Revolution for Change

A detailed Summary of Revolution for Change

Alexis de Tocqueville and Karl Marx both believed that revolutions were inevitable. However, the two did not agree on all aspects of revolution. De Tocqueville found that revolutions couldn't be deterred, but also found that no laws in history determined revolutions. On the other hand, Marx used a logical framework to claim that revolutions were acts of history.

The focus of de Tocqueville's study on revolutions was the French Revolution. In his book entitled The Old Regime and the French Revolution, de Tocqueville addressed the causes of the revolution and gave clues pertaining to the link between revolutions and the formation of modern states. The problems with the old regime began with the weakness of the king, Louis XVI. Until the revolution France was an Absolute Monarchy; this meant that the monarch had large powers over society. Some of these powers included the national system of justice, the right to tax, the right to put up arms (as leader of the military forces), and heavy influence upon the Catholic Church. All these powers were in need of a strong king to survive, unfortunately that was not the case. According to de Tocqueville, had there been a wiser king the revolution may not have occurred. Another reason attribut

Marx saw the rise of the bourgeoisie as a significant moment, he also saw the bourgeoisie as a progressive force in human history. In Marx's dialectical scheme competition and overproduction would lead to a final catastrophic crisis. Additionally, the proletariat would recognize its alienation, and would gradually begin to fight back; culminating in a revolution.

Karl Marx used the logical framework, the dialectic, to claim that revolutions were acts of history. The dialectic says that if you use a certain way of thinking, you will have to come to the same conclusion. His dialectical materialism stated that in order to understand the human condition, one must know that all things in this world are subject to change and that this change results because everything in the world exists as a combination of contradictions.

The growth of trade, industry, and the town life also led to problems with the old regime, according to de Tocqueville. Expanding businesses led to rising prices; this was detrimental to the privileged classes that had fixed incomes. The bourgeoisie profited during this time and became more wealthy and powerful. As the bourgeoisie was the largest proportion of the population, this increase in wealth and power gave the bourgeoisie more power. This highlighted the increases in town life as the bourgeoisie profited from good business expansion. This was another reason why the bourgeoisie despised the tax system, it meant that money was being used to pay taxes when it could instead be used to expand further. Therefore, the bourgeoisie preferred a uniform tax system. In addition, the growth of new ideas among the bourgeoisie reflected their high education levels. This was further enhanced by the age of enlightenment that was occurring in France at the time. Thinkers during this time presented ideas of a liberal society that grew with free commerce. This idea was very appealing, especially among the businessmen in the bourgeoisie. The thinkers also challenged the right of absolute rule; they had ideas of equal rights and the abolition of the class systems. Along with the idea of a liberal society, the idea of equality was also appealing.

The differences between de Tocqueville and Marx were as follows: de Tocqueville believed that feudalism and capitalism did not clash at the same moment in history, he saw that feudalism was an already dying institution. Marx, on the other hand, believed that

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Approximate Word count = 1634
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Politics