THE DYNAMIC OF REVOLUTIONS History Is What Happens When You Are Busy Making Other Plans
I.
Previously there have only been events, now we have 'experts' on events. In the age of 24 hour rolling news every revolutionary event spawns dozens of these experts, dragged from academia, or the ever proliferating 'think tanks,' they sit in front of the cameras explaining what is going on; only of course, in truth, they do not know what is gong on, least of all how things will turn out.
Anyone who claims to understand the events currently unfolding in Egypt is a liar. Even those in Tahir Square, in the army barracks or in the haunts of the Muslim Brotherhood do not fully understand what is going on.
Revolutions by their very nature are a combination of the planned, the spontaneous and the unforeseen, which is another way of saying they are dynamic, they have a life of their own. All revolutionaries end up, irrespective of previous conceptions or ideology making it up as they go along. Though like generals, always ready to fight the last war they are always preparing to fight the last revolution; in 1848 they were ready to act out again the events of 1789, the Paris Commune was established with 1848 in mind. Lenin sought to avoid the mistakes of the Commune. All momentarily forget they were living in history, before being swept up by the unpredictable wave of events.*
All that can be said about what is going on in Egypt is that it is a struggle that has consequences for us all, and is a struggle that has many dimensions to it. Fundamentally it is a fight between a primarily secular world view and a view rooted in the arcane religious practices of the 6th century. It is also a struggle between two views of democracy, a view that can be called 'majoritism,' the idea that democracy is the imposition of the will of the majority and the counter view that democracy involves respect for plurality, the rights of minorities and the equality of all citizens.
The struggle is also a struggle for the rights of women and minorities, for secular values to a be allowed to compete in free debate. It is, to some extent, a struggle between the educated middle class and elements of the urban working class and the rural population, who have been well served by the philanthropic elements of Islamism.
In short the forces that the people who currently occupy Tahir square are opposing represent the most reactionary elements currently operating in the world, whose aim is to create a theocratic Islamist state in the most populous country in the Arab world. We should stand with them, for a defeat for Islamism in Egypt is a defeat for Islamism everywhere.**
The intervention of the army presents a game changing dynamic, though how this will play out we do not know. There is of course the horrible shadow of the Algerian precedent, which saw a nation plunged into decades of civil struggle of the most vicious and barbaric kind. Military Coup's are rarely benign, once out of the barracks soldiers can be reluctant to return, and a situation in which the Muslim Brotherhood feels cheated of its legitimate victory does not bode well. However Egypt is not Algeria and is currently possessed of an Army that wants to be loved. Truly a wonder to behold.
II.
To my astonishment I find my self for the second time in my life living in revolutionary times, from Turkey to Brazil, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, and with varying degrees of success people are finding a voice. One small success is all that is required to give birth to a revolutionary consciousness; once that occurs, as we now see in Egypt, people quickly develop the habit of exercising this power.
Revolutions though are to be lived, the experience is incommunicable,it must be breathed. Those touched by revolutionary experience are changed for life, some clinging for the remainder of their lives to the experience of a few fleeting moments, whether that be in Barcelona in 1936, Paris in 1968, or Berlin in 1989.
Across the world we are witnessing the dynamic of revolutionary movements, on the Streets of Brazil or Turkey individuals are discovering their voices. For them the world will never be the same again. We may now be seeing a new world wide phenomenon of unrest, akin to the constant outbreak of wild fires. No sooner is one extinguished in one place than it flares up in another. As for our own complacent and venal elite they would do well to pause as services are further cut back and food banks proliferate. It only takes a small spark.
As I say once set in motion revolutionary movements develop their own dynamic, history having the capacity to start happening when we least expect it.
*Many later revolutionaries were to discover that despite all its great claims Marxism did not provide a crystal ball.
**For an interesting piece on the global reach of the Muslim Brotherhood, including here in the UK, see Standpoint Issue 54, July/August 2013, John Ware 'Time to Wise Up to The Muslim Brotherhood.'
Having visited this page I would be grateful for your feedback, either tick one of the boxes below or make a comment via the comments button.
Previously there have only been events, now we have 'experts' on events. In the age of 24 hour rolling news every revolutionary event spawns dozens of these experts, dragged from academia, or the ever proliferating 'think tanks,' they sit in front of the cameras explaining what is going on; only of course, in truth, they do not know what is gong on, least of all how things will turn out.
Anyone who claims to understand the events currently unfolding in Egypt is a liar. Even those in Tahir Square, in the army barracks or in the haunts of the Muslim Brotherhood do not fully understand what is going on.
Revolutions by their very nature are a combination of the planned, the spontaneous and the unforeseen, which is another way of saying they are dynamic, they have a life of their own. All revolutionaries end up, irrespective of previous conceptions or ideology making it up as they go along. Though like generals, always ready to fight the last war they are always preparing to fight the last revolution; in 1848 they were ready to act out again the events of 1789, the Paris Commune was established with 1848 in mind. Lenin sought to avoid the mistakes of the Commune. All momentarily forget they were living in history, before being swept up by the unpredictable wave of events.*
All that can be said about what is going on in Egypt is that it is a struggle that has consequences for us all, and is a struggle that has many dimensions to it. Fundamentally it is a fight between a primarily secular world view and a view rooted in the arcane religious practices of the 6th century. It is also a struggle between two views of democracy, a view that can be called 'majoritism,' the idea that democracy is the imposition of the will of the majority and the counter view that democracy involves respect for plurality, the rights of minorities and the equality of all citizens.
The struggle is also a struggle for the rights of women and minorities, for secular values to a be allowed to compete in free debate. It is, to some extent, a struggle between the educated middle class and elements of the urban working class and the rural population, who have been well served by the philanthropic elements of Islamism.
In short the forces that the people who currently occupy Tahir square are opposing represent the most reactionary elements currently operating in the world, whose aim is to create a theocratic Islamist state in the most populous country in the Arab world. We should stand with them, for a defeat for Islamism in Egypt is a defeat for Islamism everywhere.**
The intervention of the army presents a game changing dynamic, though how this will play out we do not know. There is of course the horrible shadow of the Algerian precedent, which saw a nation plunged into decades of civil struggle of the most vicious and barbaric kind. Military Coup's are rarely benign, once out of the barracks soldiers can be reluctant to return, and a situation in which the Muslim Brotherhood feels cheated of its legitimate victory does not bode well. However Egypt is not Algeria and is currently possessed of an Army that wants to be loved. Truly a wonder to behold.
II.
To my astonishment I find my self for the second time in my life living in revolutionary times, from Turkey to Brazil, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, and with varying degrees of success people are finding a voice. One small success is all that is required to give birth to a revolutionary consciousness; once that occurs, as we now see in Egypt, people quickly develop the habit of exercising this power.
Revolutions though are to be lived, the experience is incommunicable,it must be breathed. Those touched by revolutionary experience are changed for life, some clinging for the remainder of their lives to the experience of a few fleeting moments, whether that be in Barcelona in 1936, Paris in 1968, or Berlin in 1989.
Across the world we are witnessing the dynamic of revolutionary movements, on the Streets of Brazil or Turkey individuals are discovering their voices. For them the world will never be the same again. We may now be seeing a new world wide phenomenon of unrest, akin to the constant outbreak of wild fires. No sooner is one extinguished in one place than it flares up in another. As for our own complacent and venal elite they would do well to pause as services are further cut back and food banks proliferate. It only takes a small spark.
As I say once set in motion revolutionary movements develop their own dynamic, history having the capacity to start happening when we least expect it.
*Many later revolutionaries were to discover that despite all its great claims Marxism did not provide a crystal ball.
**For an interesting piece on the global reach of the Muslim Brotherhood, including here in the UK, see Standpoint Issue 54, July/August 2013, John Ware 'Time to Wise Up to The Muslim Brotherhood.'
Having visited this page I would be grateful for your feedback, either tick one of the boxes below or make a comment via the comments button.
