A possible semi-Marxian explanation is that what we call leftism has always consisted of two tendencies: a popular one and an elitist one. The alliance between

A possible semi-Marxian explanation is that what we call leftism has always consisted of two tendencies: a popular one and an elitist one. The alliance between the two is not natural per se but only held together while the elitist tendency did not have access to the capital. What happened during the late 20th and the early 21st century is that increased demand for intellectual labor due to informatization had given the elitist tendency access to capital, which then led to breaking apart of the old alliance.