CIB #2: Revolution

                                                                                                                                                                            





                          

Today I wanted to talk about Revolution as CB.

Everyday I wake up expecting a revolution. It's something that I have dreamed about as a kid and something I feel I will experience in my lifetime. I feel that we are going to see a popular overthrow of government to bring about change in the political, economic, and social structure of our society. What brings me to this conclusion?

The first thing I think about when I think about revolution these days is Structural-Strain Theory. This theory (also known as "Value-Added Theory"), brought about by Smelser, gives us 6 factors that lead to collective action. This can be applied to almost any type of collective behavior, however I think it is works very well to describe what brings about and begins a revolution.

The 6 factors of the Structural-Strain model are:

1) Structural Conduciveness - Does your government allow for collective action? We have definite freedoms in the constitution that refers to this so YES.

2) Structural Strain - various kinds of social problems in conventional social institutions that bring about anger and frustrations that manifest in the population.. There are many social problems and inequalities that are rampant through our society, especially since we have a capitalist system. The inequalities based on race, gender, and especially class create extreme amounts of strain. Does our society meet this requirement? YES

3) Generalized Beliefs - Explanations about a societies structural strain that help justify what measures are necessary to deal with it. The generalized beliefs I see in our society deal with those that want to end inequality and those that want to keep it. To be more specific, do we want to keep capitalism or do we abolish it for something else? Current political debates, media, and my own research have led me to believe that people are beginning to fall under one of these generalized beliefs. Do we meet this requirement? Yes

4) Precipitating Factors - factors that gain attention and bring awareness to the societal strain. These factors often elicit outbursts from citizens. Some precipitating factors I have seen in our society are the battles for basic rights (such as reproductive rights, marriage rights, heath rights). However, there might need to be a more specific or poignant episode to push for a revolution or further social action. Do we meet this requirement? Maybe.

5) Mobilization for Action - organizations and leaders must take a lead to organize the populous to social action. We have many organizations that are ready to defend the rights of citizens and those to defend the status quo.  Do we have organizations and leaders that can do so? Yes.

6) Social Control - This is a point where those in power will either work to and fix inequalities and strain
or try and stop social action without acknowledging the strain. Both have extreme consequences. This is the final action on social movement. Have we reached this point? Not yet. but we will.


Also Marx and Engels talked about the capitalist society in Barken and Snowden's "Collective Violence". They believed that capitalism leads to its own demise by growing and feeding on inequality and strain, thus making revolution inevitable. I believe we are witnessing the crux of our capitalist society's feast.

However, revolutions are often violent (maybe that's why when you google "revolution" you find pictures of fists). While I wished to be part of a revolution, I look forward with great excitement and hope, but also with caution.

The journal article I found was an article that further explores Marx's ideas on capitalism. The author researches the reemergence of Marxist ideals in our capitalist society. You can find the article here at the UI Ebsco or here at the author's website.

The first website I'm adding to this blog is for the movie "V for Vendetta" not only is it one of my favorites that I watch EVERY year, but it also points out everything I have talked about and more. It has a very poignant way to showing how a revolution can start. Check it out here and go rent it from your nearest video store!

The second website is amore in-depth look at Smesler's theory. You can find it here.


So that's why I wanted to talk about revolution and how it begins. A revolution is nigh, can you feel it?


And for my video:

"When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty. "

                                                                                                Thomas Jefferson







Till next time,


Alex