NationStates Jolt Archive

In your opinion what does it take to get people to start a revolution? Can this be conceived of happening among the first worlds' middle class?

It'll probably be a lot easier to use the country's democratic process to have a revolution and install new leaders that way, instead of futilly facing it's too-powerful military.

It'll probably be a lot easier to use the country's democratic process to have a revolution and install new leaders that way, instead of futilly facing it's too-powerful military.
Hitler did it that way. The legal revolution.

That said, anyone can be a revolutionary. All it takes is a penchant for change and dissatisfaction with the status quo. Class is quite irrelevant, unless you are the ruling class.

Hmmmm...gunna have to answer in the negatory there, champ.

In your opinion what does it take to get people to start a revolution? Can this be conceived of happening among the first worlds' middle class?
Revolution:
-discontent citzens (famine, unfair tax burden, oppression etc)
-ideaology for the people to get behind
-leader

I don't think it would be plausible. The middle class are, as a whole, not that discontent, and have no unifying force.

Revolution:
-discontent citzens (famine, unfair tax burden, oppression etc)
-ideaology for the people to get behind
-leader

I don't think it would be plausible. The middle class are, as a whole, not that discontent, and have no unifying force.
In revolutionary France I think the middle class actually instigated the Revolution. Although there they did have a unifying force and they were discontent at their inability to rule, even though they prospered. Modern government by its very nature has innate protection from revolution. It is seemingly government of, by and for the people when indeed there is a ruling class; those currently in office.

In your opinion what does it take to get people to start a revolution?

bad food...

Not gonna happen.

Although NSers are apparently quite eager to get cracking, should the opportunity arrise: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=432701

In your opinion what does it take to get people to start a revolution? Can this be conceived of happening among the first worlds' middle class?

Push people to the edge, leaving them no honorable escape, you will have revolution. And it has happened among the middle class. The English Civil War (mid 17th century) was really a revolution led by the middle class. The American Revolution was a middle class revolution, as was the French Revolution. To more modern times, if you look at the leaders of most revolutions, they were predominately middle class. Che Guevera was a dentist for Pete's sake. Those countries where the revolutions were seen as lower or peasant motivated still had middle class leaders - China, for example. When a bureaucracy becomes too oppressive, the middle class feels it first - taxes go up (the wealthy can avoid them, the poor don't have the money to pay them), laws become more restrictive, inflation increases - this all affects the middle class, especially the lower middle class to a somewhat greater degree than the poor and to a much greater degree than the wealthy.

The root causes of revolution?

I agree with a lot that has already been said. I think the current suburbanite middle class that is prevalent throughout western civilisation would only rise up when both civil liberties are threatened and people are in actual physical danger through violence or famine.

The root causes of revolution?

I agree with a lot that has already been said. I think the current suburbanite middle class that is prevalent throughout western civilisation would only rise up when both civil liberties are threatened and people are in actual physical danger through violence or famine.I always thought that as well, but in recent years, I've seriously started doubting people care about their freedom. Brits don't at least.

In your opinion what does it take to get people to start a revolution? Can this be conceived of happening among the first worlds' middle class?
Causes:
Poverty
Scapegoats
Charismatic leadership
Poverty
Apathetic Rule
Draconian Laws
Poverty
Education
Poverty
and
Poverty

Can it happen in a first world nation?
I suppose at that moment it would cease being a first world nation.

I always thought that as well, but in recent years, I've seriously started doubting people care about their freedom. Brits don't at least.

It isn't the threat that makes people act, it's the actuality. If the government stops passing laws allowing it to be authoritarian and begins routinely abusing the civil liberties of "ordinary" British citizens, you may see less passivity.

Stamp taxes, people, stamp taxes.

So I just have to wait until after the Iranian oil burse, and then.....

*Gazes at map of the world, while stroking a white cat*

Revolution from the bottom is rare, and only happens when the people are truely oppressed. Revolution from the middle is very common. They get the people on the bottom to work with them, making them believe that all will be taken to the top. Instead, the middle replaces the top, the top disappears (killed, joins the new top, falls downward), and a new middle emerges while the bottom stays there. Coups from the top happen when there is a power struggle amongst the elites (see Sukarno and Suharto in Indonesia).

Coups from the top usually cause the fewest deaths, though sometimes it leads to civil war. From the bottom is usually very bloody. Right now the middle class either needs to be oppressed or squeezed to the point at which it is almost gone, as the lower class is just trying to survive. Once the middle class is removed, a true democratic system cannot function, and revolution will ensue.