Revolution, Evolution or Revolutionary Evolution?
There is only one letter that separates these two words [evolution - (r)evolution], yet how close, or, how far stand to each other? The term Evolution usually defines the biological progress of species (of course this is a simplified short definition), however, assuming that we can use the term Evolution in the socio-political field, both these concepts can be used to express types of processes which can drive societies into a more advanced socio-political organizing.
If we accept the usage of these terms for such a purpose, then we have two concepts leading theoretically to the same result, but with quite a different approach. Revolution express the willing of the majority to change the authoritarian characteristics of a society and build a more democratic, equitable, balanced and therefore, advanced society. It is usually violent, has certain leaders and motives, can be seen directly and brings rapid changes that shape a new society.
Evolution, on the other hand, is really a very slow process and therefore cannot be seen directly. There are no leaders, no certain motives and changes are very slow too. While the big disadvantage of Evolution, is that changes come very slow, these changes are probably more stable and permanent than in the case of a Revolution.
Two of the most significant revolutions in human history, the French Revolution and the Russian Revolution, brought historical changes in the socio-political field and set new possibilities for building more advanced societies. French Revolution brought the nation-state as a carrier of majority's rights, while Russian Revolution was a first attempt to erase the class structure of the society.
From the first moment, however, despite the revolutionary momentum, human nature apparently prevailed, dragging backwards the societies into a progressive downgrade.
Although the urban class had significant contribution to the French Revolution, ultimately took the place of Monarchy and Feudalism and became an elite based on the economic power. On the other hand, Soviet Communism built authoritarian states based on a monstrous bureaucracy, very far from the theoretical principles of Communism.
Despite all the progress in human and labor rights all these decades, today we are witnessing the transformation of Capitalism into a global brutal Feudalism with neoliberalism as the intermediate stage. After the collapse of the Soviet Communism, Western societies are going backwards and people are losing their rights faster and faster. It seems that revolutions failed to bring permanent, long-term changes in the societies.
http://failedevolution.blogspot.gr/2014/11/revolution-evolution-or-revolutionary.html
If we accept the usage of these terms for such a purpose, then we have two concepts leading theoretically to the same result, but with quite a different approach. Revolution express the willing of the majority to change the authoritarian characteristics of a society and build a more democratic, equitable, balanced and therefore, advanced society. It is usually violent, has certain leaders and motives, can be seen directly and brings rapid changes that shape a new society.
Evolution, on the other hand, is really a very slow process and therefore cannot be seen directly. There are no leaders, no certain motives and changes are very slow too. While the big disadvantage of Evolution, is that changes come very slow, these changes are probably more stable and permanent than in the case of a Revolution.
Two of the most significant revolutions in human history, the French Revolution and the Russian Revolution, brought historical changes in the socio-political field and set new possibilities for building more advanced societies. French Revolution brought the nation-state as a carrier of majority's rights, while Russian Revolution was a first attempt to erase the class structure of the society.
From the first moment, however, despite the revolutionary momentum, human nature apparently prevailed, dragging backwards the societies into a progressive downgrade.
Although the urban class had significant contribution to the French Revolution, ultimately took the place of Monarchy and Feudalism and became an elite based on the economic power. On the other hand, Soviet Communism built authoritarian states based on a monstrous bureaucracy, very far from the theoretical principles of Communism.
Despite all the progress in human and labor rights all these decades, today we are witnessing the transformation of Capitalism into a global brutal Feudalism with neoliberalism as the intermediate stage. After the collapse of the Soviet Communism, Western societies are going backwards and people are losing their rights faster and faster. It seems that revolutions failed to bring permanent, long-term changes in the societies.
http://failedevolution.blogspot.gr/2014/11/revolution-evolution-or-revolutionary.html
Source...