Kevont Anderson

Spring 2015
Test #1
1) Marx German philosopher that exercised encyclopedic thought by studying many
sources. He supports that there is always a very intimate relationship between past,
present and future. While reaming close to the idea that nothing is permanently constant,
fixations and things known to be fact, which endure for some time, are susceptible and
sensitive to time and change. People are dissatisfied and their desperation is caused by
injustice, which is fuelling revolution. Revolution is bound to occur when states and
governments create such an imbalance that the nature of humanity will rise from the
intelligentsia, skilled technocrats, working class proletariats will be instrumental in
catalyzing the revolution. The peasants and farmers are more concerned about microsurvival, whereas the working class has long-term macro goals in foresight. Vanguard
will leader the workers in revolution to overthrow the tyrannical, capitalist government of
old aristocratic setup.
Weber German Thinker that revolutions are catalyzed by a charismatic leader who
challenges the ruling class and status quo that exists through the powers that be to
overthrow the previous regime. Charismatic leaders have the capacity to change societies,
not necessarily advocates of violence. The power that this leader and followers gain will
only last if it is legitimized in political institutions. Revolutions tend to become repressive
and bring more harm than growth in their failed, or more accurately put unfinished,
attempts at regime change leave the society in shambles.
2) Cultural lag is when one part of society is performing at the functional level and
others suffer because of it. It is also when there is disequilibrium, one system is
advancing too much and others are not. When an imbalance exists in economy, family,
schools, government, or other social circles and institutions. The involved parties must
seek to find balance and equilibrium.
Tocquevilles analysis of the French revolution concludes that it succeeded in killing the
ruling class and local elites with power. The new leaders of the revolution did not have
the knowledge to start a government, or even to continue the one that had been in prior
just prior to their uprising, largely due to the fact that these leaders were made up of
farmers and lay people. This gap creates a political vacuum in France, they negotiated
with the remaining individuals of the old class. Revolutionary government was replaced
with repressive bureaucratic government.