Class alliances and conflict: An explanation of political transitions in 19th‐century Europe

I develop a model analyzing common interests and conflict among four classes—capitalists, workers, landlords, and peasants in 19th‐century Europe—and show that strong class position, based on a high degree of organization and solidarity, may actually be detrimental to the economic and political adva...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Metroeconomica 2018-02, Vol.69 (1), p.16-38
Main Author: Hwang, Sung‐Ha
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
19th century
Coalition formation
Economic analysis
Landlords
Peasants
Political transition
Power
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Summary:I develop a model analyzing common interests and conflict among four classes—capitalists, workers, landlords, and peasants in 19th‐century Europe—and show that strong class position, based on a high degree of organization and solidarity, may actually be detrimental to the economic and political advantage of that class. This occurs when a strong class is excluded from a major class coalition via coalition formation processes. The reason is that the weak class, if they enjoy bargaining power over even weaker classes within a coalition, may not want to form a coalition with the strong class. I apply the main results to coalition formation and political transitions in 19th‐century European society.
ISSN:0026-1386
1467-999X
DOI:10.1111/meca.12164