A few years back I participated here with others giving Rob feedback on the writing of his book, "The Bottom-Up Revolution." My contribution was miniscule. Rob's vision and research, exemplified in the book and time has proven, are important and needed.
There was something that was talked about back then that I don't think was addressed - the rise of a mob. Not a criticism, but something we are now living with the reality of.
It is obvious now that built into a bottom-up revolution is the possibility of the rise and influence of a mob.
Merriam-Webster defines a mob as: a large and disorderly crowd of people; especially : one bent on riotous or destructive action.
MAGA qualifies as a mob.
Trump is systematically destroying the traditional, institutional programs and entities that normally would prevent or temper the negative aspects of a mob and instead is empowering the mob. In essence he is using a bottom-up revolution against the bottom. The mob has become a tool he is using in his drive to authoritarianism.
The mob during the French Revolution influenced the onset of the mass executions and public violence. There are examples throughout history of mobs creating havoc. Mobs were used by demagogues in the Roman Republic to incite riots and violence to influence elections. The violence of mobs in revolutionary Russia assisted the Bolsheviks taking power. Pogroms across Europe were for the most part the work of mobs.
Ironically, it is the emotional underpinnings of a mob that are necessary to drive a bottom-up revolution in dangerous, unbalanced times. As our present moment shows, anger and disorder are necessary components of a resistance.
I think an interesting and informative discussion would be - considering the present moment, can there be a healthy balance of top-down and bottom-up organizations and governance and if so, how can this be achieved?
Thoughts?
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