5th ISA Forum of Sociology (6-11 July 2025)

Since the beginnings of sociology, the concept of “class” has been central to analyzes of modern social configurations, in particular their hierarchies, identities and conflicts. Today, multiple other classifications are increasingly important in theoretical discussions and struggles for justice: “feminist,” “racial/ethnic,” “post- and decolonial,” or “environmental” classifications, among many others, including the term “Anthropocene” itself. This has produced various theoretical and practical consequences and dilemmas. Some perspectives have relativized the importance of the concept of “class” in favour of other categories, despite the fact that class continues to be key to comprehending capitalist relations and their injustices. While other perspectives have deepened the links between classes and categorizations of a different kind. Class has been fundamental to theories of intersectionality, interpretations of revived authoritarian nationalism, research in core domains of life chances, like health and education, analyses of subjective experiences of disrespected identities and the consolidation of global social divisions. Class, once again, appears to be a conception capable of making sense of shared conditions and structural constraints, but this perception nevertheless requires clarification. Finally, theoretical and conceptual work has emerged which critically and reflexively seeks to account for the meaning of the very process of social classification. From this work, it is possible to understand the historical and complex character of social classes today, as well as their ties with other categorizations. We invite proposals from the most diverse perspectives to continue these reflections on social classification and class, which will contribute to the current debates on justice.