Working Class Research Articles

Generations of the Frankfurt School: The Genesis of Critical Theory and Its Modernity

The article presents a retrospective of the formation of the Frankfurt School. Such a view of the school has not yet been formed in Russian-language literature. In it (literature), as a rule, attention is focused on individual figures of the school, without representing their place in the logic of generations. In the 1950s, representatives of the first generation of the Frankfurt School (first of all, M. Horkheimer and T. Adorno) in their criticism of the fascist and totalitarian regimes built the foundation of critical theory, which they used later in the social analysis of Capitalist society. M. Horkheimer identified the key setting of the school as the emancipation of workers from the framework of the economic regime, liberation of the consciousness of the working class from the boundaries set by capitalism. In the 1970s, J. Habermas, within the framework of the theory of communicative action, continued the tradition of social criticism in two semantic directions: in the Leftist one — focusing on social injustices, and in the Kantian one — in the search for grounds for social criticism as such. Later, in the 1990s, A. Honneth focused on the so-called negative intersubjectivity, which is expressed in the struggle of social groups for recognition. In this struggle, he found a truly social dimension of life, which is built on the principles of normativity. In 2018, A. Honneth handed over the post of Director of the Institute of Social Research to S. Lessenich. Despite the fact that today it is difficult to predict what the course of S. Lessenich will be, it remains obvious that through the generations the Frankfurt School has retained the methodological basis for the critical analysis of Capitalist society, starting criticism under totalitarianism and continuing it in the digital age.

Fashion and the individuality of mass consumption

Industrially produced mass culture has the reputation of being uniform and monotonous, leaving hardly any room for originality and creativity. In stark contrast to this concept, other theorists of popular culture emphasise the increasing individuality of mass culture made possible by the increasing opulence and leisure time of the working masses followed by the marketing of consumer goods and services. Using the American automotive markets and the Soviet fashion industry as examples, the article addresses the role of fashion in promoting individuality in modern consumer culture questioning both Horkheimer’s and Adorno’s analysis of culture industry and Bourdieu’s analysis of the ‘down-to-earth’ taste of the working class. Critical Theory was right in referring to the culture industry, fashion included, as promoting pseudo-individuation, but not right in downplaying the role of the individual judgement of taste. Bourdieu was right in arguing that the social groups with little cultural and economic capital have hardly any role in challenging the legitimate taste, but not right in arguing that their taste is not an aesthetic taste at all. In analysing the relation between the individual and the social, or the particular and the general, in modern culture, one should pay more attention to the social formation of fashion, operative in consumer goods markets. The reconciliation between the individual and the social that fashion offers is real enough but takes place only provisionally and in a socially conforming manner challenging neither the social formation of fashion nor the general social order of the capitalist, commercial society.

Research on the Operation Process, Dilemma and Optimization Path of the Work Class

Research on the Operation Process, Dilemma and Optimization Path of the Work Class

Peer Mentoring and Students’ Engagement in Social Work Classes: A Case Study in a Government College in Bangladesh

This study advocates integrating peer mentoring to boost student engagement in Bangladeshi social work higher education. Research objectives include evaluating the current status of peer mentoring in the college, analyzing merits and drawbacks of implementing peer mentoring in social work classes for student engagement, and investigating the relationship between peer mentoring practices and the level of student engagement. Qualitative study explores peer mentoring and student engagement in tertiary education using interviews, FGDs, and Classroom Observation. Thematic analysis, small sample size, and diverse representation ensure validity and reliability. The study uncovers traditional lectures and informal peer mentoring fostering student engagement. Formal peer mentoring significantly contributes to a peer learning environment, enhancing engagement through active learning. Strategies include scaffolding and motivation, addressing challenges through orientation and training. The study assesses integrating peer mentoring with traditional lectures in social work, uncovering limitations. Peer mentoring fosters a learning environment, emphasizing strategies for enhanced student engagement.

Cosatu’s mute response: Waves of social movement unionism in South Africa and its crisis during Covid

Cosatu’s failure to be the voice of the working class in times of crisis, such as during Covid-19 and the July 2021 unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, reflects its inability to envision a future beyond the ANC, writes uMBUSO weNKOSI. He argues that as long as organised labour is locked in an alliance with the ruling party it cannot be rooted in community struggles, to the detriment of the social movement unionism of the anti-apartheid struggle.

“Зеленые” против бедных: противоречия левого энвайронментализма

The article examines the prospects of an alliance between the ideology of environmentalism and left-wing ideological trends aimed at solving the problems of the poor and socially vulnerable. It is noted that although the “greens” have often been criticized for their focus on the interests of the middle class and ignoring the material problems of the social “grassroots”, modern left-wing theorists increasingly associate the solution to the problem of global warming with the struggle for the material interests of the “exploited and oppressed” (representatives of the working class, precarious workers, poor residents of developing countries, minorities, etc.). It is assumed that the richest, not the poor, should pay for the energy transition; many jobs will be needed for such a transition; serious material climate damage will be prevented; residents of the poorest countries will benefit from the fight against global warming, because they are most vulnerable to droughts, floods and other potential catastrophic events. Today, it is also increasingly noted that “green” energy has already become competitive, and the main problem is in the selfish interests of capitalists. Nevertheless, as the author shows, despite the attempts of the “greens” to get closer to the “reds”, objective realities indicate a fundamental difference between the interests of environmentalists and those who today need basic material goods at present. “Green” energy has not become cheaper than fossil fuels, and attempts to radically accelerate the energy transition can lead to an economic, not a climatic, catastrophe. Moreover, it is impossible to solve all the problems at once: a choice is inevitable between urgent investments in the energy transition and the achievement of other socially significant goals: affordable education, free and high-quality medicine, housing construction for all those in need, and much more.

Land, Labor, and the Railroad in Industrial Appalachia: How the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Engineered Space, 1843-1872

During the nineteenth century, the Baltimore and Ohio railroad reshaped the social, political, and physical environment of the mid-Atlantic around the needs of the industrial economy. The creation of industrial space, and the proliferation of communities to populate it, is seen retrospectively as an inevitable consequence of technological innovation, but engaging with contemporary corporate records reveals that this space, like the railroad, was engineered. In order to design a supply chain that would make industrialization economical, the railroad and coal industries engaged in political and social engineering to design the new locales of industrialism, exemplified in the Allegheny Mountains by the coal company town. As this new type of space was populated by the workers necessary to its function, the spatial practices of those workers and their families informed its evolution, defining its boundaries and informing the ways in which it transcended them. Using an environment as methodology, this paper explores the early history of American industrialism, the spatial inflection of corporate power, and the role of working class contestations in the construction of the built environment.

Costurando a cidade: crise do capital, urbanização logística e entregadores de aplicativo

Abstract In the context of the recent transformations undergone by work in Brazilian metropolises, there has been a multiplication of precarious jobs related to circulation of goods. The crisis of capital and of the value-form seem to be giving rise to the need of efficient circulation as a condition for accumulation, which is reflected in the so- -called logistical urbanization. The article presents an interpretation of these processes based on Lefebvre’s levels of analysis of the urban (G-M-P). By exploring the relationship between crisis of capital, logistical urbanization, and the everyday dimension of app-based delivery workers, we conclude that the precarization of work and the production of logistical infrastructures emerge as material expressions of the increasing crisis of the valorization of value; at the same time, they alter the forms of struggle of the working class.

Hooliganism in Soviet Belarus during the Thaw (1953–1968)

The article is devoted to one of the manifestations of deviant behavior in Belarusian Soviet cities in the 1950s–1960s. During the Khrushchev “thaw” there was a significant increase in hooliganism. The reasons for this phenomenon were, first of all, the rapid urbanization caused by the large-scale industrialization of Soviet Belarus during this period. The heavy demographic consequences of the Great Patriotic War, as well as Stalin’s repressive policy during almost the whole post-war decade also played an important role. The hooligans themselves, most of whom were young members of the working class, justified their behavior with primitive propaganda clichés about social superiority which gave rise to a sense of permissiveness and impunity. During the “thaw” years, the authorities, which for a long time did not see hooliganism as a serious threat, undertook a series of legal and educational measures to curb it. However, the state policy to combat hooliganism was inconsistent and ineffective. Hooligans remained an integral part of everyday life in Belarusian cities even during the “stagnation”. The article shows the legislative initiatives of the authorities to curb hooliganism, in particular the decree of the Soviet Belarus Supreme Soviet of December 30, 1956 on responsibility for hooliganism; the division of hooligans in the 1960 Soviet Belarus Criminal Code into “bad” and “small” with the transfer of the cases of the latter to the comrades’ courts; and the decree of the USSR Supreme Soviet of July 26, 1966 “On increasing responsibility for hooliganism”. Particular attention is paid to the extent and forms of hooliganism in urban societies, the degree of its public danger, as well as forms of public counteraction to this phenomenon in the form of voluntary people’s squad.

A love letter to the north London working class

A love letter to the north London working class

Erroneous Portrayal of Black National Question in Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man

This article examines the several contradictory aspects of American society that the unnamed black protagonist of Ralph Ellison's novel Invisible Man encounters and that cause him to descend into absurdity. The study has relevance to identify and deal with the different contradictory aspects of American society. The article addresses on the research problems concerning to the protagonist's sufferings and his inability to identify the causes of his sufferings. The study deals with the research problems by applying the research approach (methodology) of historical materialism. In a class-based society, the protagonist, who is of black nationality, is a member of the working class. He is suppressed not only by white people but even by wealthy black people. He receives assistance not only from black people but also from lower-class white people. But he lacks the ability to identify friends from enemies. He wants to free himself and the entire black nationality from all forms of oppression, injustice, and inequality because he is a member of the black race. As a result, he joins the Brotherhood (the communist party), but he quickly leaves because he does not understand its tenets. He declines to join the Black Nationalist party and is unable to identify any alternative organizations that could help end the persecution of black people on a national level. Finally, he loses all hope, starts to perceive disorder around, and makes the decision to leave society. However, while living apart from society, he still sees ways to benefit it, which is an absurdist notion itself. The study reveals that the protagonist's queer theory of absurdism, which he develops at the novel's conclusion, does nothing to further the cause of repressed Afro-Americans; rather, it only serves to fuel their frustration and pessimism.

ELEMENTS OF COST AND SCHEDULE OVERRUN IN CONSTRUCTIONPROJECTS

The cost of a basic upgrade to this wonderful piece of study is typically expressed in necessary units like earned dollars. The economic activity necessary to ensure that the building projects are sufficiently finished within an approved budget is properly included in the Project Cost. Although having more practical experience in construction management, cost and schedule overruns still play a significant role in many projects. Modern literatures are studied back-to-back and divided into two parts, which costs money for particular projects, overrunning of schedules in construction projects. The main study establishes that price increase causes cost and schedule overruns. For all intents and purposes, any client who is interested in facilities in the manufacturing sector is complete in terms of scope, timing, and cost. These studies have been published under a creative commons permission with the express purpose of carefully controlling causes. Uniquely required, necessary materials and cutting-edge products have a direct impact on building projects' schedule and expense overruns. The published study clearly shows the lack of essential maintenance of the project equipment, decreased working class productivity, barriers in bill declaration, poor preservation of the useful tools, and other external factors slowly constitute the significant factors that may properly conduct the project at a typical cost over the period.

Perceptions About COVID-19 Disease and Vaccination Against it Among Adults in Lahore

Background: Vaccination against COVID-19 disease is the best available option for its prevention. However, many people In Pakistan were hesitant to get vaccinated against this disease. Objective: The main aim of this study was to find out the perceptions of people in Lahore about COVID-19 disease and vaccination against it. Methods: In a cross-sectional design, a questionnaire comprising of 40 questions was administered to 420 working class adults (18-70 years; both males and females) in Western Lahore with informed consent. Data were analyzed by using various statistical tests including logistic regression. A p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Eighty percent of the respondents got vaccinated against COVID-19 disease. Protection against the disease was the main reason to get vaccination. The odds of vaccination against COVID-19 was 3.14 times more among assistants (a job level between manager and worker) compared to workers adjusted for age, gender, conveyance, place of living, income, education, and smoking (AOR=3.14;95% CI; 1.49-6.64). The odds of vaccination against COVID-19 was 1.88 more among participants owning their home compared to participants living in rental places, adjusted for age, gender, conveyance, income, education, and smoking (AOR=1.88;95% CI; 1.01-3.49). Similarly, odds of having vaccinated were more than 7 times and 6 times among those with high school education and college level education compared to illiterate subjects after adjustment with covariates (AOR=7.55, 95% of CI; 2.26-25.21 and AOR=5.97;95% of CI; 1.87-19.11, respectively). Conclusion: Acceptance of vaccination against COVID-19 was quite high (80%) among working middle class adults in Lahore.

Disguised Workers: The Transformation of Labour and the Myth of Entrepreneurship in ‘Post-Socialist’ Polish Capitalism

In this article, we analyse the role that entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship have played in the construction and consolidation of capitalism in Poland. We question the line conventionally drawn between entrepreneurs and the working class, arguing that the vast majority of so-called entrepreneurs in Poland are disguised workers who were rejected from the labour market during the transition to capitalism or forced into self-employment as Poland’s precariat labour market crystallised. We outline a critical historical analysis of the origin of these disguised workers to provide space for a discussion of the specific ‘labour problem’ that Poland has faced during its transition to capitalism. A central argument of our study is that the top-down creation of entrepreneurship is a partial and often contradictory response to this ‘labour problem’. We then illustrate these contradictions, showing how those commonly defined as entrepreneurs have performed relatively poorly in their designated roles of creating employment and innovation, while their living standards and wellbeing have deteriorated. We historically frame how this group of disguised workers in Poland embody the tension between the normative and actual aspects of capitalist development in Poland since 1989.

Teacher trade unions, unionization of novice teachers, implications for professional development in South Africa

The object of research: In this research paper a critique of teacher trade unionism as a political mechanism and its impact on newly qualified teachers’ dilemmas is presented.
 Investigated problem: Political power is inherently viewed as platform through which critical decisions on education matters are made. Some of these political decisions are, but not limited to teacher professional development and career advancements. Though the aim of teacher trade unions is to salvage the rights of the teachers in the profession, the historical development of teacher trade unions suggest that they act as political vanguard of the working class.
 The main scientific results: This qualitative study probed the current state and nature of teacher trade unionism have and implications for novice teachers in the sense that it does not encourage professional development, rather, political one. The results of this study confirm and demonstrates that the choice of novice educators to join a trade union of their choice is intrinsically linked to the career pathways the trade unions can offer rather than what trade unions are able to offer in their careers.
 The area of practical use of the research results: The study is of importance to South African novice teachers who are engaged in teacher professional development programs.
 Innovative technological product: The results of this study made it possible to outline strategic directions for the introduction of digital technologies that will enhance teacher professional development. The results of this study further stresses that the lack of resources which impedes teacher professional development.
 Scope of the innovative technological product: The result of the study concerns the implementation of professional development initiatives, that will require the integration of information and communications technology in the professional development process, stressing policy as an imperative point of departure.

THE INTEGRATION OF KNOWLEDGE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES INTO THE SYSTEM OF PROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR CADETS IN MILITARY HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

The study is dedicated to the analytical aspects of the prospects of integrating knowledge resources and infor-mation technologies into the system of professional training for cadets at military higher education institutions. An analysis of current trends in the development of the military education sector requiring optimization through the integration of knowledge and information technologies is conducted. The concept of “knowledge resource” is elucidated, and the value of knowledge resources in the training of military personnel is characterized. The main components of knowledge resources in the system of professional training for future military personnel are identified, including educational programs, educational materials (sylla- bi, textbooks, manuals, lecture materials, presentations, recommendations for independent work and seminar classes), human resources (scientific and pedagogical staff conducting formal training for military personnel, possessing sufficient knowledge and experience in the military field), informal and non-formal forms of learning (webinars, seminars, conferences), knowledge assessment system (tests, quizzes, practical assignments, etc.), video and audio materials. The feasibility of implementing in- formation technologies in the military professional education system is substantiated. The research reveals the impact of an integrated approach on the activity, motivation, and adaptability of cadets to modern challenges and threats. The distinction between information technologies and knowledge resources is justified, highlighting that information technologies are tools for processing and transmitting information, while knowledge resources are the information used for acquiring knowledge and solving tasks. Information technologies can assist in accessing knowledge resources, facilitating their processing, and rapid dissemination. The obtained results can serve as a basis for further development of educational programs and strategies for the development of military education aimed at preparing future military leaders.

GENDER AND CLASS IN SALLY ROONEY’S NORMAL PEOPLE

Normal People (2018), a novel by Sally Rooney, presents issues of gender and class through its description of two different perspectives of the main characters, Connell and Marianne. This article examines how this novel depicts issues of gender and class which are portrayed through Connell and Marianne’s relationship as a couple. Using narrative theories by Bal and Genette, as well as Haslanger’s and Raewyn Connell’s theory on gender and Bourdieu’s theory on social class, this article focuses on how the discrimination of gender and class affects Connell’s and Marianne’s relationship. The findings and discussion show the oppression that Marianne experiences is associated with the internalization of oppression, sexism, and misogyny. The discussion also shows that hegemonic masculinity has a role in the matter of how the difference of Connell’s and Marianne’s gender and class is presented. Despite being superior in term of class, Marianne is inferior in term of gender than Connell who comes from a working class society. However, the novel presents how the main characters’ perception changes as in the end they no longer problematize their gender and class. We argue that the novel disagrees with the inferior feeling caused by different gender and class.

Analyzing the Impact of Digital Transformation in Islamic Philanthropy using Utaut Model

This study aims to assess individual habits in adopting digital payment technologies in Islamic philanthropic institutions. This research uses the UTAUT model, which explains user behavior in relation to information technology adoption. The population of this study was people who have used digital payments in philanthropic institutions, e.g., M-banking, QRIS, e-wallet, e-money, crowdfunding, marketplace, etc. A sample of 250 respondents was obtained using a random sampling technique. The UTAUT model was performed using structural equation modeling (SEM) via SmartPLS. The results showed that all constructs had a significant positive impact, except for the effect of facilitating conditions on usage behavior. This study shows that the digitization of payment transactions is still aimed at the segment of well-informed technology users. Policyholders, therefore, need to become more involved in the digital transformation campaign, which targets all potential segments, e.g., the middle-aged working class. Due to this segmentation, they have a high awareness of donations in addition to the income opportunities.

Labor Market and Class Struggle from the Perspective of Marxist Political Economy

Within the viewpoint of Marxist political economy, inequalities in the labor market are regarded as products of class struggle under the capitalist system. These inequalities reflect the relatively disadvantaged position of the working class, who often face low wages, unstable working conditions, and exploitation. These injustices not only reflect economic structures but also deeply influence the construction of social status and power relations. Studying the organizational forms of the working class within this theoretical framework holds significant importance. Labor unions, as organizations representing workers' interests, undertake the responsibility of advocating for better working conditions and wages. Union organizations engage in collective actions, such as strikes and demonstrations, demonstrating the solidarity and strength of the working class, challenging the authority of the capitalist system.

Relations of the Azerbaijan USSR with Great Britain after the Soviet Occupation

The article deals with the relations of Azerbaijan with the United Kingdom after the Soviet occupation. The Soviet government in Azerbaijan, which emerged as a result of the April occupation, radically changed the system of diplomatic relations that existed during the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. Relations between the two countries began to deteriorate shortly after the new government saw Britain as an enemy of the working class and the peasantry. One of the main factors in the breakdown of relations was the arrest of foreign nationals in Soviet Azerbaijan, including representatives of the United Kingdom, and the failure to ensure the interests of Britain in the subsequent stages. The article examines the further development of Azerbaijan's relations with the United Kingdom and the impact of the Genoa Conference on these relations.