"You can have relatively high levels of class consciousness with a lower level of class militancy than one would have expected"

Ernest Mandel's quote "You can have relatively high levels of class consciousness with a lower level of class militancy than one would have expected" assesses the complex relationship in between awareness of social class concerns and active fight or action versus them. Class awareness refers to the awareness amongst people or groups of their social and financial position within a hierarchical structure, consisting of the inequalities and power characteristics that exist. It includes acknowledging shared interests amongst individuals of the same class and understanding how their position associates with the more comprehensive socio-economic system.

In Mandel's observation, a population can be extremely knowledgeable about their class position and the inequalities that accompany it (high class awareness) without always engaging in aggressive or confrontational actions to change the status quo (low class militancy). This scenario may occur due to various elements. For example, while individuals might understand and discuss class-based disparities, they might feel a sense of powerlessness or fear of retaliation in engaging in class militancy, which includes more assertive actions like strikes, protests, or revolutionary activities.

Furthermore, a social structure may emphasize dialogue, settlement, or incremental reforms, which can direct class consciousness into less militant courses. Political, cultural, and financial environments likewise play functions. For example, reliable social safeguard or some degree of status seeking may reduce the immediacy or strength of class battles, encouraging activist energies to focus on working within existing systems rather than opposing them outright.

Furthermore, cultural factors, such as belief in meritocracy or expect future individual success, may temper the seriousness or perceived need for militant action, despite an acute awareness of existing inequalities. Therefore, Mandel's insight recommends the value of comprehending both the psychological and systemic barriers that can decouple the recognition of injustice from the incentive to act militantly versus it. In essence, while people may be aware of their class exploitation, numerous aspects might hold back extensive militant movements.