Social classes in the public discourse: Middle class and passages of the political in Poland

Abstract

Article analyses the problem of representation of social classes in public discourse. Representations should be interpreted in a way that takes into account their symbolic and imaginary potential, as well as their political character. Author argues for an analysis that accentuates complexity and opacity of the way in which classes are represented in public sphere. Discourse should be treated as a holistic process, in which the rules of symbolic power are installed (and subsequently define what is legitimised, universal and just) and political affects mobilized (in defence of persecuted minority or democratic majority). Instead of “verifying” representations from the point of view of objective data or conceptualise them as constructs that arbitrarily mould collective life, one should interpret them dialectically to explore what is voiced and what is silenced in them. Such method is used to interpret the debate over the notion of “middle class” that stormed Polish media in 2021. Middle class was defined in it as political and economic vanguard of Polish society or as a broad base for Polish democracy. In conclusion the question of symbolic and affective power of representations returns, also in relation to other classes than the “middle class”. Further directions for research on representations of other classes are indicated.