The word revolution by its very definition signifies a rapid change or a sudden deviation from the normal. It is a very fast paced phenomenon as compared to evolution. Evolution, although a slow process, ensures stability and long term benefits. Now, limiting the discussion to social and political sphere, we can consider the comparison of 17-19th Century France and Britain, in this regard. French Revolution of 1789 turned the French social and political system upside down. The core values of the revolution namely, ‘ Liberty, equality and Fraternity’, were noble in spirit, but the country had to witness a bloodbath to achieve these high ideals. The Reign of Terror showed the Frenchmen themselves the other side of coin, the horrible face of popular power. Still then, the revolutionary gains proved to be temporary. By 1799, Napoleon was at the helm of affairs rather than a popular democratic government. France had to endure first the Revolutionary Wars and then Napoleonic Wars. For a generation, Europe was caught up in flames.
In 1815, Monarchy was restored in France. France was engulfed in a vicious cycle of power struggle between the republicans and the monarchists.
Englishmen, on the other hand, achieved emancipation through constitutional means. The Glorious Revolution(1688) was bloody indeed but other than that, Britain witnessed relatively peaceful transition of power to the people through institution-building, and the fruits of evolution in this case have been sustained to this day.
The Reformation and subsequent Wars of Religion(16-17th Century), The Russian Revolution(1917), The Communist Revolution in China(1949), The Cultural revolution(1966-76), were all traumatic phases of history. Eventually, the road to a nation’s prosperity demands long term evolutionary process which in turn requires patience and commitment.
Going back to the definition of revolution, Pakistan has already witnessed sudden political changes in the past, which were nothing short of a political revolution. We have had our share of experimentations with Parliamentary Democracy, Presidential System, Martial Law and Dictatorship. Nothing will work for us unless we are fully dedicated to the painstaking process of institution-making and nation building.
Our people romanticise the French Revolution but a few of us know that a mental revolution was the forebearer of actual revolution in France. Another important aspect of a revolution is that it is always followed by indiscriminate political victimisation of past and potentially future rivals. We lack the political awareness to see the big picture in context of historical developments. Our people are politically charged but not politically educated.
In Pakistan, there is a vibrant middle class and social mobility is not stagnant. We need a social, economic and religious reformation more than a political upheaval. For this purpose, all the stakeholders in the future of this country must shoulder the burden to transform Pakistan into a respectable member of international community.
P.S :- Revolution --> Anarchy --> Chaos --> Need for Security --> Dictatorship --> Revolution…
Best Case Studies : Rise of Julius Caesar and Napoleon Bonaparte.
