Image by Lea Kobal.

Introduction

The concept of the “ruling class” has long served as a central analytical tool in the social sciences, particularly in Marxist traditions.[1] This article traces the evolution of ruling class dynamics in the U.S., focusing on key historical fissures from the Nixon era to present as I try to examine both the ideological and institutional manifestations of class power. The Trump regime has brought back contradictions within the American ruling elite, revealing deeper tensions amongst institutions with power.

In the social sciences, the term “ruling class” typically refers to the group that maintains power and influence over civil society.[2] This group, often aligned with capitalist interests, exerts control through political authority, economic capital, and cultural dominance. Throughout American history, divisions within the ruling class have surfaced at critical moments. For example, on May 1, 1970, Robert B. Semple, Jr. of The New York Times described President Nixon’s military escalation in Cambodia as a military hallucination, suggesting it was detrimental to the interests of the ruling elite.[3] In the aftermath of Nixon’s controversial and careless response to the Kent State shootings, prominent journalists such as Tom Wicker of The New York Times and James Wechsler of the New York Post further exposed fractures within the ruling class.[4] The impacts of events like these and their coverage, were not lost on the powerful.

On May 6, 1970, during a peak moment of youth-led protests, Secretary of the Interior Walter J. Hickel sent a letter to President Nixon that was later published in The New York Times. In his message, Hickel emphasized the importance of listening to young voices, stating, “if we read history, it clearly shows that youth in its protest must be heard.” The letter defended SCOPE (Student Councils on Pollution and the Environment) and holds continued relevance in the context of more recent political developments, such as President Trump’s authoritarian and fascistic posture toward university leadership and the broader tension between youth activism and government authority. Just two days later under increased pressure, Nixon addressed the media about Cambodia, which coincided with the outbreak of the Hard Hat Riots.[5]

Also in 1970, writing for Intercontinental Press, journalist and socialist commentator Joseph Hansen authored a piece titled “Social Tensions in the U.S. Strain Two-Party System.”[6] A consistent critic of the contradictions within the American capitalist class, ranging from global imperialism and Cold War policies to domestic labor unrest and the civil rights struggle — Hansen pointed to President Nixon’s overt disdain for working people as a key factor behind the stoning of his car in San Clemente. Following a series of Nixon’s notably anti-labor and anti-peace speeches, the November 2, 1970 edition of London’s Workers Press characterized his rhetoric as “a programme for Bonapartist rule,” highlighting the fears of an increasingly authoritarian governance.[7]

Hansen further argued that “the causes for the widening division in American society stem from the efforts of the ruling class to maintain the capitalist status quo in the face of revolutionary pressures on a world scale moving toward socialism.” Throughout the 1970s, the sustainability of the ruling class became a prominent topic of discussion, particularly within Marxist and leftist intellectual circles. This era, characterized by heightened political radicalism and global unrest, exposed significant fractures within the ruling elite, fissures that were frequently observed and thoroughly documented.[8]

Literature Review of the Ruling Class Topic

Göran Therborn, a prominent Swedish sociologist and Marxist theorist, is widely recognized for his influential work on social inequality, political ideology, and the critique of systemic power structures. His scholarship encompasses both theoretical and empirical analyses, with extensive writings on historical modernity, the state, and global wealth disparities. Therborn remains a key figure in contemporary Marxist social theory, as he continues to make significant contributions to the study of ideology and structural inequality.

In 1976, while writing for The Insurgent Sociologist, Therborn authored, What Does the Ruling Class Do When It Rules? Some Reflections on Different Approaches to the Study of Power in Society.

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