Class and Social Honour

The book presents a theoretical framework for understanding social stratification, focusing on the development of Britain's official system of state honours. It explores the interplay of class and status, highlighting the often-overlooked importance of social status in this context. The emergence of peerages and knighthoods from feudal political structures is examined, revealing how these honours initially served as a means of social integration. However, since the nineteenth century, this system has faced decline and challenges from new status criteria.