This book examines topics such as industrial conflict and worker organizations, the problem of class consciousness, the relation of institutional social structures and self-management, pluralism and mass society, historical analysis of democracy in assemblies. Part I presents the results of a ten-year study (1972–1981) conducted at the Faculties of Sociology, Political Science, Journalism, and the Institute for Sociology in Ljubljana; while Part II sheds theoretical light on the empirical research on industrial conflict, invested structures, alliances, and the role of workers in Slovenian society of the time.