A Deep Dive into Jacques Ellul's "Autopsy of Revolution" pt.3: The Causes and Conditions for Revolution

What forces within society create the conditions for revolution?

44. A Deep Dive into Jacques Ellul's "Autopsy of Revolution" pt.3: The Causes and Conditions for Revolution

Jacques Ellul makes the rather bland and seemingly self-evident observation that all societies contain within them forces which compete and conflict with one another. Sometimes they lay hidden beneath the surface, sometimes they are out in the open. Sometimes they are mere potentialities. At other times, they seem a constant source of open tension. The social frictions which exist in society are often the source its vitality, the reason why it is dynamic and energetic. But, there must be a mechanism for resolving or releasing these frictions or they build up to the point where they explode. As long as there is a way to mediate disputes and an ability to absorb grievances, a revolution will not occur. In this regard, agitation may actually serve a useful social purpose: blowing off steam, releasing the pressure. But if there is no mechanism for alleviating tension, or if there is no balance, such that one side is heavily favored over the other, grievances will grow until revolu…