new petty bourgeoisie

new petty bourgeoisie

categories of supervisory and mental workers (e.g. many office workers) who, according to neo-Marxist theorists such as Poulantazas (1975), should be placed outside the working class (even though they sometimes produce SURPLUS VALUE) but also should not be seen as part of the traditional BOURGEOISIE (since they do not own or control the means of production). In Poulantazas’ view such workers are usually hostile to the working class and, like, the traditional petty bourgeoisie, remain caught between labour and capital. See also INTERMEDIATE CLASSES, CONTRADICTORY CLASS LOCATIONS.

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