This is no time to criticize a revolution. After all, they're in vogue; attempting to bring order into the lives of suppressed people.
But what makes for a successful revolution? Is it the change that is being worked for? Is it the strength of those in revolt? Or is it the question of whether the revolt is being brought about from the top or the bottom? Or perhaps none of these factors really determine whether the revolt will be successful. Perhaps it is what happens afterwards that makes all the difference. A revolution may only be successful if it ends up transferring power from the hands of one to those of the populace.
So what happens if this transfer of power doesn't occur? Probably what happened during the Bolshevik revolution, where the state of the people did not improve, or after the French Revolution, when an Emperor replaced the King. One tyrant may be replaced with another. That's that, end of story; no happy ending, no use of a revolution.
Don't agree with me? Then try reading George Orwell's Animal Farm (Published: 1945) for perspective.
The book tells the story about the animals on a certain farm who are tired of the cruel treatment handed out to them by their masters - the humans, so they decide to revolt. The uprising is led by the pigs, who are the smartest creatures on the farm (representing the society's elite, ironic huh?). Other animals (making up the middle class) include horses, cows, goats, hens and a donkey; all workaholics thinking of little else all day than their duties. The sheep are the masses, mindless followers of whatever is taught to them; and the dogs are the military, strong and ruthless.
The animals' revolt is based on very noble ideas- the equality of all animals, no killing, lots of food for all, no exploitation, etc. However, the success of the revolution gives way to power struggles, rivalry, propaganda and the breaking of the very laws, by the leaders, that they had helped pen. The middle class feels that something wrong is going on but is too busy in its work to do anything about it. The masses (sheep) barely know what's happening and continue to do what they're told. The pigs replace the humans and things go back to square one.
What a revolution then needs is a responsible leader; someone who wouldn't be driven by his lust for power, but by his duty to the people and society. Without this, it would only be a matter of time before the pigs turn into humans.
Source of Image: http://www.annexed.net/freedom/AnimalFarmCommandments.jpg
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