The impact of class on political attitudes: A comparative study of Great Britain, West Germany, Australia, and the United States

In: European journal of political research: official journal of the European Consortium for Political Research, Band 27, Heft 1, S. 69-91

Abstract

The study examines the impact of class self-identification and class position on political attitudes in Great Britain, West Germany, Australia and the United States. The results show a basic similarity in the class structure of these four western nations, differences in patterns of class identification, and significant effects of class structure and class identification on political attitudes. Despite recent projections of its demise, for these four countries at least, class identification and class position are an important, albeit secondary, factor in explaining political attitudes. Of these class measures, class self-identification is the more salient in predicting politcal attitudes. (European Journal of Political Research / AuD)