There are many academic disciplines that are being studied and taught in the universities of our nation. But even during the hey-days of the 20th century's counter-culture movement, there has been no recognition that the study of the dynamics of revolution could be it's own field. It's more often treated in philosophy, political science, history, or sociology courses, where the its aspects are boiled down to their most simplistic roots. Philosophy suggests that the impetus behind revolutions comes from the power of ideas; political science says it comes from organized movements; history offers the notion that specific grievances propel it; while sociology suggests that it is borne out of sheer human misery.

All of those are correct, as a matter of fact. But in providing a fractured view of the mechanisms of revolution, modern academia has created an educational environment in which it is impossible to gather together a blue print for starting one of one's own. It's probably an accident that we have come to this state, but it fits perfectly well with all other social policies which exist to defuse rapid, wide spread social change. Steps have been taken to ensure that the status quo will not be altered by any popular, grass roots movement any time soon. As complicated as social/political revolutions are, there are two factors that seem to have existed during most of the ones that occurred during the twentieth century: Angry, unemployed, young men; and war veterans. Take, for example, the Marxist revolution of Russia near the end of World War I. Or the political revolution in Germany which ultimately sparked the Second World War.

In Russia's case, there had been a climate of social unrest for some time. There were no jobs, no available land, and no real prospects for many of the millions of unruly young lads wandering the streets. When the war came, many of them were forced to participate, armed with outdated weapons, insufficient food, etc. These were men who were already unhappy with their lots in life, and when they finally decided to kill their unsympathetic commanders, the vast majority of them turned around and went home, where they were used (and eventually betrayed) by the Communist intelligencia.

Which brings me to a minor point: Some might wonder why I didn't include so called "intellectuals" in my list of factors which are required for a revolution to spark up. The fact is, that while they can be a great organizing factor, intellectuals are certainly not necessary. Because when the fighting starts, one finds that goateed, coffee drinking, spectacle wearing chaps are not as useful as a brawny, rock stupid, war vet with combat training. High ideals might net you a good term paper, or an interesting conversation at the coffee house, but they won't win you a nation.

In fact, the National Socialist movement of Germany in the 1930's was distinctly lacking in intellectuals. Sure, there were guys who could yammer up a storm in the country's beer halls, but polemics and demagoguery are not the sole province of the well-learned (watch the Fox News channel if you want to see the proof of that). But with the German economy in the toilet, and masses of men who had fought in the Great War out of work, a few ambitious, if not intelligent, men were able to parley national angst into a movement which would later be responsible for nearly burning the whole of Europe to the ground.

The United States seems relatively safe from the horrors of a revolution promulgated from within. Even though we've been engaged in armed conflicts since the beginning of the 1900's. For one thing, the unemployment rate only ever got to a truly dangerous level during the Great Depression, which was soon sorted out by a tremendous effort of domestic policy and (more effectively some would say) by the start of World War II. By then, it seems that we had the problem of preventing an internal uprising well in hand.

After World War II, our former GI's were given scholarships and long term, low interest loans to keep them quiet. They were actually encouraged to settle down and have families (as if they needed it). Employment was good, due to the resurgence of industry caused by the cold war. Even so, it was close; all of those young ladies working in the factories, after finally getting a brief taste of independence, had to be locked out of their workplaces to make room for their (possibly politically unstable) husbands and boyfriends. A quick look at the "educational" films of the 50's reveals the message very clearly: Girls mature, marry, have babies while the man of the house busies himself with whatever work he winds up doing. The social stigma against contraception (remember this was before the pill; and before AIDS made condoms de reguer and therefore more socially acceptable), the women of our nation were practically guaranteed a long string of sweet, adorable, ball and chains to keep them busy.

But, with unemployment low, and fewer men called to combat, we seem safer than ever from a 2nd American revolution. And it doesn't stop there. Ask yourself where one is mostly likely to find unemployed young men? Prison, of course. With the penalties for any crime you'd care to mention getting tougher and tougher (mandatory sentencing for non-violent drug crimes, for example) it becomes easier and easier for the government to lock up possible revolutionaries.

We also have a peace-time standing army. Now, when lonely young men with no prospects go off to war, they don't ever have to return to the harsh, cruel world of lassair-faire employment. They know that they have a place where they are wanted, where they might make some bad decisions about what to specialize in occasionally, but they never have to concern themselves with being out on the street, begging for change. Rather than becoming an ex-soldier, they can stay as long as they please until retirement age (at which point they've grown out of the classification of "angry young men", and are therefore safe to unleash).

In spite of these measures, the engine of revolution in America still exists. As long as there are young men, wars, and capitalism, it always will. But fortunately for us (ineffectual middle-class drones, that is) we have managed to starve this engine of the fuel it needs to run. So we are safe. Safe as safe can be... for now. Watch your neighbors.

-B. C. Silvia