Peaceful progress has never happened without the credible threat of a violent alternative backing it up. A radical fringe is required in order to make the moderates look moderate; otherwise, the Overton window shifts away from their cause.
India’s independence was more reliant on Gandhi’s radical cousins who were ready to bring down machine guns on the British than his non-violence. Especially after ww2.
I’m curious which ones you’re thinking of, because the progressive societies I’m aware of did not arrive there peacefully or have at the very least needed violence to defend their progress.
Small changes that don’t move the overall society have certainly been achieved without an implicit threat of violence, but if we want things to get better within our grandchildren’s lifetimes violence, or the threat thereof, will be necessary. The working class needs to understand this because the rich certainly do and practice it daily.
Peaceful progress has never happened without the credible threat of a violent alternative backing it up. A radical fringe is required in order to make the moderates look moderate; otherwise, the Overton window shifts away from their cause.
India’s independence was more reliant on Gandhi’s radical cousins who were ready to bring down machine guns on the British than his non-violence. Especially after ww2.
Similarly, the Powers That Be only capitulated to MLK et al. because of the threat of folks like Malcolm X and Huey Newton as the alternative.
Well radical progress has never happened like that.
I would argue that there have been peaceful societies which have been progressive.
But right now, it seems radical progress is needed.
I’m curious which ones you’re thinking of, because the progressive societies I’m aware of did not arrive there peacefully or have at the very least needed violence to defend their progress.
No they didn’t arrive three peacefully, but to say they made no progress would also be wrong.
The may not cave progressed aa much as the could have, but I’m pretty sure people have — on occasion — managed peaceful progress, rare as it is.
Small changes that don’t move the overall society have certainly been achieved without an implicit threat of violence, but if we want things to get better within our grandchildren’s lifetimes violence, or the threat thereof, will be necessary. The working class needs to understand this because the rich certainly do and practice it daily.