Weil : Revolution

• Written

  1934
• Published

  1955
• Text

  Centred on communism and the Russian revolution
• Freedom

  Comes from the individual's ability to act freely (they are not able to in systems of production where they must answer to someone)
• Agrees with the Marxist precept of revolution


  The worker should be free from oppression
• In a conflict between revolution and reform

  Would probably have been situated on the side of reform
• Believes that at the time of writing (1930s) they are in a period of revolution
• Acknowledges the historical significance of revolutions as movements of social upheaval and redress systemic injustices
• Revolutions arise from genuine grievances and aspirations for freedom and equality
• Violent revolutions


  Perpetuate cycles of oppression and injustice rather than achieving genuine liberation - violence will only ever result in more violence which will lead to the consolidation of power in the hands of new oppressors
• True revolution


  Should involve a transformation of consciousness and values: emphasis on the importance of spiritual awakenings
• Can't really look into social order, we must look for social oppression
• Belief in shifting control in the factory

  From a structure of subordination, to a structure of collaboration
• Productive work should only exist for the purpose of production (all work should produce something useful)
• The individual has been suppressed into the collective


  Freedom should mean that the individual can act in any way that they want
• Revolutionary impulse is developed from a state of consciousness that is significantly diminished by the capitalist system of production
• Questions how disenfranchised workers will be able to overthrow the ruling class

  Critiques Marxist theory of the proletarian revolution
• To carry through and sustain the revolution, certain qualities of mind and attitudes are necessary
• Oppression experienced by the worker in the capitalist system

  Aims to dispossess the worker of revolutionary spirit
• Without a genuine desire to be in a revolution, the individual will not be able to achieve it
• Critical of the Russian revolution


  The revolution simply transferred the oppressive system into new hands
• Oppression is not changed in any way in a revolution that acts simply as a transferral of power (Russian?)