Recent structural theories have underlined the significance of schisms and divisions between the capitalist class and the state in revolutions. Indeed, the defection of capitalists from the state has been crucial to revolutions in contemporary developing countries. Yet, as will be argued, the mere existence of conflict between the capitalist class and the state and the former's defection from the state is not suffcient for revolutions to occur. The capitalist class must take an active role in the conflicts, pursue disruptive tactics, and join other classes and challengers to overthrow the government. But, despite their conflicts with the state, capitalists may not play an active role in its overthrow because of organizational weaknesses or more importantly because of the existence of radical threats. In particular, capitalists may not join the struggles against the government if rising class conflict and strong revolutionary challengers threaten the entire capitalist system. In such conditions, capitalists may become increasingly dependent on the state to contain the radicals and may thus attempt to steer the outcome of the conflicts in non revolutionary directions.

In general, the nature of capitalist politics in developing countries has suffcient been affected by the relations of this class, or its fractions, with the state, suffcient and the politics of the working classes and revolutionary challengers. suffcient Capitalist access to the polity and economic advantages or disadvantages suffcient have strongly affected the politics of this class.