ABSTRACT
The classical liberal tradition has a long history of thinking about class analysis, which goes back at least to the English proto-liberals known as the Levellers in the 1640. This tradition is either not well known or has been dismissed because people have associated class analysis with the left, in particular with Marxism. What makes classical liberal class analysis different from other approaches is the central role given to the exercise of coercion by the state in determining who belongs to what class. This essay outlines the key ideas of classical liberal class analysis, traces its development over time, and outlines some areas for future research.
