Revolutionary Potential -- How it Affects Societies Across the World

The term "revolution" does not have to be applied only to politics. It's essentially a fundamental change that can occur in any field. While it may be used positively as an adjective, not every revolution is positive. If a country turns into anarchy because of a revolution, then the change isn't necessarily positive. If you become an amputee, the change is definitely fundamental to your life. It doesn't mean that this personal revolution is positive.

Revolutionary potential might as well exist as an inevitable possibility in any field. By "revolutionary potential", I refer to the likelihood of fundamental changes occurring in our lives.

Anyone who is capable of making a fundamental change can also become a revolutionary. Bear this in mind. There are those who have this potential, and there are those who do not. That potential isn't necessarily intristic to the individual. It might as well depend on many things, and doing so alone is very difficult, (if not impossible). Therefore, in the name of this potential, people may collaborate with others, forge alliances, and gather resources.

That's why complete stability in a society, even if possible, is not everlasting. It's not everlasting because there might be people with revolutionary potential, willing to make changes. When people attempt to revolutionize, but are unaware of their true potential, they might be delusional. Delusional because their potential might not be as high as they think.

The effects of a fundamental change aren't necessarily immediate. They may take time to spread their influence. In some cases, that change might as well occur after the revolutionary's death.

Be surprised, but these changes can occur by mistake. Corn flakes, my favorite dish, were made by mistake. Ironically, that mistake revolutionized the food industry. By the way, that might as well be an example of a positive mistake.

The success of a revolutionary person or group is never guaranteed. I am putting aside matters of fate to make a point. A person may have great revolutionary potential but fail for many reasons, such as lack of resources, lack of manpower, and so on. Sometimes that failure may also occur because of a person's lack of expertise (even though they have this potential regardless).

Revolutions occur intentionally because of the human spirit. I am referring to our willpower to endure and overcome. I am willing to have surgery in May because I have the willpower to revolutionize my personal life. It is just an example.

Revolutions, positive or negative, threaten social stability. Therefore, those who are peaceful by nature may be surprised when revolutionary potential gets in the way. That is because not everyone would agree with the current stability in society.

Concepts such as "world peace" and "pacifism" are therefore unrealistic because some may seek to revolutionize. Even if a revolutionary idea isn't an objectively good one, some might not see it that way.

Afghanistan is technically 2 years old. The former government was overthrown by the Taliban. Their flag is now the same as the Taliban flag. It is 2 years old because it is now a new country: the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Westerners may think that the Afghan revolution was a very bad idea. Maybe certain Muslims will disagree?

(The Emirate is not recognized internationally. Hence why the internet may tell you that South Sudan is the youngest nation thus far).

There are two ways to depress the human spirit: distract it with nonsense or oppress the people. These two methods are not mutually exclusive. In a democracy, protest is a key way to express the human spirit.

However, it is a double-edged sword when it leads to rebellion. In a dictatorship, the human spirit may be severely oppressed because protests are generally illegal. However, the human spirit may prevail, even in dictatorships.

North Korea has yet to be overthrown. That is because their oppression is one of the most draconian in the world. If a person breaks a law, their punishment can affect multiple generations. As a result, Koreans may be extremely cautious, if they do not want their families to be punished as well.

As long as we do not live in a vacuum or in the wilderness, revolutionary potential always exists. It always exists because many people are rebellious by nature and see themselves as visionaries, and so on.

And the dangers of revolution begin when an idea inspires many people with little or no doubt.

Here are some sources:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/revolution

https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2023/country-chapters/afghanistan

https://photocontest.smithsonianmag.com/photocontest/detail/three-generations-of-punishment/