Bourgeoisie

The bourgeoisie is a social class defined by ownership of the means of production in a capitalist economy, including factories, land, and financial capital, and by the employment of wage labor. The term comes from the French bourgeois, originally meaning a town dweller with certain privileges, and over time it came to denote a class whose wealth is based on property and capital rather than on direct manual labor.

In Karl Marx's analysis, the bourgeoisie emerged with the development of capitalist production, mediating exchange between workers and owners. The class controls capital accumulation, determines the organization of production, and profits from surplus value created by labor. The bourgeoisie state is often described as serving the interests of capital.

The term also encompasses related groups such as the petite bourgeoisie, small property owners and self-employed workers, and in some contexts the broader middle class. The precise composition and status of the bourgeoisie vary across countries and historical periods, influenced by industrialization, finance, and policy.

Critics argue that the bourgeoisie exercises economic and political influence to preserve its position, contributing to social inequality and class stratification. Liberal and socialist thinkers have offered varying assessments, ranging from appraisal of entrepreneurial dynamism to accusations of exploitation or cultural hegemony.

In contemporary usage, "bourgeoisie" can refer to the upper-middle or capitalist class in capitalist societies, or more broadly to values associated with materialism, consumerism, and respectability. The term remains a central concept in debates about class, capitalism, and social structure.