Impact of 19th century capitalism on insurrection/revolution
(with a Marxian flavor)
Message
According to Marx/Engels and their followers, the only way out is via revolution and dictatorship of the proletariat (workers) to smash the capitalistic system and replace it with one that does not exploit and oppress masses for the benefit of a ruling elite or class.
Necessary conditions for success
Crisis generated by discontent/misery of masses and vacillation by authorities who indicate an unwillingness or inability to come to grips with existing instability.
Vanguard, or disciplined hard core, that offers leadership, provides a way out, and has support of masses.
Why
Crises represent height of confusion/disorder due to many opposing tendencies (centers of gravity) that magnify friction, hence paralyze efforts by authorities to dominate such surges of turmoil. In this sense, crises are periods of vulnerability/weakness that beg to be exploited.
Vanguards represent disciplined moral/mental/physical bodies focused to shape and guide masses as well as participate in action to exploit and expand confusion/disorder of crises that shake adversary’s will to respond in a directed way.
Key insight
Crises and Vanguards are the golden keys that permit us to penetrate to the core of Insurrection/Revolution and, as we shall see later, Modern Guerrilla Warfare.