main social base of fascism in Italy and Germany, today it is a key pillar of reactionary politics across the globe, including Trumpism, Bolsonaro, the AKP, Le Pen and others. It is also mobilising through extra-parliamentary movements such as the gilet jaunes, and fuel and farmer protests in Europe and Canada, which are increasingly being sucked into far right, conspiracy laden rhetoric.
Both Gramsci and Trotsky pioneered analyses of fascism which emphasised its class dimension, particularly how the unsocialised, uncollectivised anger and anxieties of this class were repeatedly harnessed by fascist movements. In this paper, we re-visit these theories, arguing that it is imperative that studies of contemporary fascism re-engage with class and the inner life of the petty bourgeoisie in particular. Exploring the development of the Dutch farmers protests as an exemplar case study, we argue that rural and small-town geographies—where the petty bourgeoisie are most dominant—are currently being exploited by populist right wing movements. As a result, there is an urgent need for critical academics and activists to pay closer attention to this neglected class and its geographies, which will likely become increasingly vulnerable in the unfolding capitalist crisis.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: Historical Materialism Athens
• Start Date: Apr 22, 2023
• Deposit Date: Nov 27, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 28, 2023
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11458513