The legislative elections we live in France look like a revolution. With a historical participation, never the extremes have been so high and the extreme right so close to power. Even if the “republican front” is able to hamper an absolute majority, this revolution should not be underestimated.
First it is necessary to have a look at this concept to see what it is related to. Revolution is linked to a radical change of regime or phase. For instance Jesus Christ, in my opinion, can be seen as a revolutionary. His vision of women, of the excluded or of children look to be a great progress for his time. For instance the Mary and Marth parabole, where the Christ is favoring Mary who is following his teaching against Marth who was preparing the meals. This attitude was a great advance for his time. It was also an important signal for the right of women. Misfortunately, during centuries, these rights have been forgotten.
Another example is the French Revolution. This reaction against the tyranny of the Monarchy was also the reflect of an underground economic reality. The emergence of a mobiliary economy, led by the emergence of modern capitalism, was favoring businesses over landers. This transformation allowed the emergence of a bourgeoisie that took the advantage on the aristocrats concerning the economy. As the economic power often precedes the political one, it shows that the bourgeoisie has been able to impose its model, in this case liberalism, that outcompeted the conservative traditional system of the aristocrats. This model was led by the value of work, that was justifying property for Locke ; and as well the fact that work was seen as a kind of priest for the protestants. For the intellectual Emmanuel Todd, the values of education and work were at the core of the advent of modernism, and was a revolution in itself.
How to approach this phase of revolution we live in? In my opinion, it looks more as a reaction against a fear of decline. The fact there is a need of frontiers, a need of identity is concomitant to a general education going down. This aspect is detrimental to explain this reactionary revolution, which is explained, but not excused, by a fear concerning identity. Too often our leaders lack long term vision for our countries. If De Gaulle had “plans” in the economy, our current leaders often lack it. There is no spirit of innovation and progress, no vision for the future that can inspire population. This lack is a sign of mediocrity that countries like China don’t have : in China there is a curse on innovation that is stimulating its population. This spirit of progress was the culture of positivism for instance. It has to be found again, even if it has to comply to humanistic and environmental standards. This mentality which is watching toward the future and not a lost past can be a way to fight the insane and destructive reactionary revolution we may have.
The observer 