bourgeois
boor-ZHWA
Definition
Relating to or characteristic of the middle class, especially when perceived as overly concerned with material interests or upholding conventional, capitalist social structures.
Etymology
Derived from the French 'bourgeois,' it originally referred to an inhabitant of a 'bourg' or walled town. By the 18th century, it became the standard term for the class of people who owned property and capital, distinct from the aristocracy and the working class.
In the news
In this article, the term describes the entrenched leadership of a union, suggesting they have adopted the conservative, institutional mindset of the middle class rather than the radical interests of the working-class rank and file.
Jacobin advises union bureaucracy on how to respond to wave of contract rejection
Read the full article ↗World Socialist Web Site