On Communism:Page48

in Esperanto

Chapter 8: NEW REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT

2. There is another way of revolution.

2.1. Methodology of revolution

Speaking of revolution, the proletarian theory of revolution in the past assumed that the armed working class would stand armed. But Marx, who was basically an armed revolutionist, also suggested that revolution could be done by peaceful means. However, he never specified a specific methodology for a "peaceful revolution." 　

No matter how much you call a revolution, if you can't find a concrete way to put it into practice, it will end up as empty words. However, in the past, there was little tendency to think about revolutions in a methodological way, and even in an era when people could still feel a great deal of reality in revolutions, they tended to end up with vague images of armed revolutions. 　

However, precisely because the revolution is losing its reality today, it is necessary to thoroughly question the method of revolution - especially the method suitable for the plebian revolution shown in the previous section. Through that, the reality of the revolution will be regained again.

2.2. Popular uprising

The popular uprising is the most symbolic image of the revolution due to its dramatic nature. The Russian Revolution (1917) is a representative example of a successful popular revolution since the 20th century, but the Cuban Revolution (1959), in which young people raised armed uprisings through guerrilla activities, can also be included in this category. 　

In this method, the people who participate in the revolution usually stand armed, but there are also unarmed popular uprisings. The large-scale demonstrations (1989) that dismantled the "Berlin Wall" and forced the extinguishment of the former East Germany, a loyal satellite of the former Soviet Union, symbolic of the Soviet-style collectivist system and Cold War. It can also be seen as an example of an unarmed popular uprising.

In any case, the opponent of a revolution caused by a popular uprising is always determined to be an autocratic repressive regime. This is because a large-scale popular uprising can only be realized when the people's antipathy and hatred toward the regime are used as energy. 　

In that sense, a revolution caused by a popular uprising would create a fierce confrontation with the regime. In addition to the inevitability of full-scale confrontation with the police and military mobilized by the regime to suppress it, as was the case with the Russian Revolution, counter-revolutionary maneuvers by the old regime may develop into civil war even after the revolution is completed. 　

On the other hand, in some cases, the regime itself may become as oppressive as the old regime. The oppression by the Communist Party after the Russian Revolution should be remembered as the most bitter example.

In general, revolutions caused by popular uprisings are often triggered by accidental demonstrations by the people, and it is difficult to predict the direction of their outbreak and development. 　

In any case, it can be said that the chances of witnessing a revolution by this method are also decreasing today, as blatant forms of tyrannical rule are gradually decreasing. A plebian revolution in the form of such a popular uprising is still possible under repressive totalitarian regimes, but it will be relatively limited.

2.3. Collective non-voting　

In recent years, many countries have increasingly implemented "democratic" elections. There is something to be happy about in this trend, but on the other hand, In many countries, indirect representative politics through elections has become dysfunctional due to the alienation between professional politicians and the public, corrupted influence-peddling, etc., and is exposed to its ultimate limits.

However, it is practically difficult to overthrow a regime established through elections that satisfies "democratic" criteria with a popular uprising. Therefore, the method of collective non-voting is assumed. This is a method by which voters do not vote collectively in all public elections, both central and local, to prevent election candidates from being elected, and to establish neither parliaments nor governments (including those at the local government level).

In this way, after creating a "state of anarchy" by legally invalidating elections based on the provisions of the election law, the steps will be taken to peacefully transfer power through negotiations with the remaining former government. Therefore, this method is basically an unarmed, peaceful revolution, and also has the unique character of a "stay-at-home revolution," in which citizens do not have to go out into the streets to implement non-voting. 　

However, as far as I know, there have been no historical examples of revolutions using this method. The reason for this is the technical difficulty of the very means of collective non-voting. 　

In fact, in the electoral law, the minimum number of votes required for election is almost intentionally set low in preparation for situations such as mass non-voting, and in some countries, voting itself is mandated with penalties. Because of this, the establishment can also force the masses to vote with the threat of punishment.

Therefore, collective non-voting may not be successful in its purest form, unless it is implemented in combination with the popular uprising methods described above. Despite such technical difficulties, this method can be said to be suitable for the plebian revolution as another method of revolution through a kind of civil disobedience.