3: The Action Of Governments In Revolutions
The Feeble Resistance of Governments
Le Bon considers that revolutions in France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Poland, Japan, Turkey, Portugal and other locations are often characterized by their instantaneous quality: the established regimes were attacked and overthrown in short order.
Neither is this a recent phenomenon - as it is been seen at other times in history. Historians struggle to comprehend how standing governments, supported by military forces, can be overthrown by "a few rioters." He postulates that governments, particularly long-standing ones, have "blind confidence in their own strength."
He mentions a few examples in which the military failed to take decisive action, and in some instances seemed to stand idly by while the government was overthrown, but except in instances n which the army itself effects the revolution, it generally does not turn against the establishment, but instead merely steps aside.
It can also be observed that no revolution has taken place in which an armed citizenry overwhelmed an army that exerted its force to resist them.
Revolutions Effected By Governments
Governments almost invariably fight revolutions, but in rare instances they may be said to create them through a system of bold and sweeping reforms that change the nature of the relationship between a government and its citizens.
Such revolutions often begin with an autocrat who already holds a public office, and who builds around himself an opposition party to the ruling faction of the regime. When the opposition party gains sufficient strength, the reforms begin.
Unfortunately, what follows such a revolution is often tyranny that "will inevitably be for severer than that which was overthrown." As can be seen in the Chinese and French revolutions of the author's time.
Social Elements Survive After a Revolution
When a government falls, what prevents anarchy from ensuing is that the culture and conventions of the society remain intact. It is entirely possible to change a culture, but not all at once. The ways of daily life, business as usual, carry on even in the wake of revolution.
This raises the question: where are the loyalties of the people? The answer tends to be their culture, tradition, and preferred ways of life. Very often, a revolution merely seeks to depose a government that has been obstructive to the will of the people.
So long as a regime does not interfere too much in everyday life, the vast majority of people are happily ignorant of their government.