Pwnc Llosg – A Nation of Shopkeepers with Dan Evans, Amira Hayat and Fahadi Mukulu. A blog by Cadi Thomas

Nestled in the heart of Cardiff’s most diverse and vibrant neighbourhood, as always, Canopi provided a stimulating backdrop for the latest Pwnc Llosg discussion. By putting the ethos of the series into practice and acting as a hub where people actually connect, the session grounded the abstract theories of class and power found in Dan Evans’ A Nation of Shopkeepers into the lived reality of the room. The energy of Grangetown, mirroring these themes, was palpable: a place where the history of graft meets the modern pressures of a changing city.

The title carries a heavy historical weight, stemming from Napoleon’s dismissal of Britain as "a nation of shopkeepers." Today, this identity has evolved into the Petty Bourgeoisie - a class sitting uncomfortably between workers and the wealthy elite. Their power is localised and personal. While they aren't the global elite, they hold the power to "make someone’s life pretty shit" through control over a tenant’s home or a worker’s livelihood. Squeezed by the same rising costs as everyone else, they often cling tighter to this small-scale authority just to keep their heads above water.

The room agreed that beyond economics, class is a vibe. A mix of cultural capital and lingo that can make people feel excluded. This is frequently weaponised through ‘producerism,’ a narrative pitting ‘hard-working owners’ against those labelled as ‘unproductive parasites.’ The education system further sorts us into the academic pile, leaving many feeling like "man-children", theoretically over-educated but lacking the hands-on skills of their parents. One person noted that university has even become a default for those who feel they "aren't smart enough" for a trade. To truly talk about class, we need everyday language that values practical, lived experience and ensures the working class isn't just something to be educated out of.

The importance of being around people who aren’t like us, flowed through the discussion. We need physical spaces that force different worlds and ideas to collide, bridging the gap between the classes and cultures that coexist in Cardiff. As Dan noted when looking around the room at Canopi, creating these connections isn't just a pipe dream. He put it simply: "It is possible, we are doing it now."