General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Revolution anyone? This is for those among us that think we can always fall back on revolution. [View all]socialist_n_TN
(11,481 posts)actual social science of revolution. That's why it always appears as a surprise to a large portion of the population. Why would a bus fare hike lead to massive unrest? Why would another shooting of an unarmed black kid lead to massive arrest in one case and not in any previous cases?
Revolutions have to be planned for. The spark for revolution is always unknown, but before the spark happens, the tinder is prepared. Prepared by systemic oppression, but also prepared by revolutionists who take the job of preparation seriously.
To have a socialist revolution, it must be working class based and it will involve primarily strikes, unplanned, wildcat, and occupations, leading to a general strike involving a large part of workers who simply stop working. And of course stop paying the bills to the owners. I would estimate that it would take six weeks of a general strike and mass demonstrations to bring capitalism down. Of course well before that six weeks are up, the owners will have their cops, militias, and mercenaries out cleaning out the occupations and putting down the demonstrations, so yes I expect things to get violent. And you can count on a counterrevolution even if workers survive and stay strong through those six weeks. As in all revolutions, the military is the key and especially the grunts. No revolution is ever won without, at least, the neutrality of the military. And it would be better if the lower ranks of the military actively participated on the side of the working class.