Inequality is evident in every sphere of our lives. Whilst inequality is often discussed in terms of gender, race, caste, religion, sexual orientation or consumption behaviours; class and occupational status are also key causes of inequality (Marks and Baldry, 2009; Aries and Seider, 2007; Anthias, 2005; Sayer, 2005). Class has been commonly used to typify inequality in western society (Savage, 2000) but is a less evident and less discussed form of stratification outwith western contexts.
However, colonialism is one reason that class as a form of stratification has not been addressed in some non-western societies. Colonialism is argued to be a ‘civilising mission’ (Dijiar, 2009; Panikkar, 2007; Forsdick and Murphy, 2003; Brockway, 1973) and often attempted to ‘civilise’ by recreating western social structures through use of the colonial devices of conquest and rule (Dirks, 1992). The result of these attempts to transform very traditional social structures was unsuccessful (Chandra, 1999) and ended up incomplete leaving the colonial individuals at a crossroads, stuck between two opposing social structures (Alawattage and Wickramasinghe, 2009; Silva, 2002; Chandra, 1979, 1996; Ekeh, 1975; Yalman, 1967). Colonialism captured the cultural dimension of the colony, led to disequilibrium in many established conventional social relationships and reshaped the geographical and social terrains as well as human identities (Dijiar, 2009). In addition, colonialism led to the colonised developing a hybridised identity (Ashcroft and Griffiths; 1995; Bhabha, 1994). This confused structural position is under-researched.
Consequently, this paper brings literature on work and employment together with studies on the sociology of class and colonialism to establish a research agenda focusing on the experience of work in a postcolonial setting. This paper will examine the literature from a variety of disciplines in order to understand the meaning of work for postcolonial agents confronted by this dual system of stratification. This work will examine the hidden structures and soft forms of domination generated by pre-colonial and colonial social structures that subject individuals within these societies to dual tensions. Furthermore, the paper will look at how these tensions are potentially manifest in the meaning attached to work in terms of discomfort, embarrassment, resentment, shame, guilt, pride, envy or arrogance. Based on an ontology of stratified external social reality and a Critical Realist epistemology a research agenda will be established which aims to contribute to organizational management in a practical sense, as well as help understand the differing meanings of, and attitudes toward, work and employment associated with this complex social stratification found within a post-colonial context.
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