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Denouncing racism and celebrating diversity have become central to progressive politics. For many on the left, it seems, social justice would consist of an equitable distribution of wealth, power and esteem among racial groups. But as Adolph Reed Jr. and Walter Benn Michaels argue in this incisive collection of essays, the emphasis here is tragically misplaced. Not only can a fixation with racial disparities distract from the pervasive influence of class, it can actually end up legitimising economic inequality. As Reed and Michaels put it, “racism is real and anti-racism is both admirable and necessary, but extant racism isnt what principally produces our inequality and anti-racism wont eliminate it”.No Politics but Class Politics gathers together Reed and Michaelss recent essays on inequality, along with a newly commissioned interview with the authors and an illuminating foreword by Daniel Zamora and Anton Jäger. These writings eschew the sloppy thinking and moral posturing that too often characterise discussions of race and class in favour of clear-eyed social, cultural and historical analysis. Reed and Michaels make the case here for a genuinely radical politics: a politics which aspires not to the establishment of a demographically representative social elite, but instead to economic justice for everyone.

No Politics but Class Politics: The Political Meaning of Unionization by Walter Benn Michaels is a groundbreaking work that explores the relationship between class politics and unionization in the United States. Michaels argues that the decline of unions has led to a decline in class consciousness and a corresponding rise in political polarization.

Michaels begins by tracing the history of unions in the United States, from their early days as mutual aid societies to their rise as powerful economic and political forces in the mid-20th century. He shows how unions have played a key role in shaping the American economy and society, and how their decline has had a devastating impact on working-class Americans.

Michaels then turns to the political implications of the decline of unions. He argues that the decline of unions has led to a decline in class consciousness among working-class Americans. This has made it more difficult for working-class Americans to organize politically and to fight for their interests. As a result, working-class Americans have increasingly turned to the Republican Party, which has promised to protect their economic interests.

Michaels concludes by arguing that the only way to reverse the decline of class consciousness and the rise of political polarization is to rebuild unions. He calls for a new labor movement that is based on class solidarity and that is committed to fighting for the interests of working-class Americans.

No Politics but Class Politics is a timely and important book that offers a new perspective on the political and economic problems facing the United States today. Michaels's analysis is clear and concise, and he provides a wealth of evidence to support his arguments. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the current political landscape and who is interested in finding a way to build a more just and equitable society.