I feel it would take something immensely huge (i.e. American soil under attack, Elvis' grave destroyed, etc.) for people of an advanced nation to rally with each other, mainly due to the fact that most of them are fine with their posh little lifestyle.
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A revolution involving the overthrow of one's government would require the backing of a large majority of the population in order for it to be successful. This is shown to be true in all successful revolutions such as the French, Russian, and American Revolutions.
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First of all, revolution is a broad term and does not neccesarily mean a government coup or overthrow. It could be as little as rallying people to fix a little thing -after all revolution doesnt have to involve violence.
Since I assume the question implies a coup though...I do think it is quite possible. In fact, under certain circumstances, very possible. It would be definately much harder in the US or somthing because we are generally fine with are lives -and too lazy to do anything- but on the other hand, mass media and telecommunications would allow a very large audience to be brought in. If there was a sufficient enough reason, revolutino could occur it would just take a lot of people and a general refusal of military to fight back. Depends really.
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Which is why I asked what he meant because it was not really clear. But I don't see it happening at all. People never feel as if anything affects them anymore. Media has a big affect on this
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I can only speak for where I live, England, and I believe that, as unhappy people may get and for whatever reason, I cannot see revolution happening in the near future.
No it is not doomed, it just happens slowly I think.
Eventually the situation will reach a point where the need of a revolution will become clearer. I mean, people have to suffer to know that a revolution is needed and perhaps someday the situation gets to a point where the suffering will cause the revolution.
For this reason I think corruption cannot go on forever. Corruption leads to suffering, and suffering leads to revolution.
But it will never happen in modern times and now (talking federal change of government) on because of media. The images people believe are crazy as hell and most people only know of their own little circle in the place they grew up in. Those who can do something are easily hushed by those of power and those who have power and could do something are comfortable.
Movements, possible. Revolution, no.
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Well I was not considering the media, so perhaps you are right.
It is easier to manipulate people today because of the media, but that is also because people are too comfortable in their positions too. If people start to feel the pain in their skin I think the media will start to lose its power. The Catholic church also worked in the medieval times like the media does today, but it lost its power in the end.
Anyway there is big problems I think, and now with the globalization it means a lot more people are conditioned to believe in the same images others do. Globalization creates a common way of thinking shared by many around the world, so if a revolution has to fight agaisnt this common way of thinking.... it will be a challenge.
I left out globalization but that could play a role in keeping the status quo.
People do not give a damn as a whole until they feel they have something to lose. With race also being a factor, so many people can not even see they have the same problems because of race. They fight amongst themselves instead of the core of the issues. Silly distractions.
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I can see a Revolution in our lifetime. Thing's have to really start degrading first though. Americans may not like the government's stance on Foreign Policy, but its certainly not something millions of people are willing to risk death for.
Honestly, I see any Revolution based on immigration. Say 50 years from now, declining birthrates in the West, massive amounts of immigrants retaining their own culture, it's gonna get some people pissed eventually.
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I think there might be a major "revolutionary" movement sometime in the near future, and it will be a major thing -something that will probably go much deeper than politics or government. It might not be violent, but it will be a big change somewhere, or everywhere -and its outcome is going to determine a lot more about lifestlye and who is right and wrong by the virtue of who wins...
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I always thought Fukuyama explained it better. But yes their views are incorrect and, at least Fukuyama is, sometimes plain wrong.
If people are happy with their lives they will not easily start a revolution. But how long will people in modern western countries remain happy with their lives? What if the last steps in Maslow's hierarchy of needs grow beyond the reach of our modern countries?
In those cases I see revolution as a possibility.
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