klassenbelang

Klassenbelang refers to the interests and goals of a social class that arise from its position in the class structure. It is a key concept in Marxist and other critical social theories, used to explain why groups support particular policies, institutions, and ideologies.

In classical Marxism, the ruling class (bourgeoisie) advances its klassenbelang through property rights, control of the means of production, and favorable economic and political conditions, while the working class (proletariat) pursues higher wages, better working conditions, and democratic participation. Other groups, such as the petit bourgeoisie or professional middle classes, may have intermediate or contested interests.

Klassenbelang is often expressed in political practice: party platforms, legislative agendas, and public debate reflect perceived class interests. The state and institutions can function as instruments to secure these interests, either through reform or repression, depending on the balance of power.

Critiques: some scholars argue that class is less deterministic today; identities such as race, gender, and region interact with class; multiple overlapping class interests exist within a class; globalization and neoliberal policies complicate straightforward class reasoning.

In Dutch and other European discourse, the term remains widely used in sociology and political science, as well as in labor movements and leftist critique, to analyze policy choices and social conflicts.