The Gen Z in Europe is undoubtedly one of the best educated generations, having access to more opportunities than ever. Yet, many young Europeans perceive economic stability as something that cannot simply be reached with ambition and hard work. Homeownership? Sounds more like an urban fairy tale. Many feel like the promise of social mobility has faded and that inheritance is the only way to amass wealth. Is the promise of social mobility dead? Is class struggle back?
Widening Social Divides
Karl Marx famously distinguished between the working class (the proletariat) and the capitalist class (the bourgeoisie). With rising living standards, welfare states and the promise of social mobility, the sharp antagonisms between social classes have dissolved in many Western societies. Today, we face a more complex hierarchy. For much of the late 20th and the 21st century, the idea of class struggle or even speaking of “classes” has therefore been widely regarded as outdated. Inequality existed, but it was often framed as manageable or temporary.
Now, that assumption seems increasingly fragile. Across Europe, economic pressures, political polarization and social fragmentation have revived class-based tensions. According to German philosopher Precht, real class tensions are intensifying again, especially in France and the United Kingdom. This stems from increasing inequality, especially through inheritance. Economic security is weakening, while wealth and opportunity are concentrated at the very top. These differences between social clusters impact access to housing, education, healthcare and political voice. While billionaire wealth has increased by 81 percent since 2020, “nearly half of the world’s population lives in poverty”. And billionaires are 4000 times more likely to hold political office. Furthermore, they often control the media and economies. Oxfam International Executive Director Amitabh Behar warns that this widening gap creates a dangerous political deficit within societies.
Europe: The Decline of the Middle Class and the Freeze of Upward Mobility
From onion-shaped societies (with a big middle class), we are moving toward hourglass-shaped societies (with a thinning middle class). This shift also impacts social mobility. In 2023, the Guardian reported that in the United Kingdom “social mobility is at its worst in over 50 years”. And in Germany, around 16 percent of the population was living in poverty or at risk of poverty in 2025 – a higher number than in 2024. These statistics show that it is a real and growing issue in Europe.
The “proletariat” as it was defined by Marx does not exist anymore. Today, the equivalent lower class intersects with other dimensions, such as migration background, gender, region and education level. And for those groups it is much harder to climb the social ladder. Children from parents with a migration background and a low education level are most at risk of poverty, and often poverty persists through generations. The Guardian also mentions that the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) found that inheritances are a strong predictor of lifetime income. Political Scientist Martyna Linartas would agree, as she argues that also in Germany, not income, but inheritance and wealth are key drivers of inequality. Hence, the promise of upward social mobility is truly endangered. They say, “everyone is the architect of their own fortune”, but not everyone has the access to the same tools.
The New Classes
Materially, most Europeans are better off than ever, but the class struggle is increasingly expressed through status symbols. Classes are not only separated by economic standing per se, but by “social codes”. Progressive language can also exclude those who do not use the latest “woke” terminology. Professor Hanno Sauer argues in his book Klasse that while racism and sexism are sharply condemned, “classism” is the only form of legitimate discrimination in Western societies. Social classes are not only divided linguistically, but also through access to public spheres. For instance, lower social classes may be priced or coded out of a new café or an art museum, as exclusion is easily built into spaces that cater to the “advantaged”. Fact is: Classism is discrimination based on perceptions of social hierarchy. Contrary to meritocratic narratives, wealth and success are rarely the result of superior genes, higher intelligence or unprecedented hard work. More often, they are rooted in unequal distributions of wealth, inheritance and opportunity.
Why Inequalities Should Matter to You
Inequality drives political polarization, democratic erosion and endangers social cohesion. Often, experts talk about the “winners” and “losers” of globalization, a phenomenon carrying strong potential for conflict. While the elites get richer, many citizens feel that their effort and work is no longer rewarded fairly. This reflects the growing sense of a collapsing social contract, often defined as the promise of social mobility. Economic grievances are a key driver of far-right populism, with class anxiety acting as a powerful mobilizing force. When huge parts of society feel left behind, political and institutional trust levels drop. This puts democratic stability at risk. According to Oxfam, the erosion of rule of law, resulting in democratic backsliding, is more likely in unequal countries. Therefore, societies with deep class divisions have a higher risk of conflict. David Betz, Professor in the Department of War at King’s College London, writes that a major threat to Western security and prosperity comes from its own social instability, structural and economic decline, cultural decay and elite indecisiveness. Betz argues that social media and identity politics catalyze political polarization, dividing societies into groups. In addition, the 2008 financial crisis and the war in Ukraine have left Europeans with a tremendous rise in the costs of energy, food and housing. The problem is that the rising costs have disproportionately impacted those who already have fewer financial means. According to Betz, Western societies are much more fragmented than a generation ago. And in light of the far-right surge in Europe, it is in our own best interest to promote equality, to ensure that our democracies remain resilient.
No Easy Answers
Hanno Sauer argues that there will always be class inequality in human societies. This is deeply frustrating, yet probably true. It illustrates the persistent clash between social needs and available resources, and between personal freedom and collective responsibility. At the same time, we must expect that prosperity is probably not increasing in Europe in the near future.
If inequality cannot be eliminated, state responsibility becomes even more important. The government must create fair and stable framework conditions that allow people to participate in society and to improve their living standard. It requires concrete political action: the integration of immigrants and disadvantaged groups, a fair tax system, universal access to education and healthcare and the willingness to pursue difficult reforms. Individuals must be given the opportunity to contribute according to their abilities. They are responsible not only for their own success, but also for the well-being of society. Neither envy on one side nor moral symbolism on the other side will get us anywhere. What matters are active civic engagement and a renewed sense of solidarity. The elites and those with greater material wealth bear a special responsibility to act with the broader social good in mind.
There are no easy answers. Ultimately, this dilemma calls for a broader public discourse: What kind of society do we want? In which direction are we willing to move together?