sectoral cleavages

sectoral cleavages

the bases of political interests and political action which, to some extent, cross-cut the basic left-right CLASS CLEAVAGE which has usually been regarded as central in politics (see Dunleavy, 1980). Significant sectoral cleavages include:

1. private and public-sector employment;
2. private and ‘collective’ consumption sectors (e.g. interests arising from the existence of public and private sectors in housing, transport, and the provision of welfare). See also URBAN SOCIAL MOVEMENTS, CORPORATISM.

Collins Dictionary of Sociology, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2000