The subject of the book is the critical analysis of the foundation of the theory of social classes and the discussion around classes and social structure from the mid-19th century to the end of the 1920s-1930s.

In the context of this negotiation, the work and contribution of thinkers and analysts who hold a distinguished place in the history of social thought are examined and assessed. More specifically, the works of K. MARX, F. ENGELS, V. PARETO, M. WEBER, W. SOMBART, TH. VEBLEN, K. KAUTSKY, E. BERNSTEIN, R. LUXEMBURG, B. I. LENIN, J. SCHUMPETER, and P. SOROKIN become the subjects of study.

The basic positions and confrontations regarding the concept of class, the form of social structure, the conditions of perception, and the criteria for recognizing social groups, the issues of social action and the relationship between social classes are analyzed.

The treatment concerning these theories suggests that they continue to influence contemporary discussions and are present in the concerns related to the organization and choices of our society today.

It simultaneously indicates that these approaches have their own contribution, beyond the field of theoretical inquiry, in shaping social realities. In this sense, class analyses, beyond their obvious connection to political analysis, are factors for the formation of strategies that have been tested in projects and applications in the past, even in the recent past.

It is therefore possible that a combination of proposals from class analyses and application projects may also emerge in the future.