International Sociological Association Research Committee on Social Classes and Social Movements (RC47) was founded as a Thematic Group in 1988. In 1990 it was recognised as a Working Group coordinated by Louis Maheu. The first board members included Carlo Carboni, Lucio Kowarick, Roland Roth and John Urry. Two years later, in 1992, the Working Group was promoted to a Research Committee with the same coordinator and board. Since then the boards have grown and have become increasingly internationalised.  Geoffrey Pleyers, who served as RC47 president from 2014-2018 was elected as the president of the International Sociological Association in 2023. The first RC47 female president, Simin Fadaee was elected in 2023.