Definition and Process of Fomenting a Revolution

The art of fomenting a revolution is a difficult one, one bringing danger and ill repute. A revolution, or violent reform against authority, forms through reacting against either an administration's aggressive action or lack of action. Therefore, the administration is often to blame, not the revolutionaries.

However, what type of revolution is being discussed? It is merely a political revolution against state institutions? No, revolts can occur against any forms of administration (states, religions, schools, or workplaces. Furthermore, what does a revolution attempt to accomplish? Contrary to statist stereotypes, revolutions are not solely about gaining control of the administration. Even if a leader uses reforms as an excuse to gain power, his supporters, whom make revolution possible, revolt in the name of reform. In essence, revolutions attempt to accomplish reform despite leaders potentially using reform as cover for their own power hunger. However, reforms are not necessarily altruistic, they involve self-interest; self-interest is not selfish — self-interest considers others, selfishness does not. Revolutions and reforms are not as evil as the statist would like you to believe. Their morality depends upon their intent, not the action itself. Finally, is revolution a full-scale war against the administration (ignoring the fact most revolutionary wars are guerrilla wars)? If it were, schools would be a bad example, as a full-scale war against a school hasn't occurred. No, a revolution is a violent action against an administration closed to change. Violence may take the form of war, vandalism, murders or assassinations, theft, or violent protests and riots.

A revolution has numerous forms prior to becoming a formal revolution. Usually beginning mildly, each step grows in intensity.

Any reform starts with at least one person seeking change. That individual then persuades others to join the cause. These few reformers have two courses of action. Protracting their desired change to insure success, they could attempt to persuade the majority of the governed. Or they could work to enable risky, immediate change. Many reforms commit to elements of both. Devoted to change, various members use their distinct abilities for the cause — pamphlets are written, street speeches are shouted, protests are organized, donations are gathered, and influential patrons are recruited.

Slowly the reformers petition the administration for the desired change. If the administration eventually acquiesces to their demands, no revolution is likely. But if the administration censors their writings and speech, prevents or attacks their protests, or otherwise rejects their attempted reform, a revolution remains likely; revolutions also remain possible if administrations lack acknowledgment for reform.

When the reformers tire of either the administrations aggressive response or lack of response, they become infuriated, leading to two potential actions: secession or revolution. Secession, removing oneself from an organized administration and establishing your own authority and administration, is still a form of revolution; however, it is only successful if the revolutionaries are within one geographic location.

Once the reformers see revolution as necessary, actions are reallocated. Existent supporters are informed, currency is collected, weaponry is warehoused, and strategy is discussed. Eventually they will act on their preparations in order to achieve the desired change in a more violent process than the revolutionaries originally imagined when they were mere reformers.

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