The Role and Importance of the Revolutionaries.

Introduction:

It is true that there is no discipline called “Revolution Science,” nor is there a specific academic field by that name. However, many disciplines and branches of science are dedicated to studying revolutions from various angles. Political Science, for example, studies the political, social, and economic causes that lead to revolutions, as well as their impact on the political system and society.

Sociology focuses on studying social movements and revolutions from a sociological perspective, analyzing the social and cultural factors that shape these movements.

History examines the historical trajectory of revolutions, seeking to understand their causes and consequences within their temporal and spatial context.

Additionally, Psychology delves into the psychology of the masses involved in revolutions, exploring their motivations and behaviors.

The absence of a standalone discipline known as “Revolution Science” might be attributed to the complex nature of revolutions. Revolutions are multifaceted events influenced by a myriad of interconnected factors, making it difficult to confine their study to a single discipline. The study of revolutions requires the combined efforts of multiple fields, which makes it challenging to establish a single discipline that encompasses all aspects.

Nonetheless, the diverse scientific and academic approaches to revolutions contribute to understanding social change, the mechanisms of radical social transformation, and the evolution of societies.

Studying the causes of revolutions can help prevent future political and social crises. Studying their outcomes can contribute to building more just, stable, and secure societies.

Revolution Against Authority:

A popular revolution against a ruling regime can be defined as a large-scale collective movement by the people to overthrow an existing political system and replace it with a new one.

This movement typically includes demonstrations, protests, and strikes, and in some cases, it may escalate to armed violence.

The reasons that drive a popular revolution are varied but often include:

1. Injustice and Tyranny: When people feel that the ruling regime practices oppression and repression, depriving them of their basic rights, they explode into popular action. The larger the base of injustice, the more significant the movement’s impact in shaping and creating the contours of the revolution.
2. Widespread Corruption and Nepotism in State Institutions: This leads to the deterioration of living conditions and the unfair distribution of wealth, creating a climate ripe for revolution.
3. High Levels of Poverty and Unemployment: When the government fails to provide job opportunities and essential services to its citizens.
4. Violation of Political and Civil Liberties: When opposition voices are suppressed or silenced.
5. Desire for Change: The people’s desire to change the existing political system and establish a new one that guarantees justice, equality, and human dignity.

Revolutionaries as Agents of Change:

A revolutionary can be defined as an individual or a group of individuals who rebel or resist an existing political or social system in pursuit of radical change.

The drive for change often stems from a combination of fundamental and secondary factors that together create a revolutionary climate and prepare the ground for the revolutionary citizen.

The traits that typically distinguish a revolutionary include:

1. Courage: The ability to face risks and challenges.
2. Strong Belief in the Cause: A deep conviction in the ideas and principles for which they rise up.
3. Willingness to Sacrifice: The readiness to forgo comfort, wealth, and sometimes life itself to achieve the revolution’s goals.
4. Political Awareness: A deep understanding of the political and social conditions.
5. Organizational Skills: The ability to organize and mobilize the people toward achieving the goals.

Types of Revolutionaries:

Revolutions come in various forms, the most important being:

1. Political Revolution: Aimed at changing the existing political system, leading to political revolutionaries.
2. Social Revolution: Aimed at changing the existing social system, leading to social revolutionaries.
3. Cultural Revolution: Aimed at changing prevailing values and beliefs, leading to cultural revolutionaries.
4. Economic Revolution: Aimed at completely overhauling the economic system or correcting its course, leading to economic revolutionaries.
5. General Revolution: Aimed at changing a reality that includes all or some of the above, leading to revolutionaries committed to general change according to the trajectory of their revolution.

From this, it becomes clear that a revolutionary is not necessarily violent. Revolutions can be peaceful or violent, depending on the nature of the ruling regime and its reaction to protests, as well as the general social mindset, understanding of reality, and the ability to control the movement with reason, wisdom, and insight.

Revolutions are also not always successful. They may achieve their objectives, fail, or achieve only partial success, temporarily failing to meet all their legitimate demands.

Moreover, revolutionaries are not perfect; they are human, capable of making mistakes, contradictions, losing their way, or being influenced by internal or external factors that shape their path.

The Revolutionary: A Catalyst for Growth:

The revolutionary is considered a central figure for several reasons:

1. Driver of Social Change: Revolutions and protest movements led by revolutionaries are the primary engines of social change. They seek to transform existing systems and values, making the study of their behavior and ideas crucial for understanding the dynamics of social change.
2. Symbol of Resistance: Revolutionaries represent resistance against oppression and tyranny. Studying their psychology and motivations helps understand the nature of human resistance and how it responds to oppressive conditions.
3. Source of Social Innovation: Revolutionaries often introduce innovative ideas and new solutions to social and political problems.
4. Revealing Social Contradictions: They expose hidden aspects of society, such as social contradictions, marginalization, and injustice.
5. Development of Social Theories: The study of revolutions and social movements has contributed to the development of various social theories, such as conflict theory, crowd theory, and social identity theory.

Revolutionaries also contribute to serving their society and country in various ways, including:

1. Motivating Change: Revolutionaries serve as a powerful motivator for positive change in society. By challenging the status quo and rejecting injustice and tyranny, they push society to seek solutions to its problems and achieve social justice.
2. Voices for the Oppressed: Revolutionaries give voice to the oppressed and marginalized in society. They express their pain and aspirations and strive to secure their rights.
3. Drivers of Development: Successful revolutions can stimulate development in various fields, whether political, economic, or social. Revolutions often open the door to new ideas and modern techniques.
4. Strengthening National Identity: The struggle for freedom and independence strengthens social bonds among members of society.
5. Building a More Just Society: Revolutionaries aim to build a more just and equitable society, where everyone has equal opportunities.

However, it is important to note that the impact of revolutions on society varies from case to case. Some revolutions may lead to chaos and instability, while others may result in the advancement and development of society.

Thus, it can be said that revolutionaries play a crucial role in driving the wheel of change in general, but their impact must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Conclusion:

Taking into account that the historical, social, and political context of each revolution differs with its unique characteristics—whether of the revolutionaries themselves, the object of the revolution, external intervention, or internal alignment—utilizing the presence of revolutionaries in society requires the following:

First: Channeling Positive Energy: The energy and enthusiasm of revolutionaries can be directed toward building a better society by:

1. Encouraging revolutionaries to participate in volunteer projects that benefit society, such as rebuilding damaged areas or providing humanitarian aid.
2. Supporting education and awareness programs aimed at raising citizens’ awareness of their rights and duties.
3. Encouraging revolutionaries to contribute to building strong civil institutions, such as unions, political parties, and civil society organizations.

Second: Dialogue and Understanding: Between revolutionaries, the de facto authorities, and other segments of society. Instead of allowing external intervention, which may be negative or unsatisfactory for the revolutionaries, avoiding this or excluding revolutionaries from the process may deprive them of the benefits of their sacrifices. The dialogue process should include:

1. Holding open dialogue tables between various parties to reach consensual solutions, whether individually or collectively, in a manner that is mutually beneficial and patriotic. This ensures that the revolutionary is present at the table, achieving their goals through their efforts without having them imposed by external force.
2. Using the media to spread messages of peace, tolerance, and dialogue, and not leaving the media sector to those with malicious agendas.

Third: Reforming the Political System: Legal reform and fighting corruption by:

1. Enacting laws that guarantee human rights, public freedoms, and equal opportunities.
2. Combating corruption in all its forms and holding the corrupt accountable.
3. Distributing wealth equitably among all members of society.

Fourth: Building a Better Future: For future generations by:

1. Investing in education and vocational training for youth.
2. Creating job opportunities to reduce unemployment.
3. Protecting the environment and natural resources.

It is also recommended that revolutionaries respect the law and public order, avoid violence and vandalism, and even if drawn into a cycle of violence, they should take the initiative to enforce the law rather than resort to barbarity.

Moreover, any reform process must be comprehensive, encompassing all segments of society, with the understanding that positive change requires time and effort, and cannot be achieved overnight. Finally, revolutionaries must learn lessons from the past and avoid repeating mistakes.

In summary, society can benefit from the presence of revolutionaries by channeling their positive energy toward building a better society, engaging in dialogue and understanding with other parties, and reforming the political, social, and cultural systems to build a brighter future for the next generations.

Dr. Zaher Ihssan Baadarani
Presidency office
Article
Syrian Future Movement (SFM)