Not Class but Classes Matter

A taxonomy of classes; the corporate capitalist, the middle and the working classes may explain the contemporary world more efficaciously. The four substantive concerns of the prevailing times – human vis-à-vis nature, the conflict-ridden world order, the rise of authoritarian nationalism, and the rise and growth of ethnic identities can be better explicated in terms of rising class inequalities, class injustice, class advances and class antagonisms. Additionally, the class framework has a ‘sociologic’ and every class has its own distinct character, this provides class analysis an extra heuristic ability. It has conventionally been maintained that the corporate capitalist class is primarily marked by self-interest, profit motive and accumulation; the working class is generally distinguished by collective interest, communitarian bond and political agency; and the middle classes are mainly characterized by ambiguous and conflicting interests, technical competence and professionalism. However, the nature, dynamics and character of classes have been changing while the productive forces are constantly revolutionized by the capitalist class as proclaimed. This paper contends that taxonomic fundamentals of the theory of class may be retained, nevertheless, recent changes in class dynamics are to be considered. Notwithstanding the diversification and divergences, the corporate capitalist class has emerged as the most connected, conscious and potent class. It has captured every institution ranging from the state to media and from creed to culture, the commanding class at the world scale and primarily accountable for the Anthropocene. The middle classes have been trying to have control from the middle with educationally acquired scientific, technical and managerial competencies. In the process they tend to become the comprador or legate of the corporates. Occasionally it reflects in their political actions. Recent changes have made the working class a divided and disjointed class, yet the most powerful carrier of ethnonationalism and authoritarianism.