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>Reform and revolution are a false dichotomy. Reformist and revolutionist actions aren't contradictory, but reform and revolution absolutely are. People who ad
by ImprobableTruth 6y ago
>Reform and revolution are a false dichotomy.
Reformist and revolutionist actions aren't contradictory, but reform and revolution absolutely are. People who advocate for revolution (which Zinn does in the above quote) fundamentally reject the idea that peaceful, incremental legislative reform could be used to transform the democratic system.
>Social movements and popular unrest effect the electoral process significantly
Sure, but Zinn isn't advocating for that. This bit
>The situation required not just a new president or new laws, but an uprooting of the old order, the introduction of a new kind of society
makes it pretty damn clear that he thinks real change won't come through the electoral process.
- jolux 6y ago>makes it pretty damn clear that he thinks real change won't come through the electoral process. Yeah, and that's where I break with Zinn, (because it requires a silly definition of "real" change) but you're wrong if you think he's advocating violent overthrow. He was in favor of civil disobedience. His contemporary Chomsky has been quite clear on this, especially recently, when he's even criticized leftists for defending violence at protests.