The 5th Empire - Revolution

It is hard to imagine a system of rulers and subjects in which the subjects benefit at the expense of the ruling class. At best, the system is neutral with rulers refraining from taking advantage of their powers. However, no state has ever existed where the ruling class has not been corrupted by their powers over others. No state has ever remained limited in size.

Revolts and revolutions have been required in order to reign in the state. This has sometimes been relatively peaceful, like the many smaller revolts we have seen in England. Other times, revolts have been violent, like the French revolution.

The logic of these revolts have always been that the state has become corrupted by bad rulers, and that it must therefore be furnished with new and less corrupt rulers. Never are these revolts targeted against the state itself. The revolutionaries see themselves as the good guys. They have solutions that will end corruption. Their rulers will benefit the subjects at the expense of the ruling class.

However, 5th Empire citizens know that it is the state itself that is the problem, and that a big state is worse than a small state. It has nothing to do with the rulers. Citizens are largely unimpressed by revolutions. While they may applaud some of the actions taken by revolutionaries to limit the size of government, they do not believe that revolution is a lasting solution.

Furthermore, revolutions are high risk ventures. There is no way of knowing their outcomes. Communists won a revolution in Russia, but lost in Finland. A very large number of Finnish communists were executed at the end of their failed revolution.

There is also no way of knowing what a revolution may bring. It may just as well bring tyranny as liberty. The French revolution ended in a blood bath. The Russian revolution ended in tears, with millions starving to death.

Revolutions require centralized leaderships. Their organizational form are those of government. Add to this that most people believe that a ruling class must exist in order for people to be safe,  and it is clear why revolutions end in a replacement rather than an abolishment of government.

The 5th Empire will not become dominant through revolution. Rather, it will grow organically. The 5th Empire thrives and grows where the state has no say. There are enclaves everywhere. When the state fails to deliver on its promises, the 5th Empire expands to fill the vacuum. Wherever people do what they find expedient without consulting state laws, the 5th Empire is in operation.

Revolution - By Jean-Pierre Houël - Bibliothèque nationale de France, Public Domain, Link