Jacobin Radio Confronting Capitalism: The PMC Isn’t Going Away
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Aug 13, 2025 The complexities of the Professional Managerial Class (PMC) are dissected, revealing its heterogeneous nature within capitalism. Discussion highlights how ideological workers in media and academia sustain capitalism, challenging traditional Marxist views. The disconnect between PMC members and the working class is examined, along with the changing demographics of the left. The importance of including professionals in labor movements is emphasized, advocating for a unified approach that respects diverse perspectives while bolstering working-class leadership.
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PMC Defined Too Broadly
- The Ehrenreichs meant salaried mental workers who help manage labor extraction, not anyone who reproduces capitalist culture.
- Conflating all professionals with managers obscures class differences and political stakes.
Occupation ≠ Class
- Occupations (like 'professional') describe tasks, while classes describe social relations and ownership.
- A professional can be worker, middle-class, or capitalist depending on ownership and employment conditions.
Managers Born From Big Firms
- Large 20th-century corporations created a managerial stratum and credentialing systems like business schools.
- Managers emerged because owners needed delegates to oversee vast workplaces they could no longer directly control.
