65. Revolution in A. de Tocqueville’s perspective
Process of revolution.
Attitude to revolution.
Definition of ,,revolution”.
Mechanisms of revolution.
Conditions which lead to the outbreak of revolution.
Effects of revolution.
Other patterns.
How to avoid revolution?
Democratic revolution.
6.1. ,,Procession of equality”
6.2. Socialism
Process of revolution:
Revolution is one of the main topics in Tocqueville’s writings. The French thinker examines properties of revolution. He wants to understand better the phenomenon of revolution and find the way to prevent it from happening in the future.
In Tocqueville’s opinion revolution is a part of history. History is for him not synonymous with bygone things, but it is a connection between the past and the future. The French statesman expresses the phenomenon of revolution in a historical way, which is characteristic of his political and legal thought.
Attitude to revolution:
Tocqueville’s personal attitude to revolution is negative. However, beside it disadvantages, he notices also some benefits resulting from it.
One of the negative results of revolution is social aversion to all political ideas. This reluctance results from intellectual confusion caused by radical groups, which profess utopian ideas. Another one is a rule that it mostly does not overthrow all basics of an old regime and some of them it even strengthens (centralization, violence against society etc.)
A positive consequence of revolution is a refreshing change of the public situation. Advantages can also include bringing down conservative elite. Furthermore, revolution contributes to education of the society. People know answers to the questions: ,,How revolution comes to pass?” and ,,How can we protect ourselves from it?”.
Definition of ,,revolution”:
The thinker uses the term ,,revolution” in two meanings. A distinguishing feature is duration of revolution.
Revolution in short-term aspect means sudden change of the government’s form. This change takes place not only in order to replace the ruling elité or to introduce new rules of exercising power, but also to modify the political and social situation. This change lasts for several days to years.
Revolution in long-term aspect consist of numerous occurrences, which took place within decades. It results in deep social transformations, concerning, for instance, private and public property. It causes changes of fundamental rules related to both public and private rights. Two types of revolution could be distinguished in long-term aspect. In the first meaning revolution is centuries old process of thorough social system transformation. As an example Tocqueville cites transition: from paganism to Christianity, from the barbarian ages to feudalism, from feudalism to aristocracy. In the second meaning revolution is equivalent to acceleration of this process, which happened several decades.
Mechanisms of revolution:
Tocqueville analysed previous revolutions and revolutions of his time, and in consequence he determined some recurring regularities in each of them. These regularities concerned, inter alia conditions which lead to the outbreak of revolution and effects of revolution.
Conditions which lead to the outbreak of revolution:
Enumerating the factors, which cause the outbreak of revolution, Tocqueville mentions first of all, the interest of the society in carrying out revolution. On the one hand the cause of revolution is an essential and real social need, but on the other hand ideas are more important than needs. In other words the French thinker is convinced that ideas (understood as views typical of some society) prevail over real needs. Due to the above revolutions result from prevailing customs, in which ideas are also included. That is to say, the revolution begins in people’s minds. Ideas trigger off the revolutions. In society they arouse desires, which cannot be satisfied in the existing socio- political system. Then they convince people of this system’s impermanence and state the possibility of changing it. Thereby Tocqueville excludes underground activity from the catalogue of main causes of revolution.
The second factor is the conviction that the only way to fulfil wishes and expectations is to seize power and thereby receive the possibility to introduce improvements in the current legal system.
From Tocqueville’s standpoint the third condition is a will of carrying out the revolution, which the overwhelming majority of the society possess. This will has to be stronger than fear of revolution.
Cooperation of different social classes is another cause of the outbreak of revolution. The lower classes bring in revolution physical strength and eagerness, the upper classes: education, knowledge and leadership.
The French statesman is positive that the improvement of society situation accelerates revolution progress. This paradox is connected with another revolution factor. Namely revolutions are often initiated by reforms of unpopular authority. The most dangerous moment for oppressive government appears, when it starts introducing reforms, in order to improve the present social situation. These reforms are perceived as a sign of weakness of authorities.
The next condition, which leads to the outbreak of revolution is depravity of the rulers. Tocqueville claims that the reason why people lose power, is that they got undeserving of wielding her.
Finally also the replacement of practical thinking, based on political experience, with abstract ideas of theoreticians of the science on state and society, contributes to revolution. During revolution devoid of common sense individuals play the leading role. The leadership of philosophers has a negative effect, because they call for changes, although they are unable to predict their consequences.
Effects of revolution:
As regards the effects of revolution, Tocqueville notices some regularities.
Firstly he holds the view that after the revolution happens longer period of relative peace. However it is not always connected with freedom. In return for peace, the society agrees to dictatorship.
Secondly he thinks that revolution causes loosening of social bonds. People, who during revolution were part of the opposing camp, do not trust one another. Furthermore they are less compassionate and sensitive to needs of others.
Moreover Tocqueville claims that revolution gives a special meaning to legal forms, which remind people of the idea of the law as regulator of social relations.
The French statesman thinks that, when revolution overthrow religion and political system at the same time, it can easily result in degeneration and crime.
Other patterns:
Tocqueville notices also other regularities concerning revolutions.
He thinks that the intensity of revolution depends on the number of people, who are affected. The more people it affects, the more violent it is.
Countries, whose administration is centralized, are exposed more often to the short- term revolution. In such countries political life is concentrated in the capital. That is why capturing the capital guarantees taking over the whole country.
He asserts that common prosperity is a factor, which prevents revolution. Revolution leads to anarchy, which poses a threat to the private property.
How to avoid revolution?
In order to prevent revolution from happening, rulers have to bestow rights and civil liberties on subjects and let the people, who have not been in power so far, rule.
When the unpopular government decides to alleviate oppression, which lasted for a long time, revolution can be avoided only when the authorities improve nation’s fate, before they are forced to do so.
To prevent democratic revolution, ambitious individuals from the outside of aristocracy circle, have to obtain aristocratic privileges.
Democratic revolution:
,,Procession of equality”:
Alternatively Tocqueville defines democratic revolution as ,,procession of equality”, which means gradual transition from aristocratic to democratic society. Democratic revolution is a revolution in long-term aspect, because transition from aristocracy to democracy is the next stage of history of Christian civilization. Striving for equality cannot be stopped. It is caused by God’s will. Furthermore changes, which are caused by revolution, cannot be undone. After democracy is established, return of aristocracy is not possible.
Socialism:
During democratic revolution, there are firstly legal differences between people and secondly ownership right eliminated. The abolition of private property is contrary to principles of natural law. It results in violation of human dignity. For this reason socialism is, according to Tocqueville’s opinion, dangerous. Socialism leads to the outbreak of revolution, which is based on the hatred of lower classes towards the upper ones. This fact turns revolution into bloody civil war.