The Basic Trend in Class Theory in Post-War Japanese Sociology

Abstract

The lineage of class theory in post-war Japanese sociology has roughly three trends. The first is what is called sociological class theory, the second is Marxist class theory and the last lies between the two. This study especially focuses on the historical development of “sociological class theory”, which has its backgrounds in the theoretical development from cultural anthropological class theory to the structural-functional class theory in American sociology. Today, the work of Ken'ichi Tominaga shows the stage of sociological class theory in Japan. The essence of his theory is the denial of the antagonism of two large classes in capitalistic society and the denial of the possibility of the emancipation of the working class by class struggle. In his theory Tominaga gives a precise meaning to the concept “social structure” in order to explain the class structure as a system of inequality springs from the functional prerequisites of social structure. He finds that the theory of social stratification is more appropriate than Marxist class theory to industrial society. On the other hand, he denied that the class struggle is the driving force of historical progress by basing his analysis on the theory in social dynamics which seeks cause for such progress outside the society in which it occurs. Sociological class theory, such as that outlined above, has come to play an important role in our cotemporary society. By which I mean that the development of this theory corresponds with the development of post-war Japanese capitalism.