labor aristocracy

[RedHal]

Is the theory of labor aristocracy accepted by all the different streams of communism? What do anarchists think about it? Who are considered labor aristocrats? Obviously migrant workers are not. Is there a certain salary cutoff that determines this? Benefits?

[CornetJoyce]

The notion of a labor aristocracy has a number of permutations. For Lenin, as I understand, it referred to the workers of the most developed societies, whose lives were eased by the exploitation of workers abroad.

But in later times, at least in the usa, the term was applied to the more affluent and secure stratum of workers within the country. Obviously, that doesn't include migrant labor, or common laborers at all. That the better off should be more content with the system than the worse off is not a matter for wonder.

[bezdomni]

Is the theory of labor aristocracy accepted by all the different streams of communism?

I'd say any serious Marxist accepts that a labor aristocracy exists in advanced capitalist countries...but the importance and size of the labor aristocracy is a source of debate among Marxists.

Most Marxist disagreements over the labor aristocracy are between Trotskyists and Maoists, I'd say.

[Janus]

Is the theory of labor aristocracy accepted by all the different streams of communism?
labor aristocracy (http://www.revleft.com/index.php?showtopic=58253&hl=+labor++aristocracy)
As you can see, there is plenty of debate over the term/theory itself as well as its composition.


Is there a certain salary cutoff that determines this?
It's conceptualized as a general divide between workers in developed nations and those in developing nations.

labor artistocracy (http://www.revleft.com/index.php?showtopic=60833&hl=+labor++aristocracy)
labor aristo. (http://www.revleft.com/index.php?showtopic=63888&hl=+labor++aristocracy)
l.a. (http://www.revleft.com/index.php?showtopic=59806&hl=+labor++aristocracy)
l.a. (http://www.revleft.com/index.php?showtopic=59169&hl=+labor++aristocracy)